NFL Sports Channel dissifies Richard Seymour - New England Patriots Forums

JSn · 04-03-2009, 02:30 PM

Evauluating the NFL’s Most Overrated and Underrated Players on Defense | NFL Sport Channel

Quote:

Defensive End

Most Overrated: Richard Seymour (New England Patriots)

A defensive end is supposed to get sacks. They should help out the passing game and contribute a little to the rushing game. I know this is probably the biggest shocker, but the fact is over this guys' career, he's struggled to get five sacks in a season.

He's only done it four years out of his eight year career. The most sacks he has accumulated in a single season is eight which he has done twice.

At 6'6" and 310 pounds, he's one of the biggest defensive ends in the NFL. New England runs a 3-4 scheme, but this guy could be a better fit in a 4-3. He is not a coverage guy. He struggles to stay with receivers and finds himself out of place too often.

If he were allowed to strictly be a defensive end instead of a hybrid, he could be much better.

Like Haynesworth, he struggles to stay healthy. He's only played two full seasons in eight.

Don't shoot the messenger. This is just someone's opinion.

***HEY BRO! WHAT UP?*** · 04-03-2009, 02:39 PM

This guy obviously doesn't realize that DE's in a 3-4 don't normally get sacks. Take a look around the NFL and you will see that most 3-4 DE's have a low sack total. In fact, it's extremely rare if a DE has more than 5 sacks. This guy is a complete moron! Seymour finally got healthy and posted 8 sacks as a 3-4 DE, which is really outstanding. In addition, there really wasn't any help from his LB's to apply pressure as well. So what does that tell you? Seymour is great when healthy. Also, I don't agree that Seymour is injured all the time. He gets nicked up every now and then, but it's not ridiculous like this guy thinks. Seymour suffered one bad injury that kept him out for 6 weeks. I have said this before and I will say it again, when the Pats get OLB's that can rush the passer, it will free up Seymour and he will really dominate. When your 3-4 DE is your only hope for a pass rush, it's kind of hard to be consistent.

Lampshade · 04-03-2009, 02:40 PM

Well there's someone who doesn't know what a DE's role in 3-4 defense is.

Having just tried to read the rest of his list it's clear he doesn't know anything about anything.

***Rob0729*** · 04-03-2009, 02:43 PM

Wow! So DEs in a two gap 3-4 system is supposed to get sacks?!? DEs in a two gap 3-4 system is supposed to help out only a little in the running game?!? Really?!?

Well, I guess if you are completely ignorant of the differences between a 4-3 DE and a 3-4 DE like this author is, I guess you could make a valid point.

I do think it is funny that he would be a better fit in a 4-3 when they are evaluating Seymour on the criteria of a 4-3 player, not a 3-4 one.

***tanked_as_usual*** · 04-03-2009, 02:43 PM

the article is meant to inflame.......why else would nobody put their name on it?

Sicilian · 04-03-2009, 02:47 PM

To be fair to this guy, he's clearly basing his football knowledge on Madden where, unless your D-Lineman picks up 10+ sacks, he never progresses in his abilities

xmarkd400x · 04-03-2009, 02:53 PM

Uh....

Pats' DEs are supposed to take up two blockers so that the LBs can roam.

Yet this writer criticizes them based on sack numbers?

Why doesn't he start condemning Brady for his rushing numbers?

Nordberg · 04-03-2009, 02:54 PM

The guy obviously doesn't know that there is a difference between a 4-3 and a 3-4 in regards to gap responsibility.

I am willing to bet the list is small with 10+ sack DE's that have played in a 3-4 in NFL history.

Richard Seymour Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com

Seymour had his second best year as a pro last year.

***Rob0729*** · 04-03-2009, 02:54 PM

BTW, Howie Long made the HOF with an average of 6.5 sacks a season. Dan Hampton averaged 5.18 sacks a season in his HOF career (granted he played DT for part of it). So based on this article, neither deserved to be in.

Ironically, sack machine DEs like Kevin Greene and Derrick Thomas struggle to get into the HOF. Greene can't get in and Thomas just got in after five years of eligibility.

BadMoFo · 04-03-2009, 02:56 PM

Why's the guy saying he struggles in coverage and can't stick with a receiver? Does he realize what a defensive end is?