PatsWickedPissah

Join the club. Always liked him but I had given up in my asperations. Fortunately BB kept with him.

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Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

NYCPatsFan

After letting my expectations on Tank (and others) grow sky-high last year and then dealing with the shocked disbelief when they evaporated in a second, I am proud, nay, humbled to say that I learnt not to read/react much into any of these news and instead wait for the season to start.

Hopefully we don't have any other player hit with any serious injury during training/pre-season/season.

GO PATS!

RayClay

Even if we knew and could diagnose these injuries, we wouldn't know a chronic injury from bad luck. On this team? Let's face it, until we see a dangling limb we're not sure if there's even an injury. Some players are injured beyond recovery and washed up, but not twenty somethings, usually.

Just statistically, in a career that probably doesn't last more than 8 years for most, a two year period with significant injuries seems like a pattern, when most major injuries take 6 months to a year rehab and nagging ankle, groin etc. injuries are common.

In other words, lots of players have 2-3 year periods where they miss significant time, then go on to play almost every game, the rest of their careers. Fred Taylor is a case in point.

If it makes you happy to feel like you're predicting something, that's fine but it's really meaningless and based on nothing but your own imaginations. Even doctors can't predict when someone will get hit in the wrong place and get an injury, and that's how most of these injuries occur, simple massive force on a joint or bone, or stretching beyond limit of a muscle or tendon.

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RayClay

Obviously, multiple serious knee operations to the same knee do have an effect due to loss of cartilage (not playing doctor if I'm wrong correct me please).

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Pats726

I like Tank and was disappointed with his injury...saddened...really liked the idea of a safety playing ILB...really intriguing ..and HOPEFULLY part two this year...to see it in action..

BionicPatriot

Where does he fit? He's not going to start at safety, not with the draft pick of Chung and the re-signing of Sanders. He's not going to be terribly effective at anything more than a situational LB at 223.

That's his best shot, other than that I don't see what a lot of people are excited about.

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Defense, defense, defense

Dragda

Tank can't cover very well, so you may be right. This does give us another option up front, though. Third and long where teams run screens and draws is a situation he'll contribute. Also if teams are throwing underneath because they don't have a vertical threat, he can cover better than a traditional linebacker. The QB who is reading the defense and making audibles won't know his role from one play to the next and may make the wrong read or audible. Flexibility is key in a BB defense. He can be put in a position to throw the opposing offense off their game once or twice per game. Or, it could be Victor Green all over again and he is a healthy scratch on game day.

RayClay

They're planning on using a scheme with the safety in the box, but also covering if necessary. Harrison did this and i think they planned on Lynch doing this had he stuck. If I'm wrong on particulars, let me know, I'm not an x,o guy.

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jays52

They're trying to develop a way to stop the TE and intermediate game, while also having a guy who can support the run game. It's not secret that this team is very weak against the TE and intermediate routes. Having a guy who is 6'2 and fast/agile/physical enough to matchup with the TE is important in the league. It's also an answer to the college permutations that are beginning to get traction in the league. Spread formations and their plays have been getting more and more play in the NFL. Accordingly, the defenses need to adapt. There are certain sets, like the 33 stack and the 61 over, that have been effective against these offenses. These sets require safety/LB hybrids similar to Ernie Simms or Tony Parrish in his prime. The players aren't playing at safety depth, or three yards off the line like linebackers. They exist in the intermediate depth, and are assigned to the TE or pursuit. It's a situational thing for certain teams with certain players, but it will play an integral role for this team.

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for 5 bucks "your name here"!!

PatsFan37

One of the things Rodney could do as well as anyone was chuck TEs at the line and cover RBs who are too elusive for most ILBs. Without Rodney, the Pats had a matchup problem, the same as other teams have against Faulk. Mayo is terrific with this kind of matchup. Tank is another tool in the toolbox.

You might think that's just situational, but it's a frequent enough situation that, according to reports I remember, Tank was on the practice field a lot with the first team. I'm remember being really excited about what he could bring.

When you add it up, there are a lot of starting-caliber defensive players coming back from injury: Thomas, Wheatley, Crable, Williams, Woods.