jays52

Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Not only was AD held on that play, he clearly had Manning in the grasp. It was a damned if he did, damned if he didn't type of play. If he threw 10 to the ground, he would have been flagged 15 yards. He actually made the smart call by hanging off of him while waiting for a holding flag/in the grasp call. I really think you are a bright guy, and enjoy a lot of your posts, so I don't want this to seem personal. That said, I really think you are off base with your evaluation of Thomas. Just a couple of quick questions to help me build your opinion in my mind. Do you watch the OLB vs tight end play at all? Do you know how to look for and indentify loops/stunts? Are you aware of pre-snap defensive changes? Do you watch OLB's engaging blockers?

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insert something witty about the patriots here.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

I highly doubt they would have called roughing for the same reason why the refs didn't call in the grasp (which they should have). My observation of the play was Thomas looked to have him in the grasp and kind of gave up because he assumed the refs would have called the play dead. Same can be said with the rest of the D-line.

Thanks for the compliment. However, I'm sure most people on this board would disagree.

Yes, I think I understand were you're going with this. I understand that when Adalius was in coverage, the opposing TE's became invisible. However, Thomas had to remain in coverage because nobody else can cover the TE. I understand that LB's make adjustments at the line and go into coverage when they were originally intended to rush the passer.

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jays52

I see your point, but the complexities of the position are far deeper. The assignments change from set to set, down to down. Thomas is on the field for almost all of the snaps. In defensive football, this is one of the best endorsements of a player's versatility. He is currently the best player on the roster in shedding blocks, the best pass rusher on the team, the fastest, most explosive linebacker, and the best pass coverage OLB in the AFCE. He really is a special player who transcends cursory evaluations. If you watch what opposing offenses do, 70% of their linebacker gameplan is based around shutting him down.

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insert something witty about the patriots here.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

All of your points are spot on and can't argue with any of them. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would to see Thomas getting after QB's more often because he awesome at bull rushing offensive lineman. In fact, he was one Eli Manning sack away from being my super bowl MVP. I assume the reason why we don't see Thomas rushing the passer very much is because the Pats don't have any coverage LB's. However, I hope Mayo and Guyton can take on that role to allow the coaching staff to unleash Thomas. Also, I hope that Woods or Crable will make opposing offenses reduce opposing offense to slide their protection towards Thomas's side.

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Patjew

Umm, he was so dominant that it seemed like there were.

Bump it up, baby. Brady and Moss names mentioned in rap lyrics

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apple strudel

Colvin and Thomas say hi. Completely and utterly whack argument.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

Re-read my post again. These were guys mentioned after Colvin and Thomas. I said Colvin has played well. However, he really wasn't able to make the impact we all hoped after suffering that injury in 2003. Thomas has done some good things, but I think he needs to make more of an impact rushing the passer because he is very good at that.

I'm glad your satisfied with the LB's because I'm not.

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apple strudel

So the 2 pro-bowl type OLBs BB signs do a lot of great things for the team outside of injuries and you're complaining? There are only so many Wares to go around.

Thomas will be back this year, only 2 seasons removed from being the undeniable top FA available. We've got 2 or possibly 3 young, prototypical OLBs to start opposite him. BB didn't trade Vrabes on, you know, a whim.

Your argument is all over the map. One one hand you're saying BB doesn't evaluate LBs well. But there's so much evidence to contradict that it's silly. On the other hand, you're saying we don't have much of a pass rush. Again, in 07 we were fantastic. in 08 we were, what, average? That includes injuries and Vrabes falling off a cliff. in 09 we've got Thomas back and those young players coming in. I think we've got a shot at having a pretty good pass rush this year. Finally, BB has done a fantastic job drafting Mayo and getting younger in the middle. So basically what you're saying is that you, like every other person inclined to state the obvious, don't know what Woods and Crable will bring to the table this year. Going from BB has failed to bring in good LBs to we've got 2 young guys with potential but we don't know what they'll bring to the table is leaping a gap the size of the grand canyon.

Totally whack argument.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

Just to let you know Colvin is not a pro bowler. Colvin had 2 good season with the Bears getting 11 sacks. After his injury in 2003, he never got back to his pro bowl form. Second, Adalius Thomas made the pro bowl with the Ravens and hasn't played like it with the Pats.

That is exactly why they went after Jason Taylor, Greg Ellis and rumored to have interest in Peppers and Burgess. It's comical how your not worried about the LB's.

Mayo is a start, where's the other guy? If your talking about Guyton, I hope he takes over for Bruschi on opening day.

You are obviously having a hard time understanding that teams playing the Pats abandoned the run and threw the entire game. Of course you are going to get sacks when a team throws for 4 quarters. But in '08, teams were able to run their normal offense because the Pats weren't scoring at will on them. Vrabel was god awful in '08, getting stoned at the line of scrimmage on majority of the pass plays and Thomas decided to get injured. Just watching them try to sack the QB made me cringe and felt embarrassed for them.

You can't seem to stop saying this at the end of your posts. Nothing you say is going to change my mind and nothing I say is going to change your mind. However, if Crable or Woods or Crable and Woods make an impact, then I will obviously shut about this. But if the Pats struggle like they did in '08, you guys will never hear the end of it from me.


Just wanted to add one more thing. If the LB's have never been a problem for the Pats, please tell me why they eventually lost in 2005 playoffs, 2006 playoffs, 2007 super bowl and missing the playoffs in 2008? And I don't want to hear injuries.

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PatsBoy12

So guys just decide to get injured? And here I was all these years thinking that injuries were unpredictable. Why the hell would Tom Brady decide to just sit out last year? What a selfish guy.