BigMike

along with firing Ellis Hobbs. BB determined to get younger faster and better this season. Given the young pups some time to gel, but I have a feeling it will be worth it.

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It is what it is......

fgssand

No question about it, - will be fun watchig this "D" go from where they will be in Spet. - to where they will get too - come Feb.

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Season ticket holder since 1971, first in section 209 and now in 134.

LOVE New England sports....10 years SEVEN championships!!!

TheComeback

Though there a lot of complaints about the secondary's performance in Week 3, I think we still have a top 10 overall defense. We are definitely faster than last year. Bodden is almost assuredly better than Hobbs and Wilhite looks pretty solid for a second year fourth rounder. I think he gets the start and plays better than O'Neal did. That's all we need for now.

Another year of experience should improve Sanders and especially Meriweather, who could be on the verge of a Pro Bowl season. I don't see how this defense slips from last year.

Guyton looked nasty against the Redskins. He is even faster than I thought he was.

AzPatsFan

This is a very young and very fast Defense. AD is the oldest but Seymour the longest serving, and he is only turning thirty.

BigMike

young fast and willing to gamble to make big plays. Thats what has been misssing from this D for a few years now.

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It is what it is......

DarrylS

Have contended all along that this team will not be on the bottom in red zone Defense...

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

farn

We'll see. I think they can be improved enough to win. I think they're still the best team in the NFL (though it could be argued they're "just" top 5 calibre).

BUT... if anyone thinks Merriweather-Sanders-Bodden-Wilhite is (right now) comparable to the 03 DBs... I dunno. We'll see. Hopefully TFB is primed for some major Mossian hookups.

PatsSox363804

In 03 we had two guys who can make hall of fame cases in Law and Harrison, not easy to match that. I think Merriweather is getting better every game and I like what I've seen from Bodden but you're right, I don't think they'll be on that level. Now, I do think if we won in 04 with Law injured and Randall Gay covering TO we can win with this secondary.

patsinthesnow

I know ONE thing this defense will never do again. Remember 2 years ago we had one of the oldest defenses in the NFL?

Joseph Addai up the middle, runs 2 yards, breaks a tackle, another tackle, runs for 20 yards, another tackle, going north, outruns Harrison.

75 Yard BS touchdown!!!!

cstjohn17

Personally I think the 07 defense has been unfairly criticized. The 2007 defense played very good when it mattered most, in the playoffs they had the best PPG against average. If Samuel, Merriweather or Harrison hangs onto the ducks Eli put in their mitts or Tyree doesn't pull some magic out his butt our perspective would be different.

New England Patriots 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
New England Patriots 21, San Diego Chargers 12
Superbowl - Giants 17 - Patriots 14

16.333 PPG average

We may be younger but I don't see the same pedigree in the younger players. Harrison, Bruschi and Vrabel were pro-bowl players. How many of these young players will make a probowl?

Vrabel - All time sack leader at Ohio State, 55 career sacks
Bruschi - All time NCAA sack leader, probowl player.
Harrison - Borderline HOFer, probowler, 30+ sacks, 30 INTs +

Younger and faster is nice, I guess but replacing those three is a tall task.