mgteich

This defense is almost completely revamped and yet they are allowing 17 points a game. I think that is incredibly good for a team that is replacing Seymour, Harrison, Bruschi, Vrabel, and Hobbs.

This group will have growing pains, perhaps even in the next two weeks. HOWEVER, there should be improvement as they work together more.

Many disagree with the defensive philosophy, preferring a much more risky defense with more sacks, more touchdowns and more 50 yard completions given up. I'm fine with this defensive philosophy. In any case, this defense will be a solid one, and could very well be better by mid-season that any since the Super Bowl years.

DEFENSIVE LINE
This is a fine DL with a couple of kids being developed. I would like to see Burgess more, but that is nitpicking. Wright has looked great. Green has been solid and workmanlike.

LINEBACKERS
The loss of Mayo has been disruptive. However, I think that we will be solid with Mayo, Thomas, Guyton and Banta-Cain. We were so worried about depending on Woods. Well, he is our #4 linebacker and fine in that role. Guyton improves with every game. Of course, I'd like to see an additional veteran. We do have one developing youngster (Ninkovich) who could step up if needed.

SECONDARY
This is the best we've had since we last won a Super Bowl. Bodden and Springs have been solid, even against Buffalo's top receivers. Wilhite could start if needed. Butler is already a solid contributer and a stud. The safeties are a really good group of three, with a rookie in training.

BOTTOM LINE
This defense could be awesome. It is more than good enough NOW for the patriots to be expected to get into the playoffs. It is not good enough to keep the opponents to less than ten points a game. The offense needs to do its part.

Oswlek

While we seem to disagree more often than not, I have to say I wholly concur with this post.

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"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

JSn

Absolutely agree.

Also, those these rankings are kinda meaningless, here's Reiss' ranking of our D so far:

Mike Reiss' blog - Where do the Patriots rank? - ESPN Boston

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Obnoxio

The Patriots defense needed to get younger and faster and I think they've done that. As the new players gain experience the Defense will improve. Guyton is going to be a good player for a long time. Mike Wright looks healthy again. Butler made a great tackle on a screen pass knifing through 3 O-linemen to get the RB. TBC looks decent. There was one bad play when the two DBs collided giving up a long gain to Cotchery. Normally the Patriots win that game except for the lack of TDs by the offense. The defense did the job.

STFarmy

Something I've noticed over the past few weeks...

Remember how for the last three or four years we've heard about how the defense was old and needed to get younger? Well, they did. Now what do the experts say? "Oh they've lost too much veteran talent, how can they possibly be good."

mgteich

Wilfork, Warren, Wright, Green, Bodden, Springs, Thomas (and even Burgess, Banta-Cain and McGowan) are all veteran talent.

mayoclinic

I'm very happy overall with the way the defensive players have played, particularly given the number of new (and young) faces, learning new schemes, player departures (Seymour), and injuries (Mayo). I'm less thrilled with the defensive scheme to date, but hope that it will change as players become more familiar with the system, young players develop, and injured players return.

1. The DL. Still adjusting to the loss of Seymour. Wright has played well, Green adequately, but there is a huge dropoff from Seymour and I don't see us being a dominant DL with him as a starter. I too would like to see more Burgess. I'd also like to see more Ron Brace, at both 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT. A "fine" DL, potentially, but not dominant right now.

2. The LBs. The thinnest group on the defense going into the season, and then losing our best defensive player. Ouch. With that in mind, they've played pretty decently. Guyton made some adjustments after week 1, and while no Mayo, he held up OK. AD has been solid, though he's made a few major mistakes. The rest has been adequate. Mayo's return will be a huge shot in the arm for this unit, but ultimately we're still lacking a few horses, which needs to be addressed in the offseason. Should be adequate once Mayo gets back.

3. The secondary. I've been saying for months that this could be our best secondary since 2003-2004, and it looks like they will be. They should get better as Butler and Chung develop.

I agree with you about the bottom line. This is an adequate defense for us to make the playoffs if the offense does it's part. It is not yet a good enough defense to carry the team. To become dominant it needs (1) some key players to develop, (2) at least one more quality LB, possibly two, and (3) a more active defensive scheme. I'm hoping we can address at least 2/3 of those this season, in which case we will have a SB worthy defense if the offense comes around. I'm hoping we can address all 3 by 2010, and have our best defense since 2003.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

mgteich

We will need to learn to live with the relative lack of linebacker talent this year. I don't know why you have such confidence that Belichick will address this situaion in the offseason. He hasn't done so since the 2005 Super Bowl.

Deus Irae

They've played two lousy offenses (or, if you prefer, 2 offenses in transition/tumult), can't get pressure with 4 rushers, can't defend the flats or the 2nd level, and can't seem to avoid giving up the big play.

I expect that they'll get better, and I hope it happens as early as this week, but the Falcons are probably licking their chops as they watch this defense on film.

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mayoclinic

The exact word phrase I used was hoping that the LB personnel issues could be addressed in the offseason. I would exactly call that "such confidence".

I, like many here, was hoping that BB would address the LB situation this offseason. He chose to prioritize the secondary, with good results so far. I don't think that was enough, and this year it is obvious that the LB corps is the achilles heel of the defense, so perhaps he will finally address it in the offseason. I don't know for sure. He has given it a bit more priority in the past 2 years (Mayo with a high 1st, Crable and McKenzie in the 3rd) than he had done previously, so perhaps that is a sign that he is finally starting to give it a bit more attention. I'm hoping. That's all.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi