Pats-Ravens: Thoughts After the Replay - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

***ALP*** · 10-07-2009, 02:36 AM

since u keyed in on butler....what did u think of springs?

he seemed a little slow to me in that game

***mayoclinic*** · 10-07-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradydaman29

Oher did the smart thing. He had to catch the ball in case it was ruled a fumble. You can't take anything for granted. How silly would he have looked if he batted the ball down and then a pat recovered it and they called it a fumble - on further review.

Very good point. I stand corrected.

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 10-07-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradydaman29

Oher did the smart thing. He had to catch the ball in case it was ruled a fumble. You can't take anything for granted. How silly would he have looked if he batted the ball down and then a pat recovered it and they called it a fumble - on further review.

Oher did do the smart thing. It was a sweet delayed blitz taking advantage of Guyton's speed to bring him around the edge unblocked. Guyton has picked up where he left off last year as a blitzer/pass rusher for a very effective first quarter.

Good job Mayo!

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 10-07-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALP

since u keyed in on butler....what did u think of springs?

he seemed a little slow to me in that game

He does appear the slowest of the CBs, then again he's the most experienced and hardest to fool. The CBs this season have been better able to defend the outside, having Springs and Bodden to teach young Wilhite, Wheatley, and Butler has been healthy.

As strong as the CB play has been, McGowan's speed and Meriweather's development have been just as effective from the Safety ranks - Sanders is demonstrating some terrific team leadership accepting reduced playing time gracefully while McGowan's speed is being used to limit the TEs and provide a quicker response in run support. NE's Dime package has been awsome with the three Safeties and one of the young CBs mixed in with Bodden and Springs. I'm looking forward to Chung's development with the speed he'll bring to complement Meriweather.

NE's speed in the secondary has led to an increase in tipped balls, sooner or later some of them will start falling into NE hands. Combine that with the DL and Guyton getting more hands on the ball...

***shmessy*** · 10-07-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

He does appear the slowest of the CBs, then again he's the most experienced and hardest to fool. The CBs this season have been better able to defend the outside, having Springs and Bodden to teach young Wilhite, Wheatley, and Butler has been healthy.

As strong as the CB play has been, McGowan's speed and Meriweather's development have been just as effective from the Safety ranks - Sanders is demonstrating some terrific team leadership accepting reduced playing time gracefully while McGowan's speed is being used to limit the TEs and provide a quicker response in run support. NE's Dime package has been awsome with the three Safeties and one of the young CBs mixed in with Bodden and Springs. I'm looking forward to Chung's development with the speed he'll bring to complement Meriweather.

NE's speed in the secondary has led to an increase in tipped balls, sooner or later some of them will start falling into NE hands. Combine that with the DL and Guyton getting more hands on the ball...

........not to mention a certain 2008 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year joining the team in a few weeks........

***Lloyd_Christmas*** · 10-07-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALP

since u keyed in on butler....what did u think of springs?

he seemed a little slow to me in that game

Well, there was at least one key play where his physical play at the LOS rerouted a receiver and resulted in an incomplete pass.

***mayoclinic*** · 10-07-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

He does appear the slowest of the CBs, then again he's the most experienced and hardest to fool. The CBs this season have been better able to defend the outside, having Springs and Bodden to teach young Wilhite, Wheatley, and Butler has been healthy.

As strong as the CB play has been, McGowan's speed and Meriweather's development have been just as effective from the Safety ranks - Sanders is demonstrating some terrific team leadership accepting reduced playing time gracefully while McGowan's speed is being used to limit the TEs and provide a quicker response in run support. NE's Dime package has been awsome with the three Safeties and one of the young CBs mixed in with Bodden and Springs. I'm looking forward to Chung's development with the speed he'll bring to complement Meriweather.

NE's speed in the secondary has led to an increase in tipped balls, sooner or later some of them will start falling into NE hands. Combine that with the DL and Guyton getting more hands on the ball...

The defensive speed flying around the ball is fabulous to see. I loved hearing the announcers during the Baltimore game refer to our young speedy defense when Meriweather ran across the field to prevent a Flacco completion to Derrick Mason. And imagine what happens when Mayo comes back.

Jczxohn1 compared the defense to the "flying mutant ninja turtles", which I think would be a fine name. Introducing:

- Jerod Mayo (with Gary Guyton as his understudy), as Leonardo, leader of the defense.
- Darius Butler as Donatello.
- Brandon Meriweather as Raphael, the "bad boy" and most aggressive member of the defense.
- Leigh Bodden as Michaelangelo.

I guess that would make Rodney Harrison Master Splinter, the sensei and adoptive father of the ninja turtle defense.

-

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 10-07-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayoclinic

The defensive speed flying around the ball is fabulous to see. I loved hearing the announcers during the Baltimore game refer to our young speedy defense when Meriweather ran across the field to prevent a Flacco completion to Derrick Mason. And imagine what happens when Mayo comes back.

Jczxohn1 compared the defense to the "flying mutant ninja turtles", which I think would be a fine name. Introducing:

- Jerod Mayo (with Gary Guyton as his understudy), as Leonardo, leader of the defense.
- Darius Butler as Donatello.
- Brandon Meriweather as Raphael, the "bad boy" and most aggressive member of the defense.
- Leigh Bodden as Michaelangelo.

I guess that would make Rodney Harrison Master Splinter, the sensei and adoptive father of the ninja turtle defense.

-

Your late night viewing habits are clearly demonstrating how stressful the job is...

JoeShmoe · 10-07-2009, 10:43 AM

I saw it again too Mayo and echo everything you say

Would comment that

1. Totally agree on Flacco and Rice. Flacco esp. looks the real deal to me. I'm expecting the Ravens to go a long way this year with that offense and to have won that game shows what a good team the Pats are even though we are undercooked.

2. I thought Guyton and Wright stood out too. Given Guyton is playing the Mike with Mayo out I thiink he's relishing it and seems to be getting better each week. We could have some great positional tandems come the end of the year (Bodden/Butler, Merriweather/McGowan, Guyton/Mayo) all with backup. Wright is just playing lights out right now and really taking his chance with Seymour gone

3. Cant agree on LoMo. Thought he was poor running but he is a threat out of the backfield

4. The Pats have a lot of weapons and used them all well when a top D like the Ravens shuts down Moss, Welker, Watson etc

5. Brady is definitely losing the rust each week. His presence in the pocket against a blitzing D was so much more composed than even two weeks ago

6. Why oh why dont we run more slants and hitches? Moss is great at them and it was a much better call on that 3rd down in the 4th

7. I could kick better than Hanson. Seriously

***shmessy*** · 10-07-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd_Christmas

Well, there was at least one key play where his physical play at the LOS rerouted a receiver and resulted in an incomplete pass.

Yes, that was a good play. That was on a goal line fade. He disrupted the flow at the LOS and stayed with Clayton nicely.