shakadave

I'm starting to question the oft-heard party line that Dante S. always does an excellent job with the O-line. I think we need to say he always does an excellent job with O-line pass protection. We have had only one great year (2004) running the ball since Craig James in 1985, for goodness' sake! Curtis Martin definitely had good years. That rookie who blew out his knee at the Pro Bowl volleyball game showed spark for one year. But year in year out, our default mode is "unable to run the ball well." I'll bet we're in the bottom 5 in the NFL for average yards per carry in the years Dante has been in New England. Not blaming him, just questioning his assumed genius.

__________________
Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
* * * * *
"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007

Joker

Yeah...I see your point...that was a real lousy year Dillon put up in 2004

sieglo

Actually, you could also argue that we aren't great in pass protection either. Brady is a genius for not getting sacked because he plays smart, moves in the pocket well, and throws the ball away when he needs to instead of holding on and trying to force it. But he will take a hit in order to make a play. And he gets hit...a lot. To a large extent, Brady's innate talent makes the offensiveline look better statistically than it actually is.

On the flip side, Dante didn't have much to work with last year given the injuries. So maybe expectations should be low.

Joker

Dillon's 2004 stats

345 carries 1635 yards 4.7 ypc 12 tds

"Scar is HORRIBLE!!! We gotta DO something about this!!!!Look at THAT!!! Almost 5 yards a carry...he's a BUM for a coach!!!!"

Idiot

fgssand

I think you are way off base Shaka. Dante does a fine job with whatever he has to work with. Let's not forget all the injuries he has continually overcome. In addition his lines do very well in both pass protection and in the running game when you consider he is constantly teaching lower round draft choices and free agents.
When he is given a quality back, they do quite well - Robert Edwards (before he got hurt) was super and Antwain Smith was effective enough to help bring us two Superbowls and always gain that tough yard when needed. When he was given a top back, as you indicated, 2004 was his best year of all. Dante was also there for the Curtis Martin years - not too shabby of a coaching job there.

Dante has put together an awesome line that has a great screen play capabilities. He is able to keep Brady from getting killed by teaching just the right technique whether it was the dink and dunk early Brady years or the slide and move downfield pass playsof the past two years.

In short, whatever is needed, Dante can be counted on coming through, no matter what the hand is that he is dealt. We are lucky to have this guy......

texpat

Wow, I guess BB is really a genius, to be able to win not only 1, but 3 SB's with a crappy OL coach.

And really, Dante should really do better since he's had all those 1st & 2nd round picks on the line.

Sarcasm intended.

PATSNUTme

First off, Dante has not been OL coach the whole time that he's been in NE. He has coached every position on the team at one time or another.

Secondly, he has done an outstanding job coaching up a bunch of low round draft picks and UDFA's.

Who has called him a genius? He's a good solid coach and any Patriots fan should appreciate his contribution. I'll take BB word over yours any day.

It would really help things out if you had a clue of what you are talking about before you post things like this.

Joker

• 2001 New England Patriots 16 15 287 1157 4.0 44 12 7 58
  2002 New England Patriots 16 15 252 982 3.9 42 6 3 56

Poor Antowain Smith....that damn Scar really screwed HIM up.....2100 yards + in two seasons...I say we sue Scar for screwing Antowain's career up

shakadave

Dear Joker,

a) Please learn to read. My post calls 2004 a "great" year, and you have made two separate replies to "contradict" me by citing 2004 as a great year.

b) If you're happy with 2100 yards every two years out of your top back, to each his own. (Dillon would have needed like 450 yards this year.) A 3.95 average for 2001-2002 was adequate to let Brady and the defense do some great things (especially in 2001 obviously) but I'm looking for better. Not that Smith was a star either.

c) If I were like you, I would end this thread this way: "Idiot." Fortunately, I'm not.

__________________
Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
* * * * *
"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007

shakadave

Where did my original post call him crappy again?

__________________
Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
* * * * *
"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007