5 Rings for Brady!!

Reiss has a blindspot called 'Cunningham syndrome' which does not allow him to acknowledge certain players from time to time.

That is my armchair diagnosis anyway.

Marqui

If Tully Banta-Cain and Rob Ninkovich are starting at OLB for this team, I'm not even going to bother watching these games.

Palm Beach Pats Fan

With Cunningham learning a new position and new stance in a complicated BB defense, I would think that he will not start game 1, unless he is talented, smart, and hard-working way beyond anyone's wildest expectations.

To be honest, I hope that Spikes is ready but I fully expect him to be broken in a bit gradually as well, behind Guyton, and not start in week 1. He has the advantage of having had MLB responsibilities at UF that at least in principle related to the ILB role here. I hope that he does start day 1, since he is a talent upgrade IMO, but these things generally take some time.

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primetime

They were more or less the starters for the majority of the games last year.

The OLB spot opposite TBC is an open competition between Cunningham, Ninkovich, and Crable. I still think Crable will play a lot this year... assuming he can stay on the field. A big if. Dane Fletcher has an outside shot as well

Spikes and Guyton give a lot of flexibility. Guyton's definitely best suited as a nickel linebacker in the Roman Phifer mold, while Spikes is a two-down thumper like Ted Johnson or Bryan Cox. Mayo isn't great in coverage but he's hopefully improving. It remains to be seen what McKenzie adds to the team, but he may be useful depth as well.

I think Gerard Warren makes the team over Damione Lewis. Lewis is a complete liability against the run while Warren is at least stout at the point of attack. Lewis gives a little more in terms of the pass rush but Mike Wright fills a similar role and knows the scheme. I think a G.Warren/Wright/Pryor rotation is what you'll see at the one defensive end spot.

At RB, I think a UDFA (Paschall?) will make the team over one of the vets. Maroney will stick around for another year. Not sure if it will be the younger, mediocre vet in BJGE or the good but aging guys in Taylor or Morris who will get the axe, but that's what camp is for.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

The OLB's look extremely brutal. However, I will agree that there really wasn't anybody worthy of drafting with their picks. It's going to be very tough for the Pats to hang with the better passing teams in the NFL. Although it's getting better, I still don't think their defense will be able to get it done.

No, Chung needs to start. He's had a year to learn the defense and now it's time to "take the diapers off". He was picked very early in the 2nd round so I'm sure the team has high expectations for him. If he can't start over Sanders or McGowan, that's a huge disappointment and may signal towards Chung being a bust.

patsfan-1982

here is my starting line up


QB Tom Brady
RB Laurence Maroney
WR Randy Moss
WR Torry Holt
WR Julian Edelman
TE Rob Gronkowski
LT Matt Light
LG Logan Mankins
C Dan Koppen
RG Stephen Neal
RT Sebastian Vollmer

i would also love to see a two WR two TE set with Aaron Hernandez lined up at FB with edelman, and moss, as the WR's


LDE Ty Warren
NT Vince Wilfork
RDE Myron Pryor
LOLB Tully Banta-Cain
LILB Jerod Mayo
RILB Brandon Spikes
ROLB Jermaine Cunningham
SS James Sanders
FS Brandon Meriweather
LCB Darius Butler
RCB Leigh Bodden

i don't see mike wright starting he is not good a nuff vs the run Pryor, has one more year in the system i give him the edge over Damione Lewis, with wright coming in on 3rd down


i could also see Gary Guyton, keeping he's job at ILB or even playing a lil OLB on 3rd down


Pat Chung, may make the jump to starting SS but IMO is in back of sanders and McGowan,


over all brady, has lot's of weapons to work with IF the pats mix it up a lil not just throw 90% of the time out of shotgun they need to show a few different looks on offense in the passing game and the running game. if not they will have a hard time puting up points with a tougher schedule and no wes welker to start the season.



on defense right now the secondary looks like the strength of the defense. at RDE it looks like it will take 3 guys to help replace seymour, ROLB right now is a ? Ninkovich, is noting more then dept IMO. woods can do a ok job vs the run guyton, can play the pass rushing roll on 3rd down. crable, and Cunningham, are the wild cards right now can crable, make the team and play in a real game ? and will Cunningham, pick up the system fast a nuff to make a impact this year.

signbabybrady

I will give it a shot too.


QB Tom Brady
RB Laurence Maroney
WR Randy Moss
WR Julian Edelman
TE Rob Gronkowski
TE Algee Crumpler
LT Matt Light
LG Logan Mankins
C Dan Koppen
RG Stephen Neal
RT Sebastian Vollmer

I went with a 2 TE set as I think this will be a primary set at least until Welker returns. I put Edelman as the 2 because I think the ceiling on this kid could be huge and I will call last years output the floor so IMO you have more to gain from Edelman than Holt at this point in his career though I think Holt is a great addition.


LDE Ty Warren
NT Vince Wilfork
RDE Gerrard Warren
LOLB Tully Banta-Cain
LILB Jerod Mayo
RILB Tyrone McKenzie
ROLB TBD (Hoping for some sort of a move here but even without this is way to up in the air to predict)
SS Chung
FS Brandon Meriweather
LCB Darius Butler
RCB Leigh Bodden

I will avoid commenting on the obvious.

I went with Warren at RDE because he will be the run stopper and then Wright and Lewis will be the pass rushers from that spot (run downs come first so he starts)

I went with McKenzie on the inside because I think we all agree Guyton is overpowered in there and I figured McKenzies year of learning might help him get the start initially though I think it will quickly switch to Spikes as he seems to compliment Mayo the best.

ROLB I think we need to find someone for this position with some experience as a run stopper....I think we can use Cunningham as a pass rusher from this position but we need some Vets for run responsibilities and maybe someone who can cover too though yuo could use Guyton for this role (though it would be predictable).

I gave Chung and Butler spots as starters as I think the strength of this D will come in part from how much these guys step up if they both start to reach the potential this year then the secondary could be nasty.

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thechris

I am confident in the defense.

Not so much the offense.

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They're like little action figures.

Urgent

My thoughts:

QB: Tom Brady
RB: Laurence Maroney
WR: Randy Moss
WR: Brandon Tate/Torry Holt
WR: Julian Edelman/Alge Crumpler
TE: Rob Gronkowski
LT: Matt Light
LG: Logan Mankins
C: Dan Koppen
RG: Stephen Neal
RT: Sebastian Vollmer

LDE: Ty Warren
NT: Vince Wilfork
RDE: Mike Wright/Gerard Warren /Damione Lewis
OLB: Tully Banta-Cain
OLB: Rob Ninkovich Jermaine Cunningham
ILB: Jerod Mayo
ILB: Brandon Spikes
CB: Leigh Bodden
CB: Darius Butler
S: Patrick Chung James Sanders
S: Brandon Meriweather

On offense:
We've seen nothing from Tate so far to project him as a possible starter. Holt has the experience and hands. If the games were played today, I believe Holt would be in.
And if you look at 'starters' as in the first play of the game, there's an equal chance of either three wide (Edelman) or two TE (Crumpler for blocking). So I put Edelman/Crumpler as options.

On defense:
Belichick was quoted on Gerard Warren as follows:"He can play anywhere from tackle in." So I assume 4-3 tackle or 3-4 nose, and at 330 pounds listed, I would be surprised if he has the agility to play end. Today, looks like a rotation between Wright and Damione Lewis.

At OLB, God help the Patriots if Ninkovich is the starter at LOLB. I think Jermaine Cunningham has to be counted on at that position. TBC is not a three-down OLB, but that's the position they have put themselves in.

At S, what did we see from Patrick Chung to inspire confidence? Can he make the second-year leap? Maybe. But today, I would guess Sanders for the value of his leadership, communication, and experience.

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Patspsycho

I don't really see the sense in doing this, because it will change from game to game based on who we are playing and what their weaknesses are on D.