cstjohn17

The youth movement has arrived. This isn't your fathers slow Patriots defense anymore. In fact the Patriots might have the fastest secondary in the NFL.

All of these players will become part of the Patriots core defense for the next 3-5 years:

• Butler - 2nd round pick, one of the fastest CBs in his draft class (4.49)
• Mayo - 1st round pick, one of the fastest LBs in his class (4.54)
• Spikes - 2nd round pick, slow as hell but can play ball (4.9ish)
• McCourty - 1st round pick, good speed (4.38)
• Merriweather - 1st round pick, good speed (4.47)
• Chung - 2nd round pick, very good speed (4.49)
• Cunningham - 2nd round pick (4.86)
• Wilfork - Probowl player, 1st round pick
• Guyton - fastest LB in his class (4.47)
• Brace - showed some signs of improving, not fast, no, not fast at all

All times are from NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Concerns are at OLB, So far they have shown an inability to rush the QB and inability to set the edge.. not exactly what we are looking for. Their strength appears to be for pass defense, they may give up some rushing yards but with the offense putting up 25-30 PPG teams will be forced to pass the ball.


Football is back! Football is back! Football is back!

reflexblue

Not your fathers old slow defense ...2004 wasn't that long ago. OLB has been a vexing problem for well, well since my father watched the Pats.

The defensive backfield looks like it could be great for a while, next year with those two #1's we can draft a D-lineman and an OLB.

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Canada's #1 Pats Fan

The secondary looks like it is only going to improve. The D-Line may have some issues at end, but I am most concerned about the OLB and the pass rush. I did not see much out of that group vs. Atlanta. I am wandering if a move is going to be in the works to address this.

UofApatsfan

It's funny how overhyped the 40 time has gotten that we're calling Brandon Spikes "slow as hell". Anyone actually watching footage of Brandon Spikes playing football isn't calling him "slow as hell".

Patspsycho

That is a stunning lapse in judgement. Any idiots know that numbers don't tell the whole story.

reflexblue

I know if a line backer has to run 40 yards in a real game something has really gone wrong for the defense. I'd rather look at someones 10 yrd time.

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PATRIOTSFANINPA

Actually the Patriot defenses of the 80s were pretty dog gone fast..Tippett and Company were not exactly slow to the ball,probably faster than what we will see this year.

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Kdo5

Fast? Yes, but that is not the only important thing. Tackling, coverage, smarts all just as important.

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KontradictioN

Not to mention the fact that Junior Seau spent some time playing ILB for us at the age of 40 should tell you that we don't exactly need speed demons at the position. However, I'm a Gator fan and have been watching Spikes for quite some on top of knowing about his injury, and I don't think he's as slow as his 40 time indicates.

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CREDIT - Sicilian

PATSYLICIOUS

The old and slow thing never bothered me. What I want back is the days where we used to punch people in the mouth. '01-'04 we never blew people away or outran them, each game was more like a fist fight. We took their best shot and seemingly always had the resiliency to respond and wear they *** out in the end.

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