Box_O_Rocks

If I have one complaint about Mayo it's his hesitation about meeting the Guard in the hole. I felt Guyton was doing that more as the season wore on, but Mayo was still a little slower to commit inside, for whatever reason be it a read delay, coaching, or trying to break 4-3 habits. Spikes isn't bothered by that, as long as he plays his assignment and doesn't try to pursue before the cutback option is closed he'll be fine.

Brace looks like he'll be fine. Warren was getting moved back too easily in preseason when he wasn't shooting a gap. Wright has always struggled when subbing in for Ty Warren, he is much more consistent and harder to move when he's at Nose or in at RDE, I'm really not concerned about him. Deadrick would be my choice for the inactive DL, but if Pryor's knee is bothering he may get some game reps at RDE, there are flashes to suggest he can do the job once he gets his on switch to stay on. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Love playing Nose and Wilfork outside, or the two NTs get used like the Wiliams Bros. or Siragusa/Adams in a 40 front.

A point, not to mention this would be an area where Spikes explosiveness might be a better fit.

The potential is there, even if it's still only potential in game one.

Actually Ninkovich was stronger then TBC at this last year, and I think Murrell will be okay, once he adjusted to being used at LDE against NYG he held up okay in the trench fighting.

It's hopeful, and of course part of that hope is the aggressive way McCourty supported the run and Chung's speed/power to the mark.

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mgteich

I get that you "really don't see how Cincinnati is a rushing team".

The reality is that FOUR of the 32 teams in the nfl ran the ball more than 500 times last year. Cinci was one of the four. As far as passing, in attempts, completions and yards, Cinci ranked 27th, 25th and 26th. Cinci was a running team in 2009. Perhaps TO will make all the difference this year, or perhaps he won't.

CheeseMonkeys

I'm thinking that they will rush less this year and pass more. Benson won't be as successful. I just hope we can rush the QB and that our secondary holds up.

AndyJohnson

I think this is the ironic difficulty of our system for an ILB. You really need to account for your area before you can vacate. Doing that makes you slow to pursue, and LBs in other system are taught that quick pursuit is critical. If your prime responsiblity is the C to T on one side of the ball, you are going to, by definition not be involved in a lot of plays if you dont pursue. This leads to a hesitation to step too far up into the area, because more plays do not come to you than do, and you can fly out more quickly if you step up slowly. I think thats the conundrum.
I don't want to try to read Mayo's mind, but I played MLB/ILB for 10 years in both defenses that free you up to roam and one that require you to above all stay home, so I'm familiar with the conflict.

I saw different in Warren, but admittedly I watched him closer in the first 2 than the last 2. I saw him hold his ground but struggle to disengage and fail badly to be in a football position to make a play on the ball carrier after disengaging.

Dude was born for 3rd and 1

[quote]The potential is there, even if it's still only potential in game one.[quote]
We will (at least eventually) start 6 players drafted in 09 or 10 in the first 2 rounds (all top 50?) in Brace, McCourty, Butler, Chung, Spikes, Cunnignham to go with the 1s from 3 and 4 years ago, Wilfork and TBC.
If that isnt potential I dont know what is. And I wouldnt want anyone else but BB coaching them up.

Ninko didnt play enough for me to feel comfortable in evaluating him last year.

I didnt mention earlier (as if it wasnt long enough already) that the support I talked about on the outside runs is also a stronger group than in the past.

AndyJohnson

Yes totally different, arent they.

Tampa= we are so fast we will outrun you to the sideline
NE= we will plug every lane so you have to keep going laterally all the way to the sideline when our pursuit fills in

I think the Patriot approach is more effective in making bigger backs run East West and the Tampa is more effective with the true fast sweep RB.

AndyJohnson

I would be pretty certain that BBs gameplan is going to be to take away the run and make them beat us throwing on 2nd and 3rd and long.
They were a ball control run you to death team that averaged barely 18 points a game last year. Adding ancient over the hill TO wont change that.
Just as these are not the 2005 Bengals who were a good offense and threw the ball all over the field, with a deep receiver corps, its not the 2005 TO either.

Ice_Ice_Brady

In short, I think (a) it sucks, and (b) this will be addressed with our next draft. We never replaced Seymour, so it makes sense to use one of those high picks for him if there's someone with skills.

We run a 3-4 defense and it begins with the front 3. We've gone from an all-pro trio to a great nose tackle and two JAGs. In fairness, these guys are tough to get now since every team used the Patriots blueprint and switched to a similar defensive scheme, looking for Seymour types.

Don't worry, the 2006 Colts had one of the worst run defenses I've ever seen and still won the Super Bowl. The question isn't whether they'll be good at stopping the run (they won't), but whether they're capable of it in a high-intensity game, such as the playoffs, when every team's weaknesses seem to be nullified by pure will.

mgcolby

This game might very well showcase the 3 best rookie TE's in the NFL.

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mgteich

If we take away the run (or at least minimize the run), McCourty and Butler will often be one-on-one on Ochocinco and TO. It will make for an interesting game. I do agree that this should be our game plan. We don't want to all their running game to reduce the time that Brady is on the field.

Patspsycho

Wouldn't be surprised to see a 40 nickel this Sunday.