Originally Posted by SuperPatsFan

For an ILB in a 2-gap, learning when and how to commit to a gap to consistently make the play on the ball carrier is and art and a science, and it takes years to perfect.

To see an example of the consequences of the Pats D committing too early, refer to "Rice, Ray."

Bottom line, I see 2010 as another year of development/improvement for Mayo. We haven't seen his best yet, IMHO.

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

Yes, Mayo has improved. He's much stronger in coverage over his struggles last season and as a rookie. He's better as a blitzer from his two previous seasons. He looks good as a pass rusher on the edge. He also looks a little stronger when disengaging from blockers, but I'd like more data samples on that. He's starting to understand the game to where I think his next big progression is going to be as a Field General where he'll be making on-field adjustments more instinctively.

It's absolutely clear that Mayo improved in every facet of his game, some jumps are larger than others, but there's little doubt he's playing at a higher level from his previous two campaigns.

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

Have you seen teams consistently run effectively to the part of the field he is responsible for? I haven't.
Have you seen teams consistently throw effectively into the zone he is covering? I havent
People need to know what the job is to judge it.
An ILB in our system is never going to be defined as a 'game breaker'.

Mayo is asked to control the area between the C and T on his side of the field playing 2 gap defense, and rarely blitizing, and to cover his zone.
To make the kind of plays that people seem to expect from him, he would need to be making up his own assignments.
34 ILBs in a 2 gap system are not making tackles for loss, and cannot get sacks when they do not biltz.

Originally Posted by crowell33

Agreed, but doesn't zero career interceptions jump out at you ?

Originally Posted by plk

Tedy Bruschi had one interception in his first five years. Zero in his first three.Tedy Bruschi: Career Stats

Originally Posted by crowell33

Yes and Bruschi had 10 sacks in his first three years, Mayo has 1.5 thus far.

Originally Posted by crowell33

This was the roundtable discussion on Mohegan Sun Sportstonight last night. The prevailing opinion was that Mayo got a pass last season because of the injury issues, but that his play this year is not much better. Everyone on the panel agreed that he was a "solid" player, but that the early hopes that he would become the next Ray Lewis or even Patrick Willis have dimmed.

Agree or Disagree ?

Originally Posted by stcjones

I think that he has not fully recovered from injury and it is effecting play. Nothing else could explain how much he has slowed down and how off his play is this year.....

Originally Posted by PATRIOTSFANINPA

In case you have not noticed,the young inexperienced Pats defense thus far ranks 27th overall against the pass and yards allowed while the defense against the run is 17th.....those kind of rankings better improve soon,you can't be ranked 27th for too long or your offense better put up 40 points a game.

Maybe its time for BB to change things with an absolute HORRID pass rush...close to bottom in the NFL

If there is ever going to be a Pats team under Belichick that Blitzes from inside more than just on occasion, it should be this year,the year of next to nothing on the outside,this team once did not have to worry about the LBs blitzing much because we had better and capable OLBs which apparently are not on the roster in 2010.

Not to forget to mention that our corners love the 10 yard cushion and it would be nice to have the opposing QB panic and throw it under duress once in a while instead of opening his lunch box and enjoying his sandwich in the pocket while WRs find those juicy gaps in the back tier of the defense

I would like to see some gambling a little more often with the Blitz on guys that might be capable like our LBs than to hope that Nincovich,Cunningham and Cain can do it on thier own consistently.

Originally Posted by everlong

I would agree on everything except disengaging from blockers and part of that is IMO that his reads still look a bit slow and he gets sealed.

I think the biggest thing is people compare him to Tedy during the glory years but people forget it took a long time to become that player. He was in his 6th season for the 2001 campaign. Mayo is at the start of his 3rd year. I also think people look at Tedy's highlights across his full career and they are numerous and want that from Mayo. If Mayo seals a game against the Dolphins with a smart pick 6 or strips a Colt's running back by wanting the ball more people will start to compare Mayo to Tedy.

I know when the other team is driving the ball down the Pat's throats I'm waiting from somebody to step up and make that big play like the old days but it's a young team and an unfair comparison.