Sicilian

So, with the understanding that this defense, right now, is not playing well, I've shifted my focus to how individual players improve their play game to game. So I'm wondering who you guys will be watching tonight to see (hopefully) improvement?

My three are:

Devin McCourty - He's played well, but I'd love to see him have that one break out game (kind of like Mayo did when he had 20+ tackles against the Jets his rookie year). Something where he's tackling well on the outside, breaking up passes, and maybe grabs a pick against Marshall.

Jermaine Cunningham - It hasn't been by leaps and bounds, but I've seen steady improvement over the first three games in his ability to put pressure on the QB. His pressure led to the overthrow by Fitz on Chung's INT, so more of that is great. Aside from that though, I want to see if his game is rounding out at all. Is he setting the edge? Is he ever dropping into coverage, and if so how effective is he? He's our best hope right now for a complete OLB opposite Banta-Cain (if we're going to find one this year)

Brandon Meriweather - Aside from Sanders, he's the only real vet in the secondary. We need him to "get it" and start playing disciplined so that we can play primarily him and Chung out there. I like Sanders, and think he brings great leadership and solid play, and there are still plenty of Big Nickel snaps for him to play. But our best tandem at safety is if Meriweather and Chung and handle all the duties.

Which three will you have your eye on tonight?

ALP

Butler- I dont think hes anywhere near as bad as most of you guys make him out to be. hes a player, and with bodden down he IS our starting CB, so we might all accept it. This kid is getting criticized left and right, and honestly, im really ready for him to shut a lot of people up.

Meriweather- the safety position on this D is important, and even more so when your cornerbacks and other safety are either second year players or rookies. This piece needs to work, and needs to work efficiently. If meriweather starts playing better, like i think he can, he will improve this defense by leaps and bounds. He is one of the main keys this year, if he improves, our D improves....if he does not, this D will be giving up 25+ ppg for the whole year. we NEED meriweather to play well on D more than any other unproven player on our D.

Mayo- I love this guy. and I loved the pick when we made it. Although mayo has played pretty well this year, he does need to take the next step. Forget int's and sacks, what we need from Mayo is TFL, FF, and passes deflected. I remeber bruschi and seau playing in this same D and knowing well enough where the play is going where they would burst through the hole to tackle a RB for a loss of 1-3 yds. We need those plays. Dominate on 1st down, and the rest of your job is much easier.

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Last time I lived in New England the Pats became a Dynasty

Then I moved away and they haven't won since

...now I'm moving back, and a Lombardi I predict

IllegalContact

actually, cunningham has been playing in place of TBC, not opposite him.

Calciumee

Didn't he start there last week?

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JoeShmoe

I'm praying Ninkovich is on the bench where he belongs

I'm praying Marshall doesn't annihilate Arrington/Butler

Im praying Merriweather doesnt go 'freelancing'

Box_O_Rocks

Ron Brace, Myron Pryor, and maybe Kyle Love. Hold the line.

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Rob0729

People forget about Cunningham is that he is basically in his preseason. He is learning the game speed and the offense during season because he lost valuable time in the preseason. I think he would have been further progressed right now if he had that month.

The Brandon Five

This. Need to stop Ronnie Brown (5.4 YPC this year).

JackBauer

Which is great, because to my eyes Cunningham has looked good so far. That is to say, he's looked like a rookie, but he doesn't look like he has any gaping liabilities and thus like he has a future with this defense.

Sicilian

Right, but in my opinion, our ideal situation (with this current group of players) is to have TBC and Cunningham playing the majority of the OLB snaps. It hasn't happened yet, but I think it is far better than using one of those guys with Ninkovich or Crable, until I see otherwise from those players.