Fencer

There are three reasons not to have a guy on the field:

1. He's hurt.
2. He needs a breather.
3. There's somebody better for the job.

The question I'm raising in this thread is -- whatever might happen for Reasons #1 or #2, who never (or almost never) sits for Reason #3?

On offense I make it:

QB (Brady) and starting OL are always in.
Gronk-style TE fits into every package.
If you have tall WR who demands a double-cover, he fits into every package (Moss).
That's about it.

On defense I have:

Starting safeties fit into almost every package, although the strong-safety type might line up more as a strong-side LB in some cases (responsible for covering the TE should the need arise).

Best CB fits into almost every package, although perhaps he or the free-safety type sits in some extreme jumbo (2 DB) packages.

A Seymour or young-Wilfork type of starting DL (i.e., one with pass-rushing burst) fits into every package. Ty Warren or prime Wilfork is less ideal in nickel/dime packages (but have been known to be in anyway). (Quantity 1 in a few dime packages, 2+ otherwise)

Prototypical Patriots OLBs fit in every type of situation (Quantity 2+).

ILB with good range and adequate coverage skills (Mayo) fits in every situation. (Quantity 1).

And that's about it.

Thoughts?

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"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde

Sciz

The offense is matchup-oriented, so it makes sense to keep getting guys in and out, meaning Brady and the OL are the only guys in on every play. Gronk is matchup hell on running plays and pass plays, so I think he gets 90% of the snaps, but not all. Branch is the #1 receiver, so he gets between 80% and 90%. Nobody else gets more than 80%, with Welker, Hernandez, Crumpler, Tate, Green-Ellis, Woodhead, and Vereen all getting a good amount of plays.

Here's how I classify the defense:

Every Down
McCourty
Bodden
Mayo
Wilfork (who comes off for breathers rather than because of inferiority)
Cunningham (Or whoever your stud OLB is; plays OLB on early downs, DE in subpackages)
Chung
Meriweather
(Possibly a DE like Stroud, Deaderick, or Brace, assuming Wilfork's breathers continue to come on passing downs)

Running Down Specialists
Spikes
TWarren
Deaderick
Brace
Stroud
Ninkovich

Passing Down Specialists
Guyton
Fletcher
Wright
Pryor
TBC
Other CBs
Other Safeties

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supafly

Very nice breakdown Sciz.

Fencer

With at least 13 guys on the field at once, those defenses will ROCK!!!!

__________________
"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde