PATRIOT64

I am surprised that most here - (not including the diehard homies) are not the least bit concerned about the defense this upcoming season.

Lets start with the secondary ...

Asante is all but gone,Gay will likely NOT be back,Hobbs is erratic and usually gets torched by top flight receivers,Harrison is another year older and James Sanders has some skills but not totally proven as of yet,Merriweather has no ball catching skills and is still very young..

The Linebacking Corps....

Bruschi and Seau are likely to retire and even if not are another year older and slower
Colvin our best pass rusher is cut for cap space
Vrabel and Thomas are 30+ years old - good but they can't do it all
No one inside (besides an in and out Adalius) unless we obtain a super LB in free agency or have to rely on a superb rookie campaign by pick of the draft,Woods and Alexander are more STers than starters.

The Front 3 of Seymour,Wilfork and Warren are solid but have not been the pass rushing threat or sack getters in 2007 like they were in 2006 and the stats obviously show that,so theres hoping that they can get back to that fierce play again somewhat - Seymour has not been the same as in the early glory days and the front 4 are going to have to be at thier best more than ever.

While BB is an great coach and very smart its going to take more than just a midas touch for this defense to be as good as it was in the past,I for one am seriously worried about what it looks like right now.

While I am not saying we are doomed I think the offense must be even better than last year to keep some pressure of what could be a younger but not as good defense like in recent years.

This is a big concern IMO...Probably most here think BB is god and can do no wrong and will fix it up to top notch D but I think he has his work cut out this season and not getting younger of D through the draft at LB in recent years could start to hurt a bit.

We need one hell of a draft at areas of the D and some prize pickups in FA for me to relax about it.

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BrianPat

Free Agency hasn't even started yet, we could end up with a fantastic defense by the time training camp rolls around. Remember what everyone was thinking about our pass offense last year before FA and the draft ??

It'll work out !! I can never understand worrying about something you have no control over and the people that do, have a fantastic track record at doing the right thing ?

BelichickFan

If the season started this weekend, sure. Be patient, wait and see what happens. All I am concerned about is losing Samuel and depth for now. Colvin was out the last half of the season. Gay is a JAG. Bruschi and Seau haven't retired yet. There's lots and lots of time to replace one quality starter.

chrisfx811

Your thread title makes it sound like you're not worried at all, then your post is the opposite.

I am concerned about our defense going into 2008, because we have a few glaring holes to fill, and not having the 31st pick makes matters worse.

With that pick, I'd be confident we'd get a guy like Gholston @ #7, and then ARC or another quality DB @ #31.

With $20-23M available and a thin FA class, I am wondering how realistic it is that we pull in a big name over other teams with more $$$.

Rob0729

I will be worried if this team is what is it in May. Our defense was in worse shape after the 2002 season and they turned it around into an incredible defense in 2003 with our biggest free agent acquisition going down in the second game of the season.

Rob0729

The defense isn't all that far away. We were fourth in yards allowed, fourth in points allowed last year (we gave up 0.7 more points a game more than the best team in this category), second in sacks, and sixth in interceptions. We had a top 5 defense in 2003.

Yes, we will lose Samuel and Colvin. But both Vrabel and Thomas may be over 30, but they are young enough that neither should drop off in talent this year.

Seymour had a down year, but he also was coming off major surgery and missed the entire preseason and the first six games of the year. Having a complete offseason and preseason should allow him to return to dominance. If he does, it makes the entire o-line better.

I still think this defense is two or three players from dominance. These players can be added through free agency and the draft. I felt less confident about this defense after the 2002 season and basically the addition of Harrison made this team go from horrible to spectacular.

richpats

I won't be worried until the fate of our season depends on stopping an offense from reaching the end zone. Before then, I'm cool.

Maroney's Dreads

Did I miss the announcement of the season starting before the draft and free agency? PANIC!

Keegs

I really have no idea how to answer that question.

how do you expect any of us to know on this board if there are any other pats fans anywhere, that are worried about the defense?

i don't have access to that kind of information.

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Real World

I'm very concerned, but not in a panic. Let's wait till free agency is over before we get hysterical. At this point though, all things considered, it is a concern.

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