MrNathanDrake

-Kyle Arrington is our most underrated player. He has 4 INTs on the season and led the team in tackles today. After 2nd rd bust Wheatley, 2nd rd bust Darius Butler, and 4th rd bust Jon Wilhite, we finally found a solid second CB through UDFA. No, he's not a Pro Bowler. But he's a solid Corner that I've yet to really see get "picked on" by QBs the same way those 3 busts did in New England.

-Our defense is completely different with Haynesworth in the game. He occupied 3 blockers at times which freed up Carter to get one-on-one with the Lineman and get a sack.

-Brandon Spikes had his coming out party this week. He seems to be flourishing without Mayo on the field. He's stepping up and making plays. He blitzed really well today. Spikes brings everything to the defense that Mayo doesnt... Vocal Leadership, Emotion, and Energy.

-Kyle Love is better than I thought. And much like Spikes, he enjoys getting the crowd involved. He's looking the part of an NFL DT every game.

-Gerard Warren never should've been cut. I said it when he was cut, and I'm saying it again. He proved me right today when he made some good stops at the LOS.

-Gary Guyton still looks lost on the field. He's had enough time to adapt to the NFL. I give up on him at this point. If he hasn't "got it" by now, he never will. Anyone else notice that play when he stood there and let Witten run right by him?

-Leigh Bodden has seriously fallen off. He was a good #1 CB for us in 2009. I thought he'd be a decent #3 CB for us this year but he hasn't done much at all. Perhaps he's still getting his legs under him after sitting out all of last season, but right now he's a disappointment. I hope he can get it together by playoff time.

-Andre Carter was beasting. Besides his 2 crucial sacks, his pass rush caused the INT that Romo threw early in the game.


-This one isnt defensive related, but Stevan Ridley is NOT a Kick Returner! He's a downfield runner with a short range burst. He'll shed a couple tackles, but he isnt that open field runner who makes a bunch of people miss. There's no doubt in my mind that Brandon Tate could've contributed more to our team than someone like Tarapian.


Overall a solid performance by the defense today. Holding the Cowboys to 16 points. And some of those points came off shortened field due to offenses turn overs.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

DarrylS

I agree with most of what you say, except on Guyton.. have to remember he was an udfa and our expectations should reflect that. Just like our pleasure with Arrington doing so well as an UDFA.

Do not denigrate Mayo, he was all pro last year, and has led this team in tackles..perhaps he is not as emotional, but has done the job well for us. To gauge a player by their level of emotion is folly. Most will say that Mayo is extremely intelligent, and is one of the hardest workers on this team. I like Spikes, but they are complimentary players..

__________________
"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

MrNathanDrake

I didn't denigrate Mayo. I simply said Spikes is flourishing without Mayo on the field and brings a different energy to the D. I think that's pretty obvious and can't be argued.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Gumby

hmmm. I read (past tense) 'BRINGS EVERYTHING TO THE DEFENSE THAT MAYO DOESNT' as a denigration.

If 2 posters in a row read it that way; I dont think you clearly said what you say you meant.

regardless; good if you think Spikes can synergize w/ Mayo to make the team better. as long as you arent proposing some either or argument. Mayo was a pro-bowler and usually the leading tackler.

MrNathanDrake

LOL... Mayo does not bring those qualities to the Defense, Spikes does.

That's all I meant by it so stop trying to make something out of nothing.



Oh yeah. Anyone notice Spikes chasing down Dez Bryant from behind?? Not bad for someone who caught flack over his poor 40 times.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

DarrylS

INOW what you say is completely correct and there is no room for discussion..

If you have not noticed pretty much everything on this board is argued, it is called opinions..

You state

That somehow this is better than what Mayo brings.. makes no sense, as this defense is complimentary in all aspects.

Do not see Wilfork with a lot of emotion, energy or vocal leadership.. does that mean that Kyle Love who thumps his chest a lot is a better player????

__________________
"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

MrNathanDrake

Stop right there.

You're already wrong. You're making things up. I never said it's "better" than what Mayo brings.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

livinginthe past

Minus the ability to use 'vocal leadership' Mayo resorted to using the lesser known, but equally effective, "psychic leadership"

He would simply think the defense into place, and it would be so.

__________________
"I gave George Allen an unlimited budget", Edward Bennett, the principal owner of the Redskins, said a few weeks after hiring Allen, "and he's already exceeded it."

smg93

For what it's worth, I didn't read it as denigrating Mayo, just that Spikes brings a different personality to the field.

ALP

it seems to me that now that Mayo (the unquestionable defensive leader [at least for lb's]) is out, Spikes feel more comfortable egging on the the defense, where before he may feel like he is stepping on Mayo's toes


hopefully these last two games have shown spikes that he can be the vocal leader of the D, w/ Mayo still being the actual leader on the field, i have no problems with that because its become obvious Mayo is more of the quite guy who likes to 'show' you how its done....both types of guys are needed (though i like to see defensive players celebrate, i like it much less when its on 1st and 2nd down)

__________________
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