ATippett56

Marquice Cole also plays cornerback.

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The End of the Chad Ochostinko Era!

ATippett56

Rob Gronkowski and Logan Mankins played through injuries in the Super Bowl. Dan Koppen was placed on injured reserve early in the 2011 NFL Season. The three aforementioned players have been AFC Pro-Bowlers at one time or another.

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The End of the Chad Ochostinko Era!

Ronin

I am looking forward to the draft, rest of free agency, cuts from other teams, and the continuity of the young defense to all come together for offseason mini-camps/training camp. Because of the strike prior to last season, Belichick did the best he could during the season to prepare the young defense. I know there are a lot of questions regarding the defense, but with some key additions through the draft and free agency, Belichick is building depth and a quality team to challenge the AFC next year.

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supafly

The Pats defense held the NYG to one touchdown in the first 59:01 of the Super Bowl. That is certainly a great job. They held vaunted WR Cruz to 25 yds on 4 catches.

The key play of the last NYG drive was the incredibly perfectly throw pass from Manning to Manningham. I don't know if you could honestly blame the defense.

The offensive production of the last 2 losing SB's has been 14 pts and 17 pts, which is obviously pathetic.

The defense played pretty well in the playoffs, and also down the stretch last yr when the injured players returned and the safety position was shored up.

It's quite possible Belichick is addressing both (it seems that way), but is counting more on the draft to fill the needs of the few positions/depth on defense.

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Patiently waiting to defend the next "bubble" player in this summer's training camp.....

PatsFan2

To quote the Son of the Cleveland Cavaliers owner at the NBA Draft Lottery when they got the #1 Selection.

"What not to like"

supafly

Before we get too much deeper into a "defense vs offense--who's to blame more?" discussion, let's remember that it was a team effort.

That said, there were some positions on the offensive side of the ball that needed addressing too, actually there still are.

With the LM ACL injury, the probable retirement of Light, the lack of any type of stretch the field/outside the #'s WR, the need of a 3rd TE, and the loss of BJGE, the offense certainly had some needs to be addressed too.

After all, the offense will always be our bread and butter, at least in my opinion while Brady's still around. The defense needs to be able to play well enough to keep us in games, and show improvement. If they can allow something in the area of 18-19 pts allowed on average, that by all accounts should be good enough to allow us to compete at an awfully high level.

The defense will continue to be addressed via the draft and FA, and since the secondary was probably our worst area last yr, I would expect that side of the ball to be better this yr.

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Patiently waiting to defend the next "bubble" player in this summer's training camp.....

patfanken

Good question Bob with lots of possible answers. First is that since he didn't go on a single visit, even though he had a better year than Anderson, Andre Carter seems like he's likely to want to come back. He had his most winning experience ever. He comfortable in the defense, and he loved the organization. I'd go up to $4MM for a year - give him $8MM for 2, guarantee $4MM, and make it so if he or the team doesn't want the 2nd year it will be a painless split.

However don't look for this signing to come much before camp. A guy his age, coming off an injury doesn't need to participate in OTA's Right now he needs rest and rehab.

After that who knows who BB might bring in. When they signed Anderson and Carter, they weren't thought of as locks to make the team, let alone account for half our sacks.

Patience Bob, as disappointed as I was not to get Anderson back, I'm really feeling good about the way this defense played at the end of the year and who we will be adding to it from the IR and FA....so far. I'm thinking that it might not be a Texan-like turnaround, but it could be damned close.

patsfaninpittsburgh

You are playing with something alright.

I'd recommend actually watching the Super Bowl.

If you actually watch the game, you might notice a key Welker drop late in the 4th quarter that would have sealed the game.

Your problem is you are intellectually committed to something dumb...and while I admire committment in general, it can also drive one to get stuck on stupid.

1.) In general, it's not good to give up come from behind game wining TD's. What you and many others can't quite seem to grasp is that a review of recent Eli Manning history shows that Eli Manning has had several come from behind 4th quarter wins. If someone does something to everybody then nobody who had it done is noticeably bad.

Based on this the 49er defense also sucks.

Bill loses a game of "21". Therefore, he must suck as a basketball player. Yeah, but he lost to Micheal Jordan in his prime. So what? He lost so he sucks.

As the Douche says.....context.

2.) The defense bailed the offense out plenty. Between the post safety TD and the final drive....six points....including three after the INT. The offense had plenty of chances to put the game away and didn't. This culminated in the Welker drop.

Offense bailed out? Plenty...just not EVERY time.

3.) Another thing you can't grasp is the inherent concept of offense and defense. By definition, offenses are proactive and offensive ....that's why we call then offenses. Defenses are reactive and defensive....that's how they got the name defenses.

The reality of football and life is if you give anybody enough chances to do offense, they will be successful at some point. That's why the blind squirrel will eventually find the nut.

If you give a top 10 offense like the Giants enough chances, they will score. Sorry that bursts your world but it's simply reality.

4.) The reality of football is once a defense hits the 50 snap total. The balance goes to the offense. That's why you put games away as soon as possible. If you let someone hang around, bad things happen.

This is a real problem if the hanger around is a top 10 offense that has a QB with a record amount of 4th quarter come from behind wins.

This is reality.

We straight?

BlueThunder

Pats don't need a big splash on defense.....some solid vets signed that have a lower learning curve is fine. Having Ras-I back should help also. BB has grabbed the players on D that give better depth so we hopefully won't have Edelman on D or even Brown playing. If Sergio makes the roster, it will be ST only. Makes sense to give Carter healing time and sign him at the last minute.

Let the draft fill in any needs. I don't see any defensive players from the draft starting unless BB pkgs picks to move up and grab one in top 11-15 and I can't see that happening knowing BB's draft MO.

Enjoy the rest of FA and the Draft and quit worrying !

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My guns are no threat to anyone who isn't trying to deprive me or my family of life,liberty or property. They are,however, EXTREMELY dangerous to anyone who threatens to take those things.

patsfaninpittsburgh

The main thing that we can take away from this offseason is that based on the signings.....we are going to be as Bernard Pollard proof as possible.

What alot of people don't fully appreciate is that when one team wins, the amount of fate and luck required is huge.

If Gronk doesn't get hurt, we win by 2-3 scores.

Fumble recovery should be 50/50. What if we get one of the fumbles?

It's about the moment's execution and universal concepts.

Based on March and April activity, what fans should appreciate is the chance to let fate be.

Based on history and 2012 activity, we are in excellent position.

As the Polish general who surrendered Warsaw in 1939 said,...."A wheel always turns."