Jerod Mayo - Page 3 - New England Patriots Forums

MrNathanDrake · 12-13-2012, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supafly

Timmons--while a great young LB, is the best of this group IMO.

Mayo >>> Timmons

Timmons is IMO one of the most overrated LB's in the entire league.

***mayoclinic*** · 12-13-2012, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manxman2601

If they could one or both of two things, then I think they could really contend for best:

1. A legit pass rusher from the OLB spot (ie Von Miller). Doesn't have to be quite that good, but ten sacks a season good would be nice. Is this Hightower?

2. That elusive pass defending LB.

Not sure they could add both because, at best, we really only could get away with adding one LB.

Dion Jordan, Alec Ogletree and especially Anthony Barr would give them both elements in one player.

jsull87 · 12-13-2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayoclinic

San Francisco, obviously. But some of your other suggestions are a little dubious:

- Baltimore, with an aging and injured Ray Lewis; McClain is nothing special; Kruger has emerged as a good player, but not all world, and Upshaw is emerging, but I'll take Hightower. I'll take the Patriots' group any day.

- Dallas: Ware is all world. Lee is great, but he's on IR so it's not much of a comparison. Carter's never shown any consistency, and Spencer has been hot and cold. +/-

- Miami: Really? Wake sure, though he's a bit one-dimensional for my taste. Dansby is solid, but not better than Spikes or Mayo. Misi and Burnett are nothing special.

Even for the Steelers, Harrison is getting well past his prime and Foote is definitely at the end of his career.

I wouldn't anoint this group "best" yet, but they're certainly on their way to being one of the top groups in the NFL. A little depth would help, though if Dane Fletcher hadn't gotten hurt we might be better still.

Usually i agree with you on most things but in this case i personally think there may be a bit of home fan bias here.

I am not saying we are bad but i do believe the LB corps i listed if you asked most NFL people are a better bunch as of today than ours. The Steelers and Ravens LB's may be past their peak but they are still the strength of that D and i personally believe only one maybe 2 of our LB's would start on those teams. Same goes with KC and to a lesser extent Miami but i really only threw them in as an example of another solid line backing corps with a different strength to ours but one who non the less has been performing really well all year.

PatsFan2 · 12-13-2012, 08:30 AM

I always thought he had Elite Speed from the ILB position it puzzled me why we wern't using him like we are now.

If it is because of the play of Talib an Dennard our Defense is going to be a force to rekon with. Imagine we can now actually stop people...reminds of the Days of Seymour - McGinest and Vrabel.

***mayoclinic*** · 12-13-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsull87

Usually i agree with you on most things but in this case i personally think there may be a bit of home fan bias here.

I am not saying we are bad but i do believe the LB corps i listed if you asked most NFL people are a better bunch as of today than ours. The Steelers and Ravens LB's may be past their peak but they are still the strength of that D and i personally believe only one maybe 2 of our LB's would start on those teams. Same goes with KC and to a lesser extent Miami but i really only threw them in as an example of another solid line backing corps with a different strength to ours but one who non the less has been performing really well all year.

I didn't mention KC - I think they're a very talented group, though not more Han we are.

I think Pittsburgh and Baltimore are aging and living off their reputations. It's a tough comparison given 3-4 vs. 4-3, different approaches, injuries, age and trajectories, etc. But I think you're over-estimating some of those groups. JMHO.

everlong · 12-13-2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayoclinic

Wake sure, though he's a bit one-dimensional for my taste.

This is the only item where I part ways with you on this topic. Wake has improved as a run defender a lot. I'm not saying he's as good as say Woodley who plays in a similar scheme and is a great run defender but he's not a selfish player who gives up all his run responsibilities to get to the passer either. I'd say he's better than average and given his pass rushing skills I'd take him in a heartbeat.

nabwong · 12-13-2012, 09:56 PM

How can you not love Mayo? He bought a house across the street from Gillette.

***DarrylS*** · 12-14-2012, 03:37 AM

With a "better, more quality" defense Mayo and Wilfork can play more aggressively than in the past, thus more "playmaking" ability...

In the past these guys had to be conservative as there were so many gaps in our defense..

hambone1818 · 12-14-2012, 08:14 AM

I just love seeing his aggressiveness this season. I've often felt he was almost reserved, very disciplined and a great inside presence who could be relied upon to stop the run in the second tier and wasn't terrible dropping into coverage. But it always felt like he was a product of a terrible secondary and porous run defense--the guy who racked up a ton of tackles after 5+ yards.

This season you're seeing the 'playmaker' in Mayo, the aggressiveness. He's an incredible athlete, I just think he was often told to hang back to make up for weaknesses in the rest of the defense. Now that the secondary has taken shape his 'unleashing' has been a beautiful thing to watch...hopefully we see even more aggressiveness going forward because it can only mean good things are happening with the secondary.

Reckedtrek · 12-14-2012, 08:23 AM

I think Mayo's great, but I attribute his improved play this season to seeing better than 20/20 thanks to Dr. Melki.

Tell 'em Jerod sent you.

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Mayo's a beast!