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When New England drafted Dont'a Hightower this year, Ninkovich swung over to defensive end. The play he made Sunday, the play that locked the game in the Patriots' favor, was a defensive end making a linebacker's play. It was a workman making a craftsman's play.
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re: Well-written Ron Ninkovich article on Grantland
Good read. Nink has developed into one of the better all-around linemen in the game. He's really worked to develop his game. Great Patriot.
I also agree with his analysis of the game - it was a nice, workmanlike but somewhat sloppy rout, leaving plenty to be desired. One sided, but not too dominant. Not the emotional slugfest of the Denver-Baltimore game, the roller-coaster of the Seattle-Atlanta game, or the incredible high of Colin Kaepernick's game for the ages against Green Bay. I didn't want those kind of games, personally. I wanted this kind of game - nice and sloppy, not to close, not too perfect, plenty of room to get better, but still pretty convincing. Perfet, except for the injury to Gronk.
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To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid
"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi
re: Well-written Ron Ninkovich article on Grantland
Ninko is STILL a vastly underrated player, even by his own fans. For years the Pats fans have compared every OLB to Mike Vrabel, and hoping someone would eventually measure up. Well the fact is that Rob Ninkovich HAS measured up. Statistically Mike Vrabel had only one year better than the one Ninko has turned in this year, and several that weren't as good. More importantly Rob has had the knack of doing his best work at the most critical times.
I mean, think about what you were thinking 4 years ago when you heard that the Pats had just signed Rob Ninkovitch to the 80 man roster. I mean, this was a guy who essentially was a failed long snapper and a 3 time loser in trying to stick on an NFL roster. This was a guy who managed 6 total tackles in his first 4 years in the NFL and when he came here in 2009, he hadn't had an NFL tackle since 2007, when he managed to get 2. If you say you weren't thinking "camp fodder",. then you are just flat out lying. Even Grid didn't see this one coming.
Those are pretty humble beginnings for a guy who is easily one of the top 5 defensive players on this team with only Wilfolk, Mayo, McCourty, and Talib ranked as high (imho). BB has made a lot of very good FA moves over the years. Finding Rob Ninkovich is one of the better ones.
re: Well-written Ron Ninkovich article on Grantland
Quote:
Originally Posted by patfanken
Ninko is STILL a vastly underrated player, even by his own fans. For years the Pats fans have compared every OLB to Mike Vrabel, and hoping someone would eventually measure up. Well the fact is that Rob Ninkovich HAS measured up. Statistically Mike Vrabel had only one year better than the one Ninko has turned in this year, and several that weren't as good. More importantly Rob has had the knack of doing his best work at the most critical times.
I mean, think about what you were thinking 4 years ago when you heard that the Pats had just signed Rob Ninkovitch to the 80 man roster. I mean, this was a guy who essentially was a failed long snapper and a 3 time loser in trying to stick on an NFL roster. This was a guy who managed 6 total tackles in his first 4 years in the NFL and when he came here in 2009, he hadn't had an NFL tackle since 2007, when he managed to get 2. If you say you weren't thinking "camp fodder",. then you are just flat out lying. Even Grid didn't see this one coming.
Those are pretty humble beginnings for a guy who is easily one of the top 5 defensive players on this team with only Wilfolk, Mayo, McCourty, and Talib ranked as high (imho). BB has made a lot of very good FA moves over the years. Finding Rob Ninkovich is one of the better ones.
I agree completely. Honestly I remember him being the first guy I dropped in Madden whenever I would start a franchise that year. Not saying my Madden choices matter, just a reflection of my value of him as a Pat.
Im glad that I, and a lot of other fans were wrong and Belichick was right. I mean seriously just look that this play from last night. Amazing job by Ninko limiting the damage, which I feel was the key for the whole D last night.
The homer in me wants to ask... who really had the bigger game Ninkovich or Watt?
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Last edited by muslimman; 01-15-2013 at 03:15 AM..
re: Well-written Ron Ninkovich article on Grantland
Quote:
Originally Posted by patfanken
Ninko is STILL a vastly underrated player, even by his own fans. For years the Pats fans have compared every OLB to Mike Vrabel, and hoping someone would eventually measure up. Well the fact is that Rob Ninkovich HAS measured up. Statistically Mike Vrabel had only one year better than the one Ninko has turned in this year, and several that weren't as good. More importantly Rob has had the knack of doing his best work at the most critical times.
I mean, think about what you were thinking 4 years ago when you heard that the Pats had just signed Rob Ninkovitch to the 80 man roster. I mean, this was a guy who essentially was a failed long snapper and a 3 time loser in trying to stick on an NFL roster. This was a guy who managed 6 total tackles in his first 4 years in the NFL and when he came here in 2009, he hadn't had an NFL tackle since 2007, when he managed to get 2. If you say you weren't thinking "camp fodder",. then you are just flat out lying. Even Grid didn't see this one coming.
Those are pretty humble beginnings for a guy who is easily one of the top 5 defensive players on this team with only Wilfolk, Mayo, McCourty, and Talib ranked as high (imho). BB has made a lot of very good FA moves over the years. Finding Rob Ninkovich is one of the better ones.
I mostly agree, although I'd put Spikes and maybe Chandler Jones ahead of him on the defensive player rankings. IMO Wilfork and Mayo are the top guys, McCourty and Spikes are right behind, and then Talib, Ninkovich and Jones are on the tier right behind them.
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re: Well-written Ron Ninkovich article on Grantland
Quote:
Originally Posted by muslimman
I agree completely. Honestly I remember him being the first guy I dropped in Madden whenever I would start a franchise that year. Not saying my Madden choices matter, just a reflection of my value of him as a Pat.
Im glad I, and a lot of other fans were wrong and Belichick was right. I mean seriously just look that this play from last night. Amazing job by Ninko limiting the damage, which I feel was the key for the whole D last night.
The homer in me wants to ask... who really had the bigger game Ninkovich or Watt?
It was later on that very same drive that he got his interception, too.
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Well-written Ron Ninkovich article on Grantland
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