Patriot Missile

Just wanted to get a few posters take on some of the new looks we've been seeing on defense. I do realize that this conversion away from the 34 wasn't just this year but a gradual progression.

I find it interesting that so many teams are trying so hard to move to the 34 and duplicate the success of the Pats and Steelers while Belichick is evolving away from it. Describe for me some of the changes you've seen and how you think it affects the way this team drafts in the future.

Do you think we are moving away because we don't have the personal to run it? Or, Belichick see's something in todays game that requires something different?

mayoclinic

Some of each.

We've never been an exclusive 3-4 team. BB is never one to be driven by ideology, he adapts to the situation - personnel, the challenges of the other team, etc. Vrabel and Bruschi weren't particularly well suited to the 4-3 scheme, he adapted to maximize their value. Mayo and Guyton have flexibility at both schemes, he's adapting to maximize their value and the depth on DL vs. LB. The NFL is jumping on the 3-4 making it harder to find the right players (never easy in the first place), so BB is moving to a more hybrid scheme.

We'll never be a Tampa or Indy type of 4-3 team. The closest NFL team to us in this respect is Baltimore, which moves guys around and changes schemes a lot. BB will keep doing whatever it takes to stay ahead of the curve and win.

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"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

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Ochmed Jones

With BB I think it is all about the matchups. He wants a defense that can look at an opposing teams strengths and take those strengths away. The more flexibility he can get with the defense, the more options he has availaable in breakign down the opposing teams offense.

I can see BB moving away from 3-4 or 4-3 guys and going for guys that can project in either system. Having the right personnel to accomplish this is very difficult.

I think if you were to ask BB and he were to give you a striaght up answer, he would say that he does not care if his defense is ranked #1 overall, and does a great job of shutting down the pass, but teams can run at will against it.
I think he wants a team that if flexible enough to completely shut down a Pittsburgh or Jacksonville running attack forcing them to try and beat BB by doing something they are not good at one week and then turn around the next week and shut down Peyton or Warner's passing attack forcing them to run it on us the next week.

Flexibility and discipline are the keys.

mayoclinic

Very nice. I concur.

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"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

The Coon

I would gladly trade away our first rounder plus additional 2nd rounders in order to get Suh this coming April. The Defense would be amazing with Suh Warren Wilfork and Wright anchoring the line with our revamped secondary.

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mayoclinic

That's a lot to trade for one player. I watched a bit of Suh last night against Missouri, and didn't think he rated that kind of trade. And we have more pressing needs. But he's a great player, I agree.

I doubt BB does your trade, even if he loves Suh. We had plenty of ammo to trade up in the last draft, and didn't.

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"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

The Coon

I love this guy. Hes the kind of DL that doesnt come along very often, if at all. He can play the DE in the 3-4 and DT in the 4-3 so the versatility is there. He creates the kind of push in the backfield that allows you to great pressure up front without having to send the house on the blitz. But the best part is his ability to also drop back into coverage, which he showed last night with the pick that turned the game in NUs favor. He can flat out do it all and i still believe games (ESPECIALLY COME PLAYOFF TIME) are won in the trenches, why not get the best DL to build around for the present and the future. We got rid of Seymour and yes i like Wright but we havent totally replaced Seymour yet. Lets get Mr. Suh and watch this defense go to the next level in 2010

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mayoclinic

He was one my short list of juniors who ended up not declaring who I wanted us to take a serious look at in 2009 (including Brandon Spikes and Eric Norwood). I had suggested him as an option at #23 before he ended up staying in school. But he will be a top 10 and probably top 5 pick. The cost of trading up, and the salary cap cost, would be enormous. Is he another Seymour? And we have significant needs at other positions.

Again, I have nothing against Suh. I was a big fan of his last year, and he's done nothing to convince me that he's not (perhaps along with McCoy from Oklahoma) one of the best DE/DT prospects to come around in a while. I just don't see it happening.

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"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

The Coon

i think he will be better than seymour because of his coverage ability.

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cstjohn17

Seymour was a 5 time probowl player, with 3 superbowl rings and some kid from college is going to better than him without playing a single down? because of his coverage skills? how much coverage do DTs do these days?

I like Suh a lot but lets not get carried away.