So far, Hobbs and O'Neal have been solid

[PATSNUTme]

Hobbs certainly gets his share of bad posts on this board. But I think he has been solid for the 2 games this year. So, if he's going to be dumped on he should also get some kudo's for playing well.

O'Neal played solid yesterday in his first start. He also made a couple of plays last week in limited action including a TD saving hustle play.

If their play continues then our concerns about the CB position. Sure they will get beat from time to time, all corners but they look solid right now.

 

[Dagg]

Re: So far, Hobbs and O'Niell have been solid

Hobbs looks great and Oneal has been awesome!! Every time I look Oneal is like a blanket on some WR love his speed and height. This was our biggest weakness going into the season but man they are looking great. Its been a huge under the radar pickup but much needed especially with our offense not being in high gear sans Brady.

 

[ScottieC]

Hobbs certainly gets his share of bad posts on this board. But I think he has been solid for the 2 games this year. So, if he's going to be dumped on he should also get some kudo's for playing well.

O'Neal played solid yesterday in his first start. He also made a couple of plays last week in limited action including a TD saving hustle play.

If their play continues then our concerns about the CB position. Sure they will get beat from time to time, all corners but they look solid right now.

That 2nd Half defense was the best I've seen in a long time. Everyone looked great.

Ad's sack was the best sack I've ever seen and I was impressed with the way Mayo played as well.

My concern with the O-Line continues. This needs to be a HIGH priority in the 2009 Draft.

 

[BradyToMoss]

Re: So far, Hobbs and O'Niell have been solid

I agree, I've hammered Hobbs on a number of occasions and based on what I've seen through 2 weeks, he's proved me wrong. Keep it up Ellis.

O'Neil, looks like we may have found gold with him. I have a feeling that he's a perfect fit for this defense and system. His speed, athletism and quickness are all still there, you can see it. He'll improve with each game as he gets more and more reps in the system with Capers. These guys as our 1/2 CBs is nothing to sneeze at and Sanders/Wheats/Wilhite provide great depth against 3/4 WR sets.

Speaking of Wheatley, I must say I'm kind of surprised he was inactive yesterday. Starting to wonder if he's having some shaky practices. Would be nice to atleast see him get some nickel back reps.

 

[marty]

Re: So far, Hobbs and O'Niell have been solid

Ellis had some beautiful defenses yesterday! O'Neil has been a pleasant surprise, hopefully he'll remain as focused, all season!

 

[PatsFan37]

Re: So far, Hobbs and O'Niell have been solid

Speaking of Wheatley, I must say I'm kind of surprised he was inactive yesterday. Starting to wonder if he's having some shaky practices. Would be nice to atleast see him get some nickel back reps.

I think it's a numbers game. L.Sanders, O'Neal, and Hobbs provide plenty of starters, with Sanders and Harrison at safety and Meriweather able to play nickel. So between Wilhite and Wheatley, you take the better special teamer, who is Wilhite. Wheatley is the better returner, but there are a number of guys ahead of him there as well.

As much as everyone (myself included) thought Wheatley would start after Bryant was cut, I don't want to go the other way and say he must be doing poorly in practice. He showed a lot in preseason but Belichick relies on veterans to know where to play in a complex defense. It's only the second game.

 

[DefenseRules]

I credit the coaching of Dom Capers for the production coming out of that secondary. Especially Hobbs' production. His technique is so much better than it was last year. That is a credit to him and the coaching that he has received.

 

[emoney_33]

I credit the coaching of Dom Capers for the production coming out of that secondary. Especially Hobbs' production. His technique is so much better than it was last year. That is a credit to him and the coaching that he has received.

Ya know I called this, I knew the credit would go to Capers and not Hobbs.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

I credit the coaching of Dom Capers for the production coming out of that secondary. Especially Hobbs' production. His technique is so much better than it was last year. That is a credit to him and the coaching that he has received.

Capers has done an outstanding job of getting the most from his players-Hobbs is a perfect example of that. The Dom wasn't our first offseason move for nothing Just what the doctor ordered-Hobbs is looking awesome.

 

[tatepatsfan]

Hobbs played excellent yesterday. Our D looked great, I was thoroughly impressed.

 

[tedylb]

My only complaint with Hobbs and O'Neal, who have been solid, is their chest thumping after every play, esp. Hobbs. I think it's classless when the opposition does it, and I hope Dom curtails this.

 

[fourthandmiles]

So far I love us O'Neil's style of play. I like it better than Asante so far. The interceptions are nice but ?

How about Merriweather's interception? Everyone was really happy for him. And to come against Farve? Gravy.

 

[DefenseRules]

Ya know I called this, I knew the credit would go to Capers and not Hobbs.

I know that I said that the improvement of Hobbs' technique is a credit to Hobbs and the coaching that he has received.
I didn't give Capers all of the credit. The secondary is playing well. The players deserve all of the credit for playing at such a high level, but some of the credit should go to the coach of the secondary. Most of us, myself included, were a little concerned about what we would see from those guys.
I'm seeing much better technique from these guys than I've seen in the past couple of years.

 

[PATSNUTme]

My only complaint with Hobbs and O'Neal, who have been solid, is their chest thumping after every play, esp. Hobbs. I think it's classless when the opposition does it, and I hope Dom curtails this.

I agree but they are not the only ones. It's the culture of the game.

 

[PJM]

They have done well. Part of the reason is that there has been more pressure on the opposition QBs than during pre-season so the DBs didn't have to put out fires all over the field and could concentrate on their roles in the scheme. More knowledgeable people can correct me but it always seems to me that BB wants his secondary to do a specific job in sync with the pressure from the rest of the defence and if interceptions and big plays happen that is a bonus rather than the criteria for picking them.

The chest thumping stuff has crept into most sports and it stinks, but at least our players don't seem to let it affect their attitude when executing their responsibilities.

 

[rusH1023]

Re: So far, Hobbs and O'Niell have been solid

Ellis had some beautiful defenses yesterday! O'Neil has been a pleasant surprise, hopefully he'll remain as focused, all season!

And as healthy.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I know that I said that the improvement of Hobbs' technique is a credit to Hobbs and the coaching that he has received.
I didn't give Capers all of the credit. The secondary is playing well. The players deserve all of the credit for playing at such a high level, but some of the credit should go to the coach of the secondary. Most of us, myself included, were a little concerned about what we would see from those guys.
I'm seeing much better technique from these guys than I've seen in the past couple of years.

Hobbs has always played with great technique. That's why he's played here since midseason 2006 as a rookie at 5'9" even when he's hurt... The problem was not with Hobbs, it was with the scheme and to some extent the inability to get consistent pressure absent (and occasionally even with) the blitz.


One of the reasons I get pissed at the need to constantly critique here is because it's so often baseless.

 

[JFK]

So far we have played the Jets and Chiefs. I like O'Neal though.

 

[Hudson Pats Fan]

O'Neal and Hobbs made a great CB duo yesterday...hopefully if O'Neal keeps up his good play everyone can spell his name right too! Sorry it was just bugging me hah.

 

[Lloyd_Christmas]

Hobbs has always played with great technique. That's why he's played here since midseason 2006 as a rookie at 5'9" even when he's hurt... The problem was not with Hobbs, it was with the scheme and to some extent the inability to get consistent pressure absent (and occasionally even with) the blitz.


One of the reasons I get pissed at the need to constantly critique here is because it's so often baseless.

I don't see what the big deal is. Capers deserves NONE of the credit for the improved play of Hobbs and the rest of the defensive backs? Maybe there is personal history here between some of you guys and that's why I'm not getting it.

I think it is fair to give both the players and the coaches some of the credit. No player is beyond learning and getting better whether their play last season was good or not (including their technique). Likewise, no matter how well coached, it all comes down to the players playing well.

There were a lot of plays yesterday where Favre had enough time to make a PB&J sandwich and eat it before making the throw. The difference in our defensive backfield play was not just an increase in pressure on the QB, because sometimes in that game, it took a loooooong time to get there, yet many times the receivers were covered.