Why has AD struggled with us?

[carolinatony]

While we wait to see if we get Peppers I have a question for fellow fans.
Why has AD struggled with us. I know he was hurt last year but he hasn't made the impact we thought from a All-Pro. Have you been happy with his play,was he used wrong; do you expect more from him this year?
thanks

 

[mgcolby]

What are you talking about? He has done anything but struggle. Other than getting hurt last year. He has been versatile and has done everything asked of him. This is not Baltimore's one gap attack defense.

 

[eom]

I don't know about that.
I think he's just being used differently than he was in baltimore, so you don't get as many 'spectacular' plays, but he's still a contributor.

 

[ALP]

look, AD was the only guy who could rush on our team last yr, so opposing offenses focused on him....we need other to help out to really see AD's impact

 

[maverick4]

The OP likely thinks Seymour, AD, and Wilfork are bums for not putting up the sexy stats.

 

[carolinatony]

"I don't know about that.
I think he's just being used differently than he was in baltimore, so you don't get as many 'spectacular' plays, but he's still a contributor."


You may be right. I don't see that many games down here in Carolina but I guess I did expect those 'spectacular' plays.
thanks

 

[eom]

he made a few --- I forget the actual game, but there was one sack where he dragged the qb, and I think a blocker, about 20 yds into the backfield.
that was freaking awesome, if anybody remembers the play I mean.

what you have to bear in mind is that he's played a good chunk of the time on the inside, and you just won't see those sexy olb sack #'s from in there, especially if they've got him dropping into coverage instead of blitz attacking, like you might see in balt.

 

[mtbykr]

This thread sounds like a lot of callers to WEEI. You know the ones that think Seymore sucks because he doesn't get enough sacks, and Wilfork, ect.... AD has thrived with the pats and makes us very versatile when he's in there. One thing you can't be when you are a pats fan, is individual player stat conscience. The pats are concerned with wins, nothing more.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I don't think carolinatony is completely off base.... nor do I think it would be accurate to say that AD has "struggled"

Obviously there's a learning curve with the Patriots D - and injuries don't help

Part of it is our high expectations for Thomas coming out of Baltimore when he was used to playing in the Ravens system along side guys who were taking a lot of attention - and I think some fan expectations weren't realistic

Thomas' true value is his versatility - and if Peppers gets signed some might look at that as an indictment of Thomas as Peppers will supplant him at his position - but I look at this as a situation where we can strengthen the team BECAUSE of Thomas' versatility.

That's not an answer to CarolinaTony's question but I think it does provide some valuable perspective (IMHO)

 

[carolinatony]

My whole point was that we need a better PASS rusher in this year draft so I was throwing this out there for some talk. It seems like we didn't sack the QB as much as we wanted last year.
Thanks for the replies

 

[eom]

I agree about the pass rush part, but bear in mind they had a ton of injuries last year ---- maybe 15(??) on ir.
it got so bad that towards the end of the year they even signed colvin and a 50 yr old seau out of their swimming pools to play half the snaps 3 days later.
all this means ad was playing a lot of different roles, filling in for other players on the inside, and generally taken out of what you might've been accustomed to seeing him do.

if I remember right, I think the pats had pretty good sack #'s the year before.

 

[Deus Irae]

My whole point was that we need a better PASS rusher in this year draft so I was throwing this out there for some talk. It seems like we didn't sack the QB as much as we wanted last year.
Thanks for the replies

Last year, AdT was injured. The year before, the Patriots were #2 in the NFL in sacks, even though he had a lesser, nagging injury and was moved about a bit. While I'd agree with the notion that Thomas' getting injured in both of his two seasons in New England (and his temporary move to the inside) has limited his impact to less than what people might have been hoping for, I would not agree that he's struggled.

 

[MassPats38]

I don't see him struggling. He was not in is element as ILB (not exactly a sack happy position) but handled the change well. When moved to OLB, he did just fine and was more at home.

Sack drop-offs this year are a factor of the offense not blowing up the opposing defense like it did in 2007, leaving close games. Opposing offenses were not forced to pass, thus the sack numbers dropped this year. That and injuries does not reflect on Adalius doing his job.

And yes, Adalius sacking Favre and Washington at the same time in the first Jets game was probably my favorite play of 2008.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Thomas has had a huge impact for us. WTF are you talking about?

 

[Joker]

Bing Bang Bong!

you tell'em, BFTW

 

[Patjew]

Because he hasn't.

 

[Patjew]

he made a few --- I forget the actual game, but there was one sack where he dragged the qb, and I think a blocker, about 20 yds into the backfield.
that was freaking awesome, if anybody remembers the play I mean.

what you have to bear in mind is that he's played a good chunk of the time on the inside, and you just won't see those sexy olb sack #'s from in there, especially if they've got him dropping into coverage instead of blitz attacking, like you might see in balt.

......................................

 

[patriots pam]

AD+struggled...does.not.compute.


carolinatony, I understand about not getting many games because I don't live in NE either. I suggest you do what I do on game days - get yourself to a bar that has NFL Ticket and multiple teevees. Enjoy!

 

[Bring Back Antowain!]

Hearing posts like these really frustrates me.

Adalius struggling?

Not at all. Any player who can play in 99% of a teams snaps, in every package and sub-package is not struggling.

He was our best pass rusher before going down injured last year. He would have been on track for about 10 sacks. He was also very good in coverage.

He has done everything asked of him, and is arguably our most IMPORTANT defender next to Vince Wilfork.

 

[eom]

......................................

dude, you are awesome.

that is not struggling.

if they can keep him on the outside, and put a little heat opposite him, like a crable, draft pick, peppers, or whoever, I think carolinatony will be in for a very good season.

also, if you can't go to a bar, you can usually watch the live feeds online.