BB on a Mission with the D

[PatsWickedPissah]

Obviously he looked at the seasons post 2004 and saw, what? NO SB wins. No matter what the O didn't do in 2006/7/8, clearly there were defensive 'issues' to be addressed.

Look at what he did...

1. Sent Vrabes, a former stellar pass rush specialist but past his shelf date cost packing (but took care of his family $...nice)
2. Trades Hobbsie, who probaly has no CB upside for 2fer 5th round trade ammo. Basicly FIRING the last 2 years' secondary as we'll see..
3. No move to re-sign aged late career injury prone warrior Harrison (possible shadow roster, IMO)
4. Obviously let the excerable stopgap Deltha ONeal go


In FA he added Springs and Bodden to give veteran experience and athletic talent to the DBs. Re-signed JAG safety Sanders to a reasonable deal. Same with JAG but reliable Wright. Picked up retread TBC as pass rush insurance/competition.

Then, in the draft he added...

1. Chung, a physical semi-fast hard hiting intelligent SS, a Rodney replacement who's faster than BB
2. Butler, the mid-sized, fast, play making CB of his wet dreams
3. Brace, Pryor & Richard at DT/NT to give (a) Wilfork a breather, (b) a Monster short yardage run D (c) injury backup for Wilfie (d) contract leverage and ultimate disaster insurance should there not be enough food in NE to feed Vince's family (Me, I say Vince retires a Patriot)

Remember, two more Defensive developments may occur...signing vet castoffs from training camp and of course the JT and 'vegetable seasoning' fantasy signings.

 

[JSn]

1. Chung, a physical semi-fast hard hiting intelligent SS, a Rodney replacement who's faster than BB

Dude, I'm faster than BB...

Vince Redd is a BIG dude. Wonder how he'll fare in TC this year...

 

[PatsBoy12]

Obviously he looked at the seasons post 2004 and saw, what? NO SB wins. No matter what the O didn't do in 2006/7/8, clearly there were defensive 'issues' to be addressed.

Look at what he did...

1. Sent Vrabes, a former stellar pass rush specialist but past his shelf date cost packing (but took care of his family $...nice)
2. Trades Hobbsie, who probaly has no CB upside for 2fer 5th round trade ammo. Basicly FIRING the last 2 years' secondary as we'll see..
3. No move to re-sign aged late career injury prone warrior Harrison (possible shadow roster, IMO)
4. Obviously let the excerable stopgap Deltha ONeal go


In FA he added Springs and Bodden to give veteran experience and athletic talent to the DBs. Re-signed JAG safety Sanders to a reasonable deal. Same with JAG but reliable Wright. Picked up retread TBC as pass rush insurance/competition.

Then, in the draft he added...

1. Chung, a physical semi-fast hard hiting intelligent SS, a Rodney replacement who's faster than BB
2. Butler, the mid-sized, fast, play making CB of his wet dreams
3. Brace, Pryor & Richard at DT/NT to give (a) Wilfork a breather, (b) a Monster short yardage run D (c) injury backup for Wilfie (d) contract leverage and ultimate disaster insurance shoud there not be enough food in NE to feed Vince's family (Me, I say Vince retires a Patriot)

Remember, two more Defensive developments may occur...signing vet castoffs from training camp and of course the JT and 'vegetable seasoning' fantasy signings.

I believe you covered everything. I sure like vegetable seasoning.

 

[mgteich]

As of now, compared to the 2007 team, of the 18 likely to make the roster

1) ALL 5 the FIVE corners are new.
2) 3 of the 5 OLB's are new.
3) 2 of the 4 safeties are new.
4) 3 of the 4 ILB's are new.

That's 13 of 18 of the linebackers and secondary!

The 5 holdovers from 2007 are Thomas, Woods, Bruschi, Meriweather and Sanders.

And it seems likely that this is not enough, and one more move will be made.

 

[Deus Irae]

As of today, it's the same D-line, 3 of the same 4 players at LB and the same 2 safeties from last year. There have been a lot of depth signings and the CB spot has changed. The rest is rotation, and the 'problem' of pass rush still hasn't been solved.

The offense looks otherworldly on paper, though.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

As of now, compared to the 2007 team, of the 18 likely to make the roster

1) ALL 5 the FIVE corners are new.
2) 3 of the 5 OLB's are new.
3) 2 of the 4 safeties are new.
4) 3 of the 4 ILB's are new.

That's 13 of 18 of the linebackers and secondary!

The 5 holdovers from 2007 are Thomas, Woods, Bruschi, Meriweather and Sanders.

And it seems likely that this is not enough, and one more move will be made.

Somehow I do not buy the arguement that the D was not the reason we have no SBs since 2004. Admitedly, BOTH the horrific WR corps and a defensive collapse cost us against Indy in the 2007 AFCCG. And in the SB never to be viewed agin, the offense failed to score anything close to their season average, yet when the game was on the line up for grabs, Brady drove for the leading TD and yet the defense, play after play, failed to make 3rd down stops, something all too common after the ultimate Pats 2004 D's departure.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

As of today, it's the same D-line, 3 of the same 4 players at LB and the same 2 safeties from last year. There have been a lot of depth signings and the CB spot has changed. The rest is rotation, and the 'problem' of pass rush still hasn't been solved.

The offense looks otherworldly on paper, though. PWP: Folkin A! it does!

You raise a good point that I neglected to mention. I believe that BB's moves in this draft show that he has immense confidence in at least a few of the young 2008 LB corps in training...Guyton, Redd, Crable and possibly Rudd.

 

[mgteich]

Did my post indicate that I disagree? I believe that the inability to stop crunch time 3rd downs and end of the game drives has cost us Super Bowls.

The offense will NOT be the reason that we are not SB-favorites over the next three years. We just re-loaded with Taylor, Galloway/Tate, Lewis, Baker and brought in a couple of potential starters at OT and OG.

Somehow I do not buy the arguement that the D was not the reason we have no SBs since 2004. Admitedly, BOTH the horrific WR corps and a defensive collapse cost us against Indy in the 2007 AFCCG. And in the SB never to be viewed agin, the offense failed to score anything close to their season average, yet when the game was on the line up for grabs, Brady drove for the leading TD and yet the defense, play after play, failed to make 3rd down stops, something all too common after the ultimate Pats 2004 D's departure.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I did not intend to imply that you disagreed. I was attempting to expand on the very point that you made!

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I'm wicked nervous about the pass rush if it stay the way it is right now.

 

[Feep50]

Dude, I'm faster than BB...

LOL...... Pick,pick, pick...........


Defensive overhaul, obviously in progress, the lack of a low round OLB seems to indicate BB has a plan for the position.... Jason Taylor would be the leading candidate presumably, if BB plans on bringing someone in... I'm still hoping to see Peppers in Pats blue instead of Panther blue....

I like the secondary picks a lot....

The DLine looks solid as a rock for this year....

I wonder about Crable a lot. Maybe he will show up at camp with Hulk-like legs and shock us all.....TBC? How much does he help? Woods gonna astound us? Hmmmmmm

I was sure an OLB was gonna be picked 23, or 34 for sure...BB fooled us all again.

 

[mgteich]

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
1) I want us to sign Jason Taylor. I think that he'll go back to Miami. They didn't draft any OLB's.
2) I think that having a real secondary will help the linebackers alot.
3) Woods has developed well.
4) Crable was chosen for a reason. He looked good in pre-season. There is no reason to believe that he isn't developing.
5) Thomas is a fine OLB.
6) Redd is an unknown, but good enough to play some last year.
7) Finally, Banta-Cain is a veteran who can fill a role. Of all the OLB's available in free agency, Belichick chose Banta-Cain.

BOTTOM LINE
Taylor would be great, but we will be better than 2008 even without him.

 

[carolinatony]

If we have a pass rush this year we can win the SB imo. We really don't have any other weakness.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I wasn't happy with the lack of adding a pass rusher, but I thought about it, and maybe it's me being an optimist but I think Bill knows a lot more than us, and like the thread says he's on a mission.

If you watch the defense, they just looked so much less aggressive, it seemed like we didn't send guys that much. Maybe Bill thinks his boys are fast enough and they have the secondary to back them up? Again, I could be reaching but think about it.

We've had FA and the draft and we added nobody. To me, that means Belichick has his own little plan. Maybe he thinks this secondary is trust worthy enough to send more blitzers We'll see, god the season cannot come soon enough.

 

[Feep50]

I wasn't happy with the lack of adding a pass rusher, but I thought about it, and maybe it's me being an optimist but I think Bill knows a lot more than us, and like the thread says he's on a mission.

If you watch the defense, they just looked so much less aggressive, it seemed like we didn't send guys that much. Maybe Bill thinks his boys are fast enough and they have the secondary to back them up? Again, I could be reaching but think about it.

We've had FA and the draft and we added nobody. To me, that means Belichick has his own little plan. Maybe he thinks this secondary is trust worthy enough to send more blitzers We'll see, god the season cannot come soon enough.

Well organized and thought out post BP..... I was nodding, (my head in agreement, not dozing) while reading it.....

I just get the feeling a final piece is still to added, BB just hasn't let us in on the secret yet...

 

[Lampshade]

It may have been said, but Richard and Pryor on the same dline is awesome.

 

[PATRIOT64]

With no major moves at OLB,I think Banta-Cain is all but a lock for this team - Maybe in there quite often and more than expected.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It may have been said, but Richard and Pryor on the same dline is awesome.

Well...dunno how with Brace how Richard & Pryor can make the 53 as well.

 

[RoughingthePasser]

I wasn't happy with the lack of adding a pass rusher, but I thought about it, and maybe it's me being an optimist but I think Bill knows a lot more than us, and like the thread says he's on a mission.

If you watch the defense, they just looked so much less aggressive, it seemed like we didn't send guys that much. Maybe Bill thinks his boys are fast enough and they have the secondary to back them up? Again, I could be reaching but think about it.

We've had FA and the draft and we added nobody. To me, that means Belichick has his own little plan. Maybe he thinks this secondary is trust worthy enough to send more blitzers We'll see, god the season cannot come soon enough.

Right on.
This thread is the cream man.....big questions from us on the pass rush but BB has stuff covered.
I'm really anxious to see our D and hopefully snag JT or JP!!
Go Pats!

 

[PatsDparty]

I don't have any stats to back this up, but I do remember the pass rushing being pretty decent with AD at OLB, before he got hurt. It was really after his injury that the defense looked very pedestrian with the pressure.

It's amazing how over a few years now we just influxed a lot of young talent (not that I'm ready to put any of these guys in the hall of fame just yet)

It's late and I'm probably forgetting some guys:

DB: Merriweather, J. Sanders, T. Williams, Chung, Springs, Bodden, Butler, Wilhite, Wheatley
Dline: Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Wright, Brace
ILB: Mayo, Bruschi, Guyton
OLB: AD, Woods, Crabel, MacKenzie. TBC

I think we're going to be surprised by how fast this D and aggressive this D is.