PFW Blog. Paul talks about Crable at Wednesday OTA

[jays52]

Crable's fluidity, explosion, and speed were never in question. I'm curious to if he'll be getting reps with the 1's in TC. Also, if he's bigger or not, this doesn't have much to do with how strong he is, nor if it has helped/hurt his explosiveness. The only way we'll find that out is by watching him play with the pads on and the helmet buckled. August will tell us much.

 

[Dirk3601215]

NE was tied with Pit at halftime despite Moss having a bad case of the dropsies in the end zone. The game didn't get out of control until Slater muffed the KO and Pit recovered, I blame that on the coaches giving him his first KO in those conditions, old mudders like Faulk or Morris should have gotten the call in Hobbs absence - too much pressure on a SoCal rookie. With a lead Pit could get crazy off the edge, they did, the rest was history.

The three teams I listed were all playoff teams NE lost to, but if you looked at the games:
-- SD, Moss was beaten by Jammer, once in the end zone and once on a deep sideline route that could have put NE in the end zone. People were crying about Cassel's deep ball, but he put the ball in Moss' hands - Jammer's a decent CB, but Moss should have owned him. Get those early scores and the game changes. Recall BB's press conference after he'd watched the tape? BB said the team was competitive, a couple plays go the other way and they're in the game.
-- Indy, two chances to win, one dropped TD pass and one penalty to kill a drive.
-- Pit was noted above.

Any one of those games could have come out differently if not for some key mistakes. NE ate Miami's lunch the second time around, that was another playoff team. Look what they did to Arizona. The Cassel-led Pats were playing well at the end of the season despite the loss of key starters, they would have been dangerous in the post-season and Pit was no juggernaut to fear.

sounds like excuses but whatever. stuff happens in a football game and thats just the way it is. muffed punts, fumbles, missed throws. the point is that we lost those games. hopefully they dont lose them next year.

 

[livinginthe past]

sounds like excuses but whatever. stuff happens in a football game and thats just the way it is. muffed punts, fumbles, missed throws. the point is that we lost those games. hopefully they dont lose them next year.

Do you spend as much time on your own teams board as this one?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Moss was beaten by Jammer? You mean Jammer was beaten by Moss. Yes, Cassel did struggle with the deep ball last year and also missed a wide open Moss beating Darrelle Revis deep in their loss against the Jets.

Moss had the ball in his hands twice, while covered by Jammer, once in the end zone and once inside the 10 running down the sideline, neither one was a reception - Jammer 2 Moss 0.

 

[miDeuce]

This isn't worth much but I work with a dude who's a huge Michigan fan and I asked him who, based on what he saw in college would be the better pro, Crable or Woods, and he said without a doubt Crable.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

sounds like excuses but whatever. stuff happens in a football game and thats just the way it is. muffed punts, fumbles, missed throws. the point is that we lost those games. hopefully they dont lose them next year.

Observations, those games against playoff teams were winnable without major mistakes. There was a breakdown on those plays, proper execution would have changed the dynamic of the game - would it have changed the results? Hard to say, but a couple Moss TDs early against SD would have made it more interesting, Gaffney hanging onto the ball would have put the shoe on Indy's foot, and a NE lead at half time against Pit at home would have been encouraging. It is what it is, but just missing the playoffs at 11-5 after losing Brady did demonstrate that NE team had some staying power and would not have been a cakewalk in the post-season.

As for Crable working on his strength and looking a little burlier, it's what we should have expected; it's gratifying that he's doing his job in the offseason, now let's see how it translates on the field.

 

[jays52]

Arguing with Box on football is like arguing with Joel Osteen on the exploitation of ******s.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Arguing with Box on football is like arguing with Joel Osteen on the exploitation of ******s.

So people formally schooled in football would have my lunch scripturally, but I make people feel good about themselves? Either way, send money to show your love of the NE Patriots.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

So when do i get some credit?

My source came through.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Moss had the ball in his hands twice, while covered by Jammer, once in the end zone and once inside the 10 running down the sideline, neither one was a reception - Jammer 2 Moss 0.

It just sounded like in your original post that had Cassel thrown the ball better, Moss would have beaten Jammer.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I want to hear this in TC.

 

[Dirk3601215]

Do you spend as much time on your own teams board as this one?

because i thought the patriots should have won those games and they didn't? okay guy.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I saw a video on the Patriots website and Crable looks more "Jacked" than before. I never really noticed how tall he was.

 

[AzPatsFan]

The simple reports from the OTAs simply confirm the ACTIONS taken by Bill Belchick. Our LB corps has ALREADY mostly been rebuilt. We already have four young, big, fast, and somewhat experienced, but established starters. And more help is coming in the form of another high draft pick and yet another high pick that was used to acquire an ILB, to replace Tedy when he retires.

I can see why Belichick feels comfortable about his New LB corps.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The simple reports from the OTAs simply confirm the ACTIONS taken by Bill Belchick. Our LB corps has ALREADY mostly been rebuilt. We already have four young, big, fast, and somewhat experienced, but established starters. And more help is coming in the form of another high draft pick and yet another high pick that was used to acquire an ILB, to replace Tedy when he retires.

I can see why Belichick feels comfortable about his New LB corps.

Bingo. He has the size to set the edge- if he has the technique, and can also excel in coverage, then even fair pass-rushing ability makes him a great candidate for SOLB. Dunno why people expect Belichick to line up two edge rushers at the OLB spot- with the exception of Vrabel in 2007, it's not common for us to get a huge pass rush from that side.

 

[Fencer]

Will he be any better at pass rushing next season than Vrabel or Colvin were last season?

Unless it's in the highly regrettable form of another season-ending injury, we aren't getting much evidence one way or the other until training camp?

On the other hand, if he looks good covering receivers, then he indeed looked good covering receivers.

And by the way -- LBs always have to be able to cover WRs. They just don't have to be able to hold the coverage as long as a CB has to.

 

[jczxohn1]

I want to hear this in TC.

Reminiscent of Tomase's witholding his endorsement of Brady until he sees if his knee holds up for the entire season.

Hey, we're trying to work up some confidence here---

 

[PatsBoy12]

Go Crable!

 

[jays52]

And by the way -- LBs always have to be able to cover WRs. They just don't have to be able to hold the coverage as long as a CB has to.

In man, it's more so applying the jam. Freeze the agile little bugger at the line by grabbing the outside of his breastplate and steer him away from his release route. Once this has happened, pass the guy off to the next tier of coverage and sink into the hook to flat. Given the scheme, the OLB's pass rushing skill set correlates well to pass defense. It's basically the inverse of rushing the passer. WR's are pretty good with their hands off of the line, but if one can penetrate to the breast plate, they can neutralize the guy. Matching a 34 OLB up on a Y and expecting him to cover hip to hip is asking for problems. The jam ability is where it comes into play.

That said, the fact that he can run with them is very encouraging. It means that he can matchup with the likes of Keller and be fine. This is accentuated with the playing without pads factor. In skeleton drills, you can't grab jersey, delay the hand pump, or use other methods to compensate for speed. If Crable can cover WR's in shorts, he should be able to cover TE's without question. All that remains is to see if he can keep his ass low, his back flat and explode through his hips in dealing with the run. I'm pretty stoked about this guy.

 

[Deus Irae]

In man, it's more so applying the jam. Freeze the agile little bugger at the line by grabbing the outside of his breastplate and steer him away from his release route. Once this has happened, pass the guy off to the next tier of coverage and sink into the hook to flat. Given the scheme, the OLB's pass rushing skill set correlates well to pass defense. It's basically the inverse of rushing the passer. WR's are pretty good with their hands off of the line, but if one can penetrate to the breast plate, they can neutralize the guy. Matching a 34 OLB up on a Y and expecting him to cover hip to hip is asking for problems. The jam ability is where it comes into play.

That said, the fact that he can run with them is very encouraging. It means that he can matchup with the likes of Keller and be fine. This is accentuated with the playing without pads factor. In skeleton drills, you can't grab jersey, delay the hand pump, or use other methods to compensate for speed. If Crable can cover WR's in shorts, he should be able to cover TE's without question. All that remains is to see if he can keep his ass low, his back flat and explode through his hips in dealing with the run. I'm pretty stoked about this guy.

Goodness knows the Patriots need someone who can cover a receiving tight end.