Kirwan article on Pats camp

[cstjohn17]

Pretty much the best writer out there.
Patriots, Brady looking to bounce back into playoffs in 2009

Highlight "The Patriots are poised to return to the playoff picture as the AFC East champions. With a healthy Brady, depth across the board and a burning desire to make up for last year I think they are odds on favorites to meet their goals."

 

[BelichickFan]

Thanks, excellent read.

This was the most interesting to me :

"Defensive tackle Ron Brace looks like a cross between Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren. He is a tremendous backup nose tackle to Wilfork. He has also seen reps at the '5' technique defensive end and could see real action outside on first-down defenses."

 

[apple strudel]

Thanks, excellent read.

This was the most interesting to me :

"Defensive tackle Ron Brace looks like a cross between Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren. He is a tremendous backup nose tackle to Wilfork. He has also seen reps at the '5' technique defensive end and could see real action outside on first-down defenses."

Not bad for a second round pick. (Requisite "it's still early.")

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Just about to post it. Damn you!

 

[Frezo]

Thanks, excellent read.

This was the most interesting to me :

"Defensive tackle Ron Brace looks like a cross between Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren. He is a tremendous backup nose tackle to Wilfork. He has also seen reps at the '5' technique defensive end and could see real action outside on first-down defenses."

So when posters say, (shortly after the draft), that Brace is ridiculously slow, do they really mean that he is actually quick enough to play end?

 

[Jackson 2]

Pretty much the best writer out there.
Patriots, Brady looking to bounce back into playoffs in 2009

Highlight "The Patriots are poised to return to the playoff picture as the AFC East champions. With a healthy Brady, depth across the board and a burning desire to make up for last year I think they are odds on favorites to meet their goals."

His show on Sirius at 3:00 each day with Tim Ryan is outstanding. Real football talk. Throughout the videotaping nonsense they refused to allow callers to rant and rave about it. A class act.

 

[RayClay]

So when posters say, (shortly after the draft), that Brace is ridiculously slow, do they really mean that he is actually quick enough to play end?

I imagine, since they'll have to cut some present or drafted linemen, they want to see if he could back Warren in a pinch.

It is the beginning, not the end of TC. Time to see what you've got and experiment.

 

[alvinnf]

I'm wondering if they are planning on getting him and Wilfork on the field in Tim and Tom roles. Wilfork says he can be a real disrupter when in the gap like college and they are pretty thin at backer. Now every year there is the requisite talk about more 43 and we know there in and out of that front anyway. But, you have to wonder if he's the piece missing to effectively run 4 DL up front. They have done it but not any with great success. Maybe we are looking at the next version of the Williams in Minn. with the two of them on the field at the same time.

 

[Deus Irae]

So when posters say, (shortly after the draft), that Brace is ridiculously slow, do they really mean that he is actually quick enough to play end?

Combine slow may, or may not, be the same as game slow.

 

[RayClay]

I'm wondering if they are planning on getting him and Wilfork on the field in Tim and Tom roles. Wilfork says he can be a real disrupter when in the gap like college and they are pretty thin at backer. Now every year there is the requisite talk about more 43 and we know there in and out of that front anyway. But, you have to wonder if he's the piece missing to effectively run 4 DL up front. They have done it but not any with great success. Maybe we are looking at the next version of the Williams in Minn. with the two of them on the field at the same time.

How is he the piece missing? When they switch to the 4-3 they have an extra premier defensive tackle. The question mark would be the same, a premier pass rusher.

Seymour's actually pretty large to play end in a 4-3, but he could pull it off. Not the pass rushing end, obviously. I'm guessing he's creeped over his listed weight of 310 over the years.

 

[Frezo]

Combine slow may, or may not, be the same as game slow.

Indeed. He could also be thinking about beating Wlifie to the food. That's enough to make anyone step it up.

 

[cstjohn17]

Indeed. He could also be thinking about beating Wlifie to the food. That's enough to make anyone step it up.

Could you imagine a 40 yard dash between Wilfork and Brace? Even Brady could beat those guys.

 

[alvinnf]

How is he the piece missing? When they switch to the 4-3 they have an extra premier defensive tackle. The question mark would be the same, a premier pass rusher.

Seymour's actually pretty large to play end in a 4-3, but he could pull it off. Not the pass rushing end, obviously. I'm guessing he's creeped over his listed weight of 310 over the years.

Who have they had to play the Over T, Mike Wright? Thats a big upgrade if the kid can play. It's allot easier to find a premier pass rusher with a sick front four!!! Especially one that's stout and penetrating in the middle, you get the luxury of deferring everything outside.

 

[Frezo]

Could you imagine a 40 yard dash between Wilfork and Brace? Even Brady could beat those guys.

Sounds like a good charity event. "Step right up, place your bets."

 

[RayClay]

Who have they had to play the Over T, Mike Wright? Thats a big upgrade if the kid can play. It's allot easier to find a premier pass rusher with a sick front four!!! Especially one that's stout and penetrating in the middle, you get the luxury of deferring everything outside.

Warren and Seymour are both tackles in the 4-3. Seymour has enough athleticism to play an end, though Green is more suited. The other end would be an OLB in our system, likely only AD currently that could do it and generate a pass rush.

We have three #1 picks on the line who all technically translate to tackles in a 4-3. We are overstocked with huge talented tackles.

Jarvis Green and AD would be the natural 4-3 ends on our team.

Tell me how easy it is to find a premier pass rusher.

[Obviously, we have already invested in premier linemen]

 

[RayClay]

Could you imagine a 40 yard dash between Wilfork and Brace? Even Brady could beat those guys.

Not when drafted, and not by a longshot. Damn, I wish I could just take some real money off you guys.

Wilfork Miami pro day pre draft 5.08

Brady 2000 combine 5.23

Brace combine 5.50 [slowest defensive player, I believe].

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The one thing the Pats needed to get back to was being physical in the secondary. From '05-'08 those CB's the Pats had couldn't jam my grandma. It was good to hear that Bodden and Springs are jamming people at the line and disrupting receivers.

If the Pats aren't going to get any help at LB, they better have a secondary that can jam people at the line and cover. If the Pats can do this, it will help whoever is rushing the passer for the Pats.

 

[RayClay]

The one thing the Pats needed to get back to was being physical in the secondary. From '05-'08 those CB's the Pats had couldn't jam my grandma. It was good to hear that Bodden and Springs are jamming people at the line and disrupting receivers.

If the Pats aren't going to get any help at LB, they better have a secondary that can jam people at the line and cover. If the Pats can do this, it will help whoever is rushing the passer for the Pats.

I like the secondary moves. Uncertainty, but there's two good looking young CBs (IMO), two decent vets and a good high draft pick.

At safety we've got speed, steady and a young thumper.

Whether or not it all works out, I think they've done a great job restocking. Oh, I'm such a hater.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I like the secondary moves. Uncertainty, but there's two good looking young CBs (IMO), two decent vets and a good high draft pick.

At safety we've got speed, steady and a young thumper.

Whether or not it all works out, I think they've done a great job restocking. Oh, I'm such a hater.

The comment regarding Chung lining up as a corner in the slot was not overly suprising as he was a corner his FR year at Oregon, but is interesting nonetheless as it may lend the notion that he has the speed and coverage skills to stay with slot receivers at this level and not just be the prototypical hit-stick SS role I had been assuming he would play in his rookie year. Very encouraging sign that he is "getting it".

 

[TripleOption]

Who have they had to play the Over T, Mike Wright? Thats a big upgrade if the kid can play. It's allot easier to find a premier pass rusher with a sick front four!!! Especially one that's stout and penetrating in the middle, you get the luxury of deferring everything outside.

That's not Belichick's scheme. Even when in a 4-3 look, the DL still 2 gap it. You will never see BB run a Miami 4-3.