Pats defense set?

[VJCPatriot]

DE Warren
NT Wilfork/Brace
DE Seymour

OLB Thomas
ILB Mayo
ILB Guyton/Lenon
OLB Burgess

CB Springs
CB Bodden
NB Wilhite/Etc.
S Sanders/Chung
S Meriweather

This could be a very exciting year for the D-fense, as well as the offense. Pats have got to be considered one of the favorites to win it all as long as they stay healthy.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Where's Teddy Bruschi? Also, as I've said before, don't be surprised if Springs is not a lock as a starting corner.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Where's Teddy Bruschi? Also, as I've said before, don't be surprised if Springs is not a lock as a starting corner.

I think Bruschi will be phased out of the defense as his lack of range hurts us. He could play a Ted Johnson role for us as a runstopper though. Who do you think will start over Springs?

 

[Ring 6]

Burgess will be a DE in sub packages, and I think it is very doubtful he will see much action as an OLB in the base 34.

 

[VJCPatriot]

You don't think that Burgess can adjust to the 3-4? I suppose you think that Pierre Woods will be the starter in base 3-4 then? Whatever happened to Crable? He didn't get hurt again did he?

 

[jmt57]

Belichick is always looking for a way to improve, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that the Pats would add another player to their defense before they play the Bills. But it's quite remarkable the transformation and apparent improvement that has taken place with a defense that wasn't really all that bad - 8th in scoring, 10th in yardage - since the 2008 season ended six months ago.

 

[DynastyDriven]

Hopefully Kevin Carter chooses to come here and he would be perfect for Depth. I still would like to see one more LB in here however.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Belichick is always looking for a way to improve, so it's not outside the realm of possibility that the Pats would add another player to their defense before they play the Bills. But it's quite remarkable the transformation and apparent improvement that has taken place with a defense that wasn't really all that bad - 8th in scoring, 10th in yardage - since the 2008 season ended six months ago.

The secondary was quite poor however. Not surprising that nobody starting for that secondary returns in 2009. BB has done this before, like the WR corps overhaul which yielded us the currently dominant - Moss+Welker combo. And we got Galloway and Lewis to stretch the field in addition to that in 2009. Brady is gonna be throwing some serious heat in 09! The defense looks loaded up as well, which is a good thing and should be an improvement over 07.

 

[mgteich]

Are we set. Sure, if there are no injuries. Even with injuries, we are in fine shape, although Carter would be a solid veteran emergency backup.

Wheatley, Woods and Bruschi will get lots and lots of reps this year, almost assuredly more than Brace. So will at least one of our top backup DE's (Green, Smith or Carter).

DE Warren
NT Wilfork/Brace
DE Seymour

OLB Thomas
ILB Mayo
ILB Guyton/Lenon
OLB Burgess

CB Springs
CB Bodden
NB Wilhite/Etc.
S Sanders/Chung
S Meriweather

This could be a very exciting year for the D-fense, as well as the offense. Pats have got to be considered one of the favorites to win it all as long as they stay healthy.

 

[Ring 6]

You don't think that Burgess can adjust to the 3-4? I suppose you think that Pierre Woods will be the starter in base 3-4 then? Whatever happened to Crable? He didn't get hurt again did he?

I think its a long shot for him to learn a new position in a new system, and be effective enough to start in an extremely complex defense, yes.
I also don't think he is the best player to have on the field in the base D.
I would much prefer to have an OLB who can be effective in keeping the integrity of the D, stop the run first, in tact, and have Thomas be the pass rusher than put a guy out there who has never played the position so I can rush him out of the base and out Thomas in coverage.
We only rush one of the OLBs from the base.
The concept of having 2 good pass rushers so we can be deceptive and rush either one goes away when one of them can only rush.
Its either Burgess rushing 100% and Thomas covering 100% or Thomas rushing UP TO 100% and Woods rushing once in a while.
Given that run D is the priority out of the base, I don't see much use for Burgess there unless he can show BB he can play the run.

Personally, I think we traded for a pass rush specialist who maybe possibly might be able to be more, but its doubtful.
Thats fine though, because thats really all we needed.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I think Bruschi will be phased out of the defense as his lack of range hurts us. He could play a Ted Johnson role for us as a runstopper though. Who do you think will start over Springs?

I hear you about Teddy. As far as the Springs thing, I've never really been sold on him from the start. Then, just a few days ago, I read how terrible his conditioning is (though I'm sure he's not the only one), and he's missed quite a bit of TC thus far. I really don't think that he is going to be as good as we all hope. For that reason, it wouldn't shock me if he finds himself in the nickel role.

I hope he can be slightly productive while the young guys continue to learn.

 

[Aßßynormal]

Move Thomas to ILB and put Woods in at OLB.

 

[RayClay]

I don't really worry about starters in a BB defense. He's got a variety of weapons and a season to figure out how to use them. I think we could now give a lot of different looks with our LB and DB talent.

I could se some serious gelling come playoff time.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I think butler will find his way on the field as the primary nickel back........he's already sharp with zone concepts......


I believe burgess will be fine as a regular........he'll be tough against the run, good pass rush and if he can't pick up the TE's and RB's, will be schemed around (be DE in obvious passing situations)

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Move Thomas to ILB and put Woods in at OLB.

no............................

 

[Rob0729]

Burgess will be a DE in sub packages, and I think it is very doubtful he will see much action as an OLB in the base 34.

Burgess is too small to play DE in the 3-4. The Pats gave up too much to make him a sub package player. He will play OLB and most likely start.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Move Thomas to ILB and put Woods in at OLB.

How does moving one of your best passrushers out of that position help a defense that struggled to pressure the QB last year?

Burgess is too small to play DE in the 3-4. The Pats gave up too much to make him a sub package player. He will play OLB and most likely start.

BTW I believe that Burgess had two of his biggest sack production years, when he played in the 3-4 defense under Rob Ryan's system. I could be wrong though. Anybody know the details?

 

[Rob0729]

I think its a long shot for him to learn a new position in a new system, and be effective enough to start in an extremely complex defense, yes.
I also don't think he is the best player to have on the field in the base D.
I would much prefer to have an OLB who can be effective in keeping the integrity of the D, stop the run first, in tact, and have Thomas be the pass rusher than put a guy out there who has never played the position so I can rush him out of the base and out Thomas in coverage.
We only rush one of the OLBs from the base.
The concept of having 2 good pass rushers so we can be deceptive and rush either one goes away when one of them can only rush.
Its either Burgess rushing 100% and Thomas covering 100% or Thomas rushing UP TO 100% and Woods rushing once in a while.
Given that run D is the priority out of the base, I don't see much use for Burgess there unless he can show BB he can play the run.

Personally, I think we traded for a pass rush specialist who maybe possibly might be able to be more, but its doubtful.
Thats fine though, because thats really all we needed.

Except the Raiders attempted to become a Patriots 3-4 defense when they hired Rob Ryan. This is not a new defense to Burgess. He has had some experience playing it.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I don't really worry about starters in a BB defense. He's got a variety of weapons and a season to figure out how to use them. I think we could now give a lot of different looks with our LB and DB talent.

I could se some serious gelling come playoff time.

Man, RayClay, can you imagine the confusion that opposing offenses are going to feel? Guys are going to be moving all over the place pre-snap. It's gonna be nuts.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Here we go...

Millard, who coached Burgess the past four seasons in Oakland, said the Raiders had a package under former defensive coordinator (and one-time Patriots linebackers coach) Rob Ryan that used Burgess as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

"I think he could make the transformation to outside linebacker because he did that in our 3-4 package," said Millard. "We called it 'Joker.' We used it a lot, especially in the red zone. I really believe he can do it."

Raiders' Burgess seen as possible fit with Patriots - The Boston Globe