SITE MENU
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.along with firing Ellis Hobbs. BB determined to get younger faster and better this season. Given the young pups some time to gel, but I have a feeling it will be worth it.
We'll see. I think they can be improved enough to win. I think they're still the best team in the NFL (though it could be argued they're "just" top 5 calibre).
BUT... if anyone thinks Merriweather-Sanders-Bodden-Wilhite is (right now) comparable to the 03 DBs... I dunno. We'll see. Hopefully TFB is primed for some major Mossian hookups.
I know ONE thing this defense will never do again. Remember 2 years ago we had one of the oldest defenses in the NFL?
Joseph Addai up the middle, runs 2 yards, breaks a tackle, another tackle, runs for 20 yards, another tackle, going north, outruns Harrison.
75 Yard BS touchdown!!!!
yet the idiots at espn will continue to call the pats d old.young fast and willing to gamble to make big plays. Thats what has been misssing from this D for a few years now.
Personally I think the 07 defense has been unfairly criticized. The 2007 defense played very good when it mattered most, in the playoffs they had the best PPG against average. If Samuel, Merriweather or Harrison hangs onto the ducks Eli put in their mitts or Tyree doesn't pull some magic out his butt our perspective would be different.
New England Patriots 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 20
New England Patriots 21, San Diego Chargers 12
Superbowl - Giants 17 - Patriots 14
16.333 PPG average
We may be younger but I don't see the same pedigree in the younger players. Harrison, Bruschi and Vrabel were pro-bowl players. How many of these young players will make a probowl?
Vrabel - All time sack leader at Ohio State, 55 career sacks
Bruschi - All time NCAA sack leader, probowl player.
Harrison - Borderline HOFer, probowler, 30+ sacks, 30 INTs +
Younger and faster is nice, I guess but replacing those three is a tall task.
along with firing Ellis Hobbs. BB determined to get younger faster and better this season. Given the young pups some time to gel, but I have a feeling it will be worth it.
Also gone is Deltha Oneil which means 5 of 11 starters have changed.
Considering we were a top 10 ranked D, it will be interesting to see if and how much of an upgrade those 5 changes represent.
Bruschi---Guyton
Hobbs----Bodden
ONeil----Wilite/Springs
Harrison----Meriwhether
Vrabel-----Woods/Burgess/Crabel
I have a hard time seeing decline. (It is a decline from those players primes, but not from the 2008 versions)
We may be younger but I don't see the same pedigree in the younger players. Harrison, Bruschi and Vrabel were pro-bowl players. How many of these young players will make a probowl?
Vrabel - All time sack leader at Ohio State, 55 career sacks
Bruschi - All time NCAA sack leader, probowl player.
Harrison - Borderline HOFer, probowler, 30+ sacks, 30 INTs +
Younger and faster is nice, I guess but replacing those three is a tall task.
Maybe, maybe not. But the chore isn't replacing people, its getting 11 guys on the field who play well as a unit.Good presentation, the only question I have would be the replacement(s) for Vrabel... he had a ton of football smarts and instincts, not sure these guys can replace that.
But replacing those 3 didnt start this March.
Bruschi has declined over a period of time and his playing time has been cut drastically. Mayo IS the replacement for Bruschi.
Harrison has barely played in the last few years, injured much more than healthy. Meriwheter has been his heir apparent for a while.
Vrabels decline seemed more sudden, so its less clear where his replacement comes from, but it appears, at least for this year that a combination of players will share his role.
In 2004 Bruschi and Harrison in coverage and Vrabel rushing the passer on a 3rd and 8 was a component of our success. By 2007-2008 it was a component of our liablities.
No player lasts forever, but the fact that we have 2 very good, young players drafted in round 1 among the 3 replacements is a very good sign.
yet the idiots at espn will continue to call the pats d old.