Frustration boils over for defense

[SVN]

Frustration boils over for defense - Extra Points - Boston.com

clearly the lack of veteran leadership hurts.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Frustration boils over for defense - Extra Points - Boston.com

clearly the lack of veteran leadership hurts.

They looked confused as hell out there the entire game except the first drive.

 

[Itsallovernow]

Frustration boils over for defense - Extra Points - Boston.com

clearly the lack of veteran leadership hurts.

Yeah, New Orleans made them look down right silly on the field.

 

[Patjew]

It was weird how they kept whiffing on tackles.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

It was weird how they kept whiffing on tackles.

...and couldnt get a finger on Brees

...and couldnt break up a pass

...and were calling out "ITS A RUN ITS A RUN" when it was really a pass



terrible all around Defense. Only Wilfork played well.

 

[ausbacker]

There's no way to sugar coat around the fact that we don't have a playoff caliber defense with game breakers at the moment. It's a work in progress and a couple of elite pass rushers short of what we need it to be.

It's a work in progress... but we knew that before the season had started.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

There's no way to sugar coat around the fact that we don't have a playoff caliber defense with game breakers at the moment. It's a work in progress and a couple of elite pass rushers short of what we need it to be.

It's a work in progress... but we knew that before the season had started.

Yep, before the season we were all scared of that defense. I've been surprised by their play this year. I think they'll learn from tonight, and keep getting better. Like you said, its a work in progress. Kinda makes me excited for next years draft.

 

[ausbacker]

Yep, before the season we were all scared of that defense. I've been surprised by their play this year. I think they'll learn from tonight, and keep getting better. Like you said, its a work in progress. Kinda makes me excited for next years draft.

I think it's just about being realistic with expectations. So many people thought the success of 2007 would be there as soon as Brady walked back onto the field.

The reality is, there are too many holes in this side to fix in one offseason and the 2010 and 2011 drafts are going to be our boom crops, unless we pull a savvy vet pass rushing core in free agency and address it immediately in 2010.

The Patriots are in good shape. The fundamental building blocks for greatness are there once more. It's more being patient enough to put the finishing touches on the canvass and let it take a little time to set.

The Saints weren't built overnight...

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

the number of missed tackles and poor tackling techniques are amazing. i love meriweather but he has trouble tackling in the open field. a lot of the guys in the secondary were just diving at guys with one arm out. not to mention adalius gettin juked outta his jockstrap by meachem. the only guy that showed up tonight was big vince. the guy is just a playmaker. i want to see more of chung he wraps up well and lays the wood when given the chance.

 

[Patspsycho]

Yep, before the season we were all scared of that defense. I've been surprised by their play this year. I think they'll learn from tonight, and keep getting better. Like you said, its a work in progress. Kinda makes me excited for next years draft.

That's the best thing about tonight. Our D is young.

Let's pick Bruschi for comparison. He was drafted in '96 but did not really start playing his best ball until '02 when he suddenly got a nose for interceptions and became a real ballhawk.

Likewise for Ted Johnson, who came in '95 and even though he led the team in 117 tackles the next year (think Mayo) he didn't really become a force until the 2000 when he transitioned to MLB.

 

[Joker]

Yep, before the season we were all scared of that defense. I've been surprised by their play this year. I think they'll learn from tonight, and keep getting better. Like you said, its a work in progress. Kinda makes me excited for next years draft.

almost exactly how I felt post game

I've been a Pats fan since the 60's...I know what a bad football team looks and plays like....the 09 Pats are a GOOD football team...not great...and half their starters have had NO EXPERIENCE with what we fans have been accustomed to the past 8 years.Sure I would have loved having Seymour out there tonight, and the 2004 Bru and McG..and Asante and Law and Rodney....but it's a changing of the guard,retooling on the fly when most franchises sink like a rock.I think I'll have a little faith...they've at least earned that much.

 

[sbpatfan]

That's the best thing about tonight. Our D is young.

Let's pick Bruschi for comparison. He was drafted in '96 but did not really start playing his best ball until '02 when he suddenly got a nose for interceptions and became a real ballhawk.

Likewise for Ted Johnson, who came in '95 and even though he led the team in 117 tackles the next year (think Mayo) he didn't really become a force until the 2000 when he transitioned to MLB.

So.. Mayo will be a force around.. 2013?

 

[Nunchucks]

Sure would have been nice to see a pass rush or even a run stopper on the right side of the DL, I wonder where the Pats could get a player that could do those things.

 

[kpreh]

almost exactly how I felt post game

I've been a Pats fan since the 60's...I know what a bad football team looks and plays like....the 09 Pats are a GOOD football team...not great...and half their starters have had NO EXPERIENCE with what we fans have been accustomed to the past 8 years.Sure I would have loved having Seymour out there tonight, and the 2004 Bru and McG..and Asante and Law and Rodney....but it's a changing of the guard,retooling on the fly when most franchises sink like a rock.I think I'll have a little faith...they've at least earned that much.

Once again I think some fans don't know what it is like to watch a losing team (been a fan since 1974), this is NOT a losing team they are just very young on defense they will get better. We could easily be looking up at other teams but we lead our division and we can only get better.

 

[mgteich]

Before the season, we were the Super Bowl favorite was an expected better than average defense by midseason and one the best offenses every to play in the NFL. We also were expected to have an offense that could be expected to keep leads in the second half and win on a 4th quarter drive if necessary. In the end, we were supposed to be 2007 with a better defense and a better running game.

Which unit do you think isn't up to muster?

 

[celticboy04]

Once again I think some fans don't know what it is like to watch a losing team (been a fan since 1974), this is NOT a losing team they are just very young on defense they will get better. We could easily be looking up at other teams but we lead our division and we can only get better.

Greetings,
Your assessment was spot on and could not be said any better. BTW my father has been a fan when he moved to Boston in 74 as well and can tell you when they were laughing stock of the league. As for this team, they ARE a playoff team no matter what.

Shalom,
Celticboy04

 

[cstjohn17]

Frustration boils over for defense - Extra Points - Boston.com

clearly the lack of veteran leadership hurts.

Just a reality check, I think they had read some of the headlines "Younger, faster defense", etc. It is all part of the growing process.

A little more urgency would be nice, player by player the Patriots and Saints are about the same yet clearly the Saints had the mojo going.

 

[wilfork is beastin']

I think sometimes we forget that this is a young, transitioning defense composed of several rookies and second year players. And before we start throwing the unit under the bus, let's remember that the defense has come through big for the team, especially early on when the offense was struggling (falcons, ravens, even the first Jets game).

 

[wilfork is beastin']

Also, the Saints have made plenty of good defenses look downright awful. They dropped 48 on the Eagles who have Asante and one of the league's best pass rushes and made the Giants look like the Lions

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Also, the Saints have made plenty of good defenses look downright awful. They dropped 48 on the Eagles who have Asante and one of the league's best pass rushes and made the Giants look like the Lions

This is the most important point. The Saints offense is VERY GOOD. Remember in 2007 when we heard about the "blueprint" for stopping the Pats after they would score about 35 points.

The way they have to be beaten is get a lead and have time consuming drives by running the ball. The first int was real bad.

Was it me or did it seem TB was just really off. Some of his mechanics were like huh?