Meeting needs in April

[mgteich]

a fine analysis

Let's discuss pass defense for a sec. As of now, we have lost Green and Burgess and have added Spikes, Cunningham, and McCourty. And yet, you indicate that whether our pass defense improves is an unknown.

I would think that the question might be "how much will it improve" or will it "improve enough to make a difference".
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With regard to the run defense, I think that two of your list will make the 53, giving us more beef than last year. My gut feel is that Pryor and Brace really occupy one roster spot and will for another year.

Looking at it a little differently:

Passing Offense
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Lots of new targets for Brady. Mitigates the loss of Welker for a while while still reducing the load for Moss. Gronk should also be able to help in protection.
---With Brady fully healthy, much improved.

Rushing Offense
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Gronk should also be able to wall off the outside pursuit (which is likely why the Pats wanted to make sure they got him). This isn't Larsen's year, but he really stabilized the NC State line and looks like a leader.
---About the same.

Passing Defense
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McCourty and Spikes both excel in zone coverage. Cunningham isn't a traditional 3-4 OLB but his role will likely be in sub packages initially anyway.
---Unknown. The pieces are improved but need to see the scheme first.

Rushing Defense
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Spikes adds toughness and smarts to the middle. Added a ton (literally) of competition at 3-4 end. Only 1 or 2 of Lewis, Richard, Deaderick, Weston, Warren will make the 53. All have the right size/strength and only the best will survive since Belichick went all Darwinian on the position.
---Slight improvement, unless every one of the base RDE candidates flop.

Kick Defense
=========
Mesko improves the punting game just by...well, not being dead or imaginary. If he gets close to reaching his potential, he could really change field position which has a domino-effect on both the offense and defense. McCourty is solid in coverage but don't think he will be needed there or used much unless he displaces someone like Slater.
---Major improvement.

Kick Return
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If McCourty gets a lane, he is a weapon. He isn't a shake-n-bake guy so he needs to get to full speed to be really effective.
---Unknown. Pats blocking needs to improve to realize any gains.

So I see the passing offense getting its swagger back while the base 3-4 defense adds a little toughness. The kicking game should see the biggest improvement, which is huge since that area hasn't pulled its weight since the title years.

The wildcard is the pass defense. Every layer has skill and smarts. Potentially even some quality depth. The key is going to be matching a scheme to the talent. If the Pats have a vanilla 4-man outside rush and play run-n-chase coverage, it will be a long year. Throw out some different rush packages with combo coverage behind it (much like the "walkin' around" LB looks late last year) and the Pats should be able to get off the field when they need to.

 

[Deus Irae]

Kaczur to RG and Sea Bass at RT no problem.

While I've been an advocate of moving Kaczur to guard, we've not seen whether or not he's capable of making that transition.

 

[Deus Irae]

Crap??
Starting everygame you've played in 4 straight years, in any NFL franchise is crap?
Starting every game two years in a row is crap?
Starting all of the games in the last two seasons is crap??

If a DE isn't as good as Ty Warren or Seymour he is crap in PatsFans standards. Damione Lewis is also a very good player who started a LOT of games and here you guys bash him.
I think this way, EVERY player who is starting in a bad team, can start or be a good backup in a good team. Thats exactly what Lewis and Warren are.

Warren is crap. He was part of the disastrous Cleveland line, most of which became the disastrous Denver line, and he then went on to be crap in Oakland. This is pretty much universally known. Had he not just signed with the Patriots, it would accepted as obvious truth on this board. Because he's signed with the Patriots, he's magically become a much better player with the stroke of a pen.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Warren is crap. He was part of the disastrous Cleveland line, most of which became the disastrous Denver line, and he then went on to be crap in Oakland. This is pretty much universally known. Had he not just signed with the Patriots, it would accepted as obvious truth on this board. Because he's signed with the Patriots, he's magically become a much better player with the stroke of a pen.

In 2005, Denver had the #2 run D in the NFL w/ Gerard Warren.

 

[DarrylS]

Intrigued by the possibility of Guyton at OLB.. he has the speed, but thought he struggled in pass coverage???

 

[RobertWeathers]

Intrigued by the possibility of Guyton at OLB.. he has the speed, but thought he struggled in pass coverage???

He doesn't have the stoutness to play OLB. He has the speed no question.

He evolving in coverage. Still not a strength of his game.