Schefter: Burgess re-signed to one-year deal

[Horace's Ivories]

i really liked his motor at times.

 

[Patspsycho]

Doesn't mean anything. Only means he is being given an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. He could be cut before final roster.

 

[Rob0729]

In his last four games of the season, he had 18 tackles and 3 sacks. Not bad numbers for an OLB especially since he wasn't really used much at all in the rout over Jacksonville (the Pats were up 28-0 at halftime and the Jags looked like they packed it in at that point and back ups were put in in the second half). You take out the Jacksonville game where he didn't have any tackles or sacks, that is 18 tackles and 3 sacks in three games. It really looked like he was coming on at the end of the season.

 

[RayClay]

Doesn't mean anything. Only means he is being given an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. He could be cut before final roster.

Absolutely. However, with all the "if the season started today stuff" It's hard for me not to think he and TBC are our pass rushers until, or when Cunningham is ready and Ninc and Crable need to prove themselves.

Here are the 5 year career totals [games tackles sacks] 29 {(17, 12) 1.0} of the guy who would start "if the season started today." As little as he played before us, it was at end or STs.

Crable is a ghost.

With that in mind, Burgess not getting time would be the surprise, in the short run at least.

 

[WelshPat]

I hope he's just a depth player. My guess is he got the vet min. We needed bodies at the position

If he's starting for any long periods, we are in trouble

 

[Patspsycho]

Absolutely. However, with all the "if the season started today stuff" It's hard for me not to think he and TBC are our pass rushers until, or when Cunningham is ready and Ninc and Crable need to prove themselves.

Here are the 5 year career totals [games tackles sacks] 29 {(17, 12) 1.0} of the guy who would start "if the season started today." As little as he played before us, it was at end or STs.

Crable is a ghost.

With that in mind, Burgess not getting time would be the surprise, in the short run at least.

I agree with this. Like Rob points out, he peaked near the end as he picked up on the two-gap, especially shedding blocks, something he never had to do before. May the best man win.. because someone will get cut to give Cunningham a roster spot to develop.

 

[RayClay]

I agree with this. Like Rob points out, he peaked near the end as he picked up on the two-gap, especially shedding blocks, something he never had to do before. May the best man win.. because someone will get cut to give Cunningham a roster spot to develop.

Right. All of these guys are ends in some sort of transition to OLB, hopefully. I give the guy with extensive NFL experience the edge there.

TBC could always rush the passer, but he to ws lacking as an OLB against the run before, so who is to say who will be the best rush OLB candidate in the short term, why not Burgess?

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, with the pass rush, we still gotta question how much Dean Pees played into the problems. It was quite clear that Belichick was less than thrilled with how he was running the defense. It could be that Pees was not as agressive in his play calling. Clearly there was far less presnap movement last year than in the Crennel years. We assumed it was because of the inexperience of the defense, but it could be Pees style since he never really was a big fan of that style except when they used 2 down linemen. Part of what made the Super Bowl defenses special were that opposing QBs were confused by the presnap formations and had difficulty identifying who would rush.

We could find out that the Pats biggest problem last year was the playcalling. A timid style of defense leaves the secondary exposed.

 

[Reckedtrek]

Count me in as one of those who feel that he took a while to learn his position but was finally understanding and performing well in the last month of the season. Granted- too late to change the course of things last season, but maybe just in time for the upcoming one. Big blockbuster deal? Not even close. Maybe another piece of the puzzle in place- I think so.

 

[Patspsycho]

BTW, with the pass rush, we still gotta question how much Dean Pees played into the problems. It was quite clear that Belichick was less than thrilled with how he was running the defense. It could be that Pees was not as agressive in his play calling. Clearly there was far less presnap movement last year than in the Crennel years. We assumed it was because of the inexperience of the defense, but it could be Pees style since he never really was a big fan of that style except when they used 2 down linemen. Part of what made the Super Bowl defenses special were that opposing QBs were confused by the presnap formations and had difficulty identifying who would rush.

We could find out that the Pats biggest problem last year was the playcalling. A timid style of defense leaves the secondary exposed.

This is the part I am looking forward to. You know BB has always been aggressive on defense, so I am expecting a more pro-active defense this year.

 

[Patriot 37]

I'm glad we signed him we needed a vet OLB and Burgess was probably the best available. I wouldn't get to excited about him playing better at the end of the season. Most of the time Burgess played with his hand on the ground lined up outside the RT which is exactly were we played his whole career.

Like a lot Pats fans who hadn't seen much of him before last year, I was amazed how a guy who had so many sacks in his career had so few pass rush moves. Hopefully as the season goes on Cunningham will develop enough to take some of his reps because Burgess is pretty average.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think this falls in line with the offseason trend which was to keep retain the free agents and get better thru the draft.

I know he doesn't strike fear into our opponents on his return but if OLB/Pass Rush is our weakest position you in theory just ensured it wont be worse and if the newbies and our Crable contribute this could be another area improved.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Derrick Burgess signed a 1 Year Deal with Pats per Shefter's Twitter.

Very cool. I was one on record of wanting this to happen. We gave up so much to get him, and I still have hopes that the glimpses he showed last year, become more of the norm in year two.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Isn't "Moth of December" a Norwegian Black Metal Band?

No it was the Madegascan Sunset Moth, which should have won in November also, IMHO.

 

[Sicilian]

What I like about this is it gives the Pats a vet who knows the system that the younger guys can try to beat out. He's not the best we can do outside, but if Cunningham isn't ready, Crable never bounces back, Ninko never progresses and Woods is still just a ST, we would still have to play ONE of them in that spot if we didn't have Burgess.

If someone beats him out for a starting role, that's great. If not, at least he's there to keep it somewhat solid.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Pass rush SOLVED!

Hehe, well not entirely. But I could see Burgess becoming an 8 sack guy if he wins the starting job and really gets the system. Pats were never built on 1 dominant passrusher anyways. As long as you can bring pressure from all parts of the field, DL/LB, DB blitz etc., this defense will work.

 

[Sicilian]

Pass rush SOLVED!

Hehe, well not entirely. But I could see Burgess becoming an 8 sack guy if he wins the starting job and really gets the system. Pats were never built on 1 dominant passrusher anyways. As long as you can bring pressure from all parts of the field, DL/LB, DB blitz etc., this defense will work.

I think you're right. If the pass rush is going to improve this year it's going to be a combination of factors:

- A couple of people stepping up (Cunningham, Mayo, Burgess, etc)

- Improved run defense putting the defense in better passing situations

- Improved secondary giving BB more flexibility in pressure schemes

 

[Kontradiction]

File this under "EH".

 

[captain stone]

The Burgess re-signing is better than nothing, which is the number barely above which the talent level of our OLBs still sits.

If Bill had played his cards right, not one of these guys would even be on our roster except as camp competition/fodder.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Worst case, DB can play seasoned veteran and stable pony for Cunningham until the kid knows the defense well enough so not to be lost.

DB played well at the end of the season. If he can put up some decent pressure and a few sacks, that'll be fine.