Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run???

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

Try to enjoy the process. Football is to be enjoyed no matter what. It's very early, you might end up being pleasantly surprised.

That is really well said. We've had more than our share to celebrate over the last decade and we still have a pretty damn good team. I have no doubt that any Brady/Belichick team is going to be competitive, as Bob Kraft sets as his objective every year. I'm holding off on predicting "how competitive" for a few more weeks.

The contemporary NFL is the best act in town and I'm ready to enjoy another season. Whodathunk the Saints winning it all last year? Which teams will surprise this season? Which SB favorites will implode? I can't wait to see.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

We made our deals in the off season, we did well to acquire G Warren and Lewis. It's still possible we could pick up some help, though not likely what we need. Maybe a decent rotational guy that's better than a low round rookie for a year.

That's why we've spent three first rounders at this position, there's a wide gap between the cream and other big guys.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

We made our deals in the off season, we did well to acquire G Warren and Lewis. It's still possible we could pick up some help, though not likely what we need. Maybe a decent rotational guy that's better than a low round rookie for a year.

That's why we've spent three first rounders at this position, there's a wide gap between the cream and other big guys.

True dat. How many 320-pound guys in the world are agile and explosive?

 

[stinkypete]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

Having an elite run defense is nice, but it doesn't win you championships any more. That said, I see an improved run D, with the loss of Ty Warren offset by the additions of G Warren, Spikes and McCourty and the development of Chung. This should be a better tackling team by far.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

That is really well said. We've had more than our share to celebrate over the last decade and we still have a pretty damn good team. I have no doubt that any Brady/Belichick team is going to be competitive, as Bob Kraft sets as his objective every year. I'm holding off on predicting "how competitive" for a few more weeks.

The contemporary NFL is the best act in town and I'm ready to enjoy another season. Whodathunk the Saints winning it all last year? Which teams will surprise this season? Which SB favorites will implode? I can't wait to see.

This fan base has on some level become so entitled that nothing short of perfection is enjoyable. And come to think of it, even the persuit of perfection became a cause for angst that entire season... All many in this fan base enjoy anymore is nitpicking and second guessing getting ahead of the curve on pessimism...so they can either claim they were smarter than the rest of the homer sheep or pleasantly surprised when the team somehow clearly exceeds reasonable expectations of suckitude...

 

[RayClay]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

True dat. How many 320-pound guys in the world are agile and explosive?

And smart and dependable etc. etc.

Very few, and teams aren't dealing them. That's why we likely have our rotation with Wright, Warren and Lewis and would not overpay for a "solution" at this point. It's possible a rotational guy like Le Kevin could miss the cut someplace, that might help a bit. Or not.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

Sorry and all that, but I'm not buying into what I saw against NOS.

With Warren out for the season, its left Mike Wright as our best DE. And in my eyes, he's a much improved player but better as a situational starter rather than first choice.

I look at our fixtures. Some teams who like to run the pigskin. I see that our OLB's may now be put under even more pressure and with a rookie ILB likely to start (Spikes) I can see most teams grounding the ball in against us.

I'd like to hope that Warren and Lewis can contribute, but I see a real need for Bill to pull the trigger on a trade here. It may be a problem which eats up our season before it begins.

Who should we trade for?

 

[RayClay]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

To the thread title, I guess I'm just an optimist. I really believe that Rick Lyle would have done the job at nose tackle due to his superior "technique".

Since they picked up Ted Washington, we'll never know.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

This fan base has on some level become so entitled that nothing short of perfection is enjoyable. And come to think of it, even the persuit of perfection became a cause for angst that entire season... All many in this fan base enjoy anymore is nitpicking and second guessing getting ahead of the curve on pessimism...so they can either claim they were smarter than the rest of the homer sheep or pleasantly surprised when the team somehow clearly exceeds reasonable expectations of suckitude...

Yeah, good point. Complain when anything is imperfect, then complain about the pressure created by being perfect.

 

[lillestroom]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

Mike Wright is NOT going to be our best Dend this year. Especially against the run. God what a miserable original post.

OK. Who is?

Had we lost say a Bodden for the season, I wouldnt have been half as concerned as I am about losing Warren.

The Baltimore game showed us that we are weaker on the edges against the run than we would like to believe. The injury to Warren helps us here how... ???

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

This fan base has on some level become so entitled that nothing short of perfection is enjoyable. And come to think of it, even the persuit of perfection became a cause for angst that entire season... All many in this fan base enjoy anymore is nitpicking and second guessing getting ahead of the curve on pessimism...so they can either claim they were smarter than the rest of the homer sheep or pleasantly surprised when the team somehow clearly exceeds reasonable expectations of suckitude...

Agreed. On a board that runs from the delusional to the ultra negative, I have actually come to prefer the delusional end of the spectrum because they're not just trying to position themselves to look smart and maybe be surprised. They just "believe." I respect that.

I've just followed the NFL and suffered with the Pats too long not to take every good or great season as a gift. I can't get all worked up to argue with those who don't want to be bothered with facts or with those who see everything as doom and gloom.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

Our front 7 lost Jarvis Green, a banged up Ty Warren, and a worthless Adalius Thomas.

Gained G Warren, Lewis, healthier Mayo, Spikes who looks to make an impact right away, with hopeful contributions from Cunningham and Brace/Pryor with one year under their belt.

So on paper I feel we've definitely upgraded the run D from last year (taking into account that Warren was not his 100%), whether it's enough remains to be seen but Thursday was encouraging.

 

[lillestroom]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

I've just followed the NFL and suffered with the Pats too long not to take every good or great season as a gift. I can't get all worked up to argue with those who don't want to be bothered with facts or with those who see everything as doom and gloom.

I dont see everything with doom and gloom and nor do I think that we should automatically for granted. McPherson and Rust programmes are imprinted in my head.

But we have to stand up against the run. I'd prefer to be stout against the run and weak on the pass rush in all honesty....

 

[The 12th Man]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

OK. Who is?

Had we lost say a Bodden for the season, I wouldnt have been half as concerned as I am about losing Warren.

The Baltimore game showed us that we are weaker on the edges against the run than we would like to believe. The injury to Warren helps us here how... ???

I agree with you that the Baltimore game we just got manhandled and couldn't stop their run even when we ALL knew it what was coming. Ravens just pushed our D-line around. As much as I'm excited about the additions of Spikes, Gerard Warren, etc., I still think that Ty Warren's injury is a big blow to our run D and will be watching closely how the team handles it. Whether it's more of 4-3 scheme adjustments or signing a veteran 3-4 DE that will get cut closer to regular season or something else. Should be interesting.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

On their worst day, the 2009 defense allowed less than four yards per carry after the first Rice run. They adjusted and slowed down the BALT running offense. Perhaps at least as big a problem that day was a offense trying to play without Welker, and with an injured Brady.

In any case, the "terrible" 2009 defense gave up less points than all but FOUR nfl teams over the course of the season. If we meet that AWESOME performance standard this year, we should be well satisfied. We have improved at ILB and CB. We should even be better at S with Chung in his second year.
We are pretty much the same at OLB, with Cunningham replacing Thomas, and with Burgess and Ninkovich being more experienced in the defense.

The rest of defense is improved, so the question is whether the loss of Warren at his 2009 performance level enough to tube the defense, or even cause major problems. Will the additions of G. Warren and Lewis, and the maturation of Pryor enough to make up for the loss Warren and Green? Perhaps the DL should be expected to look a bit worse, but I suspect that this won't happen beacuse of the better support from the rest of the defense.

I agree with you that the Baltimore game we just got manhandled and couldn't stop their run even when we ALL knew it what was coming. Ravens just pushed our D-line around. As much as I'm excited about the additions of Spikes, Gerard Warren, etc., I still think that Ty Warren's injury is a big blow to our run D and will be watching closely how the team handles it. Whether it's more of 4-3 scheme adjustments or signing a veteran 3-4 DE that will get cut closer to regular season or something else. Should be interesting.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

Why the pessimism?

Why so serious?

Miami and NY will indeed be committed to the run. For a reason. You know what Bill says about stopping one thing... Fortunately for us regardless of what you commit to it's a QB driven league and we have the best in our division by a mile. The pessimism is a byproduct of not having won it all in a while. Heck, we haven't even made it back to a superbowl in two whole seasons. While the JETS and Dolphins on the other hand...what more can you say...

Since when did that QB put on a few pounds and rotate over to DE? The defense's ability against the run is absolutely a concern right now, and I can't believe that you're not the least bit worried about it all because we have the best QB in the division. Being that two of the top rushing offenses from the last couple of years are in the division, it's best to figure out who to plug in to stuff that run right now. Wright didn't look all that great against the run last year and Damione Lewis was getting run at left and right in Thursday night's game. It's possible that he just had a bad game, but I saw him get driven off the ball time and time again by second stringers. Now they're plugging Brace in with the first stringers to see if he would be an improvement over Lewis. If not, I would hope that the team explores trade options and doesn't just stand pat. God knows Wilfork can only play one position at a time and he's best used at NT as opposed to DE.

 

[lillestroom]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

We are pretty much the same at OLB, with Cunningham replacing Thomas, and with Burgess and Ninkovich being more experienced in the defense.
.

Absolutely no way Burgess makes this team. Not after sitting out a good portion of camp.

What message does that give a team who has just gotten rid of a heap of "locker room cancer".

 

[mgteich]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

The message would be that Burgess is NOT a cancer and is expected to make a contribution to the 2010 division winning patriots.

The bigger message would be that Belichick believes that the best 53 make the squad, and Burgess in one of the best 53.

Absolutely no way Burgess makes this team. Not after sitting out a good portion of camp.

What message does that give a team who has just gotten rid of a heap of "locker room cancer".

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

Why so serious?



Since when did that QB put on a few pounds and rotate over to DE? The defense's ability against the run is absolutely a concern right now, and I can't believe that you're not the least bit worried about it all because we have the best QB in the division. Being that two of the top rushing offenses from the last couple of years are in the division, it's best to figure out who to plug in to stuff that run right now. Wright didn't look all that great against the run last year and Damione Lewis was getting run at left and right in Thursday night's game. It's possible that he just had a bad game, but I saw him get driven off the ball time and time again by second stringers. Now they're plugging Brace in with the first stringers to see if he would be an improvement over Lewis. If not, I would hope that the team explores trade options and doesn't just stand pat. God knows Wilfork can only play one position at a time and he's best used at NT as opposed to DE.

Oddly enough, every team has concerns entering this season - in part because no team is the same team it was last season. The JETS running game could always be better, but it's likely to be worse because they made wholesale changes this offseason that directly impact the running game. The Dolphins could run the ball last season. It isn't enough. It wasn't enough for the JETS either had two teams not rolled over for them down the stretch (and one again in the playoffs). Games are generally won and lost in the trenches and based on QB play. For some time we had 3 1st rounders manning the line and aging and/or piecemeal LB'ers and DB's. We haven't won since 2004. We now have 3 first rounders available albeit two of them are retreads who didn't set the world on fire playing on bad and/or poorly coached teams. We also have a lot more talent and speed behind them than we've had in almost a decade. We also have the best QB and established WR corps in the division by a mile. We appear to have drafted two potential stud TE's and signed a fine veteran blocking TE in FA. If we can pass block reasonable well and run block a little better than we have been, the defense isn't going to have to stonewall anyone.

What I saw out of the first team defense that was already absent Warren on Thursday night was not only encouraging, it was exciting. Mistakes were made here and there, but that's what the pre season is for, learning from mistakes. Again, given who we were up against, I'm feeling pretty good about this team. Everyone else has or will have injuries to deal with too.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: Why the optimism? Come season time can we stop the run ???

I dont see everything with doom and gloom and nor do I think that we should automatically for granted. McPherson and Rust programmes are imprinted in my head.

But we have to stand up against the run. I'd prefer to be stout against the run and weak on the pass rush in all honesty....

can't disagree with any of that. why did you think i was suggesting that of you? guilty conscience?