Brace

[JoeShmoe]

Didnt see the game last night. How did he do (considering he missed a lot of TC)

Potential there?

 

[zoostation]

Didnt see the game last night. How did he do (considering he missed a lot of TC)

Potential there?

I think the jury is still out. He was involved in a strip sack, but imo he also looked a bit lost on some plays.

 

[Richard Camembert]

I watched Brace in the second half, he was lined up at LDE next to Pryor a lot. He was okay, got some pressure at times, you could see him trying.

To these eyes Brace's timing was very slow yesterday, he got off the line well after the other linemen on almost every play, it was very noticable. I don't know enough to know if that's timing or effort or simply slower reflexes but it was quite noticable.

 

[bucky]

To these eyes Brace's timing was very slow yesterday, he got off the line well after the other linemen on almost every play, it was very noticable. I don't know enough to know if that's timing or effort or simply slower reflexes but it was quite noticable.

Exactly. That can hopefully be corrected quickly. To me he looked like he was able to beat the 1-1 blocks regularly, but making the tackle was more challenging for Brace. Also, not sure how good the backup RT was that he's going against. But based on that performance I'd say he's on the bubble.

 

[sbpatfan]

I think Brace is doomed to a life of fan hatred. I thought he played well for just coming back, he had a really nice strip.

 

[Isaac]

I watched Brace in the second half, he was lined up at LDE next to Pryor a lot. He was okay, got some pressure at times, you could see him trying.

To these eyes Brace's timing was very slow yesterday, he got off the line well after the other linemen on almost every play, it was very noticable. I don't know enough to know if that's timing or effort or simply slower reflexes but it was quite noticable.

Yes, he was so slow off the ball that I was wondering if that was coaching--i.e. he was told to take his time to read and react. Might be the best way for him to learn, I don't know.

 

[37Harrison]

It looks to me like Brace is thinking out there and putting forth some good effort. As stated by others, he looked slow off the ball and hopefully more game time and a better understanding of the playbook will allow him to not think as much and just react.

There is potential there for him to be add quality depth or even (dare I say it) a starting position in the future. Of course, I preface the starting comment with the fact that he has a long way to go but I do see the potential there.

 

[Bertil]

You guys DID see him move down the line, from over the Right Tackle to cause the fumble on the Left side of the line? He looked to be moving OK on that one.

 

[Sicilian]

I watched Brace in the second half, he was lined up at LDE next to Pryor a lot. He was okay, got some pressure at times, you could see him trying.

To these eyes Brace's timing was very slow yesterday, he got off the line well after the other linemen on almost every play, it was very noticable. I don't know enough to know if that's timing or effort or simply slower reflexes but it was quite noticable.

I think that's fair. Though I think that's something that will improve with more reps, seeing as he missed most of camp and the first preseason game. I think in those circumstances, his performance was pretty good. I'd like to see him get some time with Warren and Wilfork on the 1's to see what he can do, but that won't happen in the third preseason game (where the starters play the most). Maybe in the last preseason game he can work his way up there, if he continues to improve.

Couple things I did notice though as an aside. He DEFINITELY looks quicker overall this year than last year, so I think his offseason efforts shouldn't really be questioned as they have been. And I thought Deaderick looked slower off the snap than Brace did at times.

 

[crowell33]

Didnt see the game last night. How did he do (considering he missed a lot of TC)

Potential there?

Lead all defensive lineman with 3 tackles, also forced a fumble.

 

[mcsully]

He's on the bubble? Seriously.. Brace is starting his second year and people think the Pats are going to dump him? Esp with the loss of Ty Warren?? Get real..

Here is a list of DL drafted in 09 & 08 in the first and second round that would play in our 3/4..

Tyson Jackson -showed nothing in 14 starts.. 38 tackles and 0 sacks
Raji - Looked great at times but would have never gotten him
Hood - 16 games, 1 sack 8 tackles

Look at the 08 draft
Long - probably play OLB but he's shown nothing
Dorsey - bum
Jackson - traded
Balmer - traded
Merling - basically going to get released
Laws
Jones

The point is, most DL take time to develop (learn the speed of the game and their assignment). Brace is 23 years old and going into his 2nd full season.. TO say its time to dump him or he's on the bubble is joke.. if you want to say your disappointed with his play, then go back and look at what else was drafted and look at the production.. the only thing fans should be disappointed about is the fact he started off not practicing and took sometime to come back..

 

[spacecrime]

Given that he is in the same spot the other DTs were the third or fourth day of training camp, and he is playing against guys who have the benefit of ramping up the past three weeks, he did better than I thought he would.

He is going to be slow at first because he is thinking. My guess is to hold off judgment until preseason game 4, when he is mor in the flow of the game. At that point I hope he looks good on the field.

But I agree with the poster who said Brace is doomed. It will be the Maroney debate all over again.

Fan Group X: "Brace is fat and slow."

Fan Group Y: "What? He lead all DTs in tackles, plus he slid off multiple blocks to move down the line and strip the ball."

Fan Group X: "Brace is fat and slow. Plus, Maroney is made of glass."

repeat ad nauseum.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

He looked a little rusty getting off the ball but did well against second string competition. Not bad considering he started practicing this week.

The best thing you can take away at this time is that he has something to build on, and he is a big dude. We need big dudes.

He was one of my 'ups' for the game, all things considered.

 

[Richard Camembert]

Yes, he was so slow off the ball that I was wondering if that was coaching--i.e. he was told to take his time to read and react. Might be the best way for him to learn, I don't know.

This makes sense to me because I could see him pause for what looked like significant time at the start of at least ten consecutive plays.

And I did see him move up and down the line okay, he moved laterally along the flow of the line and he appeared to fill his lanes correctly.

 

[mgteich]

Brace has shown that he belongs on the team. He is a second year DL who is still developing. With Warren down, we certainly need the help. I don't think anyone but fans have trouble with his work ethic or progress.

At this point, I suspect that Brace is NOT on the bubble at all. We have the three W's as starters, plus the developing sophomores Pryor and Brace. Deaderick seems headed to the Practice Squad, but could beat out Lewis for the 6th DL roster spot.

 

[bucky]

He's on the bubble? Seriously.. Brace is starting his second year and people think the Pats are going to dump him? Esp with the loss of Ty Warren?? Get real..

Here is a list of DL drafted in 09 & 08 in the first and second round that would play in our 3/4..

Tyson Jackson -showed nothing in 14 starts.. 38 tackles and 0 sacks
Raji - Looked great at times but would have never gotten him
Hood - 16 games, 1 sack 8 tackles

Look at the 08 draft
Long - probably play OLB but he's shown nothing
Dorsey - bum
Jackson - traded
Balmer - traded
Merling - basically going to get released
Laws
Jones

The point is, most DL take time to develop (learn the speed of the game and their assignment). Brace is 23 years old and going into his 2nd full season.. TO say its time to dump him or he's on the bubble is joke.. if you want to say your disappointed with his play, then go back and look at what else was drafted and look at the production.. the only thing fans should be disappointed about is the fact he started off not practicing and took sometime to come back..

This is all mostly irrelevant. What's relevant is where Brace is right now compared to the rest of the team and where BB projects him.

At the moment, the following people are ahead of him (IMO) - Wilfork, Wright, G. Warren, Pryor, Lewis. I also think Daederick is ahead of him as a pure DE. So he's definitely competing for a roster spot. Given where he was drafted, he will probably make the team. But it's not a guarantee.

 

[Sicilian]

This is all mostly irrelevant. What's relevant is where Brace is right now compared to the rest of the team and where BB projects him.

At the moment, the following people are ahead of him (IMO) - Wilfork, Wright, G. Warren, Pryor, Lewis. I also think Daederick is ahead of him as a pure DE. So he's definitely competing for a roster spot. Given where he was drafted, he will probably make the team. But it's not a guarantee.

What did you see from Deaderick that was better than what Brace gave you?

 

[mcsully]

This is all mostly irrelevant.

I also think Daederick is ahead of him as a pure DE. So he's definitely competing for a roster spot.

UGH.. Throw up some facts and base an opinion on it and I have to read a response like this...

As someone posted earlier, just a lot of banter without any facts.. Why I hardly post here

Not sure how you can base 1 week of practice as "competing for a roster spot".. This isn't chad jackson or kevin o'connell.. I hate to say it but as I stated before, look at the history of DL in the NFL. it takes time to adjust to the speed and assignments. Next to QB, DL is one of the toughest positions to adjust to..

& this is a guy that FF last.. Man I'm not even a huge promotor of him but to be on the other end so extreme is ridiculous

 

[bucky]

UGH.. Throw up some facts and base an opinion on it and I have to read a response like this...

As someone posted earlier, just a lot of banter without any facts.. Why I hardly post here

Not sure how you can base 1 week of practice as "competing for a roster spot".. This isn't chad jackson or kevin o'connell.. I hate to say it but as I stated before, look at the history of DL in the NFL. it takes time to adjust to the speed and assignments. Next to QB, DL is one of the toughest positions to adjust to..

& this is a guy that FF last.. Man I'm not even a huge promotor of him but to be on the other end so extreme is ridiculous

You think saying that he isn't guaranteed a roster spot is extreme? To say that he's not one of the top 5 DL on the roster right now - that's a fact. You would have to agree. He reportedly failed a conditioning test. We don't know the reason, but whatever it is, it's not good for him.

Does his 2nd round draft status factor into his situation? I'm sure it does. But not to the point where he would make the team automatically. Bottom line - Brace needs to show progress during the next 2 weeks and he'll probably have a roster spot. If not, he might not. That's what I call the bubble.

 

[bucky]

What did you see from Deaderick that was better than what Brace gave you?

Yesterday, not a whole lot. They were both decent. I would just say that if Brace and Deaderick were in a dead heat, I would pick Deaderick. But that's just me. I think it'll all become more clear over the next 2 weeks. IMO, there's room for both of them on the 53.