Getting myself in the proper mental orientation to enjoy this team

[PatsBoy12]

I agree with you, but some posters are pre-determined to not see the pass rush improvement.

The Rams game was One-of-those-games. The "non-existent" pass rush got two sacks from the DLs, half of the entire total from the D-Line in 2009. The OLBs were flagged for two roughing calls. So they got there. Spinks forced a completion straight up in the air for minus a yard and an incompletion on two blitz pressures.

It just seemed every time the Defense stopped them, a flag would award a First Down. Collectively that was 8 times the QB was hit or pressured and two actual and a third sack which was wiped by penalty, would indicate a pretty damn good Pass Rush for such a terrible game.

Even more encouraging it came from the OLBs, the missing DL, and the missing ILB positions. I thought Chung had a pressure on a S blitz too.

It's funny that you put it that way because what I think I'm beginning to notice is that certain things become mantras almost. We've been talking about a lack of pass rush so long, for example, that it goes unnoticed even when there's evidence that it has improved somewhat. I can't wait to see what it looks like in the regular season. I'm excited.

 

[Joker]

heh...I love all you guys but, to put things in perspective a little, I remember when the Pats pass rush consisted of either Mike Haynes or Raymond Clayborn. I think the rush will hover somewhere around adequate as the season progresses.

 

[patsfaninpa]

heh...I love all you guys but, to put things in perspective a little, I remember when the Pats pass rush consisted of either Mike Haynes or Raymond Clayborn. I think the rush will hover somewhere around adequate as the season progresses.

Where have you gone Julius Adams? Pats Nation turns it lonely eyes to you.

 

[Tunescribe]

This is a building year that could blossom into something special with luck, depending on how the defense comes together. But I'm looking at 2012 as THE YEAR to start another title run. Our current crop of youngsters will be seasoned by then, and the topflight rookies coming in the first two rounds next year will be acclimated. Like one poster said, keep Brady intact (for at least three more years) and we'll have the foundation in place to DOMINATE once again. :rocker: Man, I love BB and this team!

 

[Sicilian]

I agree with you, but some posters are pre-determined to not see the pass rush improvement.

The Rams game was One-of-those-games. The "non-existent" pass rush got two sacks from the DLs, half of the entire total from the D-Line in 2009. The OLBs were flagged for two roughing calls. So they got there. Spinks forced a completion straight up in the air for minus a yard and an incompletion on two blitz pressures.

It just seemed every time the Defense stopped them, a flag would award a First Down. Collectively that was 8 times the QB was hit or pressured and two actual and a third sack which was wiped by penalty, would indicate a pretty damn good Pass Rush for such a terrible game.

Even more encouraging it came from the OLBs, the missing DL, and the missing ILB positions. I thought Chung had a pressure on a S blitz too.

I agree, and not only this, but it seemed like a lot of Bradford's completions were quick hits. Dump offs to the underneath routes, quick slants, etc. Some of them were just good throws, but in most cases our secondary just couldn't cover them right off the bat.

Whether that was poor play by the players, poor scheming by the coaches, or both is debatable, but expecting the front seven to apply pressure on a three step drop and quick throw is unreasonable.

 

[AzPatsFan]

This is a building year that could blossom into something special with luck, depending on how the defense comes together. But I'm looking at 2012 as THE YEAR to start another title run. Our current crop of youngsters will be seasoned by then, and the topflight rookies coming in the first two rounds next year will be acclimated. Like one poster said, keep Brady intact (for at least three more years) and we'll have the foundation in place to DOMINATE once again. :rocker: Man, I love BB and this team!

Amen Brother! But I don't think it will take that long. Like half to 3/4 of a season. The reason? Its is due to the fine building materiels, Belichcik is using. It is hard to find an obvious scrub being asked to do more than he is capable of doing. Where they exist there is a body of work to indicate he is more accomplished as a matter of fact.

For example, QB with UDFA Hoyer has no right to be as good as he has demonstrated. Bodden at CB should not be as good as an UDFA should be at CB, but he has shown much more in his career. Connolly at RG and an UDFA should not be as good as he has shown himself to be after five years of grooming. Mike Wright should not be as good being an UDFA as he has proven himself to be. Lewis and GWarren were first rounders who if not stars, were regular veteran starters wherever they went. People want to criticize TBC and Burress but both have double digit sack totals on their resumes.

Many of the other newcomers have great pedigrees for unproven guys. Gronkowski, Hernandez, Tate, Price, McCourty, Brace, Wheately, Volmer, Spinks, McKenzie, Butler, Chung all were selected with premium high draft choices, so presumeably they have excellent athletic talent.

Plus in almost no case is the expectations on the shoulders of a single player at any position. Usually there are two or more people competing and only one has to come through.