Without a veteran leader on D# this team is going to struggle

[Mogamedogz]

Unless/until someone can step in and vill that void, this team will be lucky to earn a play-off spot.

More than anything else (IMO), the lack of leadership is what hurt them the most last season. They had decent enough talent to win, but what they needed was someone to bring it all together on the field. I know Bill tried to bring Seau back mid season for that very reason, but it just didnt work out.

Big Sey - The Leader on the Dline. Gone.
Bruschi and Vrabel - The Leaders of the LB core. Gone.
Rodney- Leader of the DB's. Gone.

All in the same offseason! That kind of veteran leadership turnover in one year really hurt this team more than I think anyone anticipated. The coaching staff included. It left them without an idenity.

Now im not saying that those guys would have made a difference or that it was a bad decision to move on from them. Not at all.

I just think that not having any veterans in place to fill the void (like he has in years past) was a big mistake. And the fact that they have not corrected it going into this season scares me. That D has looked lost all preason. Eyeryone just standing around looking at the next guy. Mayo seems like he is trying... but for everytime he corrects Spikes he seems to have a brain fart of his own.

So the question is, who do you all think has what it takes to step up and bring this unit together?

 

[JackBauer]

That's generally what happens when you have a youth movement.

My prediction would be Big Fat Vince.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Unless/until someone can step in and vill that void, this team will be lucky to earn a play-off spot.

More than anything else (IMO), the lack of leadership is what hurt them the most last season. They had decent enough talent to win, but what they needed was someone to bring it all together on the field. I know Bill tried to bring Seau back mid season for that very reason, but it just didnt work out.

Big Sey - The Leader on the Dline. Gone.
Bruschi and Vrabel - The Leaders of the LB core. Gone.
Rodney- Leader of the DB's. Gone.

All in the same offseason! That kind of veteran leadership turnover in one year really hurt this team more than I think anyone anticipated. The coaching staff included. It left them without an idenity.

Now im not saying that those guys would have made a difference or that it was a bad decision to move on from them. Not at all.

I just think that not having any veterans in place to fill the void (like he has in years past) was a big mistake. And the fact that they have not corrected it going into this season scares me. That D has looked lost all preason. Eyeryone just standing around looking at the next guy. Mayo seems like he is trying... but for everytime he corrects Spikes he seems to have a brain fart of his own.

So the question is, who do you all think has what it takes to step up and bring this unit together?

As to DL, Wilfork is many times the vet leader that Big Sey was.
The other positions do lack strong vet leadership. Perhaps Mayo will emerge at LB and Merry at DB although Merri does not have the voice and characteristics. Sanders has shown that he can make the DBs cohesive.

 

[apple strudel]

Big Vince isn't getting paid 40 million to eat cookies. He's top dog.

At LB, Mayo and then Spikes for emotion.

In the d backfield I see Meriweather as the stable vet and Chung as the big hit provider. McCourty, even as a rookie, may emerge as a leader type due to his great character.

It will definitely be a group effort, but Vince is the guy who will make it all go.

 

[Kontradiction]

That's generally what happens when you have a youth movement.

My prediction would be Big Fat Vince.

I love Vince, but it's doubtful that he's going to be able to bring back the hard nosed leadership that Rodney and Bruschi brought to the table. And I'm not saying that to be negative at all. I just think that when people have to openly talk to the media about how they need to step up and assume leadership, it rarely happens. But we'll see.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I said it earlier and I will say it again...this team will be ranked in the 20s area (20-25th best) when all is said and done.

This team is the version of the Chargers of the 80s...High powered top 5 offense with good looking TEs but with a defense that sucks

I think no one will emerge as a leader on defense,we just have to hope they all do thier job individually and well at that.

 

[JackBauer]

I love Vince, but it's doubtful that he's going to be able to bring back the hard nosed leadership that Rodney and Bruschi brought to the table. And I'm not saying that to be negative at all. I just think that when people have to openly talk to the media about how they need to step up and assume leadership, it rarely happens. But we'll see.

Oh, I just meant for this season, he's clearly the veteran presence, for better or worse.

Spikes seems like a guy who would blossom into a leader. Perhaps Meriweather; he's a bit of a goof now, but I can see it happening as he matures as a person.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Vince has exerted quiet leadership helping younguns like Brace develop off season. He's 10x the leader that Sey ever was, not that I don't miss Seymour.

 

[JackBauer]

I said it earlier and I will say it again...

I think one time was more than sufficient.

 

[Marqui]

I love Vince, but it's doubtful that he's going to be able to bring back the hard nosed leadership that Rodney and Bruschi brought to the table. And I'm not saying that to be negative at all. I just think that when people have to openly talk to the media about how they need to step up and assume leadership, it rarely happens. But we'll see.

I thought I was the only one that felt that way.

I think Chung and Spikes have what it takes to become natural/vocal leaders.

 

[Garbanza]

The thing about leadership is that you have to be a pretty good player too. Other than Wilfork, the Pats don't have any consistent playmakers on Defense. That will change, but right now, we have no others.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Big Vince isn't getting paid 40 million to eat cookies. He's top dog.

I love Vince as much as the next guy. And I agree he is the clear leader on that Dline. Im just not sure he has the smarts to interject himself in anything going on behind him.

from a motivational stand point sure... but he may lack a little in the other intangibles.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

I think one time was more than sufficient.

No it's not, because you guys don't get it. For some season, you guys think this will be a "top 5" defense.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I don't know why the premise of this thread is a news flash. Maybe Bill's inability to find another Rodney FA vet leader was a shock to some. Let's appreciate how lucky we were to have found a guy like him.

 

[JackBauer]

No it's not, because you guys don't get it. For some season, you guys think this will be a "top 5" defense.

Maybe you should learn to read before you tell the rest of us what we think.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Leaders are a rare quality and those are the types of guys that play the game because they LOVE the game,Love the game more than just money issues - to me that defines the type of player and person who is a leader and wants to win and not just there for the paycheck,I see no one on defense like that right now.

I see Brady and Faulk fitting that type of player and who both are on the OTHER side of the ball.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Maybe you should learn to read before you tell the rest of us what we think.

I've already read that the majority of this board thinks this defense is "top 5".

 

[JackBauer]

I've already read that the majority of this board thinks this defense is "top 5".

Oh you did, did you? Where?

 

[Kontradiction]

Oh you did, did you? Where?

There was a lot of debate over the merits of a top five scoring defense ranking from last season. I have to assume that's what he's thinking of...

 

[JackBauer]

There was a lot of debate over the merits of a top five scoring defense ranking from last season. I have to assume that's what he's thinking of...

Well, that's only a wee bit different from what he was saying.