Have the Patriots ever started a D this young?

[fgssand]

I think the better question should be, have they ever had a starting defense look this bad?
.

HEY BRO going to eat some crow this year..................

Yes, very young defense, but I believe there is a lot of talent that just begs for experience.

This defense will be a top NFL defense by December, which is exactly when we will need it.

 

[Off The Grid]

Who's Cain? CrAbel's brother

Hyphens will not be suffered. :snob:

 

[Off The Grid]

Never understood how Parcells gets credit for the players that were drafted when he quit because he wasn't allowed to make the draft picks.

Because Brother Kraft changed the game on him: He promoted Grier to Director of Player Personnel in 1995, after Coach Bill I had already had complete command for more than 2 years, as per his agreement when Jim Orthwein had hired him.

It was the reduction of Complete Command + Control ~ which he'd been promised when Orthwein hired him ~ that pissed Parcells off, and triggered his resignation.

...None of which could ever justify the way he left, of course.

 

[Uncle Rico]

The D was young in 1996....but not this young.

Check out this website. You can toggle back and forth through the seasons on the top left. 1996 New England Patriots Starters, Roster, & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com

I said a few times earlier during camp that this team reminded me of the '96 team, a blend of veterans and potentially cornerstone youngsters. A little less optimistic since losing Warren and Bodden, but keeping the hope.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

The 1970-75, 1981, 1989-92, and 1995 Pats all say hello.


I ran into a response to another 'have the Pats ever' question in another thread, and the response was that I should have known that the topic was in reference to teams during the Belichick era. If that is indeed again the case - which I am hesitant to assume - then it is no wonder that fans of other teams accuse Pats fans of being bandwagoners and Johnny-come-latelys. When some Pats fans use the wording of 'in Pats history' to mean 'in the BB era', no wonder others assume none of us followed the team prior to 2001.


And if you are referring to the Belichick era, the 2002 and 2005 Pats say hello also.



The statement you responded to had nothing to do with what did or did not happen in Dallas. I'd love to hear an explanation of what a great job Grier did in New England; it sounds as if you think he was better than those in his place currently in Foxboro.

Well, based on his responses on other threads, he thinks that with the exception of him and a couple of others, the rest of this board claim that this D is among the top 5. Hence his frequent posts against our current D/BB and anyone who comments anything positive or encouraging about this D.

 

[Mogamedogz]

The 1970-75, 1981, 1989-92, and 1995 Pats all say hello.

no wonder others assume none of us followed the team prior to 2001.

Actually, many fans assume that because a very large portion of the fan-base today DIDNT follow them prior to 2001.

For a lot of people on this board, it's through no fault of their own. They are just too young to remember anything prior to Pete Carroll or BB.

 

[Kontradiction]

Actually, many fans assume that because a very large portion of the fan-base today DIDNT follow them prior to 2001.

For a lot of people on this board, it's through no fault of their own. They are just too young to remember anything prior to Pete Carroll or BB.

I'm part of this group. I started following them when Parcells first took over. Though I was very young at the time.

 

[Nikolai]

I'm part of this group. I started following them when Parcells first took over. Though I was very young at the time.

Good point on the youth. As I stated, I started following them in 1986, but I was very young and probably didn't understand much of what I was seeing until the 1990 season.....I also came to understand coping mechanisms.

 

[pdangle]

I guess a better clarified question is- have the Patriots (and I meant all time) or any other team WITH LEGITIMATE SUPER BOWL ASPIRATIONS ever had a D this inexperienced.

I like the D as constituted, it's going to struggle, it'll get better. Good stuff.

 

[Patspsycho]

Bobby Grier thanks you for the complement.
Never understood how Parcells gets credit for the players that were drafted when he quit because he wasn't allowed to make the draft picks.

"They want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries."

 

[tajapandu]

I'm part of this group. I started following them when Parcells first took over. Though I was very young at the time.

why the avatar change? i always enjoyed reading your posts as if Notorious B.I.G was rapping them.

although, i guess this could be equally entertaining....

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Use to be that everyone whined out defense was too old and the team went 18-1.

Now everyone is whining the defense is too young.

I agree with Goldilocks...this team is just right.

 

[plk]

Which illustrates why Parcels had to be fired in NE. Kraft was catching on about building a team for the long term, to have year over year shot at a SB win. Oddly, one of his models was the Cowboys.

Parcels was looking out for his legacy and wanted another SB win with another franchise to cement himself as a great coach. This reshaped his personnel philosophy, and he was willing to give up a lot long term for short term gain.

The Cowboys lost the thread on long term, and started going for big-ego, flash in the pan success. Dez Bryant is the latest example. Parcels was all too happy to go there and take a short term shot at success. And both failed then, and continue to fail - no SB win, which is the only measure of success for both.


Meanwhile, the Krafts succeeded wildly.

I am surprised that you did not mention Terry Glenn to bolster your argument of Kraft building for the long term. That pick is certainly a very strong example of your point.

 

[gomezcat]

I'm a big fan of what BB is doing, which is all about long-term thinking. I think this D will be OK this year- not great, but in the top half. However, I think the likes of Cunningham, Spikes, Mayo and the DBs will get better and better. The results of that will be seen, I think, in 2-3 years' time. If there is a missing part to the puzzle for the longer term, it's the need for a DL to replace Seymour and possibly another DL to help collapse the pocket on passing downs.

The short term future of the NFL seems to be more passing, so the D needs to get faster and better at putting pressure on the QB. Having said that, it would be stupid to throw the baby out with the bathwater and neglect run D too much; all the pass rushers in the world don't help if it's 3rd and 2..