6 rookie/2nd-year starters on defense

[patchick]

There's young, and then there's young. Today the Patriots D started:

4 rookies
2 second-years
1 third-year
1 fourth-year
3 fifth+ (and of those 3, 1 just joined the team this season and another never started a game in his career before this year!)

This is on the job training, and I'm impressed. If they can avoid the legendary rookie wall, these guys should only get better -- potentially MUCH better.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

In the two seasons that Brady has been back from ACL, this felt like the first defining moment of what the TEAM can do together.

 

[Sciz]

And more importantly, those 4 rookies will barely be considered rookies toward the end of the season when the games really count. The pain now will definitely be worth the payoff later.

 

[mosi]

The thing with Rookies is that they can look great in one game but crappy in another. Total lack of consistency. What is worse, they fall apart when the temperature turns.

Love the rooks, sure, but I am cautious and will wait till December to pass any sort of judgment.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

The kids have played really well and continue to improve. Also can't forget Fletcher playing in sub packages today as well as Crable, who is more or less a rookie. Plus still hope to get meaningful contributions out of Brace and Butler.

The rookie wall is a concern for this season, but the future really looks bright for the Pats on both sides of the ball.

 

[PATSNUTme]

It looks like they are starting to come together. We will have to see if things keep improving. It would be nice to get Butler playing at a decent level.

 

[IllegalContact]

and so it goes with brace. deaderick steps up, pryor steps up.......

brace has no pulse

 

[borg]

In 2001, Seymour became the starter around week 5 . The D firmed up and became a force as the season progressed. in 2010, these newbies have been thrown into the fire even faster. The future is bright. Add a couple D linemen next year through the draft, get Warren and Bodden healthy, and surely this will be a top three D in 2012. We probably will own another trophy by then anyways, but this D looks to be moving in the right direction.

Think about the potential of this team over the next 5 years considering its youth and draft stockpile. Then imagine teams like the Raiders and Carolina. No QBs, few draft picks with aging rosters. Hats off to BB. We are lucky. The present is promising and the future has been insured.

 

[ALP]

In 2001, Seymour became the starter around week 5 . The D firmed up and became a force as the season progressed. in 2010, these newbies have been thrown into the fire even faster. The future is bright. Add a couple D linemen next year through the draft, get Warren and Bodden healthy, and surely this will be a top three D in 2012. We probably will own another trophy by then anyways, but this D looks to be moving in the right direction.

Think about the potential of this team over the next 5 years considering its youth and draft stockpile. Then imagine teams like the Raiders and Carolina. No QBs, few draft picks with aging rosters. Hats off to BB. We are lucky. The present is promising and the future has been insured.

the guy should be arrested for what hes doing to the league

 

[DarrylS]

Not only that he is rotating in a bunch of others Deadrick, Brace, Crable, the kid from Montana and many others.. sometimes I have to keep a roster to keep track of who is who.

Very impressed with the D front 7 rotation...

 

[Mike the Brit]

Not only that he is rotating in a bunch of others Deadrick, Brace, Crable, the kid from Montana and many others.. sometimes I have to keep a roster to keep track of who is who.

Very impressed with the D front 7 rotation...

Absolutely. It's the rotation this season. And there doesn't seem to be anyone like Izzo, Alexander who, if they see the field except on Special Teams, it's time to watch out.

The thought I'm getting from the way the team looks and the way they talk is that this season it's not so much the case that the Pats have co-ordinators who just don't hold the title. BB himself seems to be much more hands-on (if I can trust what Branch was saying after the game, on offense too).

It's as if BB said: right, if you don't coach my way you can move over and let me do it. And if you don't want to be here or won't do what I say, we'll get some rookies and jags who do. I wonder if Rodney or Tedy share that impression.

 

[Simkin]

In 2001, Seymour became the starter around week 5 . We probably will own another trophy by then anyways

jinx. dont say so, we will not win a SB probabaly men