Ready, Willing & Crable

[lamafist]

I've been keeping an eye on Shawn Crable this year, largely because I hate when football fans seem a little too gleeful in piling on a disappointing draft pick or FA signing who has the gall to get injured, and I love seeing a player gradually prove to himself and us that it was a bit too early to give up on him.

So far, Crable hasn't seen the field a ton, but he did play 16 big snaps of the OT win over the Ravens as one of three rushers in the Pats' 3-3-5 nickel, and got a key pressure on Flacco on 3rd down.

Even more encouraging than his in-game participation, however, is the fact that Crable has now been awarded a black jersey for "practice player of the week" for the third time this season, indicating that his peak-a-boo appearance in Sunday's game is no fluke, but the result of Shawn's hard work earning him more confidence in the eyes of Belichick and Pepper Johnson.

I haven't added up the numbers, so I can't really back this up, but I'd bet that if you went back and looked at who's won the award over years past, you'd see a correlation between wearing the black jersey, and future playing time and production.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I'm really rooting for the guy. There is no denying his talent level and potential. There is denying his desire to be a good football player (or just even a football player). I'm going to be pessimistic until proven otherwise about Crable.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

I've been keeping an eye on Shawn Crable this year, largely because I hate when football fans seem a little too gleeful in piling on a disappointing draft pick or FA signing who has the gall to get injured, and I love seeing a player gradually prove to himself and us that it was a bit too early to give up on him.

So far, Crable hasn't seen the field a ton, but he did play 16 big snaps of the OT win over the Ravens as one of three rushers in the Pats' 3-3-5 nickel, and got a key pressure on Flacco on 3rd down.

Even more encouraging than his in-game participation, however, is the fact that Crable has now been awarded a black jersey for "practice player of the week" for the third time this season, indicating that his peak-a-boo appearance in Sunday's game is no fluke, but the result of Shawn's hard work earning him more confidence in the eyes of Belichick and Pepper Johnson.

I haven't added up the numbers, so I can't really back this up, but I'd bet that if you went back and looked at who's won the award over years past, you'd see a correlation between wearing the black jersey, and future playing time and production.

The key to following Crable is expectations. Just as most had given up on him he was resigned to the practice squad, finally made the roster and is now playing. I am going to continue to expect nothing out of him and be pleasantly surprised.

 

[flycessna]

I'm really rooting for the guy. There is no denying his talent level and potential. There is denying his desire to be a good football player (or just even a football player). I'm going to be pessimistic until proven otherwise about Crable.

Maybe being cut was a message he needed!

No doubt you can't hold injuries against a player but you would think that someone who is on the fringe because of always be injured would have had the sense to show up to camp able to pass his physical.. Maybe those injuries were a result of not being ready to play??

So I am with you on this.. I am rooting for this guy because I really hope he can help this team with this legenday speed off the edge I have read about... But I will believe when I see it!

 

[Dufflebagz]

He was actually putting some pressure on the QB while he was on the field. I hope he can keep it up and possibly become the pass rusher we need.

 

[Urgent]

Yes, he got some pressure on a couple plays.
And he was a non-factor in a lot of plays as well. I watched him try to bull rush the RT ineffectively a couple times.

In fact, it was sort of noticeable to me that neither TBC nor Crable really made much impact at all, while Ninkovich and Cunningham are improving a lot. After missing the entire pre-season, Cunningham is now a starter. He clearly had his best game.

I hope Crable can continue to improve and benefits from the year four jump.

 

[italia44]

Yes, he got some pressure on a couple plays.
And he was a non-factor in a lot of plays as well. I watched him try to bull rush the RT ineffectively a couple times.

In fact, it was sort of noticeable to me that neither TBC nor Crable really made much impact at all, while Ninkovich and Cunningham are improving a lot. After missing the entire pre-season, Cunningham is now a starter. He clearly had his best game.

I hope Crable can continue to improve and benefits from the year four jump.

I don't know what replays you were watching,but I DVR'd both the game and the NFLN replay and I thought Crable looked pretty damn good.He got some push and most importantly,he gets his hands up in the QB's face....making it difficult to throw over.I don't see any other rusher,who is effective at this.

Also,I noticed that in OT,having Crable on the Left side allowed BB to move Ninko and Fletcher over to the right side,to deal with Rice in the short zone.Ninko is really coming on.....it's rare to have an OLB,who can flop-sides,in an overtime game,no less.BB took care of those WR screens,in a hurry,didn't he?

TBC was playing as a down lineman with his "impeccable",inside spin move(sarcasm intended)
This takes him totally out of the play,as the LT,Oher,easily handled him.If you're only rushing 3....it's never a good idea for your RDE to be spinning on his rush,as he has no awareness of what the QB or RB is doing.Tully,Tully,Tully...You can't be a one-trick pony.You have to have your head up,in order to see what play is developing.
Mostly,you just had your head...."up your ass".

 

[ahmed]

The Pats FO visited this board, saw how hyped Crable was and so they cut him just so they could see other new threads.

 

[reflexblue]

I remember his first traning camp and pre season Crable looked great at times, i think everyone thought he had great potential. I'll admit i'm surprised he could be injured for so long and make it this far. Obviously i hope it continues.

 

[NE39]

I saw him on the punt return team as well, which is a good sign because if he is contributing on ST he maybe has a chance to stick around and develop.

 

[IcyPatriot]

He definitely looks bigger than the 243 he is listed at ... hard to tell with pads but he looked like he was closer to 260-265 ... he almost looks like a DE tweener now.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

He's been a solid surprise and I hope he can continue to stay healthy and contribute. The potential has always been there.

Meanwhile, Terrence Wheatley also almost got cut. Imagine if he can contribute. Suddenly that awful 2008 draft wouldn't look so bad, with the top 3 picks playing for us. Of course Crable and Wheatley are still two huge IFs.

 

[PlainOldEd]

Nice thread title.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Count me as one that eventually see's Crable contributing quite a bit. A little small in the "maturity" department, but talent wise, he has it. I think this year's little "your done" moment might have been just what he needed.

I continue to hold out big time hope for him.

 

[WhiteWesWelker88]

use some PEDS to avoid getting injured:snob:






It would be nice to see constancy in health and in play

 

[Patriot Missile]

I remember his first traning camp and pre season Crable looked great at times, i think everyone thought he had great potential. I'll admit i'm surprised he could be injured for so long and make it this far. Obviously i hope it continues.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Now that i think about it ... is it possible that Belichick has been trying to convert him into a 3rd down DE?

He would be a bit small but certainly tall enough ... he does look bigger for sure.

 

[jmt57]

Reading between the lines in this column by the Globe's Monique Walker, it sounds to me like Crable was in need of an attitude adjustment - and finally got the message.

Crable taking a new approach this time around - Extra Points - Boston.com

"I think it was a learning experience," he said. "I think it was an eye-opener, getting a lot of time to think about the type of player that I am and the things I want to do. I think getting released was an eye-opener, and I think getting brought back was an opportunity. Where we're at now, we're in work mode. We got to keep going."

Crable added that he had the motivation of his previous experiences to keep pushing forward.

"I've been there," he said. "I know what work is. I know what work is suppoed to look like and I know when I'm not doing the job I'm supposed to do. I think their decision to let me go [was] if I wasn't doing what they thought I should do. Now that I'm back, I have a better attitude, better focus, and I'm trying to get it together."

Crable said the biggest change for him in his return to the Patriots is in his approach. He said he is asking questions of defensive line coach Pepper Johnson about pass rushing or linebackers coach Matt Patricia about technique.

"I talk to everybody, all my coaches," Crable said. "I watch a lot of film and practice film, game film ... all things that I didn't do before. I try to see where I'm at and try to coach myself up sometimes because as a player you can see yourself doing things that you don't really think you should be doing. I got real heavy on the film and asking questions."

 

[JackBauer]

Well that's certainly encouraging. And I suppose it's paying off if the coaches are rewarding him with the black jersey as a reflection of his hard work.

 

[JSn]

I'm excited to see that we may have a team almost entirely comprised of original patriots that is also dominant. If the D continues to gel and morph, this is going to be a fun season. Remains to be seen what our D can do against a really good QB, but that time's just around the corner.