Tedy Bruschi needs a Cigarette After Talking About Brandon Spikes

[shmessy]

Ya gotta just love this from someone who knows!



Chat: Chat with Tedy Bruschi - SportsNation - ESPN Boston

".....I've said before that I'm enjoying watching Brandon Spikes play football, but now it's at an all-time level. This guy is a beast. This guy is going to start to get a reputation around the league as one of the hardest hitters in football. He knocked out Spiller to force that fumble on the goal-line and he just about put Fred Jackson to sleep. This guy is the hammer. And I love it......"

"......Spikes is a beast. No, let me put it this way -- Spikes is a monster. Offensive players are going to watch film of him and opposing RBs are going to be looking to find him before every snap because they're not going to want any of that......"


".....One more thought: I almost see him as a combination of Ted Johnson and Rodney Harrison. He brings the intensity of Rodney Harrison. He'll talk trash in your face, knock you on the ground and let you know about. But he brings the wood like Ted Johnson. That's a dangerous combination......."

 

[shmessy]

Then, he ends the chat with:

"OK, everybody. I have to go. This was one of the best chats of the year. Keep the good questions coming. I'm going to re-watch Spikes knock some people out (laughing)."

 

[Bella*chick]

OK, Tedy, that's all well and good, but tell us how you really feel......

 

[DarrylS]

Finally... attitude and smash mouth.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I thought the day he was drafted that he was going to be a Hall of Famer,but I was worried about his off the field 'video' becoming an issue with possible off the field issues which fortunately,he got over and soon matured into a full time beast and those days apparently are of the past...he is going to be good for a long time.

I say the same thing with Hightower who is going to be another special player.

This linebacking corps has 'potential' to be a 1985 Bears type of LB corps...they are that good.

 

[SyN65]

He's our best LB imo.

 

[shmessy]

He's our best LB imo.

Now, I wouldn't get carried away.

Hightower and Mayo both play in coverage far better.

Spikes is a Ted Johnson RB destroyer.

 

[Kontradiction]

He's our best LB imo.

They're all talented, great fits for what Belichick wants to do, and play well off of one another. Mayo is the more naturally talented of the two but Spikes is a natural Mike. He was made to play that position with his violent demeanor and unrelenting aggression.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Interesting comments on the kicker..."I don't think he's going anywhere. I don't have any concern. Billy Cundiff missed three kicks yesterday for the Redskins but they put him out there for a game-winner and he made it. That's the life of a kicker. The concern is: Does it affect the way coaches make decisions when they get into FG range. Do they still have confidence in him? Do they say 'Put Gostkowski out there for hte 45-yarder?' Or is it 'Let's go for it' or 'Let's punt it.'"

Congruent with what thoughtful fans posted here.

Also note his insightful comments on Josh McD's particular personal stamp designing the 2012 run game.

 

[BradyBranch39]

Love that running game. When BB drafted Ridley and Vereen, I thought he was taking advantage of the rest of the league going overboard with the passing game. Nice to finally see it pay huge dividends, although it was Bolden, not Vereen.

 

[SyN65]

Now, I wouldn't get carried away.

Hightower and Mayo both play in coverage far better.

Spikes is a Ted Johnson RB destroyer.

Yeah, I'll agree Spikes isn't so hot in coverage - he's just slow. BUT - he does something Mayo doesn't do...MAKE PLAYS. Not only that, but make plays when the Pats need it most. A forced fumble at the end of the Arizona game to give the ball back to the Pats to (potentially) win the game. A forced fumble at the goal line to stop Spiller from scoring which could have been back breaking. Even in the AFC champ. last year he had a pick against B-more.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Ya gotta just love this from someone who knows!


".....One more thought: I almost see him as a combination of Ted Johnson and Rodney Harrison. He brings the intensity of Rodney Harrison. He'll talk trash in your face, knock you on the ground and let you know about. But he brings the wood like Ted Johnson. That's a dangerous combination......."

So he’s Ted Johnson without the love for the romance novels?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I get a little annoyed of how Bruschi seems to pick the other team which he did on sunday (Buffalo) but now praises a player on the Pats once his prediction is wrong.

Can't believe he picked the Bills to begin with,he should remember the Pats almost own the Bills and would still have that winning streak going if Brady didn't toss 4 picks last year.

 

[signbabybrady]

Yeah, I'll agree Spikes isn't so hot in coverage - he's just slow. BUT - he does something Mayo doesn't do...MAKE PLAYS. Not only that, but make plays when the Pats need it most. A forced fumble at the end of the Arizona game to give the ball back to the Pats to (potentially) win the game. A forced fumble at the goal line to stop Spiller from scoring which could have been back breaking. Even in the AFC champ. last year he had a pick against B-more.

Mayo doesnt make plays is a thing of the past. He makes plays now. his first year or two he was just a tackling machine but I think the guy is starting to make more and bigger plays.

Take yesterday for example. He had a pick but also go back and look closer at the Spiller fumble. Spikes is absolutely the one who brings the wood but Mayo makes a more impressive play. He is engaged with a blocker and he is able to shed his block and get one side of spiller so when Spikes laid into him it was like a wall rather then spikes just knocking him into the endzone(or sideways).

 

[signbabybrady]

I get a little annoyed of how Bruschi seems to pick the other team which he did on sunday (Buffalo) but now praises a player on the Pats once his prediction is wrong.

Can't believe he picked the Bills to begin with,he should remember the Pats almost own the Bills and would still have that winning streak going if Brady didn't toss 4 picks last year.

Clearly there is a distinction between what one thinks of a player individually and what one thinks of that players team as whole.

But also nothing wrong with admitting or ignoring your mistakes and moving on. Would you rather he foolishly praises the Bills in order to stay consistant or recognize he was wrong and move on?

Lastly you are absolutely right he should not have ignored the past when assesing this match up as it really seemed like most of the matches with them most of the decade.

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

Mayo doesnt make plays is a thing of the past. He makes plays now. his first year or two he was just a tackling machine but I think the guy is starting to make more and bigger plays.

Take yesterday for example. He had a pick but also go back and look closer at the Spiller fumble. Spikes is absolutely the one who brings the wood but Mayo makes a more impressive play. He is engaged with a blocker and he is able to shed his block and get one side of spiller so when Spikes laid into him it was like a wall rather then spikes just knocking him into the endzone(or sideways).

The talent that they're surrounding Mayo with is freeing him up a bit more. Before it seemed like he and VW were being used as the glue to keep that unit together.

This game was a validation of the Josh McDaniels stamp. That running game has Josh McDaniels written all over it.

This was another nice little tidbit.

 

[letekro]

Spikes is a carbon copy of Bryan Cox---build, playing style, attitude. He is easily the best playmaker on our defense (yes, better than our safeties---j/k)

 

[PATSNUTme]

Ya gotta just love this from someone who knows!



Chat: Chat with Tedy Bruschi - SportsNation - ESPN Boston

".....I've said before that I'm enjoying watching Brandon Spikes play football, but now it's at an all-time level. This guy is a beast. This guy is going to start to get a reputation around the league as one of the hardest hitters in football. He knocked out Spiller to force that fumble on the goal-line and he just about put Fred Jackson to sleep. This guy is the hammer. And I love it......"

"......Spikes is a beast. No, let me put it this way -- Spikes is a monster. Offensive players are going to watch film of him and opposing RBs are going to be looking to find him before every snap because they're not going to want any of that......"


".....One more thought: I almost see him as a combination of Ted Johnson and Rodney Harrison. He brings the intensity of Rodney Harrison. He'll talk trash in your face, knock you on the ground and let you know about. But he brings the wood like Ted Johnson. That's a dangerous combination......."

OMG, I may have to call my doctor in another 2 hours and 30 minutes.

 

[reflexblue]

He's our best LB imo.

He brings an intangible that others don't

 

[everlong]

Now, I wouldn't get carried away.

Hightower and Mayo both play in coverage far better.

Spikes is a Ted Johnson RB destroyer.

While nobody is ever going to mistake him for Jack Hamm or Derrick Brooks in their prime for coverage ability he's actually not the the liability I once thought he was. I certainly don't want him trailing a RB out of the backfield or one on one with a good TE but his zone coverage is pretty solid and he shows better instincts than I thought.