PFF's mid-season Pro-Bowl team (7 Patriots)

[Pessimistic Pete]

AFC
NFC

QB: Tom Brady
TE: Rob Gronkowski
WR: Wes Welker
OT: Sebastian Vollmer
DE: Chandler Jones
ILB: Jerod Mayo
CB: Devin McCourty

 

[VrabelJr]

In before everyone ****s themselves over McCourty being on that list.

 

[Sciz]

I don't think any of them are wrongfully included, but anybody expecting to see Wilfork is going to be disappointed to hear that they consider him in the very bottom of the DT rankings as opposed to the top. Can't say I agree with that.

 

[randomk1]

I think Spikes should be among those names as well. He's been one of the few bright spots on D.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

AFC
NFC

QB: Tom Brady
TE: Rob Gronkowski
WR: Wes Welker
OT: Sebastian Vollmer
DE: Chandler Jones
ILB: Jerod Mayo
CB: Devin McCourty

I would have had Ridley as the third RB behind Spiller & Rice and ahead of McGahee.

 

[Ive_Killed_People]

Man I wish PFF would put out a print mag so I could line my toilet with it.

 

[UK_Pat37]

I don't think any of them are wrongfully included, but anybody expecting to see Wilfork is going to be disappointed to hear that they consider him in the very bottom of the DT rankings as opposed to the top. Can't say I agree with that.

Whilst I don't like PFF myself, I do.

Guy hasn't been generating any pressure. He's a monster against the run but down right average when it comes to pushing the pocket. Has been for a while. He's very inconsistent in that area.

He'll make the pro bowl on reputation alone though and makes plays to get his name noticed above others.

 

[randomk1]

Whilst I don't like PFF myself, I do.

Guy hasn't been generating any pressure. He's a monster against the run but down right average when it comes to pushing the pocket. Has been for a while. He's very inconsistent in that area.

He'll make the pro bowl on reputation alone though and makes plays to get his name noticed above others.

As if Vince has ever been a great rusher. I'll give you a reason why he should be among the top players.

Look at the Patriots run D and where it ranks and how many yards per attempt teams have against us. I'd argue that it all starts with #75 and with him taking on double teams constantly. He also has 1 FF and 3 FR

That man is doing his job.

 

[patsfan-1982]

in the end the players and coachs have the last say so on who makes the pro bowl and i dont think any pats DB will be on that roster, Sebastian Vollmer is a RT so i dont think he will make it and i think wilfork and Ridley will make the team

 

[Calciumee]

Big V may not be a great pass rusher, but he still gets double teamed! I would say he is doing a good job!

 

[resdubwhite]

Whilst I don't like PFF myself, I do.

Guy hasn't been generating any pressure. He's a monster against the run but down right average when it comes to pushing the pocket. Has been for a while. He's very inconsistent in that area.

He'll make the pro bowl on reputation alone though and makes plays to get his name noticed above others.

Not everyone in the D-line should be pinning their ears back and gunning for the QB.

Vince was never supposed to be that guy.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Not everyone in the D-line should be pinning their ears back and gunning for the QB.

Vince was never supposed to be that guy.

He wasn't when he was a 3-4 zero technique nose tackle.

He barely plays that role now.

We always make excuses when our players underperform in certain areas. Ninkovich is always playing 'contain' is the best one when he's getting single teamed and can't consistently beat his man.

I love Vince, he's the best run stuffer in the league BUT...that doesn't mean he shouldn't be one of the more dominant pass rushers. It isn't a strength of his. Some games he comes up big, others he's quiet. That's something he really has to work on.

We aren't two gapping across the whole line any more. We are one gapping a hell of a lot which means he should, to an extent, be pinning his ears back and getting to the QB.

He and Love combined have got to step up the interior pressure. That's the most desired type of pressure. We are getting torn up by average to poor QBs because these guys are letting them step in to their throws.

 

[Rob0729]

It's kinda sad that a pathetic site like PFF has a more rational and accurate take on McCourty than the "McCourty sucks" crowd in this fan base and media. I tend to doubt their 45.9% QB completion percentage against him (since I doubt all their stats), but I can't think it is radically off like he is giving up 70% of the passes against him. Obviously the picks and deflections are official stats so cannot be disputed.

I don't know if McCourty deserves to be on this list, but he is far closer to being on a list of Pro Bowl contenders than the list of CB disasters that people give him credit for on this board.

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, I don't know how Vince is not on this list. The Pats have the best run defense in the NFL and Big Vince is a huge reason for that.

 

[UK_Pat37]

BTW, I don't know how Vince is not on this list. The Pats have the best run defense in the NFL and Big Vince is a huge reason for that.

We have a top ten rushing defence...it isn't the best.

 

[Kontradiction]

It's a joke that Devin McCourty is on that list and Brandon Spikes and Wilfork are not.

 

[ausbacker]

He wasn't when he was a 3-4 zero technique nose tackle.

He barely plays that role now.

We always make excuses when our players underperform in certain areas. Ninkovich is always playing 'contain' is the best one when he's getting single teamed and can't consistently beat his man.

I love Vince, he's the best run stuffer in the league BUT...that doesn't mean he shouldn't be one of the more dominant pass rushers. It isn't a strength of his. Some games he comes up big, others he's quiet. That's something he really has to work on.

We aren't two gapping across the whole line any more. We are one gapping a hell of a lot which means he should, to an extent, be pinning his ears back and getting to the QB.

He and Love combined have got to step up the interior pressure. That's the most desired type of pressure. We are getting torn up by average to poor QBs because these guys are letting them step in to their throws.

How many monster DT/NT with 2 gap responsibilities do you know of that have been monster pass rushers with big sack numbers?

Put Wilfork in with a one gap assignment and you'd get your havoc. The guy really is that damn good.

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

We have a top ten rushing defence...it isn't the best.

Top 5 and a real serious argument could be made for best. They're neck and neck with most teams when it comes to YPG, YPA, TDs, and FFs. Now if you're talking about just YPG then yeah they're just a top 10 rush defense, but based on your other posts I'd label such a stance on your part as disingenuous.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Spikes and Ridley should at least get honorable mention.

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

How many monster DT/NT with 2 gap responsibilities do you know of that have been monster pass rushers with big sack numbers?

Put Wilfork in with a one gap assignment and you'd get your havoc. The guy really is that damn good.

Right, I haven't been paying too much attention, but the general feeling I've been getting is the interior of the line is still primarily playing 2 gap. If that's the case then expecting much more pressure than we've seen from VW and Love seems unreasonable.

I do think that the Pats do need to pressure QBs up the middle a bit more. I don't really care how they achieve it: 1 gapping a T or rushing an ILB/S, but they need to do something to make guys feel less comfortable stepping up. I'm confident more of these wrinkles will be added as they go on, and I assume Talib, if he pans out, will help open things up a bit.