A Look at Our Defense

[mavfan2390]

Players in red are all set...a upgrade isn't needed
Players in lime are servicable but could be upgraded
Players in blue need to be replaced ...they shouldn't be where they are

I'm assuming TBC leaves


LE-
Ty Warren
Marquise Hill I know he's third on the backup DL depth chart, but still, he shouldn't be on the roster

DT-
Vince Wilfork
Mike Wright

RE-
Richard Seymour
Jarvis Green



OLB
Rosevelt Colvin
Adalius Thomas
Don Davis St'er
Larry Izzo St'er
Barry Gardner actually had some productive seasons, I bet he'll surprise a lot of fans this season by contributing
Corey Mays Cheap, young developmental player
Pierre Woods Cheap, young developmental player

ILB
Mike Vrabel
Tedy Bruschi Although we all LOVE 54 he just isn't the same guy anymore
Junior Seau He's almost 40! I love his fire and leadership but the age doesn't fit
Eric Alexander Alexander is what he is, solid depth, and a great st'er, it would be hard to find someone with the combo of experience, knowledge, and youth he has, BUT he's most definently upgradeable


CB
Asante Samuel
Ellis HobbsIf the playoff Hobbs is the one we get to see more often I'll be thrilled...he was nothing short of brilliant against the Chargers and Colts
Willie AndrewsGreat on St's
Antwan Spain
Chad Scott
Antwain Spann
Randall Gay
Ray Mickens


S
Rodney Harrisonafter time and knee surgeries take their tole I don't know how much we can expect of Rodney
Eugene Wilson
Rashad Bakeryoung, talented, good backup
James Sandersyoung, talented, played well in playoffs, great backup, serviceable starter
Artrell Hawkins solid backup, very experienced, great depth


We NEED the following...

two solid backups at OLB
one starter at ILB, and one more backup
a starting caliber corner

We could use help at safety but it isn't the most pressing need

soooo....free agency/ draft looks like this...

ILB

starter
Patrick Willis
David Harris (2 down)
Brandon Siler (2 down)
Ed Hartwell
Kawika Mitchell
Nap Harris

Willis would be great as would any of the three fa's mentioned, Harris and Siler aren't made for passing situations, they're more Ted Johnson pure run stopping types

backup
Zak DeOssie
Anthony Waters
Marvin Mitchell
Jarret Johnson


OLB
Antwan Barnes
Tim Shaw
Quincy Black
Prescott Burgess
Jarvis Moss
LaMarr Woodley
I don't know much about FA 3-4 OLB's...

Moss would have to be a first rounder...the Pats best bet is to take several in the mid rounds like Black, Barnes, and DeOssie

CB
Leon Hall
Darrelle Revis
Chris Houston
Aaron Ross
Marcus McCauley
Josh Wilson

to me, Wilson, and Hall fit into what the Pats do the best

there are almost no decent FA corners


S
Reggie Nelson
Michael Griffin
Brandon Meriweather
Eric Weddle
Aaron Rouse
Tank Williams
Gibril Wilson (RFA)
Deon Grant
Ken Hamlin

I believe that Griffin would be the best fit for the Pats, followed by Tank, Hamlin, Nelson, Meriweather, and Grant in no particular order

 

[signbabybrady]

How can you make bruschi blue and alexander lime

 

[mavfan2390]

How can you make bruschi blue and alexander lime

It's taking into account their relative roles, Bruschi is expected to start, but he shouldn't. Alexander is a backup, and a solid one at that so he gets lime.

 

[pats1]

"He shouldn't be on the roster?"

Explain yourself.

 

[marty]

How can you make bruschi blue and alexander lime

Yea there's that, plus how can Izzo and Davis be red and bru be blue??????

 

[Fencer]

LE-
Ty Warren
Marquise Hill I know he's third on the backup DL depth chart, but still, he shouldn't be on the roster

DT-
Vince Wilfork
Mike Wright

WRIGHT IS MORE OF A DE NOW. SO THE NEED IS AT DE, NOT DT.

RE-
Richard Seymour
Jarvis Green



OLB
Rosevelt Colvin
Adalius Thomas
Don Davis St'er
Larry Izzo St'er
Barry Gardner actually had some productive seasons, I bet he'll surprise a lot of fans this season by contributing
Corey Mays Cheap, young developmental player
Pierre Woods Cheap, young developmental player

IZZO AND DAVIS ARE ILBS. AND ANY ST-ONLY GUY COULD BE UPGRADED TO ONE WHO'S MORE USEFUL ON DOWNS 1-3.

ILB
Mike Vrabel
Tedy Bruschi Although we all LOVE 54 he just isn't the same guy anymore
Junior Seau He's almost 40! I love his fire and leadership but the age doesn't fit
Eric Alexander Alexander is what he is, solid depth, and a great st'er, it would be hard to find someone with the combo of experience, knowledge, and youth he has, BUT he's most definently upgradeable

BRUSCHI PLAYED HURT LAST YEAR. EVEN SO, YOU'RE UNDERRATING HIM. AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SEAU EXCEPT HIS DURABILITY. YEAH, UPGRADES ARE POSSIBLE, BUT YOU'RE WAY TOO HARSH ON THEM. THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN UPGRADE WHERE AT LEAST SEAU IS MORE OF A BACKUP/ROTATIONAL PLAYER, AND BRUSCHI GETS A FEW FEWER REPS AS WELL.

CB
Asante Samuel
Ellis HobbsIf the playoff Hobbs is the one we get to see more often I'll be thrilled...he was nothing short of brilliant against the Chargers and Colts
Willie AndrewsGreat on St's
Antwan Spain
Chad Scott
Antwain Spann
Randall Gay
Ray Mickens

I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH ANYBODY -- K/P/LS ASIDE -- WHOSE CONTRIBUTION IS LIMITED TO STs.



S
Rodney Harrisonafter time and knee surgeries take their tole I don't know how much we can expect of Rodney
Eugene Wilson
Rashad Bakeryoung, talented, good backup
James Sandersyoung, talented, played well in playoffs, great backup, serviceable starter
Artrell Hawkins solid backup, very experienced, great depth

WILSON IS GONE IN A YEAR, QUITE POSSIBLY. YOU'RE UNDERRATING RODNEY, BUT HE'S AGING TOO. A DEVELOPMENTAL SAFETY WOULD BE VERY NICE TO HAVE.

 

[Kdo5]

Did you watch Seau last year? Age certainly doesnt fit and I dont know whether he will be signed but he was terrific last year. And I hope you realise how much the Run Defense slumped once he went on IR?

 

[Patriot Missile]

Bruschi will come back and suprise some people. Sure he is a year older but the thing people love about him is his work ethic and ball hawk skills. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. I think with the addition of Thomas and Colvin roaming free it will open up a lot of INT type balls in the middle for Bruschi to get his hands on. Bank on it actually.

 

[Bertil]

Your color scheme is counterintuitive.

IMHO, Red should denote players who need upgrade. Blue players should be the "all set" ones.

 

[Warren94]

Isn't Izzo a free agent?

 

[marty]

Isn't Izzo a free agent?

Yea, I believe both he and Don Davis are.

 

[BradyManny]

Anyone's guess is as good (well, actually better) than mine as to how Thomas will be used. But I'm willing to bank on this fact: Colvin-Vrabel & Thomas will ALL be on the field FULL TIME. People use the word "rotation" as if these 3 guys are going to take turns and one of these three will be sitting on the sideline on any given play - that's just not right.

These three guys will be on the field all the time, the only "rotating" will be between Vrabel and Thomas, who both have the versatility to move in and out based on the situation.

So that leaves one spot open at ILB, which can be filled by Bruschi and one other player, with Alexander as a serviceable backup.

 

[Fencer]

Colvin-Vrabel & Thomas will ALL be on the field FULL TIME.

I suspect that's somewhat overstated.

It's probably close to true for Thomas.

It's probably close to true for Vrabel, but he's aging a little bit and could perhaps use some plays off, and BB always gives his rushers breathers during the game anyway.

And Colvin definitely needs to take plays off, whether or not he's on the field at the time he'd doing it.

 

[stinkypete]

It's taking into account their relative roles, Bruschi is expected to start, but he shouldn't. Alexander is a backup, and a solid one at that so he gets lime.

I understand that Bruschi has lost some speed and isn't the playmaker he was in 03-04, but you're suggesting that he shouldn't start at all? Could you please reccomend a 2 down ILB that would represent an upgrade over Bruschi, because I certainly cannot.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

Bruschi will come back and suprise some people. Sure he is a year older but the thing people love about him is his work ethic and ball hawk skills. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. I think with the addition of Thomas and Colvin roaming free it will open up a lot of INT type balls in the middle for Bruschi to get his hands on. Bank on it actually.

Absolutely. The addition of AD is going to make Bru better,put him in a position to do what he's always done so well. Signing AD is just what the doctor ordered for all of them-it changes everything,which is why the Pats pounced on him. I anticipate a great season for Bruschi.:rocker:

 

[BradyManny]

I suspect that's somewhat overstated.

It's probably close to true for Thomas.

It's probably close to true for Vrabel, but he's aging a little bit and could perhaps use some plays off, and BB always gives his rushers breathers during the game anyway.

And Colvin definitely needs to take plays off, whether or not he's on the field at the time he'd doing it.

Obviously these players will get plays off. That's not what I meant.

I was merely saying that these are all three-down players, full time starters. They will not be "rotating" as one rots away on the bench for downs. This isn't OLB by Comittee. These are all 3 very good starters, two of which can play ILB. Your Colvin comments confuse me. He has played very well for us over the past few seasons since battling back from a terrible injury.

 

[pats1]

I suspect that's somewhat overstated.

It's probably close to true for Thomas.

It's probably close to true for Vrabel, but he's aging a little bit and could perhaps use some plays off, and BB always gives his rushers breathers during the game anyway.

And Colvin definitely needs to take plays off, whether or not he's on the field at the time he'd doing it.

What has Colvin been doing wrong? Explain yourself.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

Did you watch Seau last year? Age certainly doesnt fit and I dont know whether he will be signed but he was terrific last year. And I hope you realise how much the Run Defense slumped once he went on IR?

I hope he lands back here. He was doing his job and his loss hurt us big time-terrible timing,too.