Buchanan

[Kontradiction]

I'm a firm believer that Buchanan should see his snap count increased this week. He is a talented, but raw pass rusher. His biggest problem was that he was rushing too far upfield this season and saw his playing time dwindle after the Jets game (understandably so since he was fully responsible for Geno converting a huge first down with his legs on third and long). That issue shouldn't be too much of a problem against the Ravens as Flacco, even when healthy, isn't mobile. To compound it, he's playing on a sprained MCL.

I honestly hope the Patriots do a lot of one-gapping in this game. With Buchanan on the field, the Patriots can get pretty creative with their DL. They can go Ninkovich-Chris Jones/Siliga/Sopoaga-Chandler Jones-Buchanan or sub in Buchanan for Ninkovich. I like Ninkovich, but I thought he played his worst game of the season last week. Even though Chandler was commanding double teams all throughout the second half, Ninkovich couldn't generate much of a push in one on one battles and frequently didn't come close to Tannehill. I don't think he should be benched, but the Patriots are going to need someone that can frequently win one on one battles at DE. Buchanan might be just what the defense needs up front vs. the Ravens and an immobile quarterback like Flacco.

 

[Marqui]

I agree with you but they will never take Ninkovich off the field no matter how ineffective he is.

 

[JMC00]

Ya I think it's time Belichick got over him making some rookie mistakes in week 7.

 

[Kontradiction]

I agree with you but they will never take Ninkovich off the field no matter how ineffective he is.

No, they won't. But that being said, Nink-Chris Jones-Chandler Jones-Buchanan might be a very effective pass rushing option if one-gapping. It would leave the team susceptible to the run and Spikes would have to clean that up a bit, but the team has to get pressure on Flacco in this game considering the state of the secondary. If they two-gap, they'll get pushed around. If they one-gap they should be able to generate enough pressure to move Flacco off his spot. Buchanan's problem is that he's raw but, as I said, his issues shouldn't be too much of a problem in this game than they would be if the Pats were playing a more mobile quarterback.

 

[PatsFan2]

I love Niko God bless him but if we cannot get another Guy opposite Chandler Jones this Teams is going to always found wanting Defensively. Buchanan looked decent rushing early on though he was more of a one trick pony. I wouldn't mind seeing more of Jamie Collins even in a Rush mode he couldn't be any worse than anybody we currently have. The lack of a Pass rush form the other side really leaves our DB's out to dry.

 

[Ring 6]

Not a big fan of taking a guy who lost his part time role due to poor play and giving him a big role in an important game just to try something different that is probably worse.

 

[JackBauer]

Andre Carter's got it taken care of.

 

[PATS68]

Glad someone posted this thread, but I was looking at it in a different manner. The way I was looking at was why is Andre Carter ahead on the depth chart instead of some of the young guys. Carter looks old and stiff out there and rather see some upside with either Jake B. or Buchana.

 

[Marqui]

Nink-Chris Jones-Chandler Jones-Buchanan

I'm not sure at this point that Buchanan is any better than Carter. Wouldn't hurt to try I guess though.

 

[mgteich]

Now is NOT the time to play players in order to get experience, because they have a higher upside. Now is the time to play the best players we have as of right now. Belichick judges that Carter is a better option for this game than Buchanan or Bequette.

Glad someone posted this thread, but I was looking at it in a different manner. The way I was looking at was why is Andre Carter ahead on the depth chart instead of some of the young guys. Carter looks old and stiff out there and rather see some upside with either Jake B. or Buchana.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Now is NOT the time to play players in order to get experience, because they have a higher upside. Now is the time to play the best players we have as of right now. Belichick judges that Carter is a better option for this game than Buchanan or Bequette.

Bequette? BEQUETTE? I think that Garin Veris is a better option than Bequette. Sign him!

 

[Kontradiction]

Andre Carter's got it taken care of.

I'm not sure at this point that Buchanan is any better than Carter. Wouldn't hurt to try I guess though.

Has Carter given us anything that Buchanan hasn't, though? Since signed, he has one sack and has his own bit of trouble beating one on ones. When Buchanan was seeing his snap count increased after week one, he was winning those one on one battles and generated two sacks, one each week, against the Jets and Falcons. His playing time decreased because of his rushing style, which is a detriment against mobile quarterbacks. He also provided a few pressures which were cleaned up by the interior pass rush and/or Chandler. When I watch Carter in spot duty, he looks old.

 

[BradyManny]

Buchanan showed flashes, but I can't see him emerging this late in the season. I'd like if it he could be rotated in, but he's going to have to earn those snaps, and recently, he hasn't.

What I really love is the idea of having enough pass rushers that you can bring one on in the 4th as a "closer." Obviously, this team isn't really that flush with those guys, but even moving Jones inside and getting Carter out there fresh might be enough. Carter came in late against Denver, and even though he's a shadow of the guy he was a few years ago, I think it helped.

There's no way you can tell me that a guy's effectiveness isn't affected by spending three hours in the elements sprinting up-field or wrestling with a 310LB man over 60 times or so. Bringing in fresh DE to attack tired OTs, that's a huge win for the defense.

 

[PatsFan2]

Bequette? BEQUETTE? I think that Garin Veris is a better option than Bequette. Sign him!

You leave my Dad out of this.

 

[PatsFan2]

If that FG frenzy Ravens Team put up 24 on this Defense we should just admit that it isn't any good.

 

[Kontradiction]

If that FG frenzy Ravens Team put up 24 on this Defense we should just admit that it isn't any good.

As of right now, it's not good at all. It's not on a Dallas level, but the defense is allowing too many yards, too many points, and is generating too few turnovers. Couple that with a pass rush that has been tailing off and the injuries on that side of the ball, and you have a unit that's holding on for dear life.

 

[Jimke]

At this point in time, the Patriots should probably stick with Carter, but
I don't think he has shown enough to be re-signed even at veteran's minumum. Same with Sopoaga.

 

[kennyb]

Andre Carter's got it taken care of.

He is as slow as molasses in wintertime.

 

[JackBauer]

Has Carter given us anything that Buchanan hasn't, though? Since signed, he has one sack and has his own bit of trouble beating one on ones. When Buchanan was seeing his snap count increased after week one, he was winning those one on one battles and generated two sacks, one each week, against the Jets and Falcons. His playing time decreased because of his rushing style, which is a detriment against mobile quarterbacks. He also provided a few pressures which were cleaned up by the interior pass rush and/or Chandler. When I watch Carter in spot duty, he looks old.

Sorry, I was being facetious. I agree with your take; Carter looks like he has cement shoes on out there.

 

[Kontradiction]

Sorry, I was being facetious. I agree with your take; Carter looks like he has cement shoes on out there.

My bad, then. I should have picked up on that.