Does everybody understand what we're getting with Adalius Thomas?

[braveht]

I expect AD to spend more time at ILB. This lets Vrabel move back to LOLB and Rosy to ROLB. AD has the size and speed to cover the best TEs incl. Gates. LT had a good game vs. us because TBC couldn't hold the edge on that side. In fairness to TBC McNeil neutralized (to put it mildly) Seymour who was playing with an injured left arm and ankle. Our front 3, if healthy,
will stop the run with our LBs. The weakness that AD fixes is in coverage.

 

[spacecrime]

I do agree with you when you say we should have lost that game though. Thank God for Troy.

Thank God for marlon macree. If we had gone on to win the Superbowl, I'd be in favor of retiring his number and putting him in the pats hall of fame for not batting down that pass. Talk about not being aware of situational football.

 

[PatsFan37]

I'll stand by what I wrote a few months ago:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=340709&postcount=56

Excellent post. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with this guy.

I'd also like to see them back to the strategy of winning with defense. Let Brady, Maroney, Stallworth, Welker and Watson manage the game for field position.

 

[Krugman]

Your point is well taken,SB54,but what I keep thinking about is Clarke getting all those receptions in the AFC championship game,and the defence not having an answer for it.Now they do.

 

[WhiZa]

His stats will subside because he won't be asked to do one thing really well. Like DH said he'll be dropping into coverage when we face a pass happy team, and he will be on the line against a run happy team.

 

[patfanken]

Before we get all aquiver, lets understand that ANY single player is playing within the context of an eleven man defense. Any comparison's to last year's game with SD is irrelevant.

Both the Pats and SD will see between a 15-20% change in their rosters from last year. Our defensive backfield will be almost completely different, with Harrison, Wilson and Gay returning. Our entire WR corps will be vastly improved and SO much deeper. I don't know the Chargers that well, but rest assured THEY will make improvements as well, through FA, the draft, or the development of THEIR younger players.

Some time I think we all fall into the trap of ONLY looking at the improvements that our team has made, and forget that other teams are improving as well, and by the END of the season, it won't be be dramatic changes that will make the difference, it will be the subtle ones....or lack thereof.

BTW- IIRC LT made most of his yardage going between the OLB and the CBs. I also recall that the Pats were always just a quarter step late on his good runs. They were very close to shutting him down. I think we need more of an adjustment rather than radical surgery to solve the problem. On the other hand, LT is an all time great back, and he is always going to get his 80-100 yds. What we need to do next time is lop off that extra 50.

Also, great call dry heat, you really hit it one the AD signing. Now I have some stocks to sell and I need to know when......

 

[RayClay]

I'll stand by what I wrote a few months ago:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=340709&postcount=56

Props to the gonzo journalist on that one. Very good.

 

[Kontradiction]

Thank God for marlon macree. If we had gone on to win the Superbowl, I'd be in favor of retiring his number and putting him in the pats hall of fame for not batting down that pass. Talk about not being aware of situational football.

You must not have played much football then. I played safety all throughout high school and, believe me, when a football is coming right at you with no WR in sight, your INSTINCT is to intercept it. Just like when you're in a fist fight. People watching can tell you everything you should be doing, but the bottom line is that you're going to do what instinct tells you to do.

If I were a Chargers fan, I wouldn't be pissed at MacCree (sp?). Hindsight is 100% and it's easy to sit back from the comfort of your couch and say "Oh yeah, I would have done that". Believe me, NOBODY in that same situation would have batted that pass down. Not even you.

 

[zarakotas5]

Yes. Yes, I did. Yes, I do. Yes, I will continue to understand.

 

[Fixit]

28 sacks, 250+ tackles. Anything less will be a disaster.

 

[He Ban Me]

An overpaid upgrade for Seau??

 

[Fixit]

An overpaid upgrade for Seau??

A) He's one of the most-versatile LB's in football

B) How did they "overpay", again?

C) If Indy landed him (provided they had cap room) you'd be crowing about a repeat

 

[dryheat44]

You must not have played much football then. I played safety all throughout high school and, believe me, when a football is coming right at you with no WR in sight, your INSTINCT is to intercept it. Just like when you're in a fist fight. People watching can tell you everything you should be doing, but the bottom line is that you're going to do what instinct tells you to do.

If I wasn't a nice guy, I'd say the problem was with you, not with safeties in general. Having played some cornerback, I would visualize what I was going to do depending on down and distance. And the first thing I thought was "Is this fourth down? If so knock the ball down unless I can get a huge return". The second thing I thought was "If I intercept this, is the game over? If so, go down or out of bounds". It's not rocket science, I had never played cornerback before. It's not unlike playing defense in baseball...before the pitch, figure out what to do if the ball's hit to you. I've seen many kids playing Pop Warner make similar plays, so I know I'm not a defensive back prodigy.

McCree was looking for stats. He admitted as much afterwards.

 

[Fixit]

There's no way in hell I would have knocked it down, because you never know if there's a hand, foot, head, or ass around to keep it from hitting the ground. I would have picked it and then dropped like I just heard gunshots.

He picks it and falls down, it's a heads-up play. His mistake was going for yards.

 

[shakadave]

Yammering over,

PFnV

"I yam what I yam."

----Popeye, 1948

 

[shakadave]

The weakness that AD fixes is in coverage.

If this proves true, then of course we have improved our chances vs. the Colts. But (despite my limerick in the Draft Forum's poetry thread) we still need to draft a DB.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

An overpaid upgrade for Seau??

Shut the hell up Keegs.

Didnt they ban you for a reason?

 

[spacecrime]

You must not have played much football then. I played safety all throughout high school and, believe me, when a football is coming right at you with no WR in sight, your INSTINCT is to intercept it. Just like when you're in a fist fight. People watching can tell you everything you should be doing, but the bottom line is that you're going to do what instinct tells you to do.

If I were a Chargers fan, I wouldn't be pissed at MacCree (sp?). Hindsight is 100% and it's easy to sit back from the comfort of your couch and say "Oh yeah, I would have done that". Believe me, NOBODY in that same situation would have batted that pass down. Not even you.

Yeah, I would. ANy football player who plays smart football would. it is instinct to catch a ball. But situational football requires thinking.

I played football in high school, and catching a ball in that situation would get whoever did it benched.

Have you been to Patriots spring training? Ever see the return team practice onside kicks?

As soon as the guy grabs the ball, he drops to the ground. That is because once he does that, there is no chance of a turnover.

Macree actually committed two sins. After he caught the ball, if he was a smart football player who understood situational football, he would have dropped to the ground. Chargers win.

And don't tell me that anyone would run with the ball. Not true. At tne end of the game, I've seen Patriots catch the ball and drop. Samual once ran to the sidelines when no one was within 20 yards. Why? Because as soon as he did, Brady came out, took a knee, and we won the game. Rodney Harrison after intercepting McNabb at teh end of the superbowl immediately dropped to the turf and gave himself up. Why? Because he is a better football player than Macree and knew than once he fit the ground, the game was over. They wer smart enough to know what to do. Macree wasn't. Had Harrison tried to run with the ball, and had it stripped, and the Eagles then won the game, Harrison would have been criticized by everyone in New England. Rightfully so. But evidently most NE fans are smarter than Charger fans. Most.


Anyone can be wrong, Kontradiction. Macree was and you are. But the real sin in when someone tells you what is right, and you are not only to dumb to see it, you insult the person who knows.

Oh, and you are wrong about fistfights, also. Just because someone punches you does not mean instinct takes over. Players are taught not to retaliate when hit on the football field and basketball court. Why? Because it is smart ball playing. let the other guy get the foul.

Don't give me that crap that it was okay what macree did. It cost the Chargers the game, and was a mistake that high school players are taught not to make. Some high school players. You were just a lousy safety if you would catch that ball and run with it.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

...

Just wanted to see what every ones general consensus was about our new key player.

Thanks for an interesting piece of analysis. I honestly can't say I've seen enough of "AT" to form a view, but what you write will make watching him a lot more interesting. Thanks.

 

[ilduce06410]

bruinz, on the money again

Sorry, but I have to disagree here. The Chargers and Patriots were fairly evenly matched. The Pats had the air game, the Chargers the running game. It was a brutal battle and the game hinged on one mistake. That is the pure definition of hard fought game.

i agree.
there was a lot of talking out there. feelings ran high all day. the hitting was playoff-caliber. 'hard fought game' is the term i've been using since that day.
troy made a great play, but great plays happen in those games. usually a team's fortunes completely change. i expect to see at least 1 jaw-dropping play when there are so many elite players on the field, no matter where, no matter who's playing...
for me a play like old number 80's was bound to be made by SOMEBODY. troy did it, chargers did not.
greatgreat play. not a miracle.