Eric Alexander

[RobertWeathers]

I by no means am saying that Alexander is an up and comming pro bowler. Yes, he did get scorched on some critical pass plays in the AFCCC vs Indy that lead to 31 2nd 1/2 points, but he did put up some decent numbers in the game (10 tackles, 1 FF, 1 PD) in a pressure-packed game nonetheless. What do we make of this one-time performance?

My take is that he is nothing more than a solid backup in a unit that is stacked.

What does the rest of Patriot Nation think? Am I undervaluing him?

 

[dryheat44]

I by no means am saying that Alexander is an up and comming pro bowler. Yes, he did get scorched on some critical pass plays in the AFCCC vs Indy that lead to 31 2nd 1/2 points, but he did put up some decent numbers in the game (10 tackles, 1 FF, 1 PD) in a pressure-packed game nonetheless. What do we make of this one-time performance?

My take is that he is nothing more than a solid backup in a unit that is stacked.

What does the rest of Patriot Nation think? Am I undervaluing him?

He's got a good shot. It takes a few years to play linebacker for BB with the necessary instinctiveness. He should still be getting better.

There are few linebackers in the league who can consistently cover Dallas Clark one-on-one. That would have been a great role for either Eugene Wilson or Rodney Harrison had either one been healthy.

 

[letekro]

Going solely off the Indy game, you would have to say he's better in coverage than Bruschi and no worse against the run.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

Tackles mean squat in that game since the D-Line played horrible and the D-Backs also played horrible.


I think he is a below average back-up who hopefully can be beat out some day if they ever draft any capable LB's...

 

[RobertWeathers]

Tackles mean squat in that game since the D-Line played horrible and the D-Backs also played horrible.


I think he is a below average back-up who hopefully can be beat out some day if they ever draft any capable LB's...

He'd be picked up in a heartbeat if were cut by BB. He did make the tackles (as opposed to Beisel who wiffed may a times) which means he was in the spots that BB needed him to be in.

He's young, athletic, decent on ST, knows the D and has big-game experience. You don't cut guys like that.

 

[DaBruinz]

I by no means am saying that Alexander is an up and comming pro bowler. Yes, he did get scorched on some critical pass plays in the AFCCC vs Indy that lead to 31 2nd 1/2 points, but he did put up some decent numbers in the game (10 tackles, 1 FF, 1 PD) in a pressure-packed game nonetheless. What do we make of this one-time performance?

My take is that he is nothing more than a solid backup in a unit that is stacked.

What does the rest of Patriot Nation think? Am I undervaluing him?

Even though I am fond of them, you know the saying. There are lies, damn lies and statistics.

I don't believe that any of Alexander's tackles during the AFCCG were behind the line of scrimmage. I believe that they were all downfield. The fact is that Alexander was the weak link and Manning picked on that tremendously.

I believe that Alexander will be a replacement for Izzo. Nothing more. Nothing less. I don't believe he's an option in the nickle packages as a coverage LB and I believe that was proven in the game against Indy. Now, I do understand that he was facing Manning and primarly Dallas Clark. But even when they lined up Moorehead and their #3 TE against Alexander, Alexander wasn't up for the task.

Now, it could be that because of the lack of help over the top was an issue since both Hawkins and Sanders were out at different points in the 3rd and 4th quarter. But I don't believe so.

 

[rabthepat]

IMHO.....Eric Alexander is the next Tully Banta-Cain.

 

[captain stone]

1) He'd be picked up in a heartbeat if were cut by BB.

2) He did make the tackles (as opposed to Beisel who wiffed many a times) which means he was in the spots that BB needed him to be in.

3) He's young, athletic, decent on ST, knows the D and has big-game experience.

4) You don't cut guys like that.

1) No, I don't think he would be, and I hope we find out before Opening Day.

2) Those spots were at least 5 yards downfield, after he was constantly blown off the LOS.

3) If you mean that he has experience playing lousy in big games, then you're right.

4) Sure you do.

 

[DaBruinz]

1) No, I don't think he would be, and I hope we find out before Opening Day.

2) Those spots were at least 5 yards downfield, after he was constantly blown off the LOS.

Alexander wasn't lined up on the LOS. He was lined up 5 yards off it and most, if not all, of his tackles came on passing plays, not running plays.

 

[braveht]

I've watched the AFCCG a few times and never understood the criticism of him on this board; but what the heck . a scape goat is always nice.
What I saw was:
a) Good tackling
b) Very aggressive play, which may have hurt later when he began to wear down since he didn't have any subs.
c) A great pass and catch by Clark who he had blanketed.
d) Burned on a deep out by Clark late in the game; he was gassed at that point and there was no pass rush which allowed the deep pattern to develop.

While the bottom line was disappointing I think there is a lot of promise there and would not be surprised to see him in the rotation. For those who think Lua is going to beat him out I think they are going to be disappointed.

 

[unoriginal]

His insertion into the starting lineup is one of the reasons we held the Colts to 6 points in the first half. In the second half the wheels came off the team.

I don't know how anyone can be anything except optomistic about him this year. They've been grooming him as the next Roman Phifer for awhile now, and this is his big 4th year.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

I've watched the AFCCG a few times and never understood the criticism of him on this board; but what the heck . a scape goat is always nice.
What I saw was:
a) Good tackling
b) Very aggressive play, which may have hurt later when he began to wear down since he didn't have any subs.
c) A great pass and catch by Clark who he had blanketed.
d) Burned on a deep out by Clark late in the game; he was gassed at that point and there was no pass rush which allowed the deep pattern to develop.

While the bottom line was disappointing I think there is a lot of promise there and would not be surprised to see him in the rotation. For those who think Lua is going to beat him out I think they are going to be disappointed.

I think Lua has a chance of beating him out at some point in the future, but not this year. As far your observations on Alexander is concerned, it's pretty much what I saw also.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=425875&postcount=73
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=425878&postcount=74

That he's still berated, often while pitted in situations that never occurred, is proof people see what they want to see despite the evidence. And you'll note in the two posts cited above that I'm not some Alexander homer.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

He's got a good shot. It takes a few years to play linebacker for BB with the necessary instinctiveness. He should still be getting better.

There are few linebackers in the league who can consistently cover Dallas Clark one-on-one. That would have been a great role for either Eugene Wilson or Rodney Harrison had either one been healthy.

Exactly, and it's not just Dallas Clark. Roman Phifer strugged quite a bit when covering Clark's predecessor, Marcus Pollard. Also, if you recall, Randy McMichael used to really kill us.....that is until BB switched Rodney over to cover the guy that resulted in Rodney's glib quote to reporters at the end of that game that went something like '0-fer. You got that, right?'

 

[TheSeymonsta]

I don't know how anyone can be anything except optomistic about him this year.

Because we have differing opinions.

You have optimism, while I am very pessimistic considering he did not play much until the Pats had no choice but to play him....

And he looked horrible no matter how many tackles he made.:bricks:

 

[kas]

Because we have differing opinions.

You have optimism, while I am very pessimistic considering he did not play much until the Pats had no choice but to play him....

And he looked horrible no matter how many tackles he made.:bricks:

Actually, they did have a choice. They chose to sit Tully Banta-Cain, an experience role player to get him on the field.

Now he isn't a Pro Bowler. But he's a good tackler, excellent STer, smart and physical and decent in coverage. We were down personnel, had to switch to more vanilla schemes and had lost all our depth.

I expect him to contribute a lot more this year than many here want to believe.

 

[belichickaholic]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but it appeared to me that Alexander injured his hamstring early in the third quarter. Other players were in and out, but he was out there every play regardless of his injury.

If he's not good enough, he's not good enough but at least he gave it his all, as they all did.

 

[spacecrime]

he was constantly blown off the LOS.

I don't recall him playing up at all, never mind constantly.

Given that his first start was covering Peyton Manning throwing to Dallas Clark during a game in which we have no pass rush and no reserves to give players a breather, and the defense was on the field forever, I really don't think he did all that poorly. There were very few bright spots in our game on the defensive side of the ball that game. Or the offensive side, either, for that matter.

But everyone starts off with a blank slate with BB at training camp. It's only we fans that decide the next season's players by mid June. Hey, we gotta do something to pass the time. The Red Sox are interfering with my blood pressure medication. It's time to move the team to the Phillipines and call them the Manila Folders.

 

[PatsSteve1]

I don't know how many players would want thier careers or future based on thier play in thier 1st start and significant playing time in a game against the Colts in an AFCC game. It's not like it was against Ryan Leaf - BB likes to do whatever he thinks gives his team the best chance to win and apparently he and the braintrust felt Eric over Tully was it. The Patriots also had 2 backups safeties in the game that weren't much help down the middle of the field. Had the Patriots O gotten a couple more 1st downs in that 2nd half he might be seen differently. I'm not saying he'll be a good or bad player, but 1 player didn't lose that game.

 

[BB_dynasty]

I am optimistic, but think about it, if it is your one chance to start, you want to play as hard as you can. He played well, but i would prefer our other LBs over him. I do not see him in a starting position, assuming there are no injuries. I do have to say that it sounds like Lua is going to be a good fit for the pats. He could have gone a lot earlier if he wasn't a backup to a star player.

 

[PeytonManning'sbrain]

I remember seeing him play a lot against us in the AFC championship at inside right?