Fencer
Pro Bowl Player
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.There are various discussions around the fact that BB has greatly disinvested in the position/role of penetrating DT.
If he doesn't believe in them, what are the implications for the OL?
And by the way -- how does not believing in them gibe with the problems Brady sometimes has against them?
I also dont believe BB "doesnt believe in them". Theres a reason no other teams jumped on easley. I think some of its injury-related. As for cjones-sheard is a far better option to sometimes rush inside, since he is also good vs. run while chandler sucked. sheard was also hans down the best passrusher we had last year. only question with him is will he be able to keep his high motor/production with his snaps possibly doubling? mbrown has also occasionaly shown ability to push pocket when asked to do so. grissom has done some interior rushing. and of course, both jamie and high do some. flowers and rufus havent really had a shot yet, and i expect we'll see nore of them. if anything, the pats have more versatility on D this year and plenty of passrushing options, along with improved run defense. Not worried about the ol with scar and both tackles back plus other teams dont have all the big dts pats do.There are various discussions around the fact that BB has greatly disinvested in the position/role of penetrating DT.
If he doesn't believe in them, what are the implications for the OL?
And by the way -- how does not believing in them gibe with the problems Brady sometimes has against them?
i left out-the one loss that hurt a little was hicks-as he had size and interior rush. but you cant sign everybody. im sure BB wanted him back. but malcolm brown might very well be capable of picking up that slack. lets see how much of a jump he makes this year. im confident his floor is "very solid"-but i want to see if he can stretch a little further into a pro-bowl caliber dt.I also dont believe BB "doesnt believe in them". Theres a reason no other teams jumped on easley. I think some of its injury-related. As for cjones-sheard is a far better option to sometimes rush inside, since he is also good vs. run while chandler sucked. sheard was also hans down the best passrusher we had last year. only question with him is will he be able to keep his high motor/production with his snaps possibly doubling? mbrown has also occasionaly shown ability to push pocket when asked to do so. grissom has done some interior rushing. and of course, both jamie and high do some. flowers and rufus havent really had a shot yet, and i expect we'll see nore of them. if anything, the pats have more versatility on D this year and plenty of passrushing options, along with improved run defense. Not worried about the ol with scar and both tackles back plus other teams dont have all the big dts pats do.
I don't agree that BB has changed his philosophy with phasing out penetrating DTs. He cut Easley for other reasons. He also took a flyer on Kearse who also has the potential to penetrate the gaps.
Well, Easley is gone for whatever reasons. Chris Jones is gone for whatever reasons. Hicks is gone for obviously financial reasons. BB hasn't replaced the pass rushing side of that talent with anything remotely equal.
Chandler Jones is the DE I recall most often lining up inside in a NASCARish way, but the replacement(s) for that may indeed be on the roster now.
Chris Jones was financial and was hurt all year. I view Kearse as a Jones replacement.
I don't agree that BB has changed his philosophy with phasing out penetrating DTs. He cut Easley for other reasons. He also took a flyer on Kearse who also has the potential to penetrate the gaps.
That leaves us without replacement for the penetration skills of Easley/Hicks. So indeed it's a change in the skill balance of the roster.
One answer might be that BB is going either full fatty or NASCAR in various situations, and skipping the middle option of a penetration-oriented DT. If so, the reason might be nothing more than supply/demand for guys with particular skillsets.
But other answers are possible instead.
We keep hearing that Thuney is best suited to be a center, so I say the Pats use a unique 3 center o-line with Thuney, Stork, and Andrews, with Vollmer and Solder at the tackles. The line shifts left, right , or doesn't shift just prior to the snap, automatic unbalanced line with Gronk and Bennett playing TE to each side.
I can see Harbaugh's tears swelling up now......
Forgive my stupid question: does the ball have to be snapped from the guy in the middle of the line? Or could they at the last minute all take a step to the left and have another guy snap it?
Forgive my stupid question: does the ball have to be snapped from the guy in the middle of the line? Or could they at the last minute all take a step to the left and have another guy snap it?
I was thinking the same. Icing on the cake is that the three OL posts are about playing three centers and shifting into an unbalanced line. Really useful responses to the OP. NOT!OP posts that a lot of discussions about DL took place and he poses an OL question, promptly gets 8 of 11 responses talking about . . . the DL. Ironic?
I was thinking the same. Icing on the cake is that the three OL posts are about playing three centers and shifting into an unbalanced line. Really useful responses to the OP. NOT!
Good point. Under Googe even if they tried to use a chop block it's likely the OL didn't get it right. Having Scar back will help, and he can just teach to the present rules so it's not likely to be a major issue for our line.The new chop block rule is going to impede the cheating teams who like to do it while zone blocking on running plays ... as for our team as long as Brady is calling the signals I doubt there are any scheme changes ... pretty much bet on execution changes though ... welcome back Dante.