First six games w/o Rodney and Richard

[fourthandmiles]

What do you guys see changing in the first six games defensively?

BTW I am not worried or doomsdaying at all. But there has to be a change in the gameplan. No?

The Jests and Bills, Browns: I don't see that anything would be done differently. harrrison will be back for the Browns.

The Chargers: Seymour will not be there to be double teamed. LDT has an extra blocker. Green has to hold the edge. The line LBs will have to adapt. I could have seen Harrison with 12 assists. Will Sanders be the MAN?

Cincinnati: This one looks tough. They look to be good in the air and on the ground.

Dallas with out Seymour?

Thoughts?

 

[DynastyDriven]

This is where Adalius Thomas is going to earn his money.

 

[Oswlek]

This is where Adalius Thomas is going to earn his money.

Couldn't disagree more.

 

[Vern]

What do you guys see changing in the first six games defensively?

The Chargers: Seymour will not be there to be double teamed. LDT has an extra blocker. Green has to hold the edge. The line LBs will have to adapt. I could have seen Harrison with 12 assists. Will Sanders be the MAN?

Cincinnati: This one looks tough. They look to be good in the air and on the ground.

Thomas changes the equation completely for the Chargers game and the run defense over all (not to mention defense in general). Seymour did not exactly shut down LT or even set the edge (well, with the OLB) well last time we played them. I think the bigger issue for the SD game is whether the offense is tuned up enough to play consistently enough to control the game flow and clock.

Cincy - why does everyone still say "Cincy" with that hushed tone of forboding ala Gary Tanguay. They were an 8-8 team last year that got no better in the off season. They are increasingly one dimensional and I'd be surprised if they are even in contention for a playoff spot.

 

[Oswlek]

What do you guys see changing in the first six games defensively?

BTW I am not worried or doomsdaying at all. But there has to be a change in the gameplan. No?

The Jests and Bills, Browns: I don't see that anything would be done differently. harrrison will be back for the Browns.

The Chargers: Seymour will not be there to be double teamed. LDT has an extra blocker. Green has to hold the edge. The line LBs will have to adapt. I could have seen Harrison with 12 assists. Will Sanders be the MAN?

Cincinnati: This one looks tough. They look to be good in the air and on the ground.

Dallas with out Seymour?

Thoughts?

Call me a homer, but I fully expect NE to come out of the first 4 games 3-1. I expect Green to be a capable starter and I expect Sanders to play well at SS. I don't think the players were nearly as surprised about Seymour's PUP listing as the fans were.

 

[DynastyDriven]

Couldn't disagree more.

How so? in the San Diego game who do you think is going to help cover Antonio Gates without Harrison back there?

 

[Oswlek]

How so? in the San Diego game who do you think is going to help cover Antonio Gates without Harrison back there?

I completely agree that Thomas is a positive addition, but I disagree with the notion that his biggest contribution will be in the first 6 games.

If you really meant, "I think that the addition of Thomas will help the team overcome this" then I agree. But your prior phrasing makes it seem as if this is a make or break sequence for him. Maybe I'm just reading into the verbiage too much.

 

[DynastyDriven]

I completely agree that Thomas is a positive addition, but I disagree with the notion that his biggest contribution will be in the first 6 games.

If you really meant, "I think that the addition of Thomas will help the team overcome this" then I agree. But your prior phrasing makes it seem as if this is a make or break sequence for him. Maybe I'm just reading into the verbiage too much.

Yea I think you read to much into it, They will be relying on him a little bit more in coverage without Harrison back there and with more action coming his way without Seymour on the line. I think he is going to shine and his real assets will be magnified for these games.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Jest = Jarvis is actually a better choice for his pass rush skills and the fact the LT across from him isn't that strong at run blocking.

The "class" of the NFL = Jarvis played almost as much as Sey in the last game, remember Sey was battling a bum knee and elbow and who knows what else. The Chargers won't be so over-confident this time. NE hopefully has a more potent offense. Sanders played for Rodney last time, no change again. The Chargers are on the road, but it's early in the season and they will be fresher. NE will be fresher, Bruschi has two hands, Seau is back, Adalius is onboard, Colvin and Vrabel are back at their best positions. SD has two new ILB. Maroney is healthy. They have the Norv Turner burden. NE lost Chad Scott who helped stifle Antonio Gates. Hawkins is gone and he had started fading before the last game. Looks like a toss-up to me.

Buffalo = always tough, but not tough enough.

Cincinnati = I don't think they got that run D issue ironed out.

Cleveburg = Not yet.

Dallas = The same defense the Pats beat last playoffs, with lesser talent and an offense that was exposed a bit late last season.

My best guess: 4-2 at worst, but if they can get past SD, 6-0.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

How so? in the San Diego game who do you think is going to help cover Antonio Gates without Harrison back there?

The question is, who is going to help cover Antonio Gates without Chad Scott on the roster? Rodney missed the playoff game, Sanders played in his place.

Wilson was replaced by Hawkins, if Geno is healthy then Safety is stronger then last time. It's the nickel/dime back who becomes the issue for dealing with Gates, options include: Mitchell, Meriweather, James , Andrews, Alexander, Gay. I think Blue can replace Chad Scott, and there is still some talent in reserve to help out. Maybe the Pats go with Seau at ILB and Thomas at SS - a 3-5-3 look with Hobbs, Samuel, and Gay/Wilson in the secondary. Options abound.

Please, could you reserve the bold for highlighting points. Thank you.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

What do you guys see changing in the first six games defensively?

BTW I am not worried or doomsdaying at all. But there has to be a change in the gameplan. No?

My thoughts are below:

The Jests and Bills, Browns: I don't see that anything would be done differently. harrrison will be back for the Browns.

No worry-the Pats, even with this squad, will give them matchup nightmares anyways.

The Chargers: Seymour will not be there to be double teamed. LDT has an extra blocker. Green has to hold the edge. The line LBs will have to adapt. I could have seen Harrison with 12 assists. Will Sanders be the MAN?

Two words-Norv Turner. He may very well snatch defeat from the hands of V-IOW, it won't matter who plays or doesn't if this happens.

Cincinnati: This one looks tough. They look to be good in the air and on the ground.

They're healthy and have no suspensions on O, right? Cincy has no D-I'd favor the Pats in a shootout.

Dallas with out Seymour?

Dallas' second best player, CB Terrence Newman, has a foot injury that could make him miss 4-6 games(it's pascilar fasomething). I think he'll play throughout the season, but for the good part, he won't be 100%. And their second best pass rusher, Greg Ellis, is still recovering from a torn achilles heel. So just using logic, sans Harrison/Seymour may wash out sans Newman/Ellis.

But nonetheless, to be frank, it's NOT Romo, but it's the Oline I'm worried about myself. When Bill P was here, he (surprisingly)did a shoddy job in this area, and most of the personnel right now is 90% his, including the Oline. We made a very good upgrade with Leonard Davis at RG, but his pass blocking skills are to be desired. The OTs(Flo and Columbo) are getting older and recovering from knee surgeries. The only reason why C Andre Gurode made the Pro Bowl was b/c of that infamous head-stomping incident last year. He's very good, but sometimes he loses it mentally. And LG Kosier(and Tuna pickup) is a Lions reject. He's solid, but nothing spectacular. And on top of everything, this line didn't blitz block well under Tuna.(the guy didn't know the schemes of stunting/blitzing at all)

Pt being that the game here may be decided by the Olines. While I've been impressed so far with Phillips' philosophies, it remains to be seen whether there are any other true pass rushers other than Ware/Ellis(Tuna relied more on coverages, so he got more run stuffers like Fergy and Canty). In SD, Phillips had 4-5 true pass rushers to work with.

OTOH-we seem to play outstanding at home against AFC teams(i.e. Indy last year sans Ellis and Denver the year before)

Anyhow-just a closing thought-don't sweat the losses of Rodney/Richard for now. 90% of the NFL teams right now have more problems. Look at the Colts-they lost 1/2 of their starters, including their LT-that D will be exposed more and Peyton will run for his life.

 

[SJNez46]

I dont think it will change our defense dramatically. Harrison, as much as I do like him, hasnt done much for us in the past few years at all with the injuries. I think wie will end up doing fine without him. I think Thomas is going to be a very good addition to our already solid defense. Meriweather may not be a solid vet, but he is still a quality replacement while Harrison is gone.

 

[Fixit]

I think they'll roll Cinci with or without Rodney and Sey.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

The question is, who is going to help cover Antonio Gates without Chad Scott on the roster? Rodney missed the playoff game, Sanders played in his place.

Wilson was replaced by Hawkins, if Geno is healthy then Safety is stronger then last time. It's the nickel/dime back who becomes the issue for dealing with Gates, options include: Mitchell, Meriweather, James , Andrews, Alexander, Gay. I think Blue can replace Chad Scott, and there is still some talent in reserve to help out. Maybe the Pats go with Seau at ILB and Thomas at SS - a 3-5-3 look with Hobbs, Samuel, and Gay/Wilson in the secondary. Options abound.

Please, could you reserve the bold for highlighting points. Thank you.

When Moss was in Oakland, WHO was it that forgot to utilize him, especially late in games?:singing:

 

[Flying Fungi]

The question is, who is going to help cover Antonio Gates without Chad Scott on the roster? Rodney missed the playoff game, Sanders played in his place.

Wilson was replaced by Hawkins, if Geno is healthy then Safety is stronger then last time. It's the nickel/dime back who becomes the issue for dealing with Gates, options include: Mitchell, Meriweather, James , Andrews, Alexander, Gay. I think Blue can replace Chad Scott, and there is still some talent in reserve to help out. Maybe the Pats go with Seau at ILB and Thomas at SS - a 3-5-3 look with Hobbs, Samuel, and Gay/Wilson in the secondary. Options abound.

Please, could you reserve the bold for highlighting points. Thank you.

I like Mitchell--reminds me a little of Don Davis--I think he can absolutely bring some heat in the middle of the field

 

[amazinPats]

I don't mean to simplify things too much here, but there's not reason to stress over the defence early in the season. All the teams are working to create harmony and consistency in their play. In addition, other teams will face the injury bug as well, and will likely have to play without some key personnel.

But really to simplify again: we will simply outscore the opposition. We've got a high octane offense to match a very strong defence, whether Rodney and Sey are out or not. We can win some shootouts this year.