Where's Bruschi been?

[rookBoston]

Anyone else notice the lack of plays from our cardiac hero, Bruschi?

Frankly, I cant think of a single big play out of him at all this season. Not one. Vrabel has had a few amazing games, and Seau is regularly visible in coverage. Thomas had an incredible pick-6 where he outran the opposing receiving corp, Colvin had a fumble return for a TD, but Bruschi... nothing. I cant think of a single play. Jarvis Green has been more visible this year than Bruschi.

This a matter of scheme? Or is he finally regressed to JAG status?

 

[kolbitr]

I think the days of Bruschi making play after play are probably over, and we should probably not keep waiting for the clock to turn back to 2003–2004. He has been through and overcome the unthinkable--a stroke--and has had a series of the usual nagging injuries that affect older players and sap their strength and stamina. He has also been splitting time, and may be even more cognizant of the need to play safe and steady with this defense.

It's hard to say exactly what he is still bringing to the table, but I assume it is still significant, even if not sensational. I still love watching the old footage from 2004, when he and Rodney were both playing like supermen, and if they have left those days behind them forever, the old memories still make me smile.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Anyone else notice the lack of plays from our cardiac hero, Bruschi?

Frankly, I cant think of a single big play out of him at all this season. Not one. Vrabel has had a few amazing games, and Seau is regularly visible in coverage. Thomas had an incredible pick-6 where he outran the opposing receiving corp, Colvin had a fumble return for a TD, but Bruschi... nothing. I cant think of a single play. Jarvis Green has been more visible this year than Bruschi.

This a matter of scheme? Or is he finally regressed to JAG status?

From the team website:

2007 (11/11/0/0): Was voted a defensive captain for the 2007 season by his teammates... Tied a single-game career high with a two-sack performance against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 7and ran his career total to 30.5 sacks, becoming the 13th player in Patriots' history to reach that milestone... Led the team in tackles twice in 2007 (at DAL, at MIA) and shared the team lead once (at BUF).

 

[brdmaverick]

I was thinking about this as well.

The only standout Bruschi plays that I can recall are.......

1.) his two sacks against Cleveland
2.) a third and short ball he batted down at the line in which he did one of his signature dive over the opposing offensive lineman with little regard for his own well-being

 

[SeanBruschi54]

58 tackles is nothing?

AD has 49

Rosey had 27

Vrabel (having an all pro year) has 56 tckl, 9.5 sacks and 5 FF.

Seau has 42 tackles.

I can make the argument Bruschi is the 2nd best LB we have.

 

[NYPatsFan]

I feel like I have to qualify my comments by saying that Bruschi is one of my all-time favorite players.

Bruschi has lost a step or two, has trouble in coverage, has a hard time getting off blocks and lacks the explosiveness that we've seen in the past. That's not to say that he sucks or anything, but he's not the player he once was.

His instincts are still there but he's usually late to the play and out of position.

I hope the Pats win the Super Bowl this season so Bruschi can go out on top.

 

[Deus Irae]

The team is 11-0 and I think the only player that people aren't crying about may be the 3rd string quarterback.

 

[Krazy Koz]

I was thinking about this as well.

The only standout Bruschi plays that I can recall are.......

1.) his two sacks against Cleveland
2.) a third and short ball he batted down at the line in which he did one of his signature dive over the opposing offensive lineman with little regard for his own well-being

#2 was the one that stood out for me. For that second, the thought came through my mind "there's the bruschi I've come to know and love over the years" and yet he was gone a second later. I mean I love Bru, but he has lost a step and there is no denying that. However, that is not without saying that he is still a good player.

 

[kolbitr]

The team is 11-0 and I think the only player that people aren't crying about may be the 3rd string quarterback.

Now that you mention it...what has our 3rd stringer done lately? We need another thread...

 

[skri65]

58 tackles is nothing?

AD has 49

Rosey had 27

Vrabel (having an all pro year) has 56 tckl, 9.5 sacks and 5 FF.

Seau has 42 tackles.

I can make the argument Bruschi is the 2nd best LB we have.

You do need to keep in mind that a good portion of these tackles are made because his man was thrown to because he had weaker coverage than other members of the defense. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy (take a look at my sig)...but his playmaking ability has certainly gone down over the last year or so. I'm fine with that, and I'm fine with his role on this team. lets see how he does with increased playing time now that Colvin is lost. GO BRUUUUUUUUUUUU

 

[DarrylS]

I agree he has some diminishing skills with the onset of age, however to try to quantify any of the front 7 based on stats, belies the concept of team defense. This D is not stat driven, but more of holding your ground and directing plays to the middle where tackles can be made. This is a similar discussion regarding the one on #93, however individual stats do not hold much water here. Consider that we are #3 in overall defense in the NFL, and
5th in rushing defense in the entire NFL. There is not much to complain about, our defense is complimentary and team based, not stat driven.

 

[Bostonian1962]

If anything, this underlines how awesome he was in his prime. He use to seemingly make a big play every other down.

Age catches up to all of us.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Those of us who responded with stats are just doing so because the thread starters premise was Tedy hasn't made a single play. That's not true. He's in fact made several impact plays including one of his former signature plays to bat down a pass. It's not as if we don't all know he's not 30 any more. But he's not entirely chopped liver either or this defense wouldn't be doing as well as it has overall.

Like DI said, this team is 11-0 and yet the fan base wants to nit pick...or obcess about the draft or next season's roster. How truly spoiled we have become that we can't just sit back graciously and enjoy what a season they have already and may yet provide for us armchair critics.

 

[godef]

Now that you mention it...what has our 3rd stringer done lately? We need another thread...

Need another player to score a touchdown.

 

[vyrago]

Like DI said, this team is 11-0 and yet the fan base wants to nit pick...or obcess about the draft or next season's roster. How truly spoiled we have become that we can't just sit back graciously and enjoy what a season they have already and may yet provide for us armchair critics.

Couldn't have said it better Mo, (nor could you apparently since it was DI who said it) but it proves a point I make so often my friends are complaining: we are better whiners than smilers, better haters than lovers, better at seeing the bad than the good. I don't know if it's cultural or purely human, but it sure does get wicked annoying.

This is a historically great team--enjoy!

 

[brdmaverick]

I was thinking about this as well.

The only standout Bruschi plays that I can recall are.......

1.) his two sacks against Cleveland
2.) a third and short ball he batted down at the line in which he did one of his signature dive over the opposing offensive lineman with little regard for his own well-being

i should note that number two took place in the Cincinatti game

 

[ClevTrev]

The team is 11-0 and I think the only player that people aren't crying about may be the 3rd string quarterback.

I was just going to mention that Gutierrez must be considered a bust. The team doesn't play him, and he's been very slow in developing. Man, Pioli is really on a losing streak.