Mike Vrabel - the most impactful 3-tackle, no sack game I may have ever seen...

[patsox23]

Mike Vrabel didn't show up in the stat-sheet too much - 3 solo tackles, 2 assists - but he was hugely influential on defense today. Wilfork had a decent-ish game, and Rodney was very active, but for the most part, I'm not sure any defender had as good a game as #50. He has been fantastic this season, and especially against Pittsburgh, very disruptive.

 

[Steel74]

Mike Vrabel didn't show up in the stat-sheet too much - 3 solo tackles, 2 assists - but he was hugely influential on defense today. Wilfork had a decent-ish game, and Rodney was very active, but for the most part, I'm not sure any defender had as good a game as #50. He has been fantastic this season, and especially against Pittsburgh, very disruptive.

It's one of my most nagging disappointments that we couldn't figure out what to do with Vrabel after drafting him.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Wilfork had a decent game? I must have been watching something else, because I thought that he was pretty damn good.

 

[Rob0729]

Mike Vrabel didn't show up in the stat-sheet too much - 3 solo tackles, 2 assists - but he was hugely influential on defense today. Wilfork had a decent-ish game, and Rodney was very active, but for the most part, I'm not sure any defender had as good a game as #50. He has been fantastic this season, and especially against Pittsburgh, very disruptive.

I agree Vrabel was huge today. I don't know how he could be blatantly held on every play and Willie Colon only get one or two holding calls. Even with Colon draping, clutching, mugging Vrabel, Colon couldn't even slow Vrabel down getting into the backfield.

 

[Boston Jay]

Psshh.. seems like you all knew what to do with him when he sacked Bledsoe and forced the fumble in the '97 playoff game

 

[Rob0729]

Wilfork had a decent game? I must have been watching something else, because I thought that he was pretty damn good.

I agree. We got a lot of pressure up the middle. Even when guys like Green and Wright broke free, it was in part due to Wilfork drawing the double team. At least the plays he was in with them.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Wilfork had a decent game? I must have been watching something else, because I thought that he was pretty damn good.

Did you see his Moss move when he sacked Worthlessberger?

 

[BradyFTW!]

Did you see his Moss move when he sacked Worthlessberger?

Hahahah yeah, the bulldozer, that was just sick. Maybe the first tackle I've ever seen that didn't involve arms in any way whatsoever.

 

[Steel74]

Psshh.. seems like you all knew what to do with him when he sacked Bledsoe and forced the fumble in the '97 playoff game

Yeah, and that among other things should have been a sign: SIGN THIS GUY AND FIND SOMETHING FOR HIM TO DO IN THE DEFENSE.

It's not like Bob Kraft is breaking his grandchildren's trust paying Vrabel.

 

[RayClay]

Vrabel was held on every single rush in the second half. It was unbelievable.

 

[Fencer]

Vrabel was held on every single rush in the second half. It was unbelievable.

The refs pretty much kept their whistles in their pockets. But it was even-handed. About the only things one could get penalized for in this game were false starts and vehicular homicide.

 

[DarrylS]

The refs pretty much kept their whistles in their pockets. But it was even-handed. About the only things one could get penalized for in this game were false starts and vehicular homicide.

How about exhibitionism, the Refs did let them play, but Vrabel has an outstanding game.. continual pressure on Rothlesberger.. he seemed to be close to him every passing play.

 

[nhpatsfan]

Even the talking heads were saying he should be a pro-bowler - they sequed into how he needs to do more interviews, etc. to get his name on that list.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Mike Vrabel didn't show up in the stat-sheet too much - 3 solo tackles, 2 assists - but he was hugely influential on defense today. Wilfork had a decent-ish game, and Rodney was very active, but for the most part, I'm not sure any defender had as good a game as #50. He has been fantastic this season, and especially against Pittsburgh, very disruptive.

Great post! No doubt! He was non-stop. Truly a case of the stats not telling the whole story.

 

[AVrabel50Fan]

I thought he had an excellent game and was not surprised to see Vrabel double teamed a lot! It was great to hear the commentators say that he was having a pro bowl year! I agree!!

 

[cartmen]

I have liked him ever since he threw his huge paw in Kurt Warner's face and forced that int in the SB. The guy is a rare blend of size and speed with enough strength to take on blockers and shed them at will. Great game by him and by pretty much the whole D line although FWP had over 100 yds the Steelers had to run otherwise they would have lost by 30

 

[RI Pats Fan]

I thought he had an excellent game and was not surprised to see Vrabel double teamed a lot! It was great to hear the commentators say that he was having a pro bowl year! I agree!!

Simms also said he'd have to do a lot more interviews and bring more attention to himself because that's what it'd take to get into the Probowl and that it's a shame that's how it's done because you see guys playing great year after great year only to have somebody who has no business going get a trip to Hawaii.


That was what followed up what you were talking about and both seem equally right to me. Our press won't push Vrabel to the Probowl.

 

[patsox23]

I think Wilfork had a decent-ish game, yes. He did get a lot of push and he got that sack, but the fact is, if the opposing team rushes for well over 100 yards, I can't say that the nose-tackle had an awesome game.

HOWEVER, my point in mentioning Wilfork in the first place was to acknowledge a couple of other defenders, besides Vrabel, who played well, and #75 was one of them.

Back to Vrabel...he was tireless.

 

[Fencer]

BB's one surprise message of the day is to give Mike credit for the 4th-and-goal stop on Ward even ahead of the Rodney. That's the one play about which he's calling out something that isn't obvious to the normal clueful viewer.