Pats Defense Problems, LBs

[jhoffa]

I'm curious, why is it the Pats have had their LBs much maligned of late?
I understand they have age, which can mean either they are very good and have made it around, have a lot of knowledge, or can be slow.

I wanted to know, in your view

1) Is the crticizm of the Pats defense, their LBs, warranted?

2) What exactly is weakness of the entire Pats defense and LBs?

3) I myself am confused.
-I see a LB crew with Vrbal, Seau, Bruschi, Thomas.
-All four of these LBs can rush the quarterback, can get an int, tackle, and know how to play football.
-They are not silent, quiet but impact playmakers who have proven they know the skill.

-It looks very hard for to sit here and say this defense is weak and is weak due to the LB.
-Is this the assesment the media or you Pats fan have?
-Why are the LBs taking the blame, what is their weakness and if not them, then what for the defnese?

Why was PHI completing all those mid zone passes and BAL/PIT running so well?
Are the LBs simply good, but slow, making them weak at coveraging and slow to the ball, more each game, needing rest?

 

[PatriotsReign]

I'm curious, why is it the Pats have had their LBs much maligned of late?
I understand they have age, which can mean either they are very good and have made it around, have a lot of knowledge, or can be slow.

I wanted to know, in your view

1) Is the crticizm of the Pats defense, their LBs, warranted?

2) What exactly is weakness of the entire Pats defense and LBs?

3) I myself am confused.
-I see a LB crew with Vrbal, Seau, Bruschi, Thomas.
-All four of these LBs can rush the quarterback, can get an int, tackle, and know how to play football.
-They are not silent, quiet but impact playmakers who have proven they know the skill.

-It looks very hard for to sit here and say this defense is weak and is weak due to the LB.
-Is this the assesment the media or you Pats fan have?
-Why are the LBs taking the blame, what is their weakness and if not them, then what for the defnese?

Why was PHI completing all those mid zone passes and BAL/PIT running so well?
Are the LBs simply good, but slow, making them weak at coveraging and slow to the ball, more each game, needing rest?

13-0....akuna matada....no worries pal. What the hell is wrong with you? or are you a Squeelers fan in disguise (aka...looser!)?

No Patriots fan would ask such questions after just watching the complete dismantling and domination of one of the supposed "best" teams in the league. In response to ALL of your questions..."Who TF cares!"

 

[jhoffa]

Just asking a simple football question to give inisight into the game.
NOT worrying one bit, just trying to learn.

 

[PatriotsReign]

Just asking a simple football question to give inisight into the game.
NOT worrying one bit, just trying to learn.

GO F**K YOURSELF! ​

 

[DarrylS]

GO F**K YOURSELF! ​

Well said, quite articulate and expresses the feelings of many...

 

[patsfaninpa]

The Pats have given up the 4th fewest points in the league. Pittsburgh will probably finish first. However TB is 2nd allowing 215, Indy 3rd with 217. Pats have given up 222. A reasonable chance at finishing 2nd in the league in points allowed. What's wrong with the the other 30 defenses in the league?

 

[PatriotsReign]

Well said, quite articulate and expresses the feelings of many...

Thanks GJAJ15!

I've been boning up on my thesaurus!

 

[FortressX]

Are the LBs simply good, but slow, making them weak at coveraging and slow to the ball, more each game, needing rest?

No,they are still fast,if you notice the only way the Steelers could contain #50 was to throw him to the ground every play.
There is a danger of injuries due to their having less rest,now that they have to play more.
Hopefully the will get some reps off the next 3 games.

 

[mac]

Apart from one broken play, the Steelers scored six points.

 

[LiveShot]

Oats defense is very good but they will have to address the linebacker situation in free agency or the draft. One thing that is bothering me is the amount of DROPPED passes. They need more stickum.

 

[scout]

A lot of people/media talk about the linebackers age and how they are getting slow this time of the year. I posted a few days ago about the Pats domination on defense in the fourth quarter. In all those close games, the only reason they gave up any points was the opposition started the fourth qtr in the red zone. Yesterday, no points in the second half with a shut down goal line stand. That kind of late game performance derails the 'their too old' myth.

 

[chrisfx811]

I actually think the shortened field when teams get in the red zone works in our lb's favor. There's less space for them to have to cover. 22 guys are now packed in a <30 yard space. Not much room to be 'on an island' as people say.

When you're inside the 5, it's man on man, gut check time. A battle of will and power.

Out in the open field our lb's do show their age. Our defense has weaknesses, no doubt about it, but they're good enough considering the offense they play with.

Seriously, though, every time I watch the Colts defense play this year, I am impressed by their overall speed, and the way they swarm the football. They're light in the arse, so that may hurt them over the course of the season.

 

[jczxohn1]

I would like to see Woods and Alexander get more time. The only way to get this system is to play in it, and if last year means anything, these starters need back-ups.

 

[cstjohn17]

Oats defense is very good but they will have to address the linebacker situation in free agency or the draft. One thing that is bothering me is the amount of DROPPED passes. They need more stickum.

I feel bad but early on after Welker dropped his pass I yelled at him "Get some f--ing' hands... then he proceeded to catch everything in sight.

As far as the LBs, they are a savy veteran group but they are not the fastest group and they are old, as someone getting close to 40, let me attest, you slow down when you get old, it is a sad fact of life.

In the running game the 1/2 step they have lost doesn't allow them to fight blockers with the proper leverage and wholes open up. In the passing game teams are targeting Bruschi when he is matched up against a TE or RB.

The team showed some good energy against Pittsburgh and got back to bend but don't break, a style that won them 3 Superbowls. For PPG they are in the top 5, personally I think the defense will give up a lot of point in the playoffs against teams like Indy and Dallas but... the offense is so good that they will still win the games 35-30 or 38-31.

 

[RayClay]

Just asking a simple football question to give inisight into the game.
NOT worrying one bit, just trying to learn.

You're not allowed to ask any questions involving linebackers. Tedy and Junior should easily be able to play into their 40's and 50's and will never get injured, so insinuating there might ever be a problem at ILB is just wrong.

We will draft an inside linebacker to replace Junior on when he reaches 50.

I know it seems A.D. is 10 times better at OLB, but that is just an illusion.

You are only allowed to call Maroney made o' glass, other than that, the team has absolutely no weaknesses.

 

[RayClay]

Having said that, they looked great yesterday. They've got past the worst of the schedule and should manage to squeak by at the position as they have all home games at down the stretch.

They added a pro bowler so maybe the lack of speed in the middle won't cost them the super bowl like it did last year.

 

[cstjohn17]

They added a pro bowler so maybe the lack of speed in the middle won't cost them the super bowl like it did last year.

Exactly, plus they can outscore any team in the league also the safeties are better this year.

 

[deeds]

GO F**K YOURSELF! ​

This is why this board is dying a slow death, morons like you! Congratulations! You've succeeded in ruining my experience here today...

To answer the post, I agree, there is something seriously wrong with our defense. You can look at the record and scores of the games and say whatever the heck you want about the Pats success.

The fact is that the Steelers went down the field effortlessly on four drives, two of which resulted in 6 points and the other two were turned over on downs.

The previous two weeks, AJ Feely and Boller look like Pro Bowlers... It's a legit question!

Now i will turn it over to PatriotsReign insults and like so many others, will be gone forever!

Well done moron!!!

 

[sieglo]

I agree it's a legit question.... The "bend but don't break" defense has stunk in the red zone all year until the second half of yesterday's game. It's a heart attack waiting to happen.

Good to see the run defense show up yesterday, though. The pass defense (espcially the inside passing game) still worries me against a good passing team like Indy.

 

[RayClay]

I agree it's a legit question.... The "bend but don't break" defense has stunk in the red zone all year until the second half of yesterday's game. It's a heart attack waiting to happen.

Good to see the run defense show up yesterday, though. The pass defense (espcially the inside passing game) still worries me against a good passing team like Indy.

To be honest, I thought they looked great yesterday. Old guys like Rodney appreciate a day off (he was fantastic).

I won't be a jinx and say the "I" word, but let's face it, we've got proven depth at every other position and zero at LB.

Yes, Larry Izzo is our #1 backup right now. We don't even have Don Davis.

GFY? I guess that's in the absence of anything intelligent to add.