NFL catching on to Patriots vulnerability to speed rushers

[g-fresh]

The problem was the O-line. The defense was fine.

There is enough blame to go around for everyone. You can blame the defense for dropping what should have been game ending interceptions and you can blame the offense for barely scrapping together enough points to put them in a situation to almost win. You can blame the coaches for not making adjustments and you can blame the players for coming out flat.

When it comes down to it they lost because as a team they did not do enough to win. They had many chances throughout the game to make a play and change the outcome but when it came time to make it happen more often than not they couldn't get it done. Simple as that.

When it comes time to decide what to do in free agency and the draft Belichick and Pioli will sit down and make decisions that they feel best help the team. Hands down they are the best there is so I am not worried, we will be competing for another super bowl next year.

 

[BradyFTW!]

There's room for upgrade, sure, but saying that they're vulnerable to speed rushers is like saying that secondaries are vulnerable to good receivers. Everyone is, and, had Brady been healthy in the SB, nobody would be paying any attention anyways. If it takes the best D-Line in the league, a brady injury, and uncommonly bad o-line performance to limit our O to only two touchdowns, then I'm okay with that. It's the D that needs upgrading.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The problem was the O-line. The defense was fine.

I agree, in the context of the Super Bowl. Going forward, however, the D is older and is losing more key parts to free agency, so I feel like that should be the point of emphasis this offseason. WHile the o-line choked pretty hard in the Sb, and should probably be addressed, I don't see it being the point of emphasis in this offseason.

 

[Deus Irae]

There's room for upgrade, sure, but saying that they're vulnerable to speed rushers is like saying that secondaries are vulnerable to good receivers. Everyone is, and, had Brady been healthy in the SB, nobody would be paying any attention anyways. If it takes the best D-Line in the league, a brady injury, and uncommonly bad o-line performance to limit our O to only two touchdowns, then I'm okay with that. It's the D that needs upgrading.

People keep saying this, but it's simply not true.

D-line:

Seymour
Warren
Wilfork

That's the best NT in the game and two of the best D-linemen in the game with him.

D-backfield
Samuel
Hobb
Harrison
Sanders
Meriweather

That's a solid all around unit, with Meriweather really starting to come on and Sanders developing into a nice replacement for Rodney when the time comes. Now, the team might need to replace Samuel because of attrition, but it's not an upgrade that's needed. Having said that, I expect the team will draft a couple of CB's in rounds 2-4.

Now, the crux of all the "upgrade" people: the linebackers.

Thomas
Colvin
Vrabel

I'm not sure where there's supposed to be an upgrade there.

SO..... it all comes down to this:

Seau
Bruschi

and THAT'S what everyone is crying about (ok, a few misguided souls might whine about Hobbs, but they should immediately be barred from ever talking football if they think he was any real problem for the team).

Now, should/will the team look to supplement Seau/Bruschi if they stay or replace them if they retire? Yes, absolutely. Was is some major weakness that needed a major upgrade? No. That is, in fact, what's so great about having the #7 this season: the team has no absolute needs, so it can focus on getting a truly outstanding player at any position besides quarterback. My personal preference is a potential franchise LT, but I'm confident Belioli will make the best of it, no matter who they choose.

 

[BradyMossTD]

I think the D has to be the focus this offseason. The O-Line played well all year, bar the Superbowl, but the D should signs of aging and this must be seen as a priority. Getting younger at LB and more height at CB IMO should be the front office's priority.

 

[NormZauchin]

The offensive line played a poor game in the Superbowl but otherwise had an outstanding season. The defense played better than the offensive line in the Superbowl, but did not play great. Throughout the second half of the season the defense had a problem in getting off the field on third down. In the Superbowl this led to poor field position for the offense for most of the game. I don't think you make the offensive line a priority in the draft based on one game - no matter how important that game was - when the defense was the weaker unit thoughout the season.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I agree that speed rushers alone weren't the problem in the Super Bowl - but it really can't be denied that such players give our OL a problem.

We can write off the Super Bowl loss - and the other close games where speed rushers gave us big problems - and say "the OL had a great season" but in truth the OL had a great season against bigger, more static defenses.

The trend in the NFL, I believe, is to shift away from that towards quicker, more agile defensive lines and LBs... DC's and OC's alike are learning that size and brawn only go so far.

 

[chrisfx811]

The trend in the NFL, I believe, is to shift away from that towards quicker, more agile defensive lines and LBs... DC's and OC's alike are learning that size and brawn only go so far.

Well, look where the Colt's fast & small defense go them.

 

[captain stone]

That is, in fact, what's so great about having the #7 this season: the team has no absolute needs, so it can focus on getting a truly outstanding player at any position besides quarterback. My personal preference is a potential franchise LT, but I'm confident Belioli will make the best of it, no matter who they choose.

So would you take Ryan Clady at #7, assuming that Jake Long is already taken? As of now, it appears that the only defensive back 8 player worthy of the #7 pick is Vernon Gholston. Lots could happen between now and draft weekend, of course.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I am not sure that Kazcur would easily make that move to guard. He is a little lanky for guard. While I agree Neal has been a little fragile in his career I think he is one of the best pulling guards in the league. How many times have you seen him 10+yards up field making a block that springs a big screen?

Neal is fragile. Why? Because he is 260lb wrestler that has blown up to 310lbs.
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ephen+Neal+Wrestling&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=N

(I am not dumping on him. He was national champion.)

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Sorry that is not the right video. I saw one recently where Stephen Neal admitted that the extra weight was tough on his joints.

 

[IcyPatriot]

RT is the problem and has been for some time ... Belichick should just put mankins there and forget about it. Mankins can play there .. perhaps at greater risk of injury but he can play all OL positions.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

name an offensive line that isnt

Seriously. I don't even have to read the article. What a waste of time. Every team is vurnerable to a speed rush. Every QB and O-line is bothered by a speed rush. I could have told everyone that.

 

[DocE]

In my opinion, the Pats Oline lost on 2 fronts in the Super Bowl. The Giants played DE Justin Tuck at DT for the vast majority of the game. The Pats Oline should have been able to mash what was an undersized front four in the running game. Instead, we couldn't run the football. We were force to pass every down, and the Pats line didn't hold up AT ALL in passing situations either. All game the question was never whether Brady would take a shot or not, but whether he'd have time to release the ball first. It was a pathetic performance. Every team in the league is going to have a problem with speed rushers if they can't run the football and are forced to pass.

The Giants unheralded Oline vastly outplayed the Pats Oline and the Giants Dline vastly outplayed the Pats Dline.

We got killed in the trenches, but it still took a muffed fumble recovery by Woods, a dropped INT by Samuel, a miracle escape by Manning, and a miracle catch by Tyree for the Giants to win the game.

If "luck" was equal (and it never is), nobody would be talking about speed rushers and the Pats, but about the Pats chances at going back to back.

 

[Deus Irae]

So would you take Ryan Clady at #7, assuming that Jake Long is already taken? As of now, it appears that the only defensive back 8 player worthy of the #7 pick is Vernon Gholston. Lots could happen between now and draft weekend, of course.

I'm not sold on the idea of drafting Gholston. It's nothing personal about him, because I didn't see enough of him to really get a handle on him. I have some impressions of him, but they aren't enough for me to give him a fair evaluation. However, I don't see him working out on the inside, and New England already has a great 3 man rotation on the outside with Vrabel, Colvin and Thomas.

I don't pretend to know the players as well as Belioli. They've been extremely good at drafting in the first round. Having said that, my position is that they should take an offensive tackle at #7 if they feel there's a tackle worth a top 10 pick. Frankly, it's why I wish Oher had come out. There are a couple of 'project' players in this draft, and Oher would have given them another one of that sort to choose from and coach up. This team can't be expected to draft in the top 10 too often for the next 5 years or so, so if there's a great tackle to be gotten, that's the play.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

while i still will say we need to get younger and faster at mlb, and draft some c.b.'s, i do have issues with rt. light has always had some trouble with speed rushers, but so dont alot of lt's. its the right side (guard, and rt) that concerns me. but im sticking with defense with our first 3 rounds.

i dont remember where i read this, but back when b.b. first came to new england he said something about how he likes to get o-linemen in the later rounds, and develop them.
but who knows, b.b. might surprise us, and draft a q.b., afterall, pf1996 says that brady is made of glass, and is overated:bricks:

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

I don't think the D was fine..83 yards in a bit over 2 minutes?? There are a number of places improvement is needed... offense and defense..

There are plenty of needs... no doubt.

 

[unoriginal]

i dont remember where i read this, but back when b.b. first came to new england he said something about how he likes to get o-linemen in the later rounds, and develop them.
but who knows, b.b. might surprise us, and draft a q.b., afterall, pf1996 says that

He said that about the interior O-line. He took tackles in the 2nd round in each of his first 2 drafts.

That's why Logan Mankins was such a surprise / the expectations are so high for him.

 

[makewayhomer]

the Giants speed rush disrupted us so much we were able to put up 38 points in week 17.

in the SB, the O Line just didnt play well. doesn't mean they weren't capable of playing better...but on that night they didnt

 

[MassPats38]

It is simply a personnel matchup issue. This offensive line was considered one of the strongest prior to the Superbowl (how many sacks and hits on Brady did the unit give up over the season?). They play a lousy game, and the world makes them a glaring weakness. As I believe defensive coordinators have some idea of lineman foot speed and susceptibility to rushing techniques, I am guessing other defensive coordinators have tried and failed over the course of the year.

The Giants have a great front four and were able to exploit individual weaknesses. Light is a good tackle, but he has always had issues with speed rushers (Freeney, Taylor, etc.). You take care of speed rushers with running backs or tight ends. Against the Giants, there was interior pressure as well so those counters are rendered ineffective as little can be done when the middle cracks and no protection pocket forms.

The offensive line just played badly in one game and picked the worst game of the year in which to underperform. Brady did not seem to have his usual flair in getting rid of the ball quickly. The Pats have done a good job of drafting/signing cheap offensive linemen and turning them to gold, so I suspect any major names floating on the market are unlikely additions at best.