Merril Hoge rips Bruschi's play in Super Bowl

[State]

Wow!

A lot of pointless smack discussed here. But I have to begrudgingly acknowledge the truth of Hodge's point about Teddy B. He truly was--and is--a shell of his former self. Like in rushing the QB. He used to be uncannily amazing at it, doing unorthodox swim moves or jumping over people. Now he is just taken out of the play whoever blocks him.

I have also said before that the biggest SB disappointment--besides the O-line throwing spitballs at Hamlet's ghost--was Mike Vrabel. When has he ever been invisible in a really big game like the SB? Usu. he's stripping the QB of the ball, catching TD passes, making difficult open field tackles...he's been amazing in the past.

Now I'm concerned about his physical ability to play the distance. He has taken a lot of punishment if one looks at how he played in college and now with the Pats. He is no longer the rested Steeler back-up with a chip on his shoulder. He looks like a PE teacher in need of a shave.

Now we can't focus our anger at the Connecticut smack artists; we have to reinvigorate the aging LBer corps and bring in some talent in the secondary.

So they can make an interception when it counts. Asante, you blew it in February, buddy.

Go Pats!

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Wow!

I have also said before that the biggest SB disappointment--besides the O-line throwing spitballs at Hamlet's ghost--was Mike Vrabel. When has he ever been invisible in a really big game like the SB? Usu. he's stripping the QB of the ball, catching TD passes, making difficult open field tackles...he's been amazing in the past.

Vrabel's disappearance in the game was more apparent - OLBs are easier to evaluate on TV than ILBs, IMO. I'm guessing he was playing hurt down the stretch, b/c if he got ANY pressure on Eli Manning in that game, we undoubtedly end the season 19-0. AD was getting to him and flushing him out, but Vrabel was consistently not shedding blocks on his side.

I think he was hurting and he was gassed. All the more reason to trade down a few spots and draft Quentin Groves to come in on 3rd downs and rip the QBs head off. They're going to add some LBs via the draft that will create a healthy rotation which will hopefully leave guys like Vrabel and Bruschi more in the tank come January next season.

 

[bobsacamano12]

Kiper still doesn't get the Pats, thinking we're going to draft DRC with #7.

Who exactly do you think NE is going to take? With Gholston and Chris Long most likely gone, it will probably be a CB.

 

[BradyManny]

Who exactly do you think NE is going to take? With Gholston and Chris Long most likely gone, it will probably be a CB.

I'd sooner take Keith Rivers, Quentin Groves, Sedrick Ellis or Ryan Clady with the #7 pick than any CB in the draft.

And that's not to mention the fact that there will likely be a player at #7 worth trading down for, given there are essentially 7 players in this draft who are highly coveted and or fill needs (Long, Long, Ellis, Dorsey, McFadden, Gholston, Ryan).

 

[castlelong1]

Bruschi is like my Grandmother. If I, or a family member, says she has lost it that is one thing. If some guy says she is clearly a senile old hag, never-mind if he is right, that's my grandma.

 

[tombonneau]

Bruschi is like my Grandmother. If I, or a family member, says she has lost it that is one thing. If some guy says she is clearly a senile old hag, never-mind if he is right, that's my grandma.

For the record, you have just compared Bruschi to your grandmother. That is not a good thing for a linebacker.

 

[BadMoFo]

While I sometimes enjoy the primetime show regardless of Hoge and Ditka, the thing I most hate about Hoge is how critical he can be toward certain teams and its players, namely the Pats and Eagles, when his teams never had success in his pro days and he was an average, if that, running back/fullback. I think the ESPN shows will only be more unbearable to watch this year now that the most pro-Patriots player is out, Sean Salisbury.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Interesting, then what is Bruschi's role? Which downs will we see him on the field and what are his strengths/weaknesses at this point?

I think he'll be switching out during the game, I don't see him starting. I'd love to answer your question, but even I can't say at this point, depending on what else they do for LB. I think if they draft Gholston, your looking at a Adalius-Vrabel-Bruschi/Hobson-gholston line up with Bruschi rotating.

Either that, or I think they'll sign one more LB to split time with Bruschi in the middle, keeping Adalius and Vrabel on the edge. It's hard to say not knowing their draft scenario.

Strengths? For one, how many teams can say they have a guy like Bruschi coming off the bench? IMO, he's a mediocre starter but an excellent back up. Having a rested Bruschi coem off the bench would keep him faster trhough out the game.

Weakness? He's slow as ****, he can't start or else he'll get exposed. For instance, the Colts passed over him during the AFC title game, he constantly gets run over instead of taking guys down anymore. In other words, he no longer has the strength and stamina to be a good player on the field for 60 minutes.

However.........Coming off the bench could really be what he needs. Just splitting reps would help him. Man...Adalius-Vrabel-Bruschi/Hobson-Gholston is the best LB core they'd have since 04, certainly the quickest. Hell I'd be good with Groves there as well.

 

[State]

Excellent summation, BM2344. I agree with every word.

I'd sooner take Keith Rivers, Quentin Groves, Sedrick Ellis or Ryan Clady with the #7 pick than any CB in the draft.

And that's not to mention the fact that there will likely be a player at #7 worth trading down for, given there are essentially 7 players in this draft who are highly coveted and or fill needs (Long, Long, Ellis, Dorsey, McFadden, Gholston, Ryan).

 

[ALP]

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=&categoryId=2459789

Pats on the clock on ESPN...

Hoge still hates the Pats, this time directing it towards Bruschi.

Mort still hates the Pats, claiming we wouldn't win the division without Moss.

Kiper still doesn't get the Pats, thinking we're going to draft DRC with #7.

Of those things, I guess the one that stuck out was Hoge's comments on Bruschi. I don't have game tape, and even if I did, I'm never watching that game again in my life unless it was some Clockwork Orange style pin my eye-lids open kind of thing.

I truly can't get a sense from this board for what the general feel on Bruschi's play the past few seasons is, because I would most certainly trust this board over Merril Hoge. I would like to think Bruschi is still playing at a high level, and the mere fact that he was re-signed for a decent deal tells me this is the case.

well lets see, considering we would not have BEEN at the superbowl had bruschi not deflected a clear td pass to Gates in the AFC game, im pretty fine with bruschi's play

 

[BionicPatriot]

well lets see, considering we would not have BEEN at the superbowl had bruschi not deflected a clear td pass to Gates in the AFC game, im pretty fine with bruschi's play

This is proof 101 of the short sightedness here sometimes.

 

[Pats726]

This is proof 101 of the short sightedness here sometimes.

Should the fact that he led the team in tackles also be overlooked??? Or is THAT FACT an illusion.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Should the fact that he led the team in tackles also be overlooked??? Or is THAT FACT an illusion.

It's just being short sighted.

Derek Smith, probably the worst starting LB over the last few years led his team (the 49ers) in tackles. He sucks too, but just because you get to the ball carrier doesn't mean anything. what means something is being able to hawk down QB's or ball carriers and make plays, not just get taken down with them.

 

[Keegs]

Bruschi should rip Hoge's horrendous hairpiece

 

[ALP]

It's just being short sighted.

Derek Smith, probably the worst starting LB over the last few years led his team (the 49ers) in tackles. He sucks too, but just because you get to the ball carrier doesn't mean anything. what means something is being able to hawk down QB's or ball carriers and make plays, not just get taken down with them.

allright then, i guess ill take the other side of that very "short sighted" argument...

Patrick willis led the league last year in tackles....and he may be the best starting LB the last year in the league, He is an amazing player...is he not?

to blame Bru for the SB is very wrong, to imply that he was more responsible then another defender on the team, i had again say u are wrong, the people i would give more credit to from the defense from that loss would we asante, meriweather, and harrison (something about defending passes or getting int's)

noone here is saying bru should be a starter, or play 60 snaps like he was able to, but dont believe everything pats haters tell ya

 

[BrianPat]

Everytime I look at him and hear him talk, I think, Samwise !!

 

[BionicPatriot]

allright then, i guess ill take the other side of that very "short sighted" argument...

Patrick willis led the league last year in tackles....and he may be the best starting LB the last year in the league, He is an amazing player...is he not?

to blame Bru for the SB is very wrong, to imply that he was more responsible then another defender on the team, i had again say u are wrong, the people i would give more credit to from the defense from that loss would we asante, meriweather, and harrison (something about defending passes or getting int's)

noone here is saying bru should be a starter, or play 60 snaps like he was able to, but dont believe everything pats haters tell ya

Okay, but when I watch Willis play now I love it. When I watch Bruschi play, I see he's slow. Point is, stats can be deceiving. It's not always the case though. I agree with you, so I don't see what your problem is. I like Bruschi as long as we're not using him as a starter. Was he a big problem in 42? Honestly, he was invisible but he didn't stick out with to many mistakes like the AFC title game a year before. Bruschi as a reserve guy would be a big boost.

 

[castlelong1]

Should the fact that he led the team in tackles also be overlooked??? Or is THAT FACT an illusion.

Tackles is a worthless stat. Teams track it themselves, etc. Not saying anything bad about Bruschi, just tackles as a stat.

 

[wdkantro2]

This thread is a great example of how this board has gone down hill. Honestly, can anyone say ANYTHING without it being preceived here as an insult to the Pats? Tell Bruschi to make a play in the Super Bowl so the pundits don't have anything to say and this won't be an issue.

 

[BionicPatriot]

This thread is a great example of how this board has gone down hill. Honestly, can anyone say ANYTHING without it being preceived here as an insult to the Pats? Tell Bruschi to make a play in the Super Bowl so the pundits don't have anything to say and this won't be an issue.

I haven't been here long as a poster, I've always lurked because this board has always been the heaviest traffic board for the Pats. that said, this place has the biggest homers ever sometimes. I love my Pats, but some people here are simply blind.