Breer reports on Pats TC

[PatsFan37]

Link
Nothing you haven't heard before, except for this:

RG Stephen Neal. A four-year starter at right guard for New England, Neal is starting camp on the physically unable to perform list and carries a $3 million cap charge. Plus, the coaches have long had confidence in his backup, Russ Hochstein, who is a year younger and is versatile enough to play both guard spots and center. If Neal, who turns 32 in October, struggles to come back, the club might go with the cheaper option.

Very surprising that he would say that. I realize the rest of the line didn't cover themselves in glory in the SB, but Hochstein in particular was abused and it's entirely possible that if Neal hadn't been injured, they'd have won that game.

Hochstein makes the team and if Neal can walk, he makes it, too. What's the point of cap space if you can't win football games?

 

[slash83]

Good read...

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't get this :

"But experience is important in the Patriots' defense--Belichick, in his time in New England, hasn't started a player with less than five years in the league"

Am I missing something ? Obviously it's not close to true as I read it.

 

[patchick]

I don't get this :

"But experience is important in the Patriots' defense--Belichick, in his time in New England, hasn't started a player with less than five years in the league"

Am I missing something ? Obviously it's not close to true as I read it.

I think he means at ILB.

 

[BelichickFan]

I think he means at ILB.

I think he must - he is a writer, though, it should be way clearer than that - where did this guy to to school K-12 anyway ?

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Breer wrote:

Inside linebacker: Jerod Mayo vs. Victor Hobson. With Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas now entrenched on the outside, the battle is on to start at the "jack" linebacker spot (inside linebacker on the weak side of the formation) next to Tedy Bruschi. Ultimately, the team would like Mayo, the 10th overall pick, to win the job. But experience is important in the Patriots' defense -- Belichick, in his time in New England, hasn't started a inside linebacker with less than five years in the league -- and that puts Hobson on the inside track. If neither can hold the spot down, the Patriots have Junior Seau on speed dial.

Seems clear enough to me.

 

[BelichickFan]

Breer wrote:


Seems clear enough to me.

Obviously someone edited it because I copy and pasted this :

"But experience is important in the Patriots' defense--Belichick, in his time in New England, hasn't started a player with less than five years in the league"

 

[Rob0729]

I think he means at ILB.

Yeah, and I think he trolls this board too because he changed it in his column too. It now reads:

But experience is important in the Patriots' defense -- Belichick, in his time in New England, hasn't started a inside linebacker with less than five years in the league -- and that puts Hobson on the inside track.

Personally, in context of the section it is in, I don't know if really needed that clarification. It was a section of the camp battle between Hobson and Mayo so ILB was pretty much inferred (at least on my part).

On that subject, I don't really know if there really will be a camp battle between the two. I think the plan will be to limit the time a bit with Bruschi to make him more effective at rushing the passer and stopping the run (Bruschi is starting to become a bit of liability in some coverage schemes). So I can see plenty of times when both Mayo and Hobson will be on the field. I think ultimately the Pats plan may be those two as the starters inside for years to come if Hobson lives up to being worthy of a contract extension.

 

[signbabybrady]

I thought that was a really good read look forward to his breakdown of other teams.

 

[unoriginal]

Does anybody have a copy of an old Belichick defensive playbook? Now it seems the Jack linebacker is inside weak. I've heard the following schemes from members of the press or other "insiders", starting with outside strong and going across:

("the 4th lineman is the Jack linebacker on the weak side")
Sam - Mike - Will - Jack

("the 4th lineman is the Jack linebacker on the strong side")
Jack - Sam - Mike - Will

("the traditional 4-3 Sam linebacker is actually on the weak side")
Jack - Mike - Will - Sam

("the Jack linebacker is the hole plugger of the defense")
Sam - Jack - Mike - Will

and now

("the Jack linebacker is the inside linebacker on the weak side of the formation")
Sam - Mike - Jack - Will

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Does anybody have a copy of an old Belichick defensive playbook? Now it seems the Jack linebacker is inside weak. I've heard the following schemes from members of the press or other "insiders", starting with outside strong and going across:

("the 4th lineman is the Jack linebacker on the weak side")
Sam - Mike - Will - Jack

("the 4th lineman is the Jack linebacker on the strong side")
Jack - Sam - Mike - Will

("the traditional 4-3 Sam linebacker is actually on the weak side")
Jack - Mike - Will - Sam

("the Jack linebacker is the hole plugger of the defense")
Sam - Jack - Mike - Will

and now

("the Jack linebacker is the inside linebacker on the weak side of the formation")
Sam - Mike - Jack - Will

im not sure if he's still selling them, but there was a guy who selling old playbooks on ebay, on dvd's. nothing newer than 2004, but they looked interesting either way. had some of charlies offense too.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

here's that dvd on ebay i mentioned. probably just some coach who breaks down games, and sells em. probably knows more than i ever will though

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ENGLAND-PAT...hash=item220260974146&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

 

[pats1]

Does anybody have a copy of an old Belichick defensive playbook? Now it seems the Jack linebacker is inside weak. I've heard the following schemes from members of the press or other "insiders", starting with outside strong and going across:

("the 4th lineman is the Jack linebacker on the weak side")
Sam - Mike - Will - Jack

("the 4th lineman is the Jack linebacker on the strong side")
Jack - Sam - Mike - Will

("the traditional 4-3 Sam linebacker is actually on the weak side")
Jack - Mike - Will - Sam

("the Jack linebacker is the hole plugger of the defense")
Sam - Jack - Mike - Will

and now

("the Jack linebacker is the inside linebacker on the weak side of the formation")
Sam - Mike - Jack - Will

I talked to Breer a year or two ago about that, and he said W-J-M-S. That is backed up by the, um, strategic files that were posted online.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Yeah, and I think he trolls this board too because he changed it in his column too. It now reads:



Personally, in context of the section it is in, I don't know if really needed that clarification. It was a section of the camp battle between Hobson and Mayo so ILB was pretty much inferred (at least on my part).

Hopefully he, or an editor, DOES troll this board... I hope by now it reads

an inside linebacker, not "a".

If not, get back to work dude, then troll on!

PFnV

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Yeah, and I think he trolls this board too because he changed it in his column too. It now reads:



Personally, in context of the section it is in, I don't know if really needed that clarification. It was a section of the camp battle between Hobson and Mayo so ILB was pretty much inferred (at least on my part).

Hopefully he, or an editor, DOES troll this board... I hope by now it reads

an inside linebacker, not "a".

If not, get back to work dude, then troll on!

PFnV