fumbrunner
In the Starting Line-Up
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With training camp under way and no sign of Seau, is it safe to assume that he is done? Great career, but unfortunate that he did not win a SB.
I hope he's surfing and enjoying his retirement. I'm in super **** mode today and I know I'm going to get flamed for this but I, for one, do not want him back. I appreciate what he's done for us but I've seen this defense get completely gassed at the end of two huge games. I want our defense as young and as fast as we can get it. If anything, I'd rather him come back in the event that injuries ravage our LB corps. But, if that doesn't happen, I want Junior to enjoy his retirement.
Again, it wasn't the old linebackers blowing coverages and dropping easy interceptions in the Super Bowl.
If anything, I'd rather him come back in the event that injuries ravage our LB corps. But, if that doesn't happen, I want Junior to enjoy his retirement.
I hope he's surfing and enjoying his retirement. I'm in super **** mode today and I know I'm going to get flamed for this but I, for one, do not want him back. I appreciate what he's done for us but I've seen this defense get completely gassed at the end of two huge games. I want our defense as young and as fast as we can get it. If anything, I'd rather him come back in the event that injuries ravage our LB corps. But, if that doesn't happen, I want Junior to enjoy his retirement.
I hope he's surfing and enjoying his retirement. I'm in super **** mode today and I know I'm going to get flamed for this but I, for one, do not want him back. I appreciate what he's done for us but I've seen this defense get completely gassed at the end of two huge games. I want our defense as young and as fast as we can get it. If anything, I'd rather him come back in the event that injuries ravage our LB corps. But, if that doesn't happen, I want Junior to enjoy his retirement.
I know it wasn't. That's why I didn't say "these linebackers" and instead said "this defense". But even you would have to admit that we were burned over the middle far too often last year. The Eagles and the Ravens, in particular, exposed this. In the Eagles game, A.J. Feeley (yes him) threw over the middle against us all day and had no problem with it. The minute he threw against Samuel or Hobbs (not sure which one it was), it was picked off. I don't know if it's the bend-but-don't-break defense which made that area seem particularly weak or if it was the old legs or if it was both. What I do know is I don't want a corps or linebackers that are closing in on their 40's fast. I appreciate what Junior did for us, but I think we will be better off with a younger defense as a whole.
The problem was that Junior was playing full time at the end; Would you rather have a part time Junior or a part time young but not good-at-all lb? thats the real question.
I dont think anyone wants Junior as a starter; but he'd be great as the 6th or 7th LB (and his leadership / enthusiasm)
JMarr said:I don't know what kind of shape he's in but I'd like to see him back as a situational LB and mentor to the new guys. Rodney's going to have his hands full with the DBs. Vrabel and AD don't strike me as particularly communicative guys, and according to certain "inside sources" LOL, Bruschi doesn't go out of his way to mentor younger players. Also, I'm not at all sold that we're going to see an upgrade at LB, at least not until later in the season.
Yes, they were being burned over the middle more than elsewhere. However, I view that as a product of a relatively poor pass defending quartet of 2 inside linebackers and 2 safeties who really aren't cover safeties at this stage in their careers. Had the rookie safety been NFL ready and starting from day 1, I suspect things would have been much different on a lot of those third downs.
Which is why I want the defense as a whole (not just the LB corps) to get younger. Younger legs are better in coverage. I'd still love for Rodney to be out there to perhaps lay out the occasional vicious hit though. But I just hope Meriweather transforms into a ball hawking safety this year. And, from what I've read in TC reports, he is on his way to doing just that.
This younger legs things is not true, though. Meriweather's legs were younger last year, but he'll be better in coverage this year.
There's a combination of talent, experience, speed and quickness that gives you the kind of player you're looking at.
This defense that people have been foolishly maligning all off-season was among the best in the NFL and helped get the team to 18 straight wins.
Then, in the one game the team lost, the problem on the defensive side of the ball was with younger players who failed to get the job done.
The reality is that the Patriots' defense was pretty young last year. The only places with real age were at ILB and Rodney, and part of the reason for even that much age being on the field was yet another injury to a younger player (Colvin).
Agreed. Our defensive line (should we resign Wilfork) will be set for a long time. The secondary is still young and got even younger in the draft. The only two areas of concern are a safety spot and our LBs. One we addressed in the draft, the other I have a feeling we will address next year.
Again, it wasn't the old linebackers blowing coverages and dropping easy interceptions in the Super Bowl.
I also think that BB is not at all satisfied with how well his D has played at the end of the last 2 seasons, diminishing his legacy. BB is a football historian and he does not need decades of his great defenses sullied by perceived collapses.