Who are the most unfairly criticized players on the Pats?

[MrBigglesWorth]

I started this thread because of incessant unjustly bashing of solid Patriots players. Who do you consider the Pats player that receives the most bashing and doesn't deserve it?

Unjustly criticized:

Matt Light- He's gone under the radar because he hasn't played, but once he gets back I expect him to be the target at times throughout the season and frankly it's unjust. The guy made the probowl last year and some would question that, but the guy is solid. He's not great but he's one of the better left tackles in the league IMO.

Ellis Hobbs- Many have recently and last year bashed him bigtime. Many quickly forget what it was like to have Duane Starkes. I believe alot of it has to do with coaching and having him play 5-10 yards off the receiver. And the SB it was coaching that manned him up at the stupidest possible moment. I'd take him on my team any day because he'll play through injuries. He competes and doesn't back down. He's a game.

Maroney- He's started to break this criticism so he doesn't really beling on this list.



Gets Too Much Love and Does Nothing to Deserve It

Chad Jackson- End of story. No one comment on him please. He doesn't deserve any comments until he starts producing.


Who do you think gets alot of junk and doesn't deserve it?

 

[PATRIOT64]

Re: Who are the most unfairly criticized players?

I started this thread because of incessant unjustly bashing of solid Patriots players. Who do you consider the Pats player that receives the most bashing and doesn't deserve it?

Unjustly criticized:

Matt Light- He's gone under the radar because he hasn't played, but once he gets back I expect him to be the target at times throughout the season and frankly it's unjust. The guy made the probowl last year and some would question that, but the guy is solid. He's not great but he's one of the better left tackles in the league IMO.

Ellis Hobbs- Many have recently and last year bashed him bigtime. Many quickly forget what it was like to have Duane Starkes. I believe alot of it has to do with coaching and having him play 5-10 yards off the receiver. And the SB it was coaching that manned him up at the stupidest possible moment. I'd take him on my team any day because he'll play through injuries. He competes and doesn't back down. He's a game.

Maroney- He's started to break this criticism so he doesn't really beling on this list.



Gets Too Much Love and Does Nothing to Deserve It

Chad Jackson- End of story. No one comment on him please. He doesn't deserve any comments until he starts producing.


Who do you think gets alot of junk and doesn't deserve it?

Thats easy - Its Kevin Faulk by a mile

I have read hundreds of threads in here alone saying Faulk fumbles and screws up in important times of the game

What they fail to mention is he has lots of 3rd down and long plays that more then makes up for his fumbles,Which his fumbles are not as often anymore

Light is a good lineman but he does get crushed by some of the better pass rushers of the league - It happens quite often when they go up against solid fronts so he will probably still get bashed and called a revolving door when a guy like Freeney or Stroud is breathing down his neck and brushing him aside

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Who are the most unfairly criticized players?

I could never stand Faulk when Pete Carroll tried to make him a full time back. It wasn't until he became a specialist in the passing game, 3rd down, hurry up that I truly came to appreciate him. Losing him now would be a huge loss as he's clutch in the passing game. He also gives some good yardage on draws.

 

[Scooter_McGruder]

I hated Kevin Faulk for a while after he pretty much handed the defender the ball at the end of that Colts game. But last year I realized that he really is a great pass-catcher and a big part of the team. So I stand corrected.

Thank you for proving me wrong, Kevin Faulk.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Re: Who are the most unfairly criticized players?

I could never stand Faulk when Pete Carroll tried to make him a full time back. It wasn't until he became a specialist in the passing game, 3rd down, hurry up that I truly came to appreciate him. Losing him now would be a huge loss as he's clutch in the passing game. He also gives some good yardage on draws.

Not to forget that he is pretty damn good at blocking when he needs to

 

[Lansdowne]

Gostkowski any time he misses a field goal since it doesn't say "Vinatieri" on the back of his jersey.

 

[Deus Irae]

Chad Jackson as illustrated by the OPs own post.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Unjustly criticized:


Chad Jackson- End of story. No one comment on him please. He doesn't deserve any comments IF or unless he never starts producing.

I fixed your post for you,a few errors

 

[Rob0729]

Gostkowski any time he misses a field goal since it doesn't say "Vinatieri" on the back of his jersey.

I gotta agree. Whenever Belichick goes for it on 4th down too they say it is because Belichick doesn't have confidence in Ghostkowski. Yet, if you looked at the last few years of Vinatieri, Belichick went for it on 4th downs in similiar situations.

Faulk is beloved now. Few people trash him today. I wouldn't include him. He has outgrown his dropsies criticism.

I think Hobbs is in second place after Ghostkowski. He doesn't give up a lot of big plays, but is credited with every big play whether it is his fault or not since he is usually the first guy to the ball because of his speed and the fact he plays deep.

 

[stinkypete]

Re: Who are the most unfairly criticized players?

Thats easy - Its Kevin Faulk by a mile

I have read hundreds of threads in here alone saying Faulk fumbles and screws up in important times of the game

What they fail to mention is he has lots of 3rd down and long plays that more then makes up for his fumbles,Which his fumbles are not as often anymore

Light is a good lineman but he does get crushed by some of the better pass rushers of the league - It happens quite often when they go up against solid fronts so he will probably still get bashed and called a revolving door when a guy like Freeney or Stroud is breathing down his neck and brushing him aside

I agree 100%. I've said here before, the AFC Championship game against Indy and the past Super Bowl have something in common. Kevin Faulk was injured midway through the second quarter of both games, and the offense sputtered as soon as he left the field in both games. When Faulk limped off the sidelines during the Superbowl I felt for the first time like we might lose.

I'd love to see a montage of late game drives carried by Faulk running the draw on 3'rd downs, throwing his body into a defender on a big pass play, diving into the end zone on a 30 yard route. Faulk plays a key role in every victory, and gets little cradit for it.

 

[fitch]

I think Ben Watson has taken a lot of heat. I have heard people say he has been a total bust as a 1st round pick... that is unfair in my opinion.

Does Rodney beening criticized as the "Dirtest Player" fit this catagory?

 

[Wildo7]

Richard Seymour - probably the third best player on the team and all anyone did was rip on the guy last year because he was overcoming injury. Then Jackie Macmullen wrote a smear piece quoting his trainer as saying he thought the blocking plays did him in. Somehow everyone in this forum knew for a fact that Seymour was secretly complaining about Belichick and making "excuses" for himself through his trainer. All he did was come back and play his ass off as usual despite the brutal stuff he went through with his father.

 

[Patjew]

Personally I find Light overrated.

Unjustly criticized: James Sanders

 

[DSal]

I think it's Seymour. He played hurt the last couple of years and has been soundly criticized many times, especially on this board. It's ubfortunate because he's a guy that goes about doing his job very quietly (and does it very well), doesn't create controversey, and took the high road when his contract renegotiations were going on. Now that he's back to 100%I'm sure he'll return to the dominating presence he was prior to his injury.

 

[Frezo]

Matt Light. He has to defend against some of the most athletic and highly paid defenders on the field. Further he must defend against speed rushers, bull rushers, lateral movement, spin moves, etc., none of which any single opponent can do all of, yet he is expected to be able to defend against all of these techniques. It's a tall order that he does well. He gets props from me.

 

[oldskool138]

Re: Who are the most unfairly criticized players?

Chad Jackson. If he wasn't hurt for the last 2 years, it would be him with the TD catches record and not Randy Moss.

 

[TeamPats]

While I agree he is well past his prime, since last year, I think Bruschi gets kicked around a bit too much. The guy has gone through quite a lot and has had a very consistent career. He may not be what he once was, but he is durable and has helped us fill a position of need at ILB. If there was someone better, Alexander or Beisel, they would be playing. I am glad he has remained healthy or else we would have been even thinner at that position.

 

[Wildo7]

While I agree he is well past his prime, since last year, I think Bruschi gets kicked around a bit too much. The guy has gone through quite a lot and has had a very consistent career. He may not be what he once was, but he is durable and has helped us fill a position of need at ILB. If there was someone better, Alexander or Beisel, they would be playing. I am glad he has remained healthy or else we would have been even thinner at that position.

dude, Bruschi gets the Chuck Norris treatment here. I don't think I've ever seen anyone criticize him except to say that he's getting older.

 

[bakes781]

I definitely agree with Maroney & Hobbs. I'd also include Seymour.

 

[BradyManny]

You got most of them - Hobbs, Light, Maroney, Sey. Chad Jackson hasn't had enough time yet still. Keep in mind, this is his first NFL training camp.