Ellerbe thinks the Pats are vulnerable this year

sb1 · Jul 8, 2013

Miami Dolphins LB Dannell Ellerbe: Patriots are vulnerable this year - Extra Points - Boston.com

I think someone should ask Mike Vanderjagt for his opinion on the Patriots this year.

Big-T · Jul 8, 2013

Mario Williams thought that last year
The Jets think it every year

The Pats will walk the division, as usual by 3-5 games minimum.

It would be the perfect year for a 19-0 though; all the Hernandez crap, people writing off the team already and of course the big game being at the new Giants Stadium.

Kontradiction · Jul 8, 2013

You could say that the Pats will be vulernable, and you can say that the Pats will come out on fire and dominate the league. Neither would be completely wrong and neither would be completely correct as of right now. This team has too many unknown factors going into the season as of right now to make a determination either way. There's a ton of unknown factors within the receiving corps. Is Amendola going to remain healthy? If so, will he be able to replicate any percentage of what Welker has done for them since 2007? Will the rookie receivers contribute in any way? If so, how much? Will Gronk be healthy going into the season? How will Ballard mesh?

There are the same amount of questions on the defensive side of the ball. Will Adrian Wilson make the impact in the secondary that we need him to? Were his limitations in coverage a myth perpetuated by the Cardinals? Will the secondary, as a whole, remain healthy? Did the Pats do enough with Jamie Collins to improve coverage over the middle of the field? How will Armstead's skill set translate to the NFL? Did they do enough to improve the interior pass rush? Who is going to step up as an edge rusher opposite Chandler Jones?

As a whole, this team has more question marks right now than any Pats team I can remember going into the season, save for maybe the 2006 squad. So it's too early to either state that they are vulnerable or are fine. We won't get any inkling of what the team will be until the third preseason game this season.

Sicilian · Jul 8, 2013

To play devil's advocate, at least Ellerbe is coming from a team that beat the Patriots in the playoffs last year. He gets to have these bragging rights for now... first time the Pats beat the Fins, that's all gone though

Uncle Rico · Jul 8, 2013

Everyone thinks/hopes the Patriots might be vulnerable this year.

The original CBS story was actually not bad. And Ellerbee, IMO, came across as a thoughtful leader in his response:

"I think they are but you have to prove it, you can't just talk about it," said Dolphins linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.

Just to be clear -- Ellerbe wasn't talking smack. He was stating a belief that is actually quite prevalent throughout football. Has the draining of offensive talent, the injury to Rob Gronkowski and the allegations of homicide against Aaron Hernandez weakened the once-unbreakable filament that is the resolve of the Patriots?

"I was brought here to help knock them off," said Ellerbe. "That doesn't mean we will, but we feel like we can. Like I said, we just have to prove it. You have to actually go do it."

I'm no Freeman fan butI think he has a good handle on the situation:

All of this (Pats are vulnerable talk) is only a theory, and the huge gap in that theory is Brady. He didn't become one of the greatest pass throwers of all time by becoming mentally weak in the face of tough circumstances. So we are a long way from the Patriots actually showing they are ready to pass the division crown to Miami or any other team.

Big-T · Jul 8, 2013

"Draining of offensive talent" is a dumb line by CBS, yes they lost 2 extremely talented offensive weapons but they have added a larger combined pool of talent which should make it harder to defend against the Patriots.

Less individual talent, more balanced overall talent.

Nunchucks · Jul 8, 2013

On defense the Patriots have fewer question marks going into the season than last year. On offense, it has more.

The Dolphins seem to have improved quite a bit in the offseason, lets see if that translates on the field.

TruthSeeker · Jul 8, 2013

Vulnerable, possibly, are there a lot of question marks ? Definitely. You have to think that it may take some time for all the new parts to mesh. Especially in the WR and TE position. The defense is still a question mark, pass defense especially.

BUT, you can say that about the other teams in the league, especially the AFC East. For Miami, will it take time for their new parts to mesh ? Will Taneyhill progress in his second year or take a step back ? Buffalo is bringing in a whole new offense and QBs, how long until they are firing on all cylindars. There are vulnerabilities and questions about all teams.

sb1 · Jul 8, 2013

KontradictioN said:
You could say that the Pats will be vulernable, and you can say that the Pats will come out on fire and dominate the league. Neither would be completely wrong and neither would be completely correct as of right now. This team has too many unknown factors going into the season as of right now to make a determination either way. There's a ton of unknown factors within the receiving corps. Is Amendola going to remain healthy? If so, will he be able to replicate any percentage of what Welker has done for them since 2007? Will the rookie receivers contribute in any way? If so, how much? Will Gronk be healthy going into the season? How will Ballard mesh?

There are the same amount of questions on the defensive side of the ball. Will Adrian Wilson make the impact in the secondary that we need him to? Were his limitations in coverage a myth perpetuated by the Cardinals? Will the secondary, as a whole, remain healthy? Did the Pats do enough with Jamie Collins to improve coverage over the middle of the field? How will Armstead's skill set translate to the NFL? Did they do enough to improve the interior pass rush? Who is going to step up as an edge rusher opposite Chandler Jones?

As a whole, this team has more question marks right now than any Pats team I can remember going into the season, save for maybe the 2006 squad. So it's too early to either state that they are vulnerable or are fine. We won't get any inkling of what the team will be until the third preseason game this season.

Agreed.

It usually is the third preseason game that tells the tale, at least in the last few years. They've been waxed by Sam Bradford and Matthew Stafford in recent years and that never was a good omen about where the defense is going to be that year.

DarrylS · Jul 8, 2013

Can you imagine someone comparable on the Pats, say Spikes or Hightower, making comments like this about any other team in the AFC East???...

Mike Florio is having multiple orgasms over this Boston.com story...

That is the difference..

fair catch fryar · Jul 8, 2013

Of course they are. Every team always is. To think otherwise, especially after all the changes this off-season would make you an imbecile or a drunk on kool-aid homer. Personally, I feel like this will put the "chip" back up on Brady's shoulder, but the vulnerability of this team rests on his shoulders. Always has.

PatsWickedPissah · Jul 8, 2013

SIRIUS NFL radio this AM, they wrote off the Pats saying Phins dominate IF Tannehill plays to potential. Jets salivating over playing Pats w/o the guy who used to be a Patriot but cannot be named.

Kontra is right. Lots of unknowns. Could be a down season or pats could go on a tear. I like the uncertainty.

fnordcircle · Jul 8, 2013

Non-story.

If Ellerbe thought otherwise he should be cut.

PatsWickedPissah · Jul 8, 2013

What do you west coast guys know about the Pats anyway?

VOODOOZF · Jul 8, 2013

How could anyone objectively look at the Patriots off season and not admit they they will be "vulnerable" this season?

I'm not saying the Patriots are going to be a six win team, but at the moment they are not a legit threat to win the Superbowl. Their WR corp is an absolute nightmare, their defense is mediocre at best and Tom Brady is a year older.

BKBroiler · Jul 8, 2013

Uncle Rico said:
Everyone thinks/hopes the Patriots might be vulnerable this year.

The original CBS story was actually not bad. And Ellerbee, IMO, came across as a thoughtful leader in his response:

I'm no Freeman fan butI think he has a good handle on the situation:

Completely agree that Ellerbee comes off as a confident, but not ****y leader in the actual story who knows that his team has something to prove (unlike some media proclaiming the end of the Pats and handing the reigns over to the Dolphins w/o playing a game).

With that said, I do hope that the Patriots take his quotes completely out of context and use it as bulletin board material for the upcoming season. Since BB took over as coach, this team has always played better with a chip on their shoulder (e.g., 2001, 2007, etc.). Sure there are a few question marks with the team that need to be addressed / answered, but I really like where the team is sitting right now. With BB pushing the right motivational buttons, I wouldn't be surprised with a 12-14 win season.

neuronet · Jul 8, 2013

Sicilian said:
To play devil's advocate, at least Ellerbe is coming from a team that beat the Patriots in the playoffs last year. He gets to have these bragging rights for now... first time the Pats beat the Fins, that's all gone though

Plus, if you look at the quotes, he is actually quite fair, for instance saying it is easy to talk about it, but they need to prove it on the field. I come away from the article with a positive feeling about Ellerbe (compared to, say, Terrell Thuggs).

Claremonster · Jul 8, 2013

How is this even a story?

patsfan-1982 · Jul 8, 2013

the pats defense has been ranked 25 or worst the last 3 years I would say that's pretty vulnerable yet that did not stop them from having a 39-9 record and playing in 2 AFCCG and a SB

patsfanincleveland · Jul 8, 2013

Big-T said:
"Draining of offensive talent" is a dumb line by CBS, yes they lost 2 extremely talented offensive weapons but they have added a larger combined pool of talent which should make it harder to defend against the Patriots.

Less individual talent, more balanced overall talent.

The last time the Patriots were in this bad shape was that time they took two skill position guys in the 2nd and 4th rounds.

2010 was the year, I believe.

It's pretty funny to think that we have a guy in Mike Brown (a guy who owns a franchise where even the cheerleaders get arrested) talking smack just as he expended a second 1st round pick to copy what the Patriots have done for the past three years with 2nd and 4th round selections.

Ellerbe thinks the Pats are vulnerable this year

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