Easley

Was yesterday the first time Easley was creating that havoc in the middle, disrupting the o-line? In a week there was a lot of concern regarding his knees and potential in professional football, I was very surprised with him stepping up yesterday.

We didn't sack Luck, but he was brought in for that, opening the path for Jones and the other DE have a better opportunity to get to the QB. Luck is also a very elusive QB we have to give him that.

Let's hope Chandler get's 100% for the playoffs and I would like to see Zach Moore getting more snaps too.

I'm trying not to have an overly critical eye when judging Easley's play this year. He's a rook coming off of double knee surgery. It takes time to get all the way back.

With that said he seemed very active last night. It was great to see.

Easley has mostly concentrated on doing the important stuff right , rather than going for the big splash plays.

Surprisingly good against the run, his versatility has been a real boon after losing C. Jones for a period of time.

Not playing so much early in the season might help us down the stretch. Many rookies hit a wall with the long NFL season. If his knee is ok, he should be fresh. The question with Easley was never his ability. It was his knees.

I think Moore is still at least a year away from really contributing.

Pleasant surprise was not expecting him to dress... he was in on a lot of plays.

Did you notice #52, Casillas.. he was in on a few plays also.

Easley is showing steady improvement every time out and, in a world of immediate gratification and flash, that gets overlooked. The kid is showing that he's not just an athletic freak either, as he's made quite a few "heady" plays this season, including the INT early in the season (against OAK I believe). If those knees hold up, we'll have the star we think we drafted.

DarrylS said:

Pleasant surprise was not expecting him to dress... he was in on a lot of plays.

Did you notice #52, Casillas.. he was in on a few plays also.

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And made a couple of plays too. Looking forward to seeing how he was used. The guy is an athlete and would make for a nice addition to the roster. Those three mid-season acquisitions were excellent.

DarrylS said:

Did you notice #52, Casillas.. he was in on a few plays also.

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He made the (ultimately pointless) goal line stop against Bradshaw at the beginning of the fourth quarter. It was a nice play that almost inspired a goal line stand.

livinginthe past said:

Easley has mostly concentrated on doing the important stuff right , rather than going for the big splash plays.

Surprisingly good against the run, his versatility has been a real boon after losing C. Jones for a period of time.

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This is spot on. And we know that "doing the important stuff right" and being versatile are much, much more important to BB than making some highlight plays and piling up stats. Easley is having a solid rookie season, recovering from injury and playing through some. I suspect BB is quite happy with what he's done so far.

Brady6 said:

I said it in the game thread and I will say it here, Easley looked by far the most explosive he has looked this season last night.

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I wonder if BB was up to a trick with that whole "In media access period, during the stretching, just wince and hold your knee - - come off to the sideline, sit on the cart and talk to the doctors, then leave practice" thing.

I was pleasantly surprised. He's off the bust list for me as of now.

Brady6 said:

I said it in the game thread and I will say it here, Easley looked by far the most explosive he has looked this season last night.

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And I would say its about time.

kennyb said:

I was pleasantly surprised. He's off the bust list for me as of now.

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PatsFan2 said:

And I would say its about time.

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I'm sorry, but you guys don't even realize you ridiculous you sound. A rookie being on the "bust list" after 9 games? "About time" for a guy coming off an ACL injury to show explosiveness? Please. This makes the guys in Dumb and Dumber look like geniuses in comparison.

mayoclinic said:

I'm sorry, but you guys don't even realize you ridiculous you sound. A rookie being on the "bust list" after 9 games? "About time" for a guy coming off an ACL injury to show explosiveness? Please. This makes the guys in Dumb and Dumber look like geniuses in comparison.

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Mayo I wasn't being overly critical I just didn't see the explosiveness he's gifted with up until last night. The concerns about him was valid.

Easley was good last night. How many snaps did Alan Branch get - I liked what I saw from him, too. Siliga coming back, (hopefully) Chandler coming back soon - this DL is getting ferocious.

If Branch/Wilfork/Siliga can be that effective against the run, the pats get teams in third and long...with Jones back, Easley regaining explosiveness, Collins playing out of his mind and that defensive backfield, I like our chances when teams are in third and long!

PatsFan2 said:

Mayo I wasn't being overly critical I just didn't see the explosiveness he's gifted with up until last night. The concerns about him was valid.

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But it just isn't realistic to expect that so soon from a guy coming off an ACL injury, who is also learning how to play in BB's system, which prioritizes discipline over explosiveness. I think the concern is entirely valid - it's the "about time" tone that I was reacting to. But I apologize for being snide.

50-yard-line said:

How many snaps did Alan Branch get - I liked what I saw from him, too

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Not sure. Reiss will have them up later. But they were probably minimal as Colts pretty much abandoned the run.

But there was one play that stood out for me. Branch getting off his blocker and getting to the side and making it a minimal gain, it may have even been for no gain. And it wasn't Richardson either, it was Bradshaw.

mayoclinic said:

But it just isn't realistic to expect that so soon from a guy coming off an ACL injury, who is also learning how to play in BB's system, which prioritizes discipline over explosiveness. I think the concern is entirely valid - it's the "about time" tone that I was reacting to. But I apologize for being snide.

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No offense taken I love our Defense...get well Chandler Jones take your time brother.