The defense

spacecrime said:

The patriots are 11-0. Just because they are having a perfect season doesn't mean they are perfect in every way.

No team is perfect. If you want to nitpick I'm sure you can find things are could be better.

But my God, man, how could any Pats fan not be absolutely thrilled with the way this season is unfolding.

The Patriots are head and shoulders above every other team in the league.

What's not to like?

We all have our opinions on what the team needs, but think for a minute. How many division championships in a row? How many Lonbardis recently? Not a single loss this year.

If you are a Pats fan, don't miss enjoying every single minute of theis magical season.

If you aren't a pats fan, or are a terminally negative person, just remember that BB has a staff of over a hundred people working full time digging up information and advising him. They have a humongous film library with coaching tapes (not stupid TV feeds that focus on one player half the time and on the sidelines the other half). They have tapes on every team, every player, in the NFL. They interview players, they observe practices, they know what position players are supposed to be in on every play and can judge whether or not the player did the right thing.

I know you watch NFL Live and Sports Center and Around the Horn every day, but does that really give you more accurate information that BB has at his fingertips? Do you really know better what the team needs?

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Bro, I never said I am not thrilled with the pats season. With all due respect I am allowed to question a few things. It gets old to talk about how good we are all the time.

I am a bit worried about the lb position. Thats all.

danny88 said:

No I don't think that. I would think Beli and co would anticipate a injury to a key LB. It just seems like we are old at the position , when the NFL is now geared more towards speed / passing then smash mouth running football.

I want to know if Alexander and Woods can step in?

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I'm not sure your expectations are realistic. We came into the season with a LOT of good, proven LBs. You can't have more than you can have, you know? We all want to know if Alexander and Woods will be able to step in. We're about to find out.

patsox23 said:

I'm not sure your expectations are realistic. We came into the season with a LOT of good, proven LBs. You can't have more than you can have, you know? We all want to know if Alexander and Woods will be able to step in. We're about to find out.

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I agree they are proven. I jus think a little more speed is needed at the position. I have thought that since day one.

Thats said its hard to think Beli would ignore this. I guess Alexander and Woods are ready,

danny88 said:

I agree they are proven. I jus think a little more speed is needed at the position. I have thought that since day one.

Thats said its hard to think Beli would ignore this. I guess Alexander and Woods are ready,

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How does acquiring Adalius Thomas in the offseason qualify as "ignoring" the LB position? They've also addressed the LB position with some lower-priced FAs like Seau and Monty Beisel -- with varying degrees of success -- and devoted a number of later-round draft picks.

The only thing they haven't done is use an early-round pick at LB, and that could be for a number of reasons. Some have suggested that BB prefers veteran LBs because he doesn't want to pay early-round money to a young LB who will just be adapting to our complex system when he reaches FA... others think he just hasn't liked any of the LBs as much as other players when we were drafting.

I am not losing one moment of sleep over how Alexander and Woods perform. They are going to step up - that is my expectation and my conclusion, and I'm going to get a good night's sleep.

Actually, I don't think Chad Brown will be that bad outside either. I don't think it's anywhere near the panic-button stage. And if it is, it is. Big deal - we'll deal with it by expecting them to put guys on the field that can play.

Pat_Nasty said:

How does acquiring Adalius Thomas in the offseason qualify as "ignoring" the LB position? They've also addressed the LB position with some lower-priced FAs like Seau and Monty Beisel -- with varying degrees of success -- and devoted a number of later-round draft picks.

The only thing they haven't done is use an early-round pick at LB, and that could be for a number of reasons. Some have suggested that BB prefers veteran LBs because he doesn't want to pay early-round money to a young LB who will just be adapting to our complex system when he reaches FA... others think he just hasn't liked any of the LBs as much as other players when we were drafting.

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It was a great move. But Thomas looks to be slightly hampered by injury. I guess I just hope to see Woods and Alexander step in and be the "plan" all along. You have got to admit , one more injury at LB changes things A LOT.

If Gay or Hobbs go down? We have to expect more injuries. I know we have the depth on the line. how about at lb?


You know?

danny88 said:

Now I know most people on here scoff at anything that questions Pioli and Belis opinion, but a few things concern me.

We could have a very serious issue at the lb position if anyone gets hurt. Losing Colvin was a huge blow to this team. Chad Brown is not the answer.

Why does Beli constantly ignore this position of need?

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Hmm.. I wouldn't call signing Thomas and drafting Lua ignoring the position. But, hey, that's just me.

danny88 said:

What about Meriweather? 11 games in and this kid is yet to see any significant time on the field?I was hoping to see his speed on the d by week 12. Should we be concerned? because it seems to me his speed and athletic ability would be a great addition to the backfield. As good as we are, a few bad breaks and things could get dicey at best.

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Who would you take off the field to get Meriweather on? Harrison? Sanders?

danny88 said:

Whats the story with Woods and Alexander? Are they ready to step up? Who here thinks we can contain the colts and or Dallas with this D if there are a few bad breaks at the lb position.

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Alexander's been injured the last few weeks. I think he missed 5 games with an injury before returning this past week.

As for Woods, he's been playing on Special teams regularly.

danny88 said:

Thats true. The stats dont tell the WHOLE story though. You dont see concern with our lb / db depth? In 04 the d looked better the it does now.

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In 04 we were starting a rookie UDFA corner, Troy Brown was the nickelback and Hank Poteat was playing.
That year we had Colvin, Bruschi, McGinest, Vrabel at LB, this year we have Thomas, Bruschi, Seau, Vrabel.
I dont see big differences.

I dont know how BB 'ignored' the LB postion by bringing in Thomas and Seau.
We started the season with Vrabel-Thomas-Bruschi-Colvin and Seau in reserve. Beyond those the guys who never play were young guys with ostensbile upside.
I dont see who out there has/had more at LB????

We sustained ONE injury.
I never agree with the sentiments that it is a problem that the guys sitting on the end of the bench who come in if there are injuries aren't all-pros. That just cannot happen.
We needed to add a LB, and we added a veteran who knows our defense and has spent parts of 2 years and all of 2 camps here.

I understand any time you lose a starter its a concern, but I do not understand how we are any less equipped for handling that loss than any other team.

As far as our defense this year, of course, since we allowed some points last week, people are up in arms, but it is an overreaction IMO.
As was posted we are within about a half a point a game or so or the fewest ppg ever allowed in franchise history.

In every season there are games where you allow a lot of points.
In 2003, probably our best D ever, we allow over 30 to both Tenn and Indy, then stifled them in the playoffs. I'm sure after those 2 games people thought our D didn't look great.

I know an undefeated season can create unreasonable expectations of winning perfectly every time, but that just never happens.

The comments about 2004 seem to forget we got torched in a few games that season too.

danny88 said:

It was a great move. But Thomas looks to be slightly hampered by injury. I guess I just hope to see Woods and Alexander step in and be the "plan" all along. You have got to admit , one more injury at LB changes things A LOT.

If Gay or Hobbs go down? We have to expect more injuries. I know we have the depth on the line. how about at lb?


You know?

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If we have an injury, we will be to some degree worse than if we didnt have one.
That makes us exactly the same as every other NFL team.

To argue that things change if someone gets hurt is to argue that "Hey, I understand the NFL".
Every team will have injuries. To compare our injury replacements to other teams starters and appear to be assuming no one else will have injuries is kind of silly.

danny88 said:

I agree they are proven. I jus think a little more speed is needed at the position. I have thought that since day one.

Thats said its hard to think Beli would ignore this. I guess Alexander and Woods are ready,

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You will continue to have that thought as long as BB is HC.
Because you value speed at the LB position more than he does. That has to be a fact just because you said you think more speed is needed, and he has NEVER done anything to get speedy LBs.
Our defense isn't about Lbs being fast. Our LBs need to take on OL in the running game. They are also expected to be able to play DE in nickel/dime situations.
Additionally, they are required to play 2 gaps. That does NOT require speed, it requires size, stength and technique.

The only time you will see BB acquring fast LBs is when they meet all of the other primary criteria and also happen to be fast.

danny88 said:

Everything you say is true. I just wonder why it LOOKS worse. maybe its just me

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Because you are basing it one ONE GAME. You didnt think the D looked worse a week ago, or 3, etc, etc. did you?

You are comparing your most recent memory, the 2007 Ds worst game to fond memories of good games by prior Ds.
You couldn't have felt they 'looked better' in 03 after allowed over 30 to Tenn and Indy, or in 2004 after allowing a bunch to Pitt, Miami, etc. (Remember the 2004 defense you so fondly remember was beaten by AJ Feeley, and a much worse team than the one he played on last sunday) or in 2005 when the Colts and Chargers scored 40 in Gillete.
Or last year in the 2nd half of the AFCC or the reg loss to the Colts, right?

You are just being over-reactionary to one game, that is no worse than any of the great Patriots defense had at some point.

By the way, one reason I put little concern on that game was that we have been OUTSTANDING on 3rd down all year, and the ONLY difference between every other game and that one was 3rd down. The eagles scored 3 of their 4 TDs on 3rd and long passes, and the 4th was set up by 3rd down conversions. If we played on 3rd down that game the way we did the other 10, they may have scored 13 points.
On top of that, they attacked 3rd down differently than almost any team we have played, and TOTALLY differently than THEY HAVE ALL YEAR.
The Eagles are reknowned for throwing the ball 3 yards on 3rd and 7 and trying to get a tackle broken. In this game they threw 12-18 yard intermediate routes on 3rd down, unlike what we saw on film or what we had been defending to date.
It only seems logical to me that when you face a team that becomes extremely aggressive on 3rd down, and the film shows them very conservative, that you could play poorly in those situations, because you were prepared for something else.
Regardless of that, I am comfortable with 1 game of poor 3rd down D meaning absolutely nothing when our 3rd down D was the best in the NFL the 10 before that.