BB on a Mission with the D
 

Obviously he looked at the seasons post 2004 and saw, what? NO SB wins. No matter what the O didn't do in 2006/7/8, clearly there were defensive 'issues' to be addressed.

Look at what he did...

1. Sent Vrabes, a former stellar pass rush specialist but past his shelf date cost packing (but took care of his family $...nice)
2. Trades Hobbsie, who probaly has no CB upside for 2fer 5th round trade ammo. Basicly FIRING the last 2 years' secondary as we'll see..
3. No move to re-sign aged late career injury prone warrior Harrison (possible shadow roster, IMO)
4. Obviously let the excerable stopgap Deltha ONeal go


In FA he added Springs and Bodden to give veteran experience and athletic talent to the DBs. Re-signed JAG safety Sanders to a reasonable deal. Same with JAG but reliable Wright. Picked up retread TBC as pass rush insurance/competition.

Then, in the draft he added...

1. Chung, a physical semi-fast hard hiting intelligent SS, a Rodney replacement who's faster than BB
2. Butler, the mid-sized, fast, play making CB of his wet dreams
3. Brace, Pryor & Richard at DT/NT to give (a) Wilfork a breather, (b) a Monster short yardage run D (c) injury backup for Wilfie (d) contract leverage and ultimate disaster insurance should there not be enough food in NE to feed Vince's family (Me, I say Vince retires a Patriot)

Remember, two more Defensive developments may occur...signing vet castoffs from training camp and of course the JT and 'vegetable seasoning' fantasy signings.

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

Dude, I'm faster than BB...

Vince Redd is a BIG dude. Wonder how he'll fare in TC this year...

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

I believe you covered everything. I sure like vegetable seasoning.;)

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

As of now, compared to the 2007 team, of the 18 likely to make the roster

1) ALL 5 the FIVE corners are new.
2) 3 of the 5 OLB's are new.
3) 2 of the 4 safeties are new.
4) 3 of the 4 ILB's are new.

That's 13 of 18 of the linebackers and secondary!

The 5 holdovers from 2007 are Thomas, Woods, Bruschi, Meriweather and Sanders.

And it seems likely that this is not enough, and one more move will be made.

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

As of today, it's the same D-line, 3 of the same 4 players at LB and the same 2 safeties from last year. There have been a lot of depth signings and the CB spot has changed. The rest is rotation, and the 'problem' of pass rush still hasn't been solved.

The offense looks otherworldly on paper, though.

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

Somehow I do not buy the arguement that the D was not the reason we have no SBs since 2004. Admitedly, BOTH the horrific WR corps and a defensive collapse cost us against Indy in the 2007 AFCCG. And in the SB never to be viewed agin, the offense failed to score anything close to their season average, yet when the game was on the line up for grabs, Brady drove for the leading TD and yet the defense, play after play, failed to make 3rd down stops, something all too common after the ultimate Pats 2004 D's departure.

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

You raise a good point that I neglected to mention. I believe that BB's moves in this draft show that he has immense confidence in at least a few of the young 2008 LB corps in training...Guyton, Redd, Crable and possibly Rudd.

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

Did my post indicate that I disagree? I believe that the inability to stop crunch time 3rd downs and end of the game drives has cost us Super Bowls.

The offense will NOT be the reason that we are not SB-favorites over the next three years. We just re-loaded with Taylor, Galloway/Tate, Lewis, Baker and brought in a couple of potential starters at OT and OG.

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

I did not intend to imply that you disagreed. I was attempting to expand on the very point that you made!

Re: BB on a Mission with the D
 

I'm wicked nervous about the pass rush if it stay the way it is right now.