#1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

Everybody covets them and we have none!

Not only that but BB does NOT hardly ever draft them, especially highly. (PS: We spent a 3rd on banana boy Crable and a second on slooooowwwwwww as grass growing Cunningham.)

His passive bend but don't break defense is currently a joke. It has too many veteran retreads that either flat out suck or are mediocre at best. The safeties outside of Chung are not NFL calibre safties and his poor corners are having to cover way too long and have no guarentee that the safties have their backs.

We can't stop anybody (not named Henne) on third down. If you are named Henne then we can not stop you on fourth down. We rank second to the last in pass defense and 26th in total defense? Pathetic!

This is the third year in a row that our defense is garbage and the opposing team's laundry guy does not have to wash their QB's jersey after games.

Bottom Line: in today's NFL where most teams throw first, BB's defense can NOT win us a championship without pass rushers that can pressure the opposing QB with something resembling consistency.

It is time: BB must do two things this offseason:

1.) Use some very high draft picks on some talented OLB/DE pass rushers, even if they can't cover, don't play the run excellently, and even if we have to trade UP to do it. We are getting our heads bashed in week after week on defense and it is flat out painful to watch.
If this defense had to play last year's Auburn team, Auburn would have put a 30 spot on us, by halftime!

2.) Hire a real DC. I say promote Pepper and go out and hire the Alabama D-Line coach to replace him. A little shot at Saban to pay him back for going to Miami.

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

Ahh man, you sound really pissed. I can feel the emotion through your words.

We all know this to be true. I don't know why Belichick doesn't draft a pass rusher honestly. Even though I'm beating a dead horse, I can't imagine if we had taken Clay Mathews.

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

Every year we go through this drill and every year they pass on potential candidates because the value isn't there for the position at the end of the first round.

Players with both the production and skill set go top 8.

Players with just the skill set get over drafted no later than the mid-teens.

Players with the production but marginal physical upside slip into the start of the second round.

We aren't drafting top 8 or trading there and we aren't reaching in the other two locations. So you get the Crable's and Cunningham's of the world.

And that's without talking about the fact that in addition to having crazy pass rushing skills they're expected to set the edge in the running game and drop into coverage when needed.

When we play the draft selection game this year I won't be putting down the name of a single OLB or DE.

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

I do agree that it is a major need, but so is DL and FS.

They have 4 picks in the first 2 rounds next April. They need 2 DL, a FS and a DE.

I will admit I believe it starts up front on both sides of the ball. BB took Seymour, Warren, Wilfork and Hill in the first two rounds in four drafts. Since then in seven drafts he has taken ONE first day DL, Brace.
Other than Brace, he has taken one 4th rounder, two 6ths and three 7ths. With Love and Wright making the team as UDFAs.

The talent drain at DL has hurt the entire defense. Without a couple more talented DL, there will be no protection for that pass rusher.

I'm not even going to get into the S problems. Let's just hope the DL & DE problems get addressed this April.

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

Woh, woh, woh don't you remember during draft day that when posters brought up the lack of a pass rush for the last five years and why didn't Bill grab one because after all he did say just before the draft that this year was the best he had seen in a while for D-lineman. OK Maybe you weren't on that day. Anyways according to many many posters here pass rush is over rated, you don't need a pass rush. :rolleyes: After all if a pass rush is so important why didn't BB take a pass rusher, and he Never makes a mistake.

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

Not a great year for 4-3 defensive linemen coming up in 2012 draft. Going to be hard to get a guy where we pick. Trade/free agency might be a better way to fill that need. I can see it now. We'll be yelling for Devin Taylor or Vinny Curry. No dice. We might be able to get that 4-3 olb and a FS. But, I'm not high on the defensive line prospects. Zack Brown and maybe Lester or McDonald is my way, way, way, way too early call.

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

Choose one of the following:

- <Player> doesn't represent enough value at the position
- <Player> doesn't fit the system
- <Player> doesn't have the height/reach/weight the Pats want
- BB will scheme up a pass rush
- BB will address the need in the off-season with (JAG) free agents
- The Pats will compensate for their lack of a pass rush with a strong secondary

... and on and on and on... :rolleyes:

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

There are none that can play the Patriots "complex" defense, it is futile. Plus you underestimate the current approach, by the end of the game teams are so tired of scoring they can barely catch their breath.

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

past 4 years Ive been getting my hopes up.....never again lol

Re: #1 Need OLD/DE PASS RUSHERS!
 

'Bama OLB Courtney Upshaw just jumped way up on my list. He put on a clinic tonight vs Florida. He's a little shorter than BB prefers (listed at 6'2") but he heavy enough for an elephant role (listed at 265#).