Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

Best group in a while, if in fact this is the final defensive backfield:

CB (6) Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Marquice Cole, Alfonzo Dennard, Sterling Moore
SS (2) Steve Gregory, Nate Ebner
FS (2) Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson

Young, fast, experienced.

Steve Gregory and Marquice Cole are the oldest in the group at 29 and they are smart, tough guys. Cole is a Northwestern grad who played for Rex, not a bad combination. He was the one DB who caught my eye the most in the first two pre-season games.

The rookies are an interesting mix of smarts (Wilson) and toughness (Ebner and Dennard.)

The rest have playoff experience and most have a Super Bowl run under their belts.

The evolution of the defense last year cannot be underestimated for Chung, Arrington, McCourty, and even Dowling and Moore who had limited exposure to live action under Patricia and Belichick. That defense got better, stingier and more cohesive after week 9.

With improvements at DL and LB, (and the lack of quality at QB by the opponents), this should be a very productive defensive backfield.

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

We can hope...

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

This could be an area of strength, got confused for a minute between Ebert and Ebner..

There is also a lot of developing talent here..

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

I prefer to wait until health and chemistry issues are resolved.

Not pessimistic, nor would I be optimistic if they had added all pros, but the DB is a work in progress, hopefully with progress being made.

If Ras I and Chung can stay healthy, the rest could easily fall into place.

I would wait to call this unit experienced, in that a successful working unit involving some and additions of players that have played some doesn't translate into what i would consider an experienced defensive backfield.

Tough and experienced yet to be proven compared to past units that were, indeed, tough and experienced.

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

I agree with your premise on Dennard being tough. I saw a bit of nasty from him the last preseason game. Nice to see from a rookie.

Very happy with Dennard making the team. We have upside and we are starting to develop homegrown talent back there. We are a little short on the experience side but hopefully that's also means we are short on bad habits built over time and that they are a very coachable unit.

Glass half full ;)

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

Dowling still looks a little stiff to me from his hip surgery. He hasn't looked as flawless as he did in the first 2 games last year.

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

No pass rush and these guys are near the bottom again, the only thing is we barely play any good teams, they will be tested this postseason.

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

Weakest link = Arrington. He couldn't cover my grandmother.

Re: Fast, Tough, Experienced Defensive Backfield for 2012
 

Very glad to see Dennard make the team as well.

If this were Madden, or should Belichick finally just let me GM for a day, the only real changes I'd make to the backfield would be to just pay / trade for a top CB.

I'm very comfortable with the potential this young group has.