AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2004
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It is apparent now that Belichick and the other Coaches had a couple of rebuilding projects in mind for the last offseason.
Its time to look at the progress thereat:
A) teh running game
B) ST play in all phases.
A) The runing game has been upgraded significantly, with the addition of Laurence Maroney and Ryan O'Callaghan, at the run dominant position of RT, is doing fine. Its fourth or fifth in the league and a feared dimension for opposing Coaches. Allowing Cory Dillon to pace himself and ease into the Bettis mode is doing wonders for his longevity and effectiveness too. K Faulk is as effective as ever as the third down back, pass catcher, and screen runner. He is no longer being asked to run it as much as as an alternative. He is too small and insecure in his ball possesion to be able to with stand the jarring big hits. Complimentary players in Evans, Pass and perhaps Mills, as a future Larry Centers role, complete the package. Great success. Enuf said.
B) I think the Pats brass was unsatisfied with the ST play, over the last couple of years. KO distance was short. Opponents were starting beyond the thirty-five way too often. Returns by the opponents were creeping up in yardage; the coverage was mediocre. Patriots returners at both KO and especially PR duties, were not feared or/and producing mediocre statistics and no scores and or field position.
They decided to get both younger and faster in coverage and returners. The old gunners were replaced with faster newcomers, Iwuoma, and Andrews. Oldsters Izzo and Davis slower linebackers, were reasigned inside to other coverage and competiton for their jobs with more able players able to compete for regular team snaps were brought in. Tebuckey Jones, Mel Mitchell and Barry Gardner all ended up on IR, but all are accomplished STers, a generation younger and the competiton has pushed both Izzo and Davis to better performances. TBC and Eric Alexander have done well on ST coverage replacing others such as Matt Chatham.
AV walked and two bigger legs were brought in. Gostkowski won. Gostkowski's KO depth is among the NFL's best. His FG precentage has been average, but not bad; Miller is still having probowl type performances as a punter. Ditto for Paxton at long snapper.
Freeing Kevin Faulk from some running duties, has allowed him to concentrate more as a PR. His skill is showing in a near league leading PR average. As a KO returner newcomer LM has put a spark there with his returns. Andrews hurt with a hip injury has not been playing much as a KO returner, but he has fine college credentials for that task and that and his "gunner" play has won him a job as a rookie.
In short the ST in all seven dimensions, KOs, PRs, KO depth, PR coverage, KO coverage, Punting, and FG kicking, have been addressed. All but FG kicking has proven successful and FG kicking gets an INC, and may still be a strength and improved. Further improvement is still possible, as the IR people return next season, and Andrews matures.
Its time to look at the progress thereat:
A) teh running game
B) ST play in all phases.
A) The runing game has been upgraded significantly, with the addition of Laurence Maroney and Ryan O'Callaghan, at the run dominant position of RT, is doing fine. Its fourth or fifth in the league and a feared dimension for opposing Coaches. Allowing Cory Dillon to pace himself and ease into the Bettis mode is doing wonders for his longevity and effectiveness too. K Faulk is as effective as ever as the third down back, pass catcher, and screen runner. He is no longer being asked to run it as much as as an alternative. He is too small and insecure in his ball possesion to be able to with stand the jarring big hits. Complimentary players in Evans, Pass and perhaps Mills, as a future Larry Centers role, complete the package. Great success. Enuf said.
B) I think the Pats brass was unsatisfied with the ST play, over the last couple of years. KO distance was short. Opponents were starting beyond the thirty-five way too often. Returns by the opponents were creeping up in yardage; the coverage was mediocre. Patriots returners at both KO and especially PR duties, were not feared or/and producing mediocre statistics and no scores and or field position.
They decided to get both younger and faster in coverage and returners. The old gunners were replaced with faster newcomers, Iwuoma, and Andrews. Oldsters Izzo and Davis slower linebackers, were reasigned inside to other coverage and competiton for their jobs with more able players able to compete for regular team snaps were brought in. Tebuckey Jones, Mel Mitchell and Barry Gardner all ended up on IR, but all are accomplished STers, a generation younger and the competiton has pushed both Izzo and Davis to better performances. TBC and Eric Alexander have done well on ST coverage replacing others such as Matt Chatham.
AV walked and two bigger legs were brought in. Gostkowski won. Gostkowski's KO depth is among the NFL's best. His FG precentage has been average, but not bad; Miller is still having probowl type performances as a punter. Ditto for Paxton at long snapper.
Freeing Kevin Faulk from some running duties, has allowed him to concentrate more as a PR. His skill is showing in a near league leading PR average. As a KO returner newcomer LM has put a spark there with his returns. Andrews hurt with a hip injury has not been playing much as a KO returner, but he has fine college credentials for that task and that and his "gunner" play has won him a job as a rookie.
In short the ST in all seven dimensions, KOs, PRs, KO depth, PR coverage, KO coverage, Punting, and FG kicking, have been addressed. All but FG kicking has proven successful and FG kicking gets an INC, and may still be a strength and improved. Further improvement is still possible, as the IR people return next season, and Andrews matures.
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