patsox23
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2004
- Messages
- 7,430
- Reaction score
- 60
Think "Defensive Playmaker" during this run and the following names leap to mind: Law, Vrabel, McGinest, Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour and Colvin (a bit). Even if Law comes back, the only "next generation" playmakers on D are Seymour and maybe Colvin. Vrabel is sort of on the fence, age-wise, between "next generation" and "last generation."
This is not to say that Bruschi and Harrison and Vrabel (and Law, if he returns) are no longer playmakers, but whereas the O seems to have re-stocked somewhat during the run - Branch, Jackson, Watson, Thomas, Maroney - the defense has not done so, at least not as much.
Sure, Asante and Geno have potential - and more than that, they HAVE made some plays. But I don't see them, so far, as being "playmakers" on the level of the people mentioned above. Guys like Law and Milloy (for a time) and Harrison for the DBs, players like McGinest and Vrabel and Bruschi at LB - these guys have made a TON of big plays.
On the defensive side of the ball, we need to start either developing or drafting the next generation of defensive playmakers. In some ways it's not possible to know for sure WHAT we have, but we're going to NEED to know (and we're going to need to start seeing) some big-time playmakers soon.
So who are they? So far, obviously there's Seymour, Colvin and...I guess I look at Ellis Hobbs. Hope for James Sanders. But then...what? Hopefully 2006 will bring good news. Hopefully it will mark a passing of the torch - or at least a spark of recognition on our part that there are some worthy heirs in a Mincey or a Claridge, maybe some more from Randall Gay.
I've gotta say, it does worry me a bit. As the LB's that we've known so long get older (and as some of them leave) - we really, at some point, need to see any evidence of potential descendents. And thus far the cupboard's looking pretty bare - especially at LB. I think, though, that the upcoming season promises to, at least, give us some answers. And I'm optimistic. Cautious, a little concerned, but optimistic.
Thoughts?
This is not to say that Bruschi and Harrison and Vrabel (and Law, if he returns) are no longer playmakers, but whereas the O seems to have re-stocked somewhat during the run - Branch, Jackson, Watson, Thomas, Maroney - the defense has not done so, at least not as much.
Sure, Asante and Geno have potential - and more than that, they HAVE made some plays. But I don't see them, so far, as being "playmakers" on the level of the people mentioned above. Guys like Law and Milloy (for a time) and Harrison for the DBs, players like McGinest and Vrabel and Bruschi at LB - these guys have made a TON of big plays.
On the defensive side of the ball, we need to start either developing or drafting the next generation of defensive playmakers. In some ways it's not possible to know for sure WHAT we have, but we're going to NEED to know (and we're going to need to start seeing) some big-time playmakers soon.
So who are they? So far, obviously there's Seymour, Colvin and...I guess I look at Ellis Hobbs. Hope for James Sanders. But then...what? Hopefully 2006 will bring good news. Hopefully it will mark a passing of the torch - or at least a spark of recognition on our part that there are some worthy heirs in a Mincey or a Claridge, maybe some more from Randall Gay.
I've gotta say, it does worry me a bit. As the LB's that we've known so long get older (and as some of them leave) - we really, at some point, need to see any evidence of potential descendents. And thus far the cupboard's looking pretty bare - especially at LB. I think, though, that the upcoming season promises to, at least, give us some answers. And I'm optimistic. Cautious, a little concerned, but optimistic.
Thoughts?
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