rookBoston
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2004
- Messages
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Just thinking about the thread where Holley claimed, on WEEI, that the LB corp is the best the Pats have ever had. I think he might be overselling it, but there is a kernal of truth there.
Made me think that we've said the same thing about or OL, DL and TE units, too. In fact, at any number of positions on the team, we have some of the best talent we've ever had, ever.
QB -
pro: Brady is in the prime of his career, at the peak of his game; Cassell looks like a keeper
con: We're only two players deep
RB -
pro: clearly the best RB foursome we've ever had at Foxboro
con: not sure, ?? what's not to like
WR -
pro: promising, flashed a lot of upside at Cinci and Minnesota
con: untested
TE -
pro: clearly the best set of TEs we've ever had: Graham, Watson, Thomas, Mills
con: is this Graham's last year?
OL -
pro: maybe the best ever... certainly the deepest ever, in terms of numbers. By my count, we've played Light, O'Callaghan, Britt, Kaczur at OT with no dramatic dropoff in play. Mankins and Neal are simply fantastic players, Hochstein is great, we stashed Yates on the PS, and he gave us a solid start against the Vikes. Add in future pro-bowler Dan Koppen, and we have enough talent to staff two full starting OLs.
con: a bunch of ugly bastards
DL -
pro: definately the best ever: we have Jarvis, Wright and Hill coming off the bench?!?
con: youth, talent, strength, smarts, work ethic. There is nothing missing
LB -
pro: solid, experienced and reliable
con: aging and really 5 players deep: Bruschi, Seau, Vrabel, Colvin, TBC... could use one more guy and another rookie
DB -
pro: physical, versatile, quick, good tacklers and very deep
con: doesn't strike fear into your heart. I'm thinking of Milloy, Jones, Victor Green, Law, Smith, Buckley: man, they were good, fast, smart and experienced... we need a few more ballhawks to force turnovers.
Coaching -
HC - BB is transforming the professional game. He'll take his place beside guys like Lomarbi and Walsh as the greatest coaches of all time
OC - Minnesota game answered some questions about whether the kid has the creativity to come up with a winning strategy for a tough opponent
DC - Pees looks like a huge upgrade over Mangini... which is a surprise to me. But he has yet to call a bad game, or a single bad play that I've picked up on. The players are playing for him.
In general, this is the best, most talented roster we've ever seen. To some extent, I felt the same way about last year's crew-- but they started slow and never clicked. Injuries on D took the soul out of the team. This year, you can tell from the lockerroom banter, the practical jokes, the beard growing, Dillon/Moroney buddy stories... the team is confident and in very high spirits. That's a good sign. They know that something good is happening. They're loose and they exude confidence in themselves, the team... and it shows in their play.
To any close observer, this feels a team that can respond to adversity with calm efficiency, pride and results. Halfway through the season, and it feels like the Pats are just hitting their stride. A win against the Colts will put them over the top. And, actually, a loss to the Colts wouldn't be all bad: this team would react to a big loss at home with a lot of righteous anger; it would make them stronger for the playoffs.
Only the Broncos, Colts and Bears can legitimately contend. But I think BB can scheme Manning out of a game, the solution to beating the Broncos has become common knowledge, and the Bears are susceptible to the same sort of no-huddle passing attack that dismantled the Vikings last week.
I feel very good about this team. They're multidimensional. They can win in a hundred different ways. The Dyansty is not over-- it feels like it's just picking up steam.
Plus, two first round picks next year...... it's a golden age in New England.
Made me think that we've said the same thing about or OL, DL and TE units, too. In fact, at any number of positions on the team, we have some of the best talent we've ever had, ever.
QB -
pro: Brady is in the prime of his career, at the peak of his game; Cassell looks like a keeper
con: We're only two players deep
RB -
pro: clearly the best RB foursome we've ever had at Foxboro
con: not sure, ?? what's not to like
WR -
pro: promising, flashed a lot of upside at Cinci and Minnesota
con: untested
TE -
pro: clearly the best set of TEs we've ever had: Graham, Watson, Thomas, Mills
con: is this Graham's last year?
OL -
pro: maybe the best ever... certainly the deepest ever, in terms of numbers. By my count, we've played Light, O'Callaghan, Britt, Kaczur at OT with no dramatic dropoff in play. Mankins and Neal are simply fantastic players, Hochstein is great, we stashed Yates on the PS, and he gave us a solid start against the Vikes. Add in future pro-bowler Dan Koppen, and we have enough talent to staff two full starting OLs.
con: a bunch of ugly bastards
DL -
pro: definately the best ever: we have Jarvis, Wright and Hill coming off the bench?!?
con: youth, talent, strength, smarts, work ethic. There is nothing missing
LB -
pro: solid, experienced and reliable
con: aging and really 5 players deep: Bruschi, Seau, Vrabel, Colvin, TBC... could use one more guy and another rookie
DB -
pro: physical, versatile, quick, good tacklers and very deep
con: doesn't strike fear into your heart. I'm thinking of Milloy, Jones, Victor Green, Law, Smith, Buckley: man, they were good, fast, smart and experienced... we need a few more ballhawks to force turnovers.
Coaching -
HC - BB is transforming the professional game. He'll take his place beside guys like Lomarbi and Walsh as the greatest coaches of all time
OC - Minnesota game answered some questions about whether the kid has the creativity to come up with a winning strategy for a tough opponent
DC - Pees looks like a huge upgrade over Mangini... which is a surprise to me. But he has yet to call a bad game, or a single bad play that I've picked up on. The players are playing for him.
In general, this is the best, most talented roster we've ever seen. To some extent, I felt the same way about last year's crew-- but they started slow and never clicked. Injuries on D took the soul out of the team. This year, you can tell from the lockerroom banter, the practical jokes, the beard growing, Dillon/Moroney buddy stories... the team is confident and in very high spirits. That's a good sign. They know that something good is happening. They're loose and they exude confidence in themselves, the team... and it shows in their play.
To any close observer, this feels a team that can respond to adversity with calm efficiency, pride and results. Halfway through the season, and it feels like the Pats are just hitting their stride. A win against the Colts will put them over the top. And, actually, a loss to the Colts wouldn't be all bad: this team would react to a big loss at home with a lot of righteous anger; it would make them stronger for the playoffs.
Only the Broncos, Colts and Bears can legitimately contend. But I think BB can scheme Manning out of a game, the solution to beating the Broncos has become common knowledge, and the Bears are susceptible to the same sort of no-huddle passing attack that dismantled the Vikings last week.
I feel very good about this team. They're multidimensional. They can win in a hundred different ways. The Dyansty is not over-- it feels like it's just picking up steam.
Plus, two first round picks next year...... it's a golden age in New England.