Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks
Another factor to consider is communications.
-- Sanders and Meriweather were really clicking toward the end of last season, they are picking up from that point and will be playing at a higher level before we even realize it. rebuttal - The problem is that they are both average NFL starters so they can have the best communication in the world but that will only mask their deficiencies You see average, I see Meriweather growing as a player and a playmaker. He has the freedom to be more of a playmaker because James Sanders is so dependable as a deep man and as a Field Marshall.
Brace is a clear upgrade behind LDE and NT over Green/Wright. rebuttal - Really? later this the post you mention Green as an upgrade over Seymour, so without playing a snap Brace is better than Seymour, Green and Wright. Wright has proven to be pretty effective, I would take him over a rookie. Yes, really. Double-check your reading comprehension my friend. Green, at 4-3 DE, is NOT a drop-off from Seymour - he's quicker and faster off the edge. In that "one" assignment Green is at least as good, note I did not rate him an upgrade over Seymour in any assignment, but I also don't consider him a significant drop-off, especially with Wright to spell him.
Seymour was NOT Ty Warren's and Vince Wilfork's back-up, Mike Wright and Le Kevin Smith were. Brace is stronger against the run - based on preseason - than either of those two. Wright was a servicable reserve NT, but last season he struggled playing LDE and Smith moved ahead of him when Warren got injured. Brace playing head-up on the RT is going to be tough to run on, tougher than Wright. Brace playing head-up on the C is stronger than Wright, yes, based only on pre-season, but those 35+ extra pounds make a real difference in that role - he's never played a snap in the regular season, but neither had Mayo before he started last season, he was the right choice then, I'm confident Brace is a stronger run stuffer than Wright, who is now freed up to rotate with Green at his strongest position and to be a force on passing downs.
Green/Wright may be considered a downgrade from Seymour, but spelling each other keeps the position fresher and both are much better suited for the RDE role than the other two positions. The drop-off is actually pretty slight.
Playing Wilfork as a 3-tech, or using Vince and Pryor/Wright (when healthy) to disrupt the interior is a clear upgrade in the 4-3. Brace is no downgrade as a NT in this formation. rebuttal - Really? Yes, in the 4-3 Seymour was being used on the edge at DE, BB now has a stronger rotation inside with three strong penetrators and Brace, who can be a good anchor.
Green as a DE in the 4-3 is not a downgrade from Seymour. rebuttal - Seymour is a 5 time probowler, 6'6, 310 pounds, Green is a spot backup that has been practically invisible since the 2003 AFC Championship. So invisible he's had 7.5 and 6.5 sacks in the two of the last three years. His drop-off last year was a result of injury - and lest we forget - Sey has been pounded on plenty by this forum for production drop-off when he is injured. Green was Seymour's primary replacement in 2007 when Sey was rehabbing, that wasn't too bad a season for the Pats.