Interesting Article - "The Truth About The Patriots Pass Rush"

[ATippett56]

I could see them drafting a safety fairly high to supplement and eventually replace BMW.

Showing Brandon Meriweather the door already with one year left on his contract? Giving up on Sergio Brown, Josh Barrett, Bret Lockett, Brandon McGowan as well?

 

[JackBauer]

As a specialist, he led the team in sacks and Qb pressures. He is not the problem. He is a very good backup but people think he should be Rosey Colvin.

Which is more of an indictment on the rest of the pass rushers.

Any team that has TBC playing 60 percent of the defensive snaps has serious issues.

 

[Marqui]

The fact that NE has guys like TBC and Ninkovich playing significant roles in the defense is just depressing really. No wonder they keep getting embarrassed in the playoffs

 

[Shelterdog]

It's called priorities and the New England Patriots should be set at the starting cornerback position for 2011 with McCourty at left cornerback and Bodden at right cornerback. Meanwhile on the defensive side of the ball, there are major holes at the right defensive end position and outside linebacker. The New England Patriots need to draft a three down 3-4 defensive end who has the ability to rush the passer in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

That's a different argument, one I essentially agree with.

The reason we shouldn't draft a corner is because we don't need a corner, not because we've drafted a bunch of corners in the past.

 

[Shelterdog]

Showing Brandon Meriweather the door already with one year left on his contract? Giving up on Sergio Brown, Josh Barrett, Bret Lockett, Brandon McGowan as well?

You don't have to dump BMW now-you can have a year where he overlaps with Rahim Moore or whoever while the rookie gets up to speed. But it's a fact that the Pats often do send people away with one year on the contract (Seymour, Maroney, Moss) and BMW's trade value isn't getting much higher, so trading him when there's a new CBA has some logic.
Remember, they keep benching BMW because of his freelancing, so he doesn't seem like a long term fit.

And if you think Brown, Barrett, Lockett and McGowan project as good starters you're as blind as the people who say Connolly's a good starter. Maybe one of them emerges but you're talking about a bunch of career special teams guys.

 

[ATippett56]

You don't have to dump BMW now-you can have a year where he overlaps with Rahim Moore or whoever while the rookie gets up to speed.

I would not whatsoever expend one of the first three draft picks (#17, #28, #33) on a free safety prospect this year.

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[ATippett56]

The fact that NE has guys like TBC and Ninkovich playing significant roles in the defense is just depressing really. No wonder they keep getting embarrassed in the playoffs

The New England Patriots did not make a big splash in unrestricted free agency during the 2010 season aside from Alge Crumpler, whose salary cap charge is extremely reasonable. It's time to seriously kick the tires for someone like Kamerion Wimbley, who may not have the same name recognition as a Tamba Hali or LaMarr Woodley but who may not break the bank either.

 

[Shelterdog]

I would not whatsoever expend one of the first three draft picks (#17, #28, #33) on a free safety prospect this year.

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Look it's not a great safety crop, and I don't see anyone I love, but if the Pats loved a safety the same way they lived McCourty then I wouldn't mind drafting a safety.

 

[ATippett56]

Look it's not a great safety crop, and I don't see anyone I love, but if the Pats loved a safety the same way they lived McCourty then I wouldn't mind drafting a safety.

Devin McCourty was rated the 29th best overall draft prospect in 2010 by NFL Draft Scout. It's not like Devin McCourty was a reach whatsoever in the first round.

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[Shelterdog]

Devin McCourty was rated the 29th best overall draft prospect in 2010 by NFL Draft Scout. It's not like Devin McCourty was a reach whatsoever in the first round.

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So what? Kiper ranks Moore 25 and Scouts Inc ranks him 30th, but the more important question is how Belichick ranks him. Just because some internet sources say a guy is a reach (like they said about Mankins) doesn't mean the player is a reach.

 

[sevengables_2207]

I agree with the posters who have pointed out that acquiring a 3-down 5-technique DE is one of the best first step towards improving the pass rush. I remember not too long ago when the Patriots defense got great pressure with their front three (Warren-Wilfork-Seymour) and it seems that the Belichick defensive scheme is designed with this in mind over fielding a few Clay Matthews-type rush linebackers. It also seems, as others here have delineated, that the linebackers in the Patriots defense are expected to set the edge and cover short zones first before rushing the passer.