Flying Fungi
In the Starting Line-Up
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.On the surface, the switch of Adalius to ILB covers all the bases and makes the D an awesome unit. My question is whether he is embracing or fighting this change? He seems unhappy and is not playing well at ILB. Is my perception off base?
Tom Williams, Vernon, Conn.
You've got to be kidding me. He seems "unhappy"? I guess this guy talks to him on a daily basis, right?. We need to relax and breathe.
"One NFL coach I spoke with Monday night was surprised to see Thomas at the "Mike" inside linebacker spot, because he believes his skills were best suited to outside linebacker"
That's my thought. Why waste all that athletic ability standing in the middle when you could pick up a much less athletic player to do that?
Troy Brown appears to be getting closer
That's my thought. Why waste all that athletic ability standing in the middle when you could pick up a much less athletic player to do that?
I don't know why we don't value athletic ability in the middle. Bruschi of today vs. Bruschi of 2003/4 shows what additional quickness/athleticism in the middle can be. Between blitzing, coverage and general field coverage I'm thrilled to have an athletic player in the middle. If not why not put Lua there and see how that works out
Can Maroney be effective without a lead blocker?
Sageanalyst, Seattle
A: I think Maroney will be most effective running out of a three-wide set, with no lead blocker. In training camp, he has been quite explosive when making one decisive cut and finding the hole quickly.
I think there'll be a different FA playing ILB, or a top draft pick next year.
I think he's trying to get his feet wet at the position so he can come from anywhere on a switch, which isn't the same as "playing' ILB
I just had a epiphany on why the Pats signed so many receivers this year and focused on TEs in previous years. When Dillon carried the load he worked better with a 2 TE set. Now Maroney is the lead guy and works better with open space in a 3 wide set. Some of you probably already thought this, but a light bulb just went off.
How long did it take Bruschi three years? (correct me if I'm wrong that's off the top of my head).
Also, Bruschi needed to learn in order to stay on the team, he wasn't making it as a DE or OLB at his height.
BB's just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. He's not going to take one of the most disruptive players in the league and confine him to the middle.
During the offseason, the Patriots hired a coach, Bill O'Brien, and created a position called "offensive assistant." What was the reason for this hiring and the creation of a new coaching position?
Mike Allen, Phoenix
A: As I understand it, each year head coach Bill Belichick assesses his staff and decides how to best divide the work. O'Brien's official title is coaching assistant, and most teams have that position (the Patriots now have three coaching assistants). Coaching assistants break down tape, chart games, and do a lot of the grunt work behind the scenes. It's more of an entry-level position -- at the highest level of football -- and is often considered the first step toward becoming a position coach.
I disagree. Bruschi is in his last year or so. We have no one who could be the leader of the D from the inside, except maybe Vrabel. Thomas has to master this role this year, in order to take over for Bruschi next year or so.
Remember, when Bruschi was at the top of his game from say 03 to 04 we had tremendous defense because none of the dump off throws or underneath stuff was free with such great interior pass coverage from the LBs. Compare that to the sieve of the Brown and Beisel era. It's no co-incident our worst passing game coverage came when our ILBs were also the worst in years.
The idea of the ILB being just a "run stuffing thumper" is where this analysis is so wrong. In a 3-4, the ILB is the center of the defense, and critical to the passing game in that they cover the hot reads and force awkward passing lanes. Look at how many game changing plays Bruschi has made from the ILB spot - INTs, forced fumbles, tipped balls, interior blitzes, and on they go. And being able to shut down a TE or seam rout or crossing route from a 3rd or 4th WR or the outlet route of a RB takes a TON of athleticism. If you can do it with Thomas still in the game even in the nickel and dime package, you gain a tremendous edge - will he cover or will he rush?
And with Thomas size, he's even more of a threat to bat down balls or tip them up to the secondary than Bruschi ever was.
I believe Thomas is going to the best coverage LB on the team starting this year - and make a ton of game changing plays all while playing INSIDE. I could see as many turnovers going his way as anyone on the team.
I found it humorous that NEM was up to his old tricks.