captain stone has now gone too far in is generalizations. He said Pierre Woods was not a good LB. The evidence is already in that he is incorrect. Woods has started in three games and played in several others. He has demonstrated that he is good at setting the edge and stuffing the run. While he was in, the Patriots Defense ranked 10 out of 32 in stuffing the run, and opponents were unable to exploit his presence.
What he has not demonstrated, YET, is that he can be an equally good pass rusher. But even there, there is partial evidence. He had one sack in 3 starts. Projected over a 16 game season that would be a production of 5-6 sacks per season. While not double digit annual production, it is about what the SOLB position has produced on average for the past decade.
Therefore Pierre has demonstrated is that he is, at least, a good, swift, big and talented OLB. What he has not demonstrated is that he is a Pro bowl Star, to captain and us all.
I have seen enough, to know that the concern over the SOLB position is vastly exaggerated. Wholly unaccounted for by Messrs. Stone and Bro, is the apparent unconcern by the Coaches; and the willingness to trade the former starter with little apprehension. I would be willing to enter their World of Paranoia, if they could but explain that, but of course they cannot.
Our two Paranoid com-Patriots, criticize the lack of pass rush the last two years. Ignoring the fact that the pass rush produced top ten figures in 2007, and only the 2008 season, ravaged by injuries, and starting 5 defensive rookies, saw a sack drop off. I am confident that Sack production will rise if only because there will be fewer rookies playing, not to mention all the Defensive additions.