AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
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I see that Bill Belichick has just re-signed Derrick Burgess. As far as I am concerned that was the final piece that Belichick needed to field the 2010 edition of the Patriots. I think critics of the Pass Rush, are like the Generals fighting the last war, not the next. The Pass rsuh probelm was a long way to being fixed last season, but few noticed.
Many are predicting that the Patriots will have problems in the AFCE and with their total Won-Loss record, and I would agree to a partial extent. But the awesome strength of schedule may merely reduce the season record to the 11-5, 12-4 range from where it would otherwise be.
I think this coming team has the makings of a Team able to match the 2004 and 2007 editions. But this team has more potential Defensive talent. Despite the defensive statistics, in 2007, that team was an Offensive powerhouse that carried the Defense along. It is easy to play Defense when you are up 3 TDs in the second Q. I think such will be the case once again.
The mid-decade real Defense showed itself in the 2006 AFC CG, when it couldn't stop Manning and the Colts, and in the 4th Q of the 2007 SB. BB has undertaken to rebuild the fading Defense ever since. He stripped it down of the last oldsters at the beginning of last season, when Tedy, Rodney, Vrabes, and Seymour departed; and the multi-year defensive retooling is now almost complete, with talented youth everywhere.
My thesis is that the Defense was a few players short and not stout enough against the run last year. That made a pass rush appear weaker than it was. Don't forget that the Jets #1 Defense despite all its fabled blitzing tactics, only accumulated one more sack than the read-and-react Pats. it is tough to Pass Rush or Pass Cover, when the down and distance is 3rd and 2, as it was repeatedly, last year.
Importing a couple of Big Uglies, drafting a run-stuffer, Big SILB, and adding to the secondary with First Round talent and aided with experience for others, will improve the anti-run stats. That will allow the Pass Rushers, and now there are a full house of them, to really Pass Rush and the secondary to Pass Cover, when its 3rd and 6.
Some say thy don't have the DeMarcus Ware kind of guy. True, so what? The Patriots never did! Willie McG was the nearest thing to that, and he only had one season, of double digit sacks, and none during the glory years Ditto for Vrabel.
Derrick Burgess took half a season to acclimate to the Belichick Defense. But he accumulated 5 of his 6 sacks in the last 8 games, 6 of 6 QB hits, and 18 of 23 QB pressures, as he acclimated. TBC has now produced in several years of his Patriots tenure. Both possess records of double digit sacks more than once in their careers.
Finally there are a pair of DE--> OLB conversions selected high, to back them up, in Crable and Cunningham, and give them both a breather, and then more besides that, in Ninkovich and Woods. The DL and ILBs should be stout against the run, now. Look at all the extensive and apparently unnoticed changes, (except by of all people, John Clayton (!!!) and myself), that Bill Belichick has made to insure that stouter Run Defense.
As far as the secondary is concerned, it has never been deeper, with more overall talent than now, even if others had a few bigger stars. Ty Law was the Darell Revis of his day, but there was only Lawyer playing with him. Asante and Rodney were the pair, but only for a year.
The time is coming when Bill will have to rebuild the Offense, but I think that is a year or two away. The #2 rated Offense will serve for another year, just fine.
Belichick has made some key additions there too. Both veteran patches, but also fundamental new talented youngsters, that don't have to play until they are ready. The old patches are quite extraordinary when you think about it. A HOF WR, a former Pro-Bowl TE, and a older Pro-Bowl RB, who was added last year. To go with an existing HOF WR, and an All-Pro slot WR, who won't be available until the latter portion of the season and the Playoffs. By Playoff time, that is potentially a better group than the 2007 receiving corps! Ponder that for a second.
Look at the young developing depth, on Offense. Volmer and Levoir and also another to choose from Connolly, Orhnberger, Bussey, Larsen and Welch, on the Offensive line. Edelman, Tate, Price, Gronowski and Hernandez in the receiving corps. And the RBBC remains.
If you put a top 5 Defense together with a top 2 Offense, what do you get? A powerhouse of a Super Bowl contender and maybe even a favorite in the AFC.
Sometimes, you have to look at a glass as more than half full...
Many are predicting that the Patriots will have problems in the AFCE and with their total Won-Loss record, and I would agree to a partial extent. But the awesome strength of schedule may merely reduce the season record to the 11-5, 12-4 range from where it would otherwise be.
I think this coming team has the makings of a Team able to match the 2004 and 2007 editions. But this team has more potential Defensive talent. Despite the defensive statistics, in 2007, that team was an Offensive powerhouse that carried the Defense along. It is easy to play Defense when you are up 3 TDs in the second Q. I think such will be the case once again.
The mid-decade real Defense showed itself in the 2006 AFC CG, when it couldn't stop Manning and the Colts, and in the 4th Q of the 2007 SB. BB has undertaken to rebuild the fading Defense ever since. He stripped it down of the last oldsters at the beginning of last season, when Tedy, Rodney, Vrabes, and Seymour departed; and the multi-year defensive retooling is now almost complete, with talented youth everywhere.
My thesis is that the Defense was a few players short and not stout enough against the run last year. That made a pass rush appear weaker than it was. Don't forget that the Jets #1 Defense despite all its fabled blitzing tactics, only accumulated one more sack than the read-and-react Pats. it is tough to Pass Rush or Pass Cover, when the down and distance is 3rd and 2, as it was repeatedly, last year.
Importing a couple of Big Uglies, drafting a run-stuffer, Big SILB, and adding to the secondary with First Round talent and aided with experience for others, will improve the anti-run stats. That will allow the Pass Rushers, and now there are a full house of them, to really Pass Rush and the secondary to Pass Cover, when its 3rd and 6.
Some say thy don't have the DeMarcus Ware kind of guy. True, so what? The Patriots never did! Willie McG was the nearest thing to that, and he only had one season, of double digit sacks, and none during the glory years Ditto for Vrabel.
Derrick Burgess took half a season to acclimate to the Belichick Defense. But he accumulated 5 of his 6 sacks in the last 8 games, 6 of 6 QB hits, and 18 of 23 QB pressures, as he acclimated. TBC has now produced in several years of his Patriots tenure. Both possess records of double digit sacks more than once in their careers.
Finally there are a pair of DE--> OLB conversions selected high, to back them up, in Crable and Cunningham, and give them both a breather, and then more besides that, in Ninkovich and Woods. The DL and ILBs should be stout against the run, now. Look at all the extensive and apparently unnoticed changes, (except by of all people, John Clayton (!!!) and myself), that Bill Belichick has made to insure that stouter Run Defense.
As far as the secondary is concerned, it has never been deeper, with more overall talent than now, even if others had a few bigger stars. Ty Law was the Darell Revis of his day, but there was only Lawyer playing with him. Asante and Rodney were the pair, but only for a year.
The time is coming when Bill will have to rebuild the Offense, but I think that is a year or two away. The #2 rated Offense will serve for another year, just fine.
Belichick has made some key additions there too. Both veteran patches, but also fundamental new talented youngsters, that don't have to play until they are ready. The old patches are quite extraordinary when you think about it. A HOF WR, a former Pro-Bowl TE, and a older Pro-Bowl RB, who was added last year. To go with an existing HOF WR, and an All-Pro slot WR, who won't be available until the latter portion of the season and the Playoffs. By Playoff time, that is potentially a better group than the 2007 receiving corps! Ponder that for a second.
Look at the young developing depth, on Offense. Volmer and Levoir and also another to choose from Connolly, Orhnberger, Bussey, Larsen and Welch, on the Offensive line. Edelman, Tate, Price, Gronowski and Hernandez in the receiving corps. And the RBBC remains.
If you put a top 5 Defense together with a top 2 Offense, what do you get? A powerhouse of a Super Bowl contender and maybe even a favorite in the AFC.
Sometimes, you have to look at a glass as more than half full...
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