We will need a strong defensive game plan this week to mask the unathleticism we have at linebacker. Tomlinson out of the backfield and Gates are going to pose serious problems for our linebackers. Bruschi and Vrabel are smart players who have always gotten the job done when it comes down to it but they are slow as Molasses. Either one of them one on one with Gates or Tomlinson spells trouble. We have gotten away with not drafting athletic linebackers the past few years, hopefully that will continue this week but it is going to be tough.
I will take savy and experience over athleticism any day of the week. I have beating drum for some young LBs for years but yesterday was a great example of why football sense is more important. Monty Beisel was a good athelete, Michael Vick is a great athelete... I would rather have Bruschi and Brady.
There was a play yesterday I watched about 5 times. I was blown away by how smart Vrabel was. He started inside, moved to the slot, re-routed a receiver and then ran all the way across the field to be in position to tackle Coles short of a first down. (I think it the play in bold below)
Vrabel is 6'4 , 260 and in college ran a 4.8, I don't think he has gotten any faster but he really understands the game. A lesser player would have chased the WR down the field like a dog and a frisbee.
Sunday's game will come down to execution.
NY Jets - 7:47
1st-10, NYJ30 7:47 L. Washington rushed up the middle for no gain
2nd-10, NYJ30 7:07 C. Pennington passed to L. Washington to the left for 11 yard gain
1st-10, NYJ41 6:20 C. Pennington incomplete pass to the right
2nd-10, NYJ41 6:12 L. Washington rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain. NE committed 15 yard penalty
1st-10, NE43 5:45 C. Pennington incomplete pass to the left
2nd-10, NE43 5:39 P. Ramsey passed to B. Askew to the right for 1 yard loss
3rd-11, NE44 4:56 C. Pennington passed to L. Coles to the left for 8 yard gain
4th-3, NE36 4:11 B. Graham punt, no return