I'm encouraged about the middle of the defense

[Rob0729]

With the ILBs getting a lot of good reviews and so is Chung, I am encouraged about the defense. It is training camp so that encouragement is tempered, but if it translate into real games I think this defense will surprise people.

What people forget about the dominant Super Bowl season defenses was the real strength of the defense was inside. It was the inside defense able to put pressure up the middle that generated a large portion of the pass rush. It wasn't as much the outside. In 2003 and 2004, Harrison was far more of an MVP than any of the OLBs.

I think if the Pats can get pressure up the middle, the OLB concerns become far less of a concern. Pocket passers are far more suseptable to the pocket breaking down from the inside than from the outside (that is the way to neutralize either Brady or Manning). Even scrambling QBs can be thrown off by pressure up the middle.

As for playing the run, it is obvious the advantage of have a strong middle part of the defense. All of the lead backs in the division are more North South runners and are far less effective if they have to run outside the tackles.

Too early to be doing cartwheels yet, but definitely an encouraging sign if the ILBs and safeties continue to shine.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

With the ILBs getting a lot of good reviews and so is Chung, I am encouraged about the defense. It is training camp so that encouragement is tempered, but if it translate into real games I think this defense will surprise people.

What people forget about the dominant Super Bowl season defenses was the real strength of the defense was inside. It was the inside defense able to put pressure up the middle that generated a large portion of the pass rush. It wasn't as much the outside. In 2003 and 2004, Harrison was far more of an MVP than any of the OLBs.

I think if the Pats can get pressure up the middle, the OLB concerns become far less of a concern. Pocket passers are far more suseptable to the pocket breaking down from the inside than from the outside (that is the way to neutralize either Brady or Manning). Even scrambling QBs can be thrown off by pressure up the middle.

As for playing the run, it is obvious the advantage of have a strong middle part of the defense. All of the lead backs in the division are more North South runners and are far less effective if they have to run outside the tackles.

Too early to be doing cartwheels yet, but definitely an encouraging sign if the ILBs and safeties continue to shine.

+1 Rob I am getting excited about the middle as well I really think mackenzie is hungry, will be a solid player and spikes is the mauler and young player our LB corps in addition to mayo who we are all assuming will return to form given his health at this juncture. I do think stopping the run has become a forgotten facet of the game for fans and even some coaches with the pass happy nature of today's nfl.

Some things will never change... in order to win in january we must prepare to stop the run all season, and hopefully improve as the season goes on especially in our goaline sets. This is where I think we will reap the most benefit from having a platoon of capable interior LB's.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I'm really encouraged too, but the one player I'd like to see step up is Mayo.

Everyone's talking about the addition of Spikes and McKenzie coming back from injury, but don't forget that Mayo's injury really affected his play even after he came back.

Mayo talked a lot about needing to make more big plays, forcing turnovers, and that didn't happen last season. He's certainly capable of it, and I expect him to have a huge year, especially with the help he's got now.

I'd also like to see Meriweather become more consistent. If he can do that, this defense could become dominant.

 

[Destroyer]

Can't wait to see Chung in action. Was a big fan of the selection when it was made last year and had a feeling he could be an immediate impact player beside Merriweather after acclamating himself to the pro game.