If we open in a 3-4, who starts?

[QB12]

My guess:

RE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RE - Vince Wilfork
LOLB - Mark Anderson
WILB - Brandon Spikes
MILB - Jerod Mayo
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich
LCB - Sterling Moore
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - Devin McCourty

What about you?

 

[JackBauer]

Seems like probably the best lineup they could put on the field.

 

[EJ Blitz]

Seems like probably the best lineup they could put on the field.

Take a step back and look at how depressing that is. Our best line up.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Take a step back and look at how depressing that is. Our best line up.

As long as it makes stops when it has to, which has been the case all year it's good enough to win a SB.

 

[supafly]

My guess:

RE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RE - Vince Wilfork
LOLB - Mark Anderson
WILB - Brandon Spikes
MILB - Jerod Mayo
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich
LCB - Sterling Moore
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - Devin McCourty

What about you?

If we open up in a base 3-4, McCourty will likely be at CB.

He'll move to safety in subpackages.

 

[Mack Herron]

I suspect we will see a lot of Ihedigbo, as he is strong against the run and one of the better tacklers. Also Fletcher, if healthy, (thumb injury again on yesterday's report). Since there will be plenty of subs, perhaps a more interesting question is who will be the inactives?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Take a step back and look at how depressing that is. Our best line up.

I'm sure packer fans are doing the same, they are looking at their defense and acting depressed. Sucks having to root for the best teams in football in the final 8 at home. Sucks being a Patriots or Packers fan.

I'm so sad.

 

[Patspsycho]

LDE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RDE - Vince Wilfork
Jack - Mark Anderson
Will- Brandon Spikes
Mike - Jerod Mayo
Sam- Dane Fletcher
LCB - Devin McCourty
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - James Ihedigbo

I would go with this lineup. I put Vince in at RDE where he almost never is, but Tebow is always going to his left so I want my best DE there.

I put Mark Anderson in Jack because I expect to see him on the line (making this a 44 look) and rushing more often than not, towards Tebow's blind side.

I put Fletcher in Sam behind Vince because I think that while he makes his share of mistakes, he is solid in coverage.

Also, going with Ihedigbo over Moore because Ihedigbo is solid in run support while we put Chung in robber or rover (probably bracket Thomas).

 

[JackBauer]

Take a step back and look at how depressing that is. Our best line up.

Okay, done. When does the depression set in?

 

[jays52]

My guess:

RE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RE - Vince Wilfork
LOLB - Mark Anderson
WILB - Brandon Spikes
MILB - Jerod Mayo
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich
LCB - Sterling Moore
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - Devin McCourty

What about you?

Switch the Mike and the Will and you're dead on.

 

[JackBauer]

I think, generally speaking, the less Ihedigbo sees the field, the better.

 

[Deus Irae]

I think, generally speaking, the less Ihedigbo sees the field, the better.

He needs to play at least long enough to draw an injury timeout, or the Patriots' routine will be all out of whack.

 

[JackBauer]

Immediately, for anyone looking at that crew with an unbiased eye.

For Patriots fans, who like to pretend that the team has a good defense, who can tell? Their mania tends to run differently.

Eh. I've already come to terms with the fact that this defense isn't very good. I'm not depressed looking at that lineup because a.) it's probably the best possible unit we could field and b.) at least everyone's healthy. Also: I think with a few savvy moves in the draft/FA this grouping could rejoin the realm of respectability. To my eye, they're not THAT far off (caveat: this assumes McCourty can regain some semblance of his previous form, and that some of the young guys like Spikes, Fletcher, and Love can continue on their trajectories and not regress).

Glass half full, I say!

 

[JackBauer]

He needs to play at least long enough to draw an injury timeout, or the Patriots' routine will be all out of whack.

Well, we saw how crappy safety play bit Pittsburgh in the ass. I'm not that optimistic Chung/Ihedigbo would fare much better than Polamalu/Muncy.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Immediately, for anyone looking at that crew with an unbiased eye.

For Patriots fans, who like to pretend that the team has a good defense, who can tell? Their mania tends to run differently.

Except there aren't any Patriot fans claiming this is a good defense so you are simply making sh.t up, however there are many Patriot fans who appreciate being in this situation and get sick and f.cking tired of the legions of the miserable who never ever shut up about anything negative they can seize upon.

Here's an idea, don't watch the game if you are so depressed.

In the meantime show us the posts of the fans who claim this is a good defense, i can only think of one fan who has made that argument.

 

[VrabelJr]

I don't see McCourty at FS in this game. He's good against the run. Having him up closer to the line at CB to make tackles will be important.

 

[BHSL2]

Except there aren't any Patriot fans claiming this is a good defense so you are simply making sh.t up, however there are many Patriot fans who appreciate being in this situation and get sick and f.cking tired of the legions of the miserable who never ever shut up about anything negative they can seize upon.

Here's an idea, don't watch the game if you are so depressed.

In the meantime show us the posts of the fans who claim this is a good defense, i can only think of one fan who has made that argument.

It's simple,

Patriots have no hope. Don't even bother watching on Saturday, we're going to lose. Team has no heart or players.

We aren't the only playoff team with glaring weaknesses. There's some news for ya.

 

[mgcolby]

LDE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RDE - Vince Wilfork
Jack - Mark Anderson
Will- Brandon Spikes
Mike - Jerod Mayo
Sam- Dane Fletcher
LCB - Devin McCourty
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - James Ihedigbo

I would go with this lineup. I put Vince in at RDE where he almost never is, but Tebow is always going to his left so I want my best DE there.

I put Mark Anderson in Jack because I expect to see him on the line (making this a 44 look) and rushing more often than not, towards Tebow's blind side.

I put Fletcher in Sam behind Vince because I think that while he makes his share of mistakes, he is solid in coverage.

Also, going with Ihedigbo over Moore because Ihedigbo is solid in run support while we put Chung in robber or rover (probably bracket Thomas).

I would prefer Spikes over Fletcher after watching him either get blown up or guess wrong in the run game during their first matchup.

However, if I'm Denver I come out and throw it more on first down/early downs. Try to catch the Pats creeping (which I hope they are disciplined enough not to do) and hit them up the middle with Fells in between the 2nd and 3rd levels. I honestly think that will be their best option moving the ball in big chunks.

I guess my question is: Do you see it this way as well, my impression is yes, seeing how you have Fletcher starting and not just subbing Spikes in sub packages.

 

[jays52]

LDE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RDE - Vince Wilfork
Jack - Mark Anderson
Will- Brandon Spikes
Mike - Jerod Mayo
Sam- Dane Fletcher
LCB - Devin McCourty
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - James Ihedigbo

I would go with this lineup. I put Vince in at RDE where he almost never is, but Tebow is always going to his left so I want my best DE there.

I put Mark Anderson in Jack because I expect to see him on the line (making this a 44 look) and rushing more often than not, towards Tebow's blind side.

I put Fletcher in Sam behind Vince because I think that while he makes his share of mistakes, he is solid in coverage.

Also, going with Ihedigbo over Moore because Ihedigbo is solid in run support while we put Chung in robber or rover (probably bracket Thomas).

Here's what I like about that idea.

I think a major key to this game is base flexibility. Denver doesn't strike me as a team that can nor will personnel you to death. They will, however, have different sets with that personnel group that they deploy. They will utilize this to take advantage of big play opportunity created by the run game. Consequently, you are going to need alignment flexibility from your base set.

I would change the free safety to McCourty and put Moore at the other corner. My logic behind this is that Spikes and Chung should makeup for the run inefficiencies, and I want ball skills in that defensive backfield for the cover-2 looks I'm certain they will utilize to get turnovers. Further, McCourty is a sure tackler and takes better pursuit angles than Ihedigbo. If something leaks out, I want speed back there to make it to the sideline and at least restrict the big run. McCourty can provide that, and do it better from the hash instead of the numbers. Having a better pass defending safety group also enables you to play outside technique on the corners should the need arise. That said, I would encourage Tebow to drive the ball to the far numbers by playing inside technique, as I think he can't complete those balls.

I love the Anderson/Fletcher mix because it gives you great flexibility. Bring Chung down for the 44 look, keep him back for the 34, and mix in 43 looks in passing situations without having to sub. I think that by having this type of flexibility in the front will enable you to effectively matchup with whatever look/situation is presented as I think Denver is going to try to push the tempo of the offense.

 

[Huckleberry1]

1.) I'm not making things up and I didn't call anyone out.

2.) People here have pointed to their ppg and defended the defense as actually being "good/pretty good/whatever cheerily positive categorization they've chosen". It's a lousy defensive group that's getting excellent coaching. Deal with it.

3.) The "legions" are sick and tired of you homers who can't be bothered to see crap when crap's in front of you.

4.) Go stalk someone else. Jack didn't take offense and the post was a response to his. He and I have talked about the defense for much of the year and are probably a lot more in agreement than you'd bother to think about.

You have spent the entire season calling out a non-existent entity, the fans claiming this is a good defense. They don't exist but you try to point to them as the delusional fans you are arguing against. I know you can't back that claim up and asked you to do so, i'm not surprised you refuse to because you can't.

Stop posting negative crap all the time and i'll stop calling you on, otherwise deal with it.

if you are so depressed then don't watch the game and seek help.