Browner = New Rodney Harrison

[ctpatsfan1]

http://nesn.com/2014/11/brandon-browner-wants-to-be-like-rob-gronkowski-energize-patriots-defense/


His play on the field combined with the attitude both on and off the field remind me a lot of Rodney. This defense has been sorely lacking that attitude/mentality since Rodney left, I sure hope Browner brings it back because the are a completely different D.

 

[BAM!]

I get where you are coming from but Browner is no Rodney. I do agree he brings an attitude that has been missing since the great RH retired.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I get where you are coming from but Browner is no Rodney. I do agree he brings an attitude that has been missing since the great RH retired.

As a Safety, Rodney had the advantage that WRs may not be 100% aware of his presence/location and it gave them another thing to think about when they were making completions over the middle (like hearing footsteps and knowing who could be back there). Browner would most likely be tied to a WR (I understand he could be in a zone).

Plus, Rodney had that rep. Even if he wasn't dirty, he had that rep and players believed it.

 

[DarrylS]

After Rodney left, they broke the mold, unfortunately...

I do like what Browner brings to the table, but he isn't a Rodney... if and when Browner really starts pyssing off the other team, then maybe he will be closer.

 

[Nikolai]

Browner's physicality is reminiscent of Rodney, but boy, did Rodney piss off pretty much every other player in the NFL who wasn't on the Patriots. It was a pretty neat psychological advantage.

 

[203Pat]

Attitude yes, play no.

 

[RobAllan]

Rodney was truly unique. He was mean and sometimes dirty, but he was also smart about when he was either. It made him that rare feared player.

We've had a couple players since then who I think had the attitude but were missing the "complete" package the Rodney was.

Merriweather - he was mean and dirty, but not smart about it. He also, I think, never totally grasped how our "D" worked

Chung - I think he's mean and sometimes dirty. But he's not really big enough to do the damage. He also used to get overexcited and make bad choices, but his time in PHI seems to have cured him of that deficiency.

Spikes - he was mean, dirty, and (usually) pretty smart. Problem is he was a liability in the pass game, which meant he couldn't be "complete" enough to be a fear player, nor could he ultimately stay with team. (Too good for a role player, not good enough to be the man.)

I like so far that Browner appears to be mean, dirty, AND smart. And he seems to understand our "D." I'm not sure playing at CB (mostly) that he can be a Rodney because his position works kinda different. But I think the comparison about the nature of the player is apt. We'll see if these early observations are true! I do know that BB seems to be content to deal with the occasional penalty Browner will generate just like with Rodney. I **LOVE** having a player on the team that BB seems to like the aggression of enough to let the odd flag sneak by.

 

[libra957]

No lol just no, there is only one Harrison.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Rodney was more of a team leader, protector. I still remember a huge hit in pre-season he delivered to Vince Young after the Titans hit Brady earlier that game. Rodney on the Pats was kind of like a big brother who stood up for his entire team.

Browner is more of a one-on-one fighter, but I don't think he has that same protective instinct that Rodney does. Browner is scrappy and has a lot of energy. He is a wild, crazy man out there lol!! But let's not say he's the new Rodney, cause he isn't.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I enjoy watching browner play. I think he brings a presence and attitude that all defenses need.

That being said Harrison was in a different league than browner.

 

[reflexblue]

I get where you are coming from but Browner is no Rodney. I do agree he brings an attitude that has been missing since the great RH retired.

And you should know 37

 

[Froob]

Rodney was truly unique. He was mean and sometimes dirty, but he was also smart about when he was either. It made him that rare feared player.

We've had a couple players since then who I think had the attitude but were missing the "complete" package the Rodney was.

Merriweather - he was mean and dirty, but not smart about it. He also, I think, never totally grasped how our "D" worked

Chung - I think he's mean and sometimes dirty. But he's not really big enough to do the damage. He also used to get overexcited and make bad choices, but his time in PHI seems to have cured him of that deficiency.

Spikes - he was mean, dirty, and (usually) pretty smart. Problem is he was a liability in the pass game, which meant he couldn't be "complete" enough to be a fear player, nor could he ultimately stay with team. (Too good for a role player, not good enough to be the man.)

I like so far that Browner appears to be mean, dirty, AND smart. And he seems to understand our "D." I'm not sure playing at CB (mostly) that he can be a Rodney because his position works kinda different. But I think the comparison about the nature of the player is apt. We'll see if these early observations are true! I do know that BB seems to be content to deal with the occasional penalty Browner will generate just like with Rodney. I **LOVE** having a player on the team that BB seems to like the aggression of enough to let the odd flag sneak by.

It's a shame Spikes is slow as ****. I've said this many times before but, man he would have been a hall of famer if he had some speed.

 

[mayoclinic]

From Reiss' chat today:

Joe S. Portland, Maine [via mobile]: Hi Mike! Great job as always, fired up about the win! My question is about Browner. There has been a lot of focus on Revis and McCourty and even Chung, but in my view Browner has that "trickle down" effect on defense that someone like Gronk has on offense. He seems to be their enforcer and the defense as a whole seems to be more aggressive when he is out there, they seem better against the run and pass as a whole- the same way that Gronk makes the entire offensive unit better. In my view those two coming into stride at the same time has been the difference on both sides of the ball. It's obvious with Gronk, but what are your thoughts on Browner?

Mike: Joe, I think Browner has brought a physical edge to the unit that reminds me of Rodney Harrison in 2003. I believe in that stuff. He was being eased into the mix initially and has worked his football conditioning to a point where he can now play every snap and be effective. On the penalties, he has 7 in three games and there's a part of me that wonders if that could show up at the wrong time but I'd still make that tradeoff because the positives outweigh it.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/chat/_/id/51318

I think most would agree that there's only one Rodney, but certainly Browner brings a physicality and attitude that the defense have lacked since Rodney left. That's good enough for me right now.

 

[ausbacker]

From Reiss' chat today:



http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/boston/chat/_/id/51318

I think most would agree that there's only one Rodney, but certainly Browner brings a physicality and attitude that the defense have lacked since Rodney left. That's good enough for me right now.

I think that's the thing mayo. Browner isn't Harrison, we know that. The physicality and energizer bunny attitude is very much like Harrison. People should make that distinction clear.

What a welcome sight it is to see swag and a bully attitude in the secondary.

 

[mayoclinic]

What a welcome sight it is to see swag and a bully attitude in the secondary.

Indeed.

 

[PATS16N0]

Man, I remember one play where Eddie George got a carry, and he saw Rodney coming, and he just panicked and took a dive and IIRC he might of even dropped the football.

Harrison was in people's heads. He's no doubt a huge part of the reason that you can no longer destroy a receiver while he's defenseless.

 

[ATippett56]

Not even close.

The New England Patriots won a Super Bowl with Rodney Harrison as the undisputed leader of the defensive secondary with a bunch of pups around him: Wilson, Samuel, Gay.

 

[PScottman]

Not even close.

The New England Patriots won a Super Bowl with Rodney Harrison as the undisputed leader of the defensive secondary with a bunch of pups around him: Wilson, Samuel, Gay.

100% this. What people forget about Harrison was how prepared he was and what a pure LEADER he was. Always in the right spot. Executed the game plan to perfection (both for him and 'his' secondary). Knew when to stay committed and when to freelance for the big play as was said that he had everyone's back whether in play execution as well as in the media and during the scrums after the play was over.

Those instincts are just so rare, and those early 2000s teams had more than one (Bruschi and Vrabel were others that were both smart AND instinctual) player like that!

(note: that's why Baltimore was always in the hunt too - Lewis and Reed were those same type players)

 

[Bledsoe_Fan]

Browner's attitude is a great thing to see on this D, seems to get everyone fired up. We haven't seen a Pats defense like this in a while!

 

[AzorianPats]

Rodney was a safety, Browner is a CB. BB won't have the same opportunities to lay the wood like Rodney did, but he brings an edge to this team that hasnt been here since RH.

There was an article right after the game sunday that said DT was wearing down after having to deal with Browner for chunks of the game. Thats a mental edge if we play Denver again. Just like recievers back in the day, really didn't want to run a route down the middle knowing #37 was in the vicinity.