Any team with a solid running game can win in the NFL, obvious statement.
I have often thought over the past few years that the running game would be the way to beat the Pats. Just look at all the game turning interceptions by Law, Bruschi, et al.
If the Jets pound us with the running game and we can't stop it, defense gets tired, we lose.
But I still like our chances. (I wish our second string DLine was better tho)
"I wish our second string DLine was..."
JAYZUS!!! LOL... okay, what we have is a tremendous starting D-Line, and at least one backup, Jarvis Green, who starts on most other team's D-Lines. I won't go into the much heralded LeKevin Smith et al., mainly because I have not seen enough. Point is, there's a reason backups are backups. They're not as good as starters. And our starting D-Line is young enough that the backups aren't out there in droves. When Green is on the field, he is a playmaker with a capital P. Everybody has also been impressed with the progress of Mike Wright.
I just don't see D-Line as a huge hole for the Pats.
Now, if you are worried about the run D, the LB depth is definitely a place to start. We're crossing our fingers there to a certain extent. A lot depends on Seau getting out a good 8-10 games worth, rather than 4 or 2 (his Miami seasons were plagued with injury, and he missed half of last year.) AD was a HUGE pickup, and we all have our favorites from among the youngsters. Lua obviously had a bad first outing; we'll see throughout this preseason whether he's picking the scheme up fluidly or not. Alexander was burned badly in the Indy game - going by what we know thus far, he's still a question mark. Woods? Everybody says he's progressing... but we have to see it on a regular season field for a protracted period before we feel too solid there.
Chad Brown? That reminds me of the old joke about people getting remarried: "Hey, this milk is sour! I'll put it back in the fridge... maybe it'll be good tomorrow." But then again, maybe BB sees something we don't. Bruschi and Vrabel, I still trust, and Colvin is a monster on the outside. Vrabel and AD both have versatility to play inside or outside, and Colvin and Bruschi complement each other, one outside and one inside, to help stabilize the starters.
All this to say -- I think we still have one of the strongest front 7s in football. But at LB, you might be an injury or two away from a very average unit.
That's the real worry -- we'd all love that stellar CB to make our secondary great, not good... but passing is a risky proposition. Present a weak or even mediocre rush defense, and you get carved up like a thankgiving turkey. Present a weakest point in the secondary, and the opposing QB has to beat you with his arm. Not every one of them can.
And that's why Mangini wants to win it in the trenches.
He's no dummy, but "Let's have a running game" is also not rocket science. He's basically aware that you must win in the trenches -- better to be aware of it than not.
PFnV
