Ealy and Flowers:

[maineman209]

Cunningham was never going to be even a decent NFL player. Big difference

IIRC, Cunningham was also asked to transition from pure 43 DE to a standup OLB in 30-fronts at a time when the Pats were beginning to transition the defense from a base 34 to the mixed fronts that they play now.

Reportedly, he didn't put in the work between his first and second seasons, which also didn't help him.

 

[Ring 6]

They're different types of players who have both disappointed after being drafted in the 2nd round.

So you expect every second rounder to be a disappointment since Cunningham was?
As a second round pick ealy actually is much more success than failure so far.

 

[Fixit]

I don't put any stock in Panthers fans calling him a bust because fans don't know jack squat about how personnel can/will do in NE.

I'm excited, at least for now.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Now you've done it. Get ready for a 5000 word essay on the original uniforms.

 

[primetime]

Ealy doesn't belong in the same sentence as Flowers. Flowers was a rising, dominant force last year; no one who had paid attention was surprised by his big game in the Super Bowl. Ealy's a total roll of the dice who's shown nothing in the NFL except in that Super Bowl. Thankfully, they didn't have to give much up to get him.

 

[EddardSnow67]

Not going to get excited about Ealy playing well in one game, even if it was the Super Bowl. I'm excited about Flowers not because of one game, but because he got better as the season went on AND didn't back down once the games got bigger. Hopefully Ealy will pan out but I'm kinda expecting another Jermaine Cunningham.

I really like Ealy's versatility in relation to his size. I think his ability to play both 3 and 5 technique and not give anything away against bigger tackles and presenting a matchup problem at the 3 tech against physically inferior guards and centers is pretty valuable.

 

[Ring 6]

I really like Ealy's versatility in relation to his size. I think his ability to play both 3 and 5 technique and not give anything away against bigger tackles and presenting a matchup problem at the 3 tech against physically inferior guards and centers is pretty valuable.

I think sliding inside on passing downs will be his biggest impact. Playing the run from the 5 would be his second biggest.
I expect 500-600 snaps some good run d decent QB pressure and a handful of sacks.
Better version of 2016 long/2015 version of sheard.

 

[patfanken]

I'm not ready to annoint Ealy as an equivilent replacement for EITHER Long or Sheard. What I am hoping for is that with Pats coaching and system Ealy MIGHT elevate his game so his production matches his measurables. He isn't someone you can "count on" yet and we have a LOT of work to do to rebuild our edge rushers.

Another thing to consider is that Flowers is a short undersized DE who did a lot of his best working lining up in the middle of the defense, not the edge. He's a guy who came out of nowhere after the bye and had a monster 2nd half.

That being said, in the NFL if you aren't getting better, you are getting worse. Now that offenses know about him, Flowers has to prove he can thrive when teams are now planning for him. It is like what makes great hitters in baseball is their ability to adjust to the adjustments. We have yet to see Flowers do that, AND that he can be a consistent force on the edge.

The point being again, that we still need to work on improving the Edge Rushing part of our defense.

Same goes for Lawrence Guy. I see the Guy move as one that allows us to play more 3-4 alignments with legitimate 3-4 DE's, set the edge as a 4-3 DE and bull rush as a 4-3 DT. He's just a plug and play situational rotation guy, NOT a true edge rusher.

The point being again- We still need to work on improving the edge rushing part of our defense. As of this moment (with a LONG time to go), no one can honestly think that our edge rusher situation is as good as it was going into last season. Until he proves differently Ealy is NOT as good as Long OR Sheard. We just HOPE he is

 

[TommyD4207]

Maybe if Pat Harlow didn't suck, they would have won enough and kept the same logo.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I'm not ready to annoint Ealy as an equivilent replacement for EITHER Long or Sheard. What I am hoping for is that with Pats coaching and system Ealy MIGHT elevate his game so his production matches his measurables. He isn't someone you can "count on" yet and we have a LOT of work to do to rebuild our edge rushers.

Another thing to consider is that Flowers is a short undersized DE who did a lot of his best working lining up in the middle of the defense, not the edge. He's a guy who came out of nowhere after the bye and had a monster 2nd half.

That being said, in the NFL if you aren't getting better, you are getting worse. Now that offenses know about him, Flowers has to prove he can thrive when teams are now planning for him. It is like what makes great hitters in baseball is their ability to adjust to the adjustments. We have yet to see Flowers do that, AND that he can be a consistent force on the edge.

The point being again, that we still need to work on improving the Edge Rushing part of our defense.

Same goes for Lawrence Guy. I see the Guy move as one that allows us to play more 3-4 alignments with legitimate 3-4 DE's, set the edge as a 4-3 DE and bull rush as a 4-3 DT. He's just a plug and play situational rotation guy, NOT a true edge rusher.

The point being again- We still need to work on improving the edge rushing part of our defense. As of this moment (with a LONG time to go), no one can honestly think that our edge rusher situation is as good as it was going into last season. Until he proves differently Ealy is NOT as good as Long OR Sheard. We just HOPE he is

BB has perfected his DE situation.


Ealy has the size to be an ideal strong-side DE. Flowers has the pass rushing ability and yet reasonable ability to control the run that most RDE do not possess. But BB demands that of his pass rushers. DH can stop the run and provide the interior rush and so can Guy. The massive DLs can pass rush too, on occasion; and collapse the pocket with bull rushes. Ninko can provide breathers for the DEs,while the DLs are five deep, to keep a fresh rotation.

 

[Simpelton]

Belichick seems to be creating a roster whose playbook potential is limited only by his own imagination

 

[MrNathanDrake]

There are not an awful lot of flaws in this team right now. I think the Patriots actually are better built now than they were in 2007. In 2007 it was Brady to Moss -- a hell of a trick, but still only one trick.

It was Brady to Moss... and Welker.

If Gronk stays healthy our offense will be unstoppable.

 

[Uptown]

It was Brady to Moss... and Welker.

If Gronk stays healthy our offense will be unstoppable.

Literally.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Literally.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Belichick seems to be creating a roster whose playbook potential is limited only by his own imagination

Do not attempt to adjust your television set. For the next three hours, sit calmly and you will see domination by your local pro football team such as you have not seen since...since, well, okay, 2007. Whatever. Anyway, we should make a serious run to Minnesota in February. We do need a running back, though.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I'm not ready to annoint Ealy as an equivilent replacement for EITHER Long or Sheard. What I am hoping for is that with Pats coaching and system Ealy MIGHT elevate his game so his production matches his measurables. He isn't someone you can "count on" yet and we have a LOT of work to do to rebuild our edge rushers.

Another thing to consider is that Flowers is a short undersized DE who did a lot of his best working lining up in the middle of the defense, not the edge. He's a guy who came out of nowhere after the bye and had a monster 2nd half.

That being said, in the NFL if you aren't getting better, you are getting worse. Now that offenses know about him, Flowers has to prove he can thrive when teams are now planning for him. It is like what makes great hitters in baseball is their ability to adjust to the adjustments. We have yet to see Flowers do that, AND that he can be a consistent force on the edge.

The point being again, that we still need to work on improving the Edge Rushing part of our defense.

Same goes for Lawrence Guy. I see the Guy move as one that allows us to play more 3-4 alignments with legitimate 3-4 DE's, set the edge as a 4-3 DE and bull rush as a 4-3 DT. He's just a plug and play situational rotation guy, NOT a true edge rusher.

The point being again- We still need to work on improving the edge rushing part of our defense. As of this moment (with a LONG time to go), no one can honestly think that our edge rusher situation is as good as it was going into last season. Until he proves differently Ealy is NOT as good as Long OR Sheard. We just HOPE he is

This post is a good summary of the situation and reveals the remaining deficiency on our Defense. It also reveals BB foundational answers. It also lowers the demands on Ninko as he ages but still lets him absorb quality minutes.

Flowers may be short in stature but he is not small with his extraordinary long arms, letting him play like he was 6'4" or 6'5" tall. It remains to secure the frosting on the cake, a pure pass rushing RDE. Fundamentally BB has set the foundation though, a strongside LDE /OLB that has size and proven abiliy to stop the edge run and also flash pass rush ability, in Kony. He has also set an COMPLETE RDE who can do both, pass rush and set the edge as his primary player there, who can shift inside and still be creditable and competent just like Kony. Something most RDE pass rushers cannot do.

It is also as if BB has studied this drafts player potentials, decided to use the draft to restock his reserve and his PS and developmental positions with his remaining draft selections.

There are scouts who say edge rushers are deep and 4th rounders will be as good as most years second round picks at that position. BB will pick one and perhaps after another full TC, move on from Geneo for whom he had higher hopes than for Flowers. The same applies for RBs and he will likely select one of those with his picks, like Connors or Serine (sp?). There is supposedly a lack ready of OTs but interior picks remain to be selected at their usual prime 3rd thru 5th round pick location like Pocsic, and Elifine (sp?) to buttress the C position and refill the devlopmental PS. There are even some developmental OTs including a few big LOT candidates not ready yet, but who might develop in Mcdermott Kpassakong (sp?). BB apparantly favors big LOTs, who can also play/develop at RT too, on the Vollmer model.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Chris Long posted this about Trey Flowers:

 

[Love The Drake]

Tre Flowers brings the power.
Lets extend him now!

 

[bbobbo]

Chris Long posted this about Trey Flowers:

not sure if he's a GOAT quite yet. maybe a baby goat.

 

[meatface]

Are these two the starting DE's next season? I know flowers has rotated to the inside too, but I assume that Brown, Branch and Guy will be the guys there.