Interesting BB comment

patsinthesnow said:

Honestly these type of quotes are starting to come from multiple people. As Zuma points out above:





I wouldn’t be surprised if BB thinks he has a 03-04 caliber defense on his hands & that’s where these paraphrased quotes are coming from. It doesn’t make sense offensively for him to feel that way.

Click to expand...

I'm just watching BB's face go numb between :05-:16 of that interview and just can practically hear the intercom in his head go off "Danger, danger, Willie's spilling oil all over the ocean, call in the helicopters!!!"

.

TheRainMaker said:

The defense will be better at all three levels than it was last year.

D Line: Bennett and Pennel are an upgrade over Flowers and Brown. Wise Jr. is decent-solid on the other side at DE. Guy is solid. Throw in any contributions from Rivers and Winovich and it’s icing on the cake.

LB: Hightower and Van Noy return with the additions of Jamie Collins, Bentley and Sam. They have lots of options at LB now, something they haven’t had in recent years.

Secondary: They could be 4 deep at CB which is insane. They have lots of matchup options. Safeties are solid as usual.

Click to expand...

They also have size at LB and athleticism - - real size and athleticism. I'm not sure Elandon Roberts can make this team.

mosi said:

Every year at this time, we think the Pats will have an aggressive and fast defense. By game 3, we are all complaining about how slow and old the D looks. And in February, they are in the SB...

Click to expand...

This is hilariously accurate.

However, this defense did look AMAZING in last year's playoff run. And on paper it appears we've upgraded.

mosi said:

Every year at this time, we think the Pats will have an aggressive and fast defense. By game 3, we are all complaining about how slow and old the D looks. And in February, they are in the SB...

Click to expand...

I have to disagree there.

This is the deepest quality D roster I've seen in TC for the Pats in 12 years. There are no Patriots D rosters since 2007 that come close to this one. If they stay healthy, they are going to be overwhelming - - which is good because the jury is out on how many pass catching threats the O is going to have this year.

.

shmessy said:

I have to disagree there.

This is the deepest quality D roster I've seen in TC for the Pats in 12 years. There are no Patriots D rosters since 2007 that come close to this one. If they stay healthy, they are going to be overwhelming - - which is good because the jury is out on how many pass catching threats the O is going to have this year.

.

Click to expand...

The thing that excites me is the fact that we now have the DB and LB depth such that BB can now go back to 3-4 base that he loves so much. Maybe it won't exactly be a 2 gap 3-4 as we had in the 03-07 years, but Bill has always favored a 3-4 look simply because it provides so much flexibility and is an easier formation to disguise what you are doing. Hightower might end up being the missing factor to replace Willie McGinest's "elephant OLB/DE role. The big LB who can play off the edge as well as drop back.

We shall see. The situations as always will determine the match ups, but we certainly can create a lot of issues for teams week to week. Things we are NOT going to see this preseason. Though I can't wait to see the "youth" play on Thursday

patfanken said:

The thing that excites me is the fact that we now have the DB and LB depth such that BB can now go back to 3-4 base that he loves so much. Maybe it won't exactly be a 2 gap 3-4 as we had in the 03-07 years, but Bill has always favored a 3-4 look simply because it provides so much flexibility and is an easier formation to disguise what you are doing. Hightower might end up being the missing factor to replace Willie McGinest's "elephant OLB/DE role. The big LB who can play off the edge as well as drop back.

We shall see. The situations as always will determine the match ups, but we certainly can create a lot of issues for teams week to week. Things we are NOT going to see this preseason. Though I can't wait to see the "youth" play on Thursday

Click to expand...

In the meantime, BB is going to be the DC, but really he has 2 of the 3 levels (LB's and Secondary) where he basically has coaches on the field (Hightower/Van Noy and McCourty/Chung). The level of athleticism, but also expertise/experience is incredible.

Into the mix throw those young kids like JoeJuan, Wino, Bentley (who I think is going to be a beast), etc.

That DL isn't chump change either.

.

shmessy said:

That DL isn't chump change either.

.

Click to expand...

N0 it isn't, however how it ends up being structured is hard to figure out at this point. Pennell can play both NT and DT. Guy is someone who has had experience to be a 2 gapping DE in a 3-4 as well as an inside DT in a 4-3/2-5, etc. Most people think Butler will be the 3rd DT, but I think it will be Shelton. The rookie from Maryland might make it as the #4

But it's the outside guys that have me completely flummoxed. RIvers, Calhoun, Winovich are they LB[s DE's, or simply "edge" guys. I haven't a clue. Wise played mostly 4-3 DE last season, but I don't know if he has the size to play 3-4 DE or the speed to be a 3-4 OLB. Then there is the age old question, where will Hightower line up.
'
In one sense it's great for the Pats since opposing teams are likely to be just as confused as we are, but as a fan who USED to know something about the game, it's kind of frustrating to be so clueless. ;

The DL will probably be solid. If it's more than that, Rivers and/or Winovich really step up.