AD on our lack of pass rush

[IcyPatriot]

Sure our d-line stinks this season. But it doesn't matter because we got an extra first round draft pick coming in 2011!

Nope ... that will be a #2 in 2011 and a #1 in 2019 and #1 in 2020.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I have to laugh. If he could rush the passer the way he and apparently some of you think if only Bill would take the leg irons off, we'd have another ring... What'd we have on Eli on that go ahead TD snap, a 52 man blitz... Or the play before that, when Harrison screwed up in perfect position...who was that playing grab ass with Eli all around the backfield for interminable seconds, Seymour or AD...

The mantra here is do your job and check your ego at the door. The affinity some of you feel for some of these poor misunderstood players is tied to shared ego. Somehow Bill ruffles a lot of egos hereabouts... Like Bruschi said he taught him how to play the game at a championship level. Some guys can't be taught that, others can't be taught much of anything or for long, including how to be team players. Or fans of the most dominant team in a decade I guess.

Brady and Welker are the real leaders on this team and they called it out this Sunday. Anyone who is trying to hide behind coaching for cover is likely one of their targets. You don't come here to collect a ring or showcase your talents or play to your perceived strengths or do what you think is right or cash a seven figure paycheck you aren't earning on and off the field. You come here to DO YOUR JOB, whatever the HC determines that entails within this system, and he has proven on numerous occasions that if you do that YOU WILL BE A CHAMPION. And if can't, you won't be here any more. That he sat AD healthy was a warning shot, and the player hasn't performed much better since. Given that I personally think he's toast.

And I gotta love all the love for Rex Cryin' and all the fear that if we piss someone off he might go to the JETS like Ty did, the team that hasn't won a damn thing in 40 years...and go to the pro bowl while his teamates play golf. Kinda like the admiration for all those blitz happy defenses that live to torment Brady before they too go home to play golf for the season...

I'm not sure what to categorize some of you as but fan is not the word for it. Some of you reek of Borges, the guy who benefitted from the championships since they kept him employed while he patiently waited almost ten years for his chance to say I told you so...

 

[aluminum seats]

That he sat AD healthy was a warning shot, and the player hasn't performed much better since. Given that I personally think he's toast.

Cool. Thank you. Slowly but surely we're getting some coherence around the arguments--it's been a struggle! The question is whether Thomas isn't capable of rushing the passer at a high level, or does Belichick hugely misuse him. But please enough of this "Belichick is great but he's misusing Thomas." It can't be both.

 

[R_T26]

I bet AD has the best sack percentage when hes actually sent in. Most people here will just blame the players since they refuse to question the coaching. Sorry but you dont pay big money to an LB coming off back to back 10 + sack seasons then keep him in pass coverage or make him an ilb. Thomas is a very good player who is being played wrong. He was also our beat player in the 2007 super bowl.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Coming out of college ... some analysts thought Bruschi would be a sack specialist in the NFL. But he wasn't ... and he could have been. I just don't think we're ever going to see a sack specialist in Bill's system. We've had some players who could have had more sacks ... Bill sends them out in coverage. I don't know enough about the X's and O's to opine on why he does it ... so I won't.

 

[aluminum seats]

Coming out of college ... some analysts thought Bruschi would be a sack specialist in the NFL. But he wasn't ... and he could have been. I just don't think we're ever going to see a sack specialist in Bill's system. We've had some players who could have had more sacks ... Bill sends them out in coverage. I don't know enough about the X's and O's to opine on why he does it ... so I won't.

How can you have more than 15 thousand posts on a website and just say, "I don't really know much about it....." God. Lack of a pass rush is the Pats number one problem this year, and Thomas is the player most keyed to that problem.

 

[IcyPatriot]

How can you have more than 15 thousand posts on a website and just say, "I don't really know much about it....." God. Lack of a pass rush is the Pats number one problem this year, and Thomas is the player most keyed to that problem.

Easy ... I don't call the plays. But to blame Thomas is the easy way out. There's Burgess, and Banta-Cain, and Merriweather ... Belichick has not incorporated the blitz much this year. I'd be talking crap to hypothesize why ... thus the X's and O's comment. But I'll say this ... we tried the CB blitz a few times in the Saints game and we got torched. We could blitz more and Thomas could blitz more - but we don't and I think Thomas gave an honest answer.

To say we don't blitz enough is an easy way out to explain our problems. i think our defense has been playing pretty good ... especially in the 1st half. I think the offense has not pulled their weight in the 2nd half and the defense gets tired and is prone to mistakes due to that. Also, the coaches are not getting enough time to spend with the defense on the sidelines in the 2nd half. Something a young secondary could use more of.

I really did not want to write a book on it ... so there is a 1/4 of a book on it.
Not blitzing is not the problem IMO. An overworked defense in the 2nd half is the problem.
Seriously - how many times did the defense get the ball back for the offense yesterday

- they were gassed by the time of the field goal.

 

[aluminum seats]

Easy ... I don't call the plays. But to blame Thomas is the easy way out. There's Burgess, and Banta-Cain, and Merriweather ... Belichick has not incorporated the blitz much this year. I'd be talking crap to hypothesize why ... thus the X's and O's comment. But I'll say this ... we tried the CB blitz a few times in the Saints game and we got torched. We could blitz more and Thomas could blitz more - but we don't and I think Thomas gave an honest answer.

To say we don't blitz enough is an easy way out to explain our problems. i think our defense has been playing pretty good ... especially in the 1st half. I think the offense has not pulled their weight in the 2nd half and the defense gets tired and is prone to mistakes due to that. Also, the coaches are not getting enough time to spend with the defense on the sidelines in the 2nd half. Something a young secondary could use more of.

I really did not want to write a book on it ... so there is a 1/4 of a book on it.
Not blitzing is not the problem IMO. An overworked defense in the 2nd half is the problem.
Seriously - how many times did the defense get the ball back for the offense yesterday

- they were gassed by the time of the field goal.

The question isn't about blitzing.

I don't want to hear about a "gassed" defense, by the way. These guys make millions to work 16-19 hours a year. Gimme a break.

 

[IcyPatriot]

The question isn't about blitzing.

I don't want to hear about a "gassed" defense, by the way. These guys make millions to work 16-19 hours a year. Gimme a break.

It's not about blitzing?

The how do you expect Thomas to rush the passer because he isn't a D-Lineman. He covers and spies a lot ... he's not sent in. The only way he can get to the QB is to blitz in this system. He may be a dog but he's pretty much on target with his comment.

 

[aluminum seats]

It's not about blitzing?

The how do you expect Thomas to rush the passer because he isn't a D-Lineman. He covers and spies a lot ... he's not sent in. The only way he can get to the QB is to blitz in this system. He may be a dog but he's pretty much on target with his comment.

Thomas is supposed to be a good pass rusher. He isn't. The question is whether it's a failing on his part or if he's being grossly misused by Bill Belichick.

 

[mgteich]

If AD isn't being used to rush the passer, I suggest that he be moved inside next to Mayo.

 

[pats1]

AD has been disenchanted since the day he got benched. When he did, his explanation was generally "Go ask Belichick. He has all the answers." There's obviously a rift between AD and BB right now. This is AD's way of calling him out without actually calling him out. He obviously disagrees with the decisions BB is making.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Well Belichick is not perfect, but maybee AD could show he could make a tackle once and a while...

 

[FalconHeavy]

Nope ... that will be a #2 in 2011 and a #1 in 2019 and #1 in 2020.

ok, now that was really funny and in all possibilities, it could really happen.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Nope ... that will be a #2 in 2011 and a #1 in 2019 and #1 in 2020.

lol thats funny lol

 

[satz]

I feel for AD.....

He gets a Sack against NO and then gets benched immediately for Burgess. lol
I think the coach is pissed off that he is pass rushing when he should not.I think he should get a page of seymour book like when he told BB to let me go after the QB
on third down and not be on the sideline last year. He had to go on TV to be let on the field on 3rd downs. Oh by the way he got 8 sacks.

 

[upstater1]

I feel for AD.....

He gets a Sack against NO and then gets benched immediately for Burgess. lol
I think the coach is pissed off that he is pass rushing when he should not.I think he should get a page of seymour book like when he told BB to let me go after the QB
on third down and not be on the sideline last year. He had to go on TV to be let on the field on 3rd downs. Oh by the way he got 8 sacks.

What about the play before the sack when he was totally embarrassed and made a half-hearted attempt at a tackle?

 

[condon84]

I'm not sure what to categorize some of you as but fan is not the word for it. Some of you reek of Borges, the guy who benefitted from the championships since they kept him employed while he patiently waited almost ten years for his chance to say I told you so...

Dude, get over yourself.

Just because some fans do not completely agree with everything Belichick does, doesn't make them less of a fan. Believe it or not, Belichick is not outside of making bad calls.

Did you not see the Super Bowl where AD was our best player, consistently pressured Manning?

Have you not seen AD run around in space covering TE's and RBs instead of rushing the passer?

Did I imagine Seymour complaining last year that he was getting yanked on 3rd downs and was unable to rush the passer?

AD rarely is called to rush the passer yet he is 3rd in the team in sacks. For all the plays Burgess has been in to rush the passer and to have only 2 sacks, and to yank AD out on passing downs so we can save him for 1st and 2nd downs because he is a better gap control OLB, it's a flawed strategy.

 

[satz]

What about the play before the sack when he was totally embarrassed and made a half-hearted attempt at a tackle?

Then you are saying he was benched for that play ? .good to know.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Dude, get over yourself.

Just because some fans do not completely agree with everything Belichick does, doesn't make them less of a fan. Believe it or not, Belichick is not outside of making bad calls.

Did you not see the Super Bowl where AD was our best player, consistently pressured Manning?

Have you not seen AD run around in space covering TE's and RBs instead of rushing the passer?

Did I imagine Seymour complaining last year that he was getting yanked on 3rd downs and was unable to rush the passer?

AD rarely is called to rush the passer yet he is 3rd in the team in sacks. For all the plays Burgess has been in to rush the passer and to have only 2 sacks, and to yank AD out on passing downs so we can save him for 1st and 2nd downs because he is a better gap control OLB, it's a flawed strategy.

In 93 attempts he has 3 sacks. No bad at all. TBC and Burgess are in the 200s and have 5 and 2 sacks respectfully.

A consistient effort is the problem w/ AD, which I would assume is one of the main reasons he is not getting more reps rushing the passer. Plus hes better in coverage and run D than TBC and Burgess which is another reason he is out there in those situations.

It's what the team requires. BB deserves some blame, but IMO AD has not bought into the defense's approach which is a problem.