Bedard thinks there's something up with Wilfork

[PittPatriot]

If you don't mind me asking or getting too personal, do you have a physical condition, or just use it as regular workout maintenance?

I have been going downhill a bit in terms of some psoriatic arthritis conditions and the inflammation that comes with it, and have been considering using some form of hydro therapy myself. Being in my late 30's, I'd like to try and combat this now so that it doesn't affect me as much later on down the road.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what exactly are leg lifts/body lifts? Are those weight bearing exercises under the actual water?

You need to hook up with the PittPatriot for a 3 mile run from time to take
On these Mt Lebanon hills...that'll wake up the joints!
I am the worst swimmer in the world - but the hydro exercise idea seems like an awesome idea.

 

[pdangle]

Call me when he stops seeing double teams more often than a drunken referee. THEN we'll know something is wrong. He seemed in really good spirits in his interview too, which IMO you wouldn't see in a hurtin' player who was coming off a disappointing performance.

 

[Gwedd]

If you don't mind me asking or getting too personal, do you have a physical condition, or just use it as regular workout maintenance?

I have been going downhill a bit in terms of some psoriatic arthritis conditions and the inflammation that comes with it, and have been considering using some form of hydro therapy myself. Being in my late 30's, I'd like to try and combat this now so that it doesn't affect me as much later on down the road.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what exactly are leg lifts/body lifts? Are those weight bearing exercises under the actual water?

I fractured 3 vertebra and broke both legs, plus damaged the sciatic nerves in a helicopter crash. I was an aircrewman in the Navy. We had just lifted off the deck and lost power while about 40 feet up. Came straight down. I spent two months at Bethesda Naval Hospital (it's name back then) and have the vertebra fused with some titanium mesh supporting it. Since then, I've developed a benign tumor in the middle of that area which puts pressure on the spinal chord.

I use the therapy pool, plus the regular pool (for laps) to help me take off weight and strengthen my legs and lower back.

I enter the therapy pool up to the bottom of my rib cage, and walk back and forth across the width of the pool. For leg lifts, I go to the side of the pool, place my back against the wall there and hold on with my arms outstretched. I hold my legs together and lift them till they are vertical. I repeat this as long as I can. Body lifts are done in a similar manner, but while facing the wall of the pool and holding on to the gutter with both hands. Lift the entire body so it's vertical in the water. Relax and repeat.

The water provides both warmth and buoyancy while doing these exercises, so there is less impact on the knees and hips while walking, and the workout is concentrated where it needs to be.

It's an excellent way to do the work that I need.

 

[Pewsterbaby]

Wow. Gwedd recounts his very own Ride Of The Valkyries story. That's some exciting Sunday morning reading material right there. Thank you.

 

[scout]

I fractured 3 vertebra and broke both legs, plus damaged the sciatic nerves in a helicopter crash. I was an aircrewman in the Navy. We had just lifted off the deck and lost power while about 40 feet up. Came straight down. I spent two months at Bethesda Naval Hospital (it's name back then) and have the vertebra fused with some titanium mesh supporting it. Since then, I've developed a benign tumor in the middle of that area which puts pressure on the spinal chord.

I use the therapy pool, plus the regular pool (for laps) to help me take off weight and strengthen my legs and lower back.

I enter the therapy pool up to the bottom of my rib cage, and walk back and forth across the width of the pool. For leg lifts, I go to the side of the pool, place my back against the wall there and hold on with my arms outstretched. I hold my legs together and lift them till they are vertical. I repeat this as long as I can. Body lifts are done in a similar manner, but while facing the wall of the pool and holding on to the gutter with both hands. Lift the entire body so it's vertical in the water. Relax and repeat.

The water provides both warmth and buoyancy while doing these exercises, so there is less impact on the knees and hips while walking, and the workout is concentrated where it needs to be.

It's an excellent way to do the work that I need.

Wow, more power to you!
Mine is nothing that heroic, but do have a bad back. Was a day away from back surgery and called the Dr. to cancel the procedure. Rode a stationary bike 1 hr. a day for a year. I've decreased that routine, but will watch the news or sporting events with wireless headphones while cycling. The leg lifts caught my attention. Yesterday, reached 250 of them (five second hold, use fingers to count; 50-100). As you say, there is no pressure on your body and it tightens the abs which supports the back.

I'm closing in on "60", and have an on-going challenge to my nephew to a basketball game (he's special ops).

 

[borg]

If you don't mind me asking or getting too personal, do you have a physical condition, or just use it as regular workout maintenance?

I have been going downhill a bit in terms of some psoriatic arthritis conditions and the inflammation that comes with it, and have been considering using some form of hydro therapy myself. Being in my late 30's, I'd like to try and combat this now so that it doesn't affect me as much later on down the road.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what exactly are leg lifts/body lifts? Are those weight bearing exercises under the actual water?

I messed up both my achilles last year so I started to do water aerobics with the old ladies at the local LA Fitness. I'll be honest....after each session, my entire body felt great. The key is to find a hot instructor, avoid eye contact with the Betty White crowd, and head to the deepest part of the pool to keep the shorties away. In all seriousness, it's a great way to get movement for all muscle groups with virtually no impact. Find an instructor that takes the term "workout" seriously, and this would be a great solution for you.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Well no **** there Bedard. We all were thinking that Michael Dukakis or whatever his name is was able to handle Wilfork at full strength.

 

[Wax Frog]

Here's a handy hint. Make sure you apply a generous amount of vaseline to areas that would normally chaff or at the very least, wear some of the swimming togs that look like cycling tights. If you don't go down either path, you'll understand why after your first session.

Sometimes this site makes me feel like a kid in a candy store [resists Google image search urge, begins to sob in great, rasping heaves]...

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Big Vince appears to have lost all explosiveness at the snap.

Looks like a tweaked something in the leg or groin area.

Really wish we still had Woicik as our S&C coach.

 

[Brady6]

In his MMQB column yesterday:

He did miss the third and fourth preseason games; he may be playing himself back into shape. Another thing that stood out to me against the Jets is we played a lot of 3-4 with Wilfork playing the nose, that is something he has not been asked to do a lot of the last few years, even when we did play 3-4 we used Love at the nose, also he is playing nose with Jones at the right defensive end which leaves him up against 2-3 players.

I am sure he will be fine.

 

[Spiral]

I'm wondering if they'd be better with Kelly in there on passing downs instead of 75.

 

[Brady6]

I'm wondering if they'd be better with Kelly in there on passing downs instead of 75.

My thought is Belichick favors Wilfork in passing situations because they've been running a three defensive end front which in order to be most effective requires the one defensive tackle to consume the guard and center, and leave the three defensive ends one-on-one with the remaining three offensive linemen.

Right defensive end: Buchanan one-on-one verse the left tackle.
Right defensive tackle: C. Jones one-on-one verse the left guard.
Left defensive tackle: Wilfork two-on-one verse the center and right guard.
Left defensive end: Ninkovich one-on-one verse the right tackle

I think when or should I say if Armstead returns this season you'll see more of a wide 9 front four with this personnel:

Ninkovich | Kelly | Armstead | Jones

In that situation you have two big defensive tackles so the center needs to make a decision of who to help the left or right guard, in that situation where there will be situations where Kelly can work one-on-one he would potentially be a more effective pass rusher than Wilfork, but right now I don't think he can require two linemen every down so that would allow the center to backup the left guard who C. Jones is attempting to use his speed and acceleration to beat so if the center is standing there waiting when he beats his man it basically negates the effectiveness of the scheme.

 

[olschool]

I just think that Mangold and Ducasse had good games. Wilfork and Kelly had their hands full, but they still won.

 

[letekro]

I just think that Mangold and Ducasse had good games. Wilfork and Kelly had their hands full, but they still won.

Not sure about that. I have never seen Vince run around so many blocks and generally avoid contact before. Maybe that was the game plan, but that would be a departure from the BB system as I understand it.

 

[Mack Herron]

I hope he heals fast 'cause Martin is a load.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet. From Mike Reiss before the Lions game on 8/22:

Defensive starters for Patriots - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Starting defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, who spent some additional time getting stretched out by conditioning coach Harold Nash before the game, might be rested as a precaution.

Wilfork was the only starter on defense who didn't play the 3rd preseason game. He also didn't play at all in the 4th game, although most starters didn't play that game. So the Buffalo and Jets games are the first time we have seen him on the field since this incident.

I wonder if he has a hamstring pull that he's playing through. Would explain the stretching and the lack of leverage in these first two games.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet. From Mike Reiss before the Lions game on 8/22:

Defensive starters for Patriots - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston



Wilfork was the only starter on defense who didn't play the 3rd preseason game. He also didn't play at all in the 4th game, although most starters didn't play that game. So the Buffalo and Jets games are the first time we have seen him on the field since this incident.

I wonder if he has a hamstring pull that he's playing through. Would explain the stretching and the lack of leverage in these first two games.

That's what I'm thinking. I don't think Big Vince has hit the age wall yet. Just just looked injured and a big part of what he does (fills two gaps and takes on multiple blockers) comes from his legs. I think he's nursing a nagging injury that nobody outside of the team really knows about.

 

[Sicilian]

If it was an illness, cold or flu or something like that, it might explain Spikes' dehydration issues the week before as well. Something going around maybe? Wasn't there a report about some kind of infection on the Bucs that we were all hoping the Pats players didn't pick up?

 

[condon84]

I still don't understand why we only have 3 interior DLs. They must really be encouraged with Armstead's progress. Otherwise our depth here is not sustainable for the entire season.

 

[BradyFTW!]

If it was an illness, cold or flu or something like that, it might explain Spikes' dehydration issues the week before as well. Something going around maybe? Wasn't there a report about some kind of infection on the Bucs that we were all hoping the Pats players didn't pick up?

If the Pats were afflicted by MRSA like the Bucs, it would be a much bigger deal than this. Staph infections are a big deal.