Can we talk about Joe Vellano and Chris Jones for a second

[manxman2601]

Guess which one gets signed?

Colleague @FieldYates passes along word that the Patriots worked out 2 DL today -- George Johnson (Rutgers) & Frank Kearse (Alabama A&M),

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/389867031425597440

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Imagine if every thread title contained the words "Can we talk about..(....).for a second"

That would be annoying. But since it's the first one I ever remember on here, we're good.

I took it as saying "hey, let's discuss a couple of guys who deserve some credit, other than Brady, Tompkins, and the defense as a unit"

These guys are both pleasant surprises and underdog stories, so the thread, and title, seem fine to me.

 

[ahmed]

Guess which one gets signed?




https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/389867031425597440

I am going to take a long and wild guess it's the guy from Rutgers?

 

[ALP]

I am going to take a long and wild guess it's the guy from Rutgers?

and what evidence do you have to support this?

 

[AzPatsFan]

It is a nice choice writing about the unknown guys who are keeping this team a league leader. Everyone should know that Belichick has been rebuilding for four years now. We are seeing the fruit of the Offensive rebuilding now. Young bookend tackles a deep RB corps, good TEs, and now the annual WR patching is done with. These players are all young and developing talents, force fed and thrust into the fires of competition. The future of the Offense is assured but for one singular position.

But reconstructing the Defense has been the prime aim these last four seasons. Some fans find that the dozen or so DBs needed, have been difficult to find, but BB largely has done so. Despite losing three to career ending injuries, Leigh Boddin, Ras_I Dowling and Ty Wheatly had their careers shortened by injury, It apeared Deion Butler was also. The Pats coaches in their only real error, gave up on him too soon, only to see him starring at Indy.

The rebuiilding LBs have worked out OK with the high picks doing their jobs. Finding DEs was a difficulty, but you really only need four and not a dozen. It seems we have found them too including the star RDE and his sub.

The only area remaining that is needing rebuilding was the interior DTs. Wilfork is/was a tower of strength, Kelly is a fine veteran patch, Much was hoped for from Armon Armstead but his delayed arrival has forced the finding of some unrated reserves in Joe Velano and Chris Jones. They have performed remarkably well given their anonymity and that BB adjusted, and backed them up with more play for Spikes' Velano and Jones have contained if not throttled the run, for the most part and even provided some interior pass pressure. Their forced play is leading to a pair of experienced playable reserves at the minimum. Rebuilding the DTs may involve finding only one or two additions and not 4 or 5. .

Their is a silver cloud in all the injuries. BB is forced to play unheralded talented youngsters and develop them. It is proving to really add the depth that a championship quality team requires. You can critique their miscues, but you can't ignore the result.

5-1 !!!!

 

[chasa]

That would be annoying. But since it's the first one I ever remember on here, we're good.

I took it as saying "hey, let's discuss a couple of guys who deserve some credit, other than Brady, Tompkins, and the defense as a unit"

These guys are both pleasant surprises and underdog stories, so the thread, and title, seem fine to me.

this is exactly as i intended it.

Going into the game my biggest worry was losing the middle of our DLine against a team that had a high octane offense. The rookies were fantastic yesterday

 

[jsull87]

They definitely have been nowhere near as good as Wilfork/Kelly. But they've been decent which I give them credit for.

I will give them the credit of being active not dominated and extremely heady in the passing game.

But they both got pushed around yesterday in the run game especially when trying to hold up against Double teams.

In saying that i give them all the props in the world for a well played game. Hopefully when Armstead and Kelly are back we can get a good rotation in there.

 

[jsull87]

this is exactly as i intended it.

Going into the game my biggest worry was losing the middle of our DLine against a team that had a high octane offense. The rookies were fantastic yesterday

Being a realist however. I still worry for the D now against any type of power run game. I just don't think those two can handle it. Even with Spikes providing help.