Defensively - Who Surprised You Overall This Season?

[Patriot Missile]

I know this is a stretch but Moore and Dowling as the CB, Arrington as the slot CB, McCourtey and Chung as the Safeties gives us a shot at a legit DB. Unfortunately Moore, Dowling, McCourtey are all high risk to be highly successful at those positions.

I agree. The pieces are there and of course there is some risk keeping this squad together but if per chance they improve the front seven and the pass rush I think they will succeed back there.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I agree. The pieces are there and of course there is some risk keeping this squad together but if per chance they improve the front seven and the pass rush I think they will succeed back there.

The problem with talking about the front seven is it's hard to know what kind of defense we'll be playing. If it's predominantly a 4-3 then re-signing Carter and acquiring another pass rushing DE (could be Anderson part time) leaves us in good shape. If it's predominantly a 3-4 then a pass rushing WOLB leaves us in good shape. I'm not too concerned about the front seven, I think that needs just a player or two with how Spikes looked. How the pieces fit in the back end is the big question mark for me.

 

[Patriot Missile]

The problem with talking about the front seven is it's hard to know what kind of defense we'll be playing. If it's predominantly a 4-3 then re-signing Carter and acquiring another pass rushing DE (could be Anderson part time) leaves us in good shape. If it's predominantly a 3-4 then a pass rushing WOLB leaves us in good shape. I'm not too concerned about the front seven, I think that needs just a player or two with how Spikes looked. How the pieces fit in the back end is the big question mark for me.

Well good thing they have ota's and a real training camp to sort those things out this time.

 

[patsfan-1982]

#1 Rob Ninkovich, he had a good season and was great in the playoffs
#2 Andre Carter, best pass rusher the pats have had in a long time
#3 Mark Anderson, by far the best pass rusher in the playoffs

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The problem with talking about the front seven is it's hard to know what kind of defense we'll be playing. If it's predominantly a 4-3 then re-signing Carter and acquiring another pass rushing DE (could be Anderson part time) leaves us in good shape. If it's predominantly a 3-4 then a pass rushing WOLB leaves us in good shape. I'm not too concerned about the front seven, I think that needs just a player or two with how Spikes looked. How the pieces fit in the back end is the big question mark for me.

Don't have the link ATM, but grantland.com had a great piece about how the Pats are basically running a 3-4 AND a 4-3 at the same time.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Spikes..kid can play and can be a force in the middle

 

[DarrylS]

As a unit they grew through the season, despite some serious CB injury issues that depleted that unit...

I do think you need some veteran leadership back there though, communication was an issue.. often.

Spikes was a nice surprise, but Moore maybe a real find... he seemed to be around the ball a lot yesterday.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Don't have the link ATM, but grantland.com had a great piece about how the Pats are basically running a 3-4 AND a 4-3 at the same time.

Which makes it hard for the likes of me to know what we need

Regardless, Mayo, Spikes, Nink, Wilfork should be solid starters next year regardless. If we were to re-sign Carter that's 5 out of a starting front seven.

Deaderick, Love and a possible re-signing of Anderson would fill most of it out. I think we mostly need a pass rusher whether we call him a DE or OLB.

 

[mgteich]

I also am not worried about the front seven. I agree that an additional DE/OLB upgrade would be good. I'm not sure that Belichick will see the need. Of course, he will bring in one if the value is there.

Re-signing Carter and Anderson would be a fine start. I would also want to re-sign White.

DL: Carter, Wilfork, Love, Deaderick
LB: Mayo, Spikes, Ninkovich
Situational: Anderson, White
Backups: Fletcher, Pryor, Cunningham
=============
We also have Tarpinian, Niko, and Markel Carter.

BTW, I think Ellis has been effective against the run. Obviously, he isn't worth his current salary. Also, G. Warren could be back as an emergency backup and/or camp insurance.

Which makes it hard for the likes of me to know what we need

Regardless, Mayo, Spikes, Nink, Wilfork should be solid starters next year regardless. If we were to re-sign Carter that's 5 out of a starting front seven.

Deaderick, Love and a possible re-signing of Anderson would fill most of it out. I think we mostly need a pass rusher whether we call him a DE or OLB.

 

[celticboy04]

Don't have the link ATM, but grantland.com had a great piece about how the Pats are basically running a 3-4 AND a 4-3 at the same time.

Greetings,
If I am not mistaken this is the defense used in the first Super Bowl win, with Bobby Hamilton playing defensive end on the 3-4 side of the ball.

Celticboy04

 

[Off The Grid]

Don't have the link ATM, but grantland.com had a great piece about how the Pats are basically running a 3-4 AND a 4-3 at the same time.

Good call, Bro.

GREAT read.

Bill Belichick, Vince Wilfork, and the New England Patriots defense - Grantland

 

[AQPE]

On defense, comparing my impressions today to my expections when the lockout ended:

Pleasant surprises =

Arrington, Love, Deadrick, Fletcher, Carter, Anderson, G. Warren

Unpleasant surprises =

McCourty, Bodden, T. Warren, Cunningham, Ellis, Brace, Butler

 

[celticboy04]

Unpleasant surprises =

McCourty, Bodden, T. Warren, Cunningham, Ellis, Brace, Butler

Greetings,
Ty Warren did not play a single snap for the Patriots this season. Are you surprised he did not play well enough to make the roster?

Celticboy04

 

[ausbacker]

Spikes, Hernandez and Gronkowksi. All three took major strides in their development as game changing players.

The D needs more game changers.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Going into the season I thought we had potential to have an awesome D:

Safety:
Merriweather & an Improved Chung should've made it a great secondary. Unfortunately Merriweather got the boot and Chung didn't improve as much as I had hoped (I dont see Chung turning into a Rodney, which I was hoping would've been close to becomg)

Corner:
An improved McCourty = shutdown corner. Plus a healthy Bodden would've made it 1 great and 1 good corner. With Arrington/whoever an okay 3rd corner. Unfortunately didn't happen.

LB:
I wasn't expecting that much out of this. Mayo / Spikes / Nik / Whoever I figured would've been an okay combo without any real playmakers (I don't connsider Mayo or Spikes a playmaker still)

DL:
I thought this would've been awesome -- haynesworth, ty warren, wilfork, ellis. Unfortunately didn't end up near awesome

 

[MaineMan]

Spikes, Hernandez and Gronkowksi. All three took major strides in their development as game changing players.

The D needs more game changers.

I think the D already has guys who COULD be game-changers, if the D didn't also have weak points elsewhere that opposing offenses are able to exploit.

Specifically, the front seven needs more solid youth among the wide-bodies up front (guys who can fills gaps and hold strong at the PoA and get more consistent pocket push than a couple 35-year-olds did this season), a young apprentice for Andre Carter, a solid WOLB for 3-4 sets who can consistently set the edge, shed a block, make a tackle, play some coverage and get a rush every so often (IOW, a Ninko clone to play the other side).

Frankly, I'm not sure that the secondary needs much more than good health and experience and a slightly improved front seven.