Content Post Idle thoughts: The "long way to go" edition.

[TommyD4207]

...which tells us to be patient with the front seven as games wear on. Keion White adds a lot to the group that played the Dolphins. I wrote somewhere else - maybe in the Globe comments section - that Christian Gonzalez is very important for this defense to play more man coverage and be more aggressive with blitzing safeties or LBs. It would be great to have both White and Gonzalez back for the Steelers game to get after Rodgers.

Want a bold hot take? Landry and Chiasson have more sacks next week than TJ Watt and whoever's on the other side of him (Highsmith is out). Chiasson, especially just wears out the tackle across from him by just putting move after move on them every play. He's not a complete EDGE, but his skillset is why he's playing against the Left Tackle every week.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Mapu only played 7 snaps and didn’t make a single tackle so im
not sure I agree.
Spillane is not by any means one of the worst LBs in the league. Eliss is though. Eliss has physical skills he just doesn’t think like a LB. Everything I see him do is like an assault on good linebacker instincts

Yesterday Spillane's PFF rating was one of the worst in the league. The Dolphins' RB touchdown just before half was on Spillane and he missed the RB by 10 yards, it was not close. Maybe Spillane being one of the worst LBs in the NFL is a gross exaggeration on my part, but Spillane is consistent, he shoots the wrong run lanes and can not be found when covering the TE or RB. Being better than Elliss does not make Spillane good.

 

[TommyD4207]

Yesterday Spillane's PFF rating was one of the worst in the league. The Dolphins' RB touchdown just before half was on Spillane and he missed the RB by 10 yards, it was not close. Maybe Spillane being one of the worst LBs in the NFL is a gross exaggeration on my part, but Spillane is consistent, he shoots the wrong run lanes and can not be found when covering the TE or RB. Being better than Elliss does not make Spillane good.

Right now he's Elandon Roberts, but without the ability to wrap up and tackle.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The Achane touchdown is a good example. Spillane likely got dinged for a costly missed tackle there, but realistically given Achane's speed, very few linebackers could have caught him. Perfect ball that he caught in stride. Maybe some of the Patriot defenders close to the goal line could have had a shot.

You are correct. Spillane was not going to tackle Achane as he was very late getting out to cover Achane and was 10 yards off Achane when the pass was caught. Some of the worst pass coverage you will ever see.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Right now he's Elandon Roberts, but without the ability to wrap up and tackle.

This is perfect. Spillane functions well when there are huge DTs in front of him so he knows where the RB has to go, and has a partner in crime that is picking up the RB on passing plays. Tavai will not be any better except Tavai knows how to wrap up for the tackle.

 

[p8ryts]

Safeties are ok. I'd say Woodson is good, actually, and Hawkins is still a little too streaky for my tastes. Linebackers are ****ing terrible though, you're absolutely right on that.

There was a long pass play to Hill that Austin overran. Woodson came from midfield. Was he late getting there or was he too far away? Was it single high safety?

 

[p8ryts]

Being in a new role should have zero effect on your ability to make a tackle.
It's also his 3rd season now.

Yes, I don't see much growth for him. Hope he makes me wrong.

 

[Ring 6]

Yesterday Spillane's PFF rating was one of the worst in the league. The Dolphins' RB touchdown just before half was on Spillane and he missed the RB by 10 yards, it was not close. Maybe Spillane being one of the worst LBs in the NFL is a gross exaggeration on my part, but Spillane is consistent, he shoots the wrong run lanes and can not be found when covering the TE or RB. Being better than Elliss does not make Spillane good.

We disagree

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

There was a long pass play to Hill that Austin overran. Woodson came from midfield. Was he late getting there or was he too far away? Was it single high safety?

It was a single high safety and the pass was not to the sideline, so Woodson was late. I expect the speed of the NFL (T Hill) fooled him being a rookie. Later in the game Woodson was there on a deep pass into the EZ. I assume he learned his lesson.

I like Woodson. He is adjusting and I think we should be patient with him. When posters say the Pats have no depth, they are talking about Hawkins and Elliss.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We disagree

OK. That is fair.

What do we disagree on? 1. Spillane's PFF score this week was one of the worst in the NFL? That is kind of a fact that we can not disagree on but you might not think that PFF is not worth sh!t. 2. Spillane missed picking up his assignment, Achane, by 10 yards on the TD before the half? It might have been 8 or 12 yards, but again I do not think the broad fact can be disputed.

You love Spillane and I am skeptical? That is what we disagree on?

 

[TommyD4207]

OK. That is fair.

What do we disagree on? 1. Spillane's PFF score this week was one of the worst in the NFL? That is kind of a fact that we can not disagree on but you might not think that PFF is not worth sh!t. 2. Spillane missed picking op his assignment, Achane, by 10 yards on the TD before the half? It might have been 8 or 12 yards, but again I do not think the broad fact can be disputed.

You love Spillane and I am skeptical? That is what we disagree on?

He's a Christian Elliss cultist.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

He's a Christian Elliss cultist.

Christian Elliss cultist? LOL. That must really hurt. Poor guy.

 

[Ring 6]

OK. That is fair.

What do we disagree on? 1. Spillane's PFF score this week was one of the worst in the NFL? That is kind of a fact that we can not disagree on but you might not think that PFF is not worth sh!t. 2. Spillane missed picking up his assignment, Achane, by 10 yards on the TD before the half? It might have been 8 or 12 yards, but again I do not think the broad fact can be disputed.

You love Spillane and I am skeptical? That is what we disagree on?

Spillane has been a very good LB in the NFL.
One game no matter how bad it may have been doesn’t make him one of the worst in the NFL. I can’t judge yesterday’s game without going back and reviewing the film, it’s impossible to fully evaluate a player on the TV feed during the game. Have you gone back and reviewed the film to get your evaluation?

And no a PFF grade does not have much value to me, I do not consider them good at grading players.

We disagree that Spillane is one of the worst LBs in the NFL

I also disagree that it’s likely a defense can allow 58.5 rushing yards per game and 3.0 per carry with a MLB who us one of the worst LBs in the nfl.

 

[Ring 6]

It was a single high safety and the pass was not to the sideline, so Woodson was late. I expect the speed of the NFL (T Hill) fooled him being a rookie. Later in the game Woodson was there on a deep pass into the EZ. I assume he learned his lesson.

I like Woodson. He is adjusting and I think we should be patient with him. When posters say the Pats have no depth, they are talking about Hawkins and Elliss.

I hated Austin half hearted wave at the ball. Looked disinterested.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We disagree that Spillane is one of the worst LBs in the NFL

I said that Spillane was graded by PFF as one of the worst LBs in the NFL in week 2. I did not say Spillane is one of the worst LBs in the NFL. You are a very smart person. Twisting the conversation is unbecoming.

 

[Ring 6]

I said that Spillane was graded by PFF as one of the worst LBs in the NFL in week 2. I did not say Spillane is one of the worst LBs in the NFL. You are a very smart person. Twisting the conversation is unbecoming.

Mapu missed far less tackles than Spillane or Elliss so it depends on who Mapu would replace. Since the guys Mapu is being compared to are a couple of the worst LBs in the NFL in 2025, let's not dwell on one missed tackle and look at the big picture.

Did not twist, these were your words

 

[Ring 6]

OK. That is fair.

What do we disagree on? 1. Spillane's PFF score this week was one of the worst in the NFL? That is kind of a fact that we can not disagree on but you might not think that PFF is not worth sh!t. 2. Spillane missed picking up his assignment, Achane, by 10 yards on the TD before the half? It might have been 8 or 12 yards, but again I do not think the broad fact can be disputed.

You love Spillane and I am skeptical? That is what we disagree on?

I watched the play, he was 2-3 yards off of him.
I don’t think you can find a MLB in the NFL who could consistently cover that one on one. Achane broke out and then in. No MLB has the speed to cover Achane 1 on 1 over the entire field. We abandoned the middle of the field and Spillane was on an island. Where are the safeties? Spillane could have been tying his shoe and it still shouldn’t have been a TD.

 

[p8ryts]

I hated Austin half hearted wave at the ball. Looked disinterested.

He overran the ball couldn’t turn to it. It didn’t appear disinterested just totally out of position.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

I watched the play, he was 2-3 yards off of him.
I don’t think you can find a MLB in the NFL who could consistently cover that one on one. Achane broke out and then in. No MLB has the speed to cover Achane 1 on 1 over the entire field. We abandoned the middle of the field and Spillane was on an island. Where are the safeties? Spillane could have been tying his shoe and it still shouldn’t have been a TD.

Exactly.

Play is here:

 

[TommyD4207]

He overran the ball couldn’t turn to it. It didn’t appear disinterested just totally out of position.

Totally out of position, and *still* had time to recover (because it was such a terrible throw), and then completely mis-timed his jump. It was an ugly display.