If we open in a 3-4, who starts?

[JackBauer]

Safety wasn't the issue because they were essentially LB's all day.

Regardless, they did not play well.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Pittsburgh's problem wasn't the safety play but the defensive scheme of cover zero, as well as many missing players. I'm not saying anything bad about the Broncos with this, they defeated what they saw on the field.

Right. 30 yards per completion had nothing to do with safety play.

Polamalu was in no mans land 99% of the time and Ryan Mundy kept guess which side to offer over the top help.

 

[mgcolby]

Pittsburgh's problem wasn't the safety play but the defensive scheme of cover zero, as well as many missing players. I'm not saying anything bad about the Broncos with this, they defeated what they saw on the field.

Its not as if they played cover 0 for most of the game. They mostly played cover 1. I only saw two plays where they played cover 0. Early on the first drive and Denver ran into it. And then again on the OT TD.

They played Man 1 on nearly every other play. The problem was Troy not staying disciplined in his responsibilities. Instead of staying deep providing deep cover for the CB, he bit up on underneath routes and play action. Which gave the illusion of the Steelers playing cover 0.

And now that I think about it, I need to go back and correct one of my earlier post claiming they made two big plays out of cover 0. I included the post route to Thomas as one of the big plays against cover 0 and in fact it came against cover 1, with Troy abandoning his post.

 

[BlitzFritz]

I expect to see a 43 of:

LDE Ellis
LDT Love
RDT Wilfork
RDE Deaderick
LOLB Ninko
MLB Spikes
ROLB Mayo
LCB McC
RCB Arrington
SS Chung
FS Ihedigbo, Moore

this is more in line of what i was thinking actually. the 4-3 is more stout on the run. i think anderson will get pushed around when denver runs. i was thinking earlier today that this could be shaun ellis' game!

i also didnt understand why ppl are expecting fletcher to play olb over ninko.

lastly, i was suspecting that mccourty at safety was some kinf of mind game on BB's part to try to get him to turn his head and play the ball, against a weak team. not a permanent position.

-- FRITZ

 

[Patspsycho]

Whoops I missed that somehow. I guess I saw Fletcher inside and thought Spikes was out of your starting lineup. That is an interesting move and very good idea.

In that scenario you are essentially conceding the flat and daring Tebow to make an accurate throw outside the numbers, while being stout against the option. He has made the throw, but not consistantly and that is what he would be forced to do in order to move the chains over the course of the drive/game.

Exactly- I want to concede the flat because I don't think Tebow is patient or disciplined enough to march his way down the field on the short gain, and the flat is almost never his first read, and we know how ineffective he is on moving down his reads. From what I saw in the Pittsburgh game, he either threw long or optioned or scrambled after the initial read. No method to his madness, for lack of a better word.

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

I'll be happy as long as Julian Edelman starts somewhere on the defense...including the defensive line.

 

[Ron Sellers]

So if Love can't play (I think he will; just a hypothetical based on him being the only player to miss some practice time this week) what would the starting lineup most likely be?

 

[Mack Herron]

So if Love can't play (I think he will; just a hypothetical based on him being the only player to miss some practice time this week) what would the starting lineup most likely be?

Love is back today. Mankins is limping. I think Mankins and Vollmer will be questionable.

 

[Fencer]

LDE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RDE - Vince Wilfork
Jack - Mark Anderson
Will- Brandon Spikes
Mike - Jerod Mayo
Sam- Dane Fletcher
LCB - Devin McCourty
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - James Ihedigbo

I would go with this lineup. I put Vince in at RDE where he almost never is, but Tebow is always going to his left so I want my best DE there.

I put Mark Anderson in Jack because I expect to see him on the line (making this a 44 look) and rushing more often than not, towards Tebow's blind side.

I put Fletcher in Sam behind Vince because I think that while he makes his share of mistakes, he is solid in coverage.

Also, going with Ihedigbo over Moore because Ihedigbo is solid in run support while we put Chung in robber or rover (probably bracket Thomas).

Doesn't that give the Broncos a good chance of forcing Spikes to play coverage? Are you assuming Tebow will struggle to exploit any mismatches that ensure?

Edit: I see above that you already answered in the affiriative, saying you're willing to concede the flat ...

 

[pdangle]

I disagree.

Immediately, for anyone looking at that crew with an unbiased eye.

For Patriots fans, who like to pretend that the team has a good defense, who can tell? Their mania tends to run differently.

When you look at this lineup compared to their peers I come up with (standard deviations from average)

RE - Brandon Deadrick-
NT - Kyle Love=
RE - Vince Wilfork++
LOLB - Mark Anderson=
WILB - Brandon Spikes+
MILB - Jerod Mayo++
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich-
LCB - Sterling Moore--
RCB - Kyle Arrington=
SS - Patrick Chung+
FS - Devin McCourty+

My skill/quality breakdown of players is

2 well above average++
3 above average+
3 average=
2 below average-
1 well below average--

which equates to a defense smack in the middle between average and above average (+0.45 Std. deviations from average) in the 3-4 alignment.

Throw in a +++ coach, and you see where I'm going. This D will surprise.

IMO it's been injuries, lack of familiarity of the players to their positions and formations at the start the year, BB's D play calling when leading, injuries again, realizations & re-alignment of the D, further experimentation, BB's D play calling when leading by even more, giving game experience to future back-up in new roles, making the squad flexible and prepping for the playoffs as a way of making lemonaide from lemons while playing with said injuries, and finally playing it safe with the returnees as they finally trickled back to full health this week, waaaaaaaaaay waaaaaaaaaay more than lack of skill this squad's lineup (esp. the 3-4, but really all formations) this year.

Again, this DEFENSE will surprise if it remains healthy. I'm looking forward to it actually.

 

[kennyb]

I think pats win this game. I'm not that worried about the defense. So no, that list doesn't depress me. I am worried about gb or no in the super bowl though. Maybe I am looking ahead.

 

[thenepatsrule]

I think pats win this game. I'm not that worried about the defense. So no, that list doesn't depress me. I am worried about gb or no in the super bowl though. Maybe I am looking ahead.

sure you are :rocker:

 

[RobertWeathers]

I disagree.



When you look at this lineup compared to their peers I come up with (standard deviations from average)

RE - Brandon Deadrick-
NT - Kyle Love=
RE - Vince Wilfork++
LOLB - Mark Anderson=
WILB - Brandon Spikes+
MILB - Jerod Mayo++
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich-
LCB - Sterling Moore--
RCB - Kyle Arrington=
SS - Patrick Chung+
FS - Devin McCourty+

My skill/quality breakdown of players is

2 well above average++
3 above average+
3 average=
2 below average-
1 well below average--

which equates to a defense smack in the middle between average and above average (+0.45 Std. deviations from average) in the 3-4 alignment.

Throw in a +++ coach, and you see where I'm going. This D will surprise.

IMO it's been injuries, lack of familiarity of the players to their positions and formations at the start the year, BB's D play calling when leading, injuries again, realizations & re-alignment of the D, further experimentation, BB's D play calling when leading by even more, giving game experience to future back-up in new roles, making the squad flexible and prepping for the playoffs as a way of making lemonaide from lemons while playing with said injuries, and finally playing it safe with the returnees as they finally trickled back to full health this week, waaaaaaaaaay waaaaaaaaaay more than lack of skill this squad's lineup (esp. the 3-4, but really all formations) this year.

Again, this DEFENSE will surprise if it remains healthy. I'm looking forward to it actually.

Nink and Sterling Moore are not below average. Those guys produce.

Monty Beisel is below average.

Duane Starks is far below average.

 

[Deus Irae]

I disagree.



When you look at this lineup compared to their peers I come up with (standard deviations from average)

RE - Brandon Deadrick-
NT - Kyle Love=
RE - Vince Wilfork++
LOLB - Mark Anderson=
WILB - Brandon Spikes+
MILB - Jerod Mayo++
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich-
LCB - Sterling Moore--
RCB - Kyle Arrington=
SS - Patrick Chung+
FS - Devin McCourty+

My skill/quality breakdown of players is

2 well above average++
3 above average+
3 average=
2 below average-
1 well below average--

which equates to a defense smack in the middle between average and above average (+0.45 Std. deviations from average) in the 3-4 alignment.

Throw in a +++ coach, and you see where I'm going. This D will surprise.

IMO it's been injuries, lack of familiarity of the players to their positions and formations at the start the year, BB's D play calling when leading, injuries again, realizations & re-alignment of the D, further experimentation, BB's D play calling when leading by even more, giving game experience to future back-up in new roles, making the squad flexible and prepping for the playoffs as a way of making lemonaide from lemons while playing with said injuries, and finally playing it safe with the returnees as they finally trickled back to full health this week, waaaaaaaaaay waaaaaaaaaay more than lack of skill this squad's lineup (esp. the 3-4, but really all formations) this year.

Again, this DEFENSE will surprise if it remains healthy. I'm looking forward to it actually.

Your ratings are way too high.

 

[ender24601]

Your ratings are way too high.

Okay, Negative Nelly. How would you rate it?

 

[Double TE]

Wilfork and Mayo are the only consistent + defenders. Think of it this way if you are the opposing offensive player are you worried about anyone else really? Others may be decent but they are not plus defenders. McCourty and Chung may get there as both are super young and same for Spikes.

Its the scheme and home field that should help us but that D has been gashed by such future HOF QBs as Rex Grossman, Matt Moore, Chad Henne and Ryan Fitzpatrick. We need to bend and not break!!! LOL

 

[letekro]

Take a step back and look at how depressing that is. Our best line up.

A few studs, a few solid starters, and a few guys that suck. Like pretty much every defense in the league. Who are the scrubs manning the other OLB slot, the other DL slots, and the safety slots in Green Bay? Talk about depressing.

 

[Double TE]

I will say this given the +/- the D is super opportunistic from Ninkovich to Arrington to McCourty and so on. A lot of tips, INTs and fumble recoveries. The way the D plays is it makes you march down the field consistently and complete passes and finish runs. Can Tebow do that for four quarters?

Remains to be seen.

 

[cstjohn17]

My guess:

RE - Brandon Deadrick
NT - Kyle Love
RE - Vince Wilfork
LOLB - Mark Anderson
WILB - Brandon Spikes
MILB - Jerod Mayo
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich
LCB - Sterling Moore
RCB - Kyle Arrington
SS - Patrick Chung
FS - Devin McCourty

What about you?

The starting lineup will not really be relevant, the front seven will have a heavy rotation espcially along the defensive line.

---------RCB - Arrington
--ROLB - Anderson
------------------------------ FS - Chung
RDE - Love \ Deaderick
----RILB - Mayo
NT - Wilfork \ Love
----LILB - Spikes \ Fletcher
LDE - Warren \ Ellis
------------------------------ SS - Ihedigbo \ Moore
--LOLB - Ninkovich
---------LCB - McCourty


Slight possibility that they line Wilfork up on the defensive LE (offensive right) because Denver seems to run the offensive right more frequently.

 

[Ring 6]

The starting lineup will not really be relevant, the front seven will have a heavy rotation espcially along the defensive line.

---------RCB - Arrington
--ROLB - Anderson
------------------------------ FS - Chung
RDE - Love \ Deaderick
----RILB - Mayo
NT - Wilfork \ Love
----LILB - Spikes \ Fletcher
LDE - Warren \ Ellis
------------------------------ SS - Ihedigbo \ Moore
--LOLB - Ninkovich
---------LCB - McCourty


Slight possibility that they line Wilfork up on the defensive LE (offensive right) because Denver seems to run the offensive right more frequently.

Why would we play Mark Anderson in the base D against a running team, much less as a 34 OLB?