Is this the most athletic D during the BB regime?

[BradyFTW!]

Elite Athletes:

- McCourty
- Talib
- Dennard
- Chandler Jones
- Ninko
- Collins
- Arrington

Thats 7 that could be on the field at one time...7 out of 11 defenders. Supported by hard hitting vet like Gregory, Dante Hightower (who has played awesome since Collins became a starter), Chris Jones and Siliga. The other 4 are not great athletes but just solid football players. I think at least athletically we match up very well with Denver's athletes...Thomasx2 and Decker.

Even the great early 2k teams didn't have as many:

Law
McGinnest
Seymour
Vrable

The rest were just good football players and good athletes but not great IMO like the current team is: Bruschi, Poole, Otis Smith, Rodney Harrison, Traylor, Ty Warren, Banta Cain, Randall Gay, Terrell Buckley.

No way in hell that Ninkovich and Arrington are elite athletes. Wilfork probably is, though, and I think a case could be made for Hightower and Mayo as well.

 

[BradyFTW!]

This is the starting D I would put together.....

DL - '04 Vince Wilfork, '03 Richard Seymour, '13 C.Jones, '03 T.Washington

LB - '04 Bruschi, '03 Vrabel, '01 McGinest

CB - '01 T.Law, '13 Talib

S - '03 R.Harrison, '13 McCourty


I had a hard time leaving out Asante Samuel.

I'm a big McGinest fan, but he's not a 4-3 LB. He was a 3-4 elephant LB; if anything he would be competing with Chandler Jones for a spot. In a 4-3 D, Mayo would be way more valuable than McGinest as an OLB.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Don't the Patriots save a fair bit of money if they jettison him after the season?

Yup, $1.8M if he's cut. I wouldn't be surprised either way, with the depth at safety being so thin.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Don't the Patriots save a fair bit of money if they jettison him after the season?

They may look for a pay cut but as long as he is being reasonable i think they will keep him around. I think they like him on the whole but may not think he's worth what he is scheduled to make next season.

 

[Brady6]

I could see Harmon starting in lieu of Gregory next season.

I am not so sure that Gregory will be here in 2014. Harmon is a possibility and I still have not ruled out Tavon who actually was the 3rd safety on Sunday.

 

[Brady6]

No way in hell that Ninkovich and Arrington are elite athletes. Wilfork probably is, though, and I think a case could be made for Hightower and Mayo as well.

Here is the thing about Ninkovich, when he was a LB he was not an elite athlete at that position, but as a DE he is actually one of the most athletic in the game, very few DEs can drop into coverage, or do the things that Ninkovich can do as far as moving around, etc.

 

[Fencer]

Ted Washington was an elite athlete. Incredibly strong, and remarkably quick for his strength. He'd have made an awesome sumo wrestler (and I've attended sumo wrestling in Japan, although I don't know how high level it was).

 

[BradyFTW!]

Here is the thing about Ninkovich, when he was a LB he was not an elite athlete at that position, but as a DE he is actually one of the most athletic in the game, very few DEs can drop into coverage, or do the things that Ninkovich can do as far as moving around, etc.

He's now a DE who's exceptional at dropping into coverage, but he's basically just starter-average at stopping the run and rushing the passer. He's versatile, but far from elite.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I am not so sure that Gregory will be here in 2014. Harmon is a possibility and I still have not ruled out Tavon who actually was the 3rd safety on Sunday.

Even if Harmon takes over as the starter, I still think that Gregory will be around in 2014 as a backup. It's far from a sure thing, but three competent safeties are pretty much a must, so I only see Gregory being cut loose if Tavon and/or Ebner earns a spot in the rotation (I'm assuming that Adrian Wilson is gone).

 

[Brady6]

Even if Harmon takes over as the starter, I still think that Gregory will be around in 2014 as a backup. It's far from a sure thing, but three competent safeties are pretty much a must, so I only see Gregory being cut loose if Tavon and/or Ebner earns a spot in the rotation (I'm assuming that Adrian Wilson is gone).

I guess it depends on the safety we drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round this year. A safety a year

 

[BradyFTW!]

I guess it depends on the safety we drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round this year. A safety a year

... how's Rutgers' D looking this year?

 

[Brady6]

He's now a DE who's exceptional at dropping into coverage, but he's basically just starter-average at stopping the run and rushing the passer. He's versatile, but far from elite.

Yeah I hear you brother he isn't an athletic freak but he is like Vrabel 2.0. Ninkovich finished the season with 91 combined tackles that is very impressive for a player who plays with is hand in the ground most snaps.

 

[Brady6]

... how's Rutgers' D looking this year?

It might be an Alabama year!