No pass rush = one and out

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

It all starts with the Draft, unless it doesn’t. A look at the Patriots in 2011 looks an awful lot like it did after the 2010 draft. Bill Belichick once again focused on everything other than the most glaring weakness on his team, Outside Linebacker. I can hear the groaning now, I can hear the BB apologists saying that there was nobody out there, or that the value was better for the players that they took. So I figured what the hell, let’s look at the stats. In the AFC East, the Jets were number 8 in the league with 40. The Dolphins were number 10 at 39. The Patriots were number 14 with 36, so you think, not that bad? So when you look at points per game and see the Pats at number 8 giving up 19.6 PPG you get a little more comfortable. Then you look at 3rd down percentage and the team gave up league worst 47% conversions. That’s right they gave up 99 third down conversions out of 210 attempts, the second worst was Tampa, Buffalo, Tenn, Cleveland and Jax at 43%. Total yards? 366.5. Passing yards? 30 in the league at 258.5 PPG. Yards per attempt? Number 7 at 5.6 Y/A.
NFL Stats: by Team Category
There is plenty of ammunition for either side of the OLB argument to hang their hat on, I will add one more stat to the mix, and it is very subjective in nature, It is the eyeball test, you know the one that makes you leave the room on third down because you know that the Jets are going to make that first down and you want to beat everybody to the bathroom? The one that makes you take the over on Sunday at 12:30? There is no bigger Patriots suck up than I am, but when I watch a game on Sunday, or Monday or Thursday I know what I am going to see; good defense on first and second downs and a breakdown on third because there wasn’t enough pressure on the QB to make him get rid of the ball, especially when the game is on the line and it comes down to offensive line adrenaline versus pass rush adrenaline. Give me DeMarcus Ware over Nate Solder any day.

Well

I guess we don't have any minmum IQ threshold.

OK

What exactly would drive some bozo to come on this board and land some idiot comment about Demarcus Ware?

Has the bozo bothered to look at Demarcus Ware's Cowboys and try to comprehend that the league's sack leader was useless in preventing the Cowboy's from having the league's worst pass defense?

Is there any better example to showcase how overrated a "pass rusher" truly is in developing a real pass defense?

Simply unbelievable

 

[serifyn]

If Belichick wanted a pass rusher in his range he would have gotten one, he must have alot of faith in the players he already has in his system.

to pick solder at 17 means the patriots really like him. if they really like him, so do i.

 

[JoeSixPat]

As has been pointed out, there's absolutely no reason to think that Belichick is going to decline participation in free agency or trades involving any of the remaining areas of need

So no time to panic - though we've also seen Belichick left short on quality personnel in the past and most often he and the team can adjust... just like they did last year to go 14-2.

The point of the OP is that a deficiency such as the lack of a pass rush equates to one and done.

There's some truth that a team's weaknesses can catch up with them in the playoffs - and those weaknesses can be there regardless of a team's record - all it takes is the right game plan and execution for another team to take advantage of those weaknesses.

So I think we'd all vote for seeing any areas of weakness turn into areas of strength - it might still happen, or the Patriots might have to adjust their play again. But there's no reason for anyone to get their shorts in a knot just yet.

 

[LuthierJr]

I like cookies.

In related news these "we need a pass rusher" threads are most assuredly not cookies.

Give. It. A. Rest.

 

[supafly]

As has been pointed out, there's absolutely no reason to think that Belichick is going to decline participation in free agency or trades involving any of the remaining areas of need

So no time to panic - though we've also seen Belichick left short on quality personnel in the past and most often he and the team can adjust... just like they did last year to go 14-2.

The point of the OP is that a deficiency such as the lack of a pass rush equates to one and done.

There's some truth that a team's weaknesses can catch up with them in the playoffs - and those weaknesses can be there regardless of a team's record - all it takes is the right game plan and execution for another team to take advantage of those weaknesses.

So I think we'd all vote for seeing any areas of weakness turn into areas of strength - it might still happen, or the Patriots might have to adjust their play again. But there's no reason for anyone to get their shorts in a knot just yet.

Good point in reminding everyone that the team's need have not all been addressed just b/c the draft has come and gone.

I also agree that no matter what--there's absolutely no need to get all riled up about ANY of it...

If Belichick wanted a pass rusher in his range he would have gotten one, he must have alot of faith in the players he already has in his system.

to pick solder at 17 means the patriots really like him. if they really like him, so do i.

Another good point about belief in the players here. I'd also like to add that the drafting of a high round CB in rounds 1-2 over the past 4 years likely tells us what/how Belichick views building a defense with the players and scheme that he sees fit. I believe that he would know best, as it all trickles down to an improved pass rush also.

 

[supafly]

I'll tell you another thing that these revisionists ignorantly forget about that playoff game. Our defensive line was down to:

V.Wilfork
G. Warren
Kyle Love (undrafted rookie FA)
Landon Cohen (JAG)
Brandon Deadrick (Rookie)
Myron Pryor (Playing at about 50%)

Not exactly a murderers row here guys. Getting some healthy bodies back would have definitly helped.

But we still would have lost! Because they shut down our Offense!!!!!!!!

We couldn't pass effectivly. Bad execution, poor protection. They dared us to run, AND WE COULDN'T!!!

Draft? Heavy emphasis on O-Line and the running game.

I think the team sees their needs much clearer than some internet yahoo, upset they didn't take their fictional idea of a pass rusher.

Very good point also. I think this is somehow overlooked by many, as the returning injured players + full strength returners, coupled with another year of experience for the younger guys + the addition of Stroud as a run stopper will help tremendously. We also still don't know about G.Warren as depth/competition/camp fodder OR the addition of a possible free agent.

 

[Joker]

there's absolutely no need to get all riled up about ANY of it...

reminds me of an old William Bendix TV show...



Chester E.Riley...Life Of Riley

 

[supafly]

there's absolutely no need to get all riled up about ANY of it...

reminds me of an old William Bendix TV show...



Chester E.Riley...Life Of Riley

My dad (65 yrs old) is always using the term 'living the life of Riley.' I never TRULY knew what he meant, although I had a good idea

 

[Rob0729]

Give me DeMarcus Ware over Nate Solder any day.

I forgot to address this specifically.

First, Ware was not available at 17 and potentially there wasn't a OLB remotely as good available. The clearly wasn't an OLB projected to be nearly as good as Ware at 17. Guys like DeMarcus Ware don't come out every year. After Robert Quinn and Von Miller, there weren't even any OLBs considered first round quality. I would have killed for DeMarcus Ware at 17, but no one thought there was an OLB near the quality of Ware available there. The only OLB who people think could potentially be another Ware was Von Miller and he went #2 overall.

Second, if Solder turns into an elite, HOF quality OT, I don't know if I would want a Ware over him. The Cowboys have won what one or two playoff games with Ware. It is kinda ironic that ten years ago an franchise quality LT was considered the second most important piece after a franchise QB (i.e. Orlando Pace, Walter Jones), but now that this has become a pass happy, offense oriented league the perception of the need for a franchise LT has gone down. If Brady can have an extra second or two to throw, he can become exponentially more dangerous and help extend his career. I think people undervalue the potential of a franchise LT. I always liked Light, but he was never a franchise LT.

Third, even if the Pats drafted a potential DeMarcus Ware, what makes you think he will do much this year to fix the pass rush problems. Ware was considered to be a far better prospect than any OLB in this draft other than Miller and he had a good, not great rookie campaign. Anyone the Pats could have drafted would have more rough edges and would take more time to develop. Odds are this would be a lost season for the player (especially since there looks to be a very shortened offseason and preseason in terms of working out).

Lastly, next year's draft is supposed to be far better at potential 3-4 OLBs. I found this on one of the Jets' board:

http://www.ganggreennation.com/2011/5/6/2153907/the-future-of-the-jets

Why reach for an OLB prospect this year who might not be anything more than average when there could be several Ware type studs in next year's draft with the Pats sitting with two firsts and seconds next year?

 

[E Belichick Unum]

Well

What exactly would drive some bozo to come on this board and land some idiot comment about Demarcus Ware?

Has the bozo bothered to look at Demarcus Ware's Cowboys and try to comprehend that the league's sack leader was useless in preventing the Cowboy's from having the league's worst pass defense?

Ah, so you wouldn't like a demarkus Ware type of pass rusher? So, let me rephrase so even a suck up like you can understand.

D'Quan Bowers had 18 1/2 sacks last year, was available for everybody to have, BB had the draft picks to go get him because Washington was looking for trade partners, and he didn't. I don't know what kind of a players Bowers will be, but my guess is he will have a pretty productive career, even if it only lasts 4 years. But instead of being upset about the draft because we didn't get any better through it this year, you give oral to BB and tell us it is all about the inside linebackers? In BB's defense a pass rush is all about the ILB? What the fu@k are you smoking?

This team needs a pass rush, the current crop of rushers are not very good, yet you insist that there is no need to build that part of the team up? The team is feeling the heat, they read the papers and get their favorite writers to write excuses why it didn't happen, but what is your excuse? Are you a Patriots plant here, or just a lemming who will follow the company line? Or, maybe, you just don't know what you are talking about, that is my guess.

So, this bozo is challenging you to have an original idea for once. This team is pretty easy to assess, the team is very well coached, but it also has the smallest coaching staff in the league, the offense is in good shape, it could use a WR with hands and speed, but the OL could get younger. The DL is just OK and not very deep, and the little talent that they have drafted recently is still learning. The inside linbackera re actually very good and should stay that way for years. The secondary is pretty good, what they lack in superior talent they make for with hard hitting and pretty good tackling. The OLB's suck, they cannot generate a sustained pass rush, they do not pursue the run very well and they are more situational than every down. You may disagree with parts of that breakdown, but it is pretty much on the mark.

That breakdown is basically the same breakdown as last year, when we didn't address our pass rush either. You can suck on BB member all you want, but the fact is there is one glaring weakness on this team and BB hasn't addressed it, hasn't tried to address it through the draft and has only signed one pass rushing FA. As for the argument that pressure is just as important as sacks, I will argue that is just an excuse made by people who have no pass rush.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

I forgot to address this specifically.

First, Ware was not available at 17 and potentially there wasn't a OLB remotely as good available. The clearly wasn't an OLB projected to be nearly as good as Ware at 17. Guys like DeMarcus Ware don't come out every year. After Robert Quinn and Von Miller, there weren't even any OLBs considered first round quality. I would have killed for DeMarcus Ware at 17, but no one thought there was an OLB near the quality of Ware available there. The only OLB who people think could potentially be another Ware was Von Miller and he went #2 overall.

Second, if Solder turns into an elite, HOF quality OT, I don't know if I would want a Ware over him. The Cowboys have won what one or two playoff games with Ware. It is kinda ironic that ten years ago an franchise quality LT was considered the second most important piece after a franchise QB (i.e. Orlando Pace, Walter Jones), but now that this has become a pass happy, offense oriented league the perception of the need for a franchise LT has gone down. If Brady can have an extra second or two to throw, he can become exponentially more dangerous and help extend his career. I think people undervalue the potential of a franchise LT. I always liked Light, but he was never a franchise LT.

And if Solder turns into JAG? The reports on him are that he has great "promise" but need to find the weight room more. He is a project, not quite ready to start. Ras-I Dowling has first round talent but can't stay healthy, our third round QB is a problem child who has had issues in the recent past, our 5th round OL is undergoing chemo for a tumor in his stomach. Half of our draft have question marks other than living up to their potential. It is a risk/reward thing, but I am notsure that taking a risk on half of your draft is such a good idea.

 

[Sicilian]

And if Solder turns into JAG? The reports on him are that he has great "promise" but need to find the weight room more. He is a project, not quite ready to start. Ras-I Dowling has first round talent but can't stay healthy, our third round QB is a problem child who has had issues in the recent past, our 5th round OL is undergoing chemo for a tumor in his stomach. Half of our draft have question marks other than living up to their potential. It is a risk/reward thing, but I am notsure that taking a risk on half of your draft is such a good idea.

So, you're arguing against the Solder pick because he has concerns (like any rookie pick doesn't), while at the same time furious that we didn't draft a position that has a notoriously high bust rate, especially given most of these players are converting from a different position in college? You seem to think that any player we picked has the potential to turn out badly, yet any of these "pass-rushers" we should have taken were sure things. History would tell you that statement is hilariously false.

 

[Rob0729]

And if Solder turns into JAG? The reports on him are that he has great "promise" but need to find the weight room more. He is a project, not quite ready to start. Ras-I Dowling has first round talent but can't stay healthy, our third round QB is a problem child who has had issues in the recent past, our 5th round OL is undergoing chemo for a tumor in his stomach. Half of our draft have question marks other than living up to their potential. It is a risk/reward thing, but I am notsure that taking a risk on half of your draft is such a good idea.

So should the Pats traded up to get Quinn who had a brain tumor, but was the only first round quality OLB that the Pats had a shot at? Every draft prospect has questions about them. To pretend that the Pats' picks have significantly more is silly.

Also, Cannon has first round talent and should be completely recovered by training camp. I think he was one of the steals of the draft.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

So, you're arguing against the Solder pick because he has concerns (like any rookie pick doesn't), while at the same time furious that we didn't draft a position that has a notoriously high bust rate, especially given most of these players are converting from a different position in college? You seem to think that any player we picked has the potential to turn out badly, yet any of these "pass-rushers" we should have taken were sure things. History would tell you that statement is hilariously false.

I am not doing any such thing. What I am arguing is that BB has failed to address the need for a pass rush and it has hurt the team. What f'ing good is it for the Patriots to have two 1's and three 2's if the Patriots are't going to use them? I understand that having another 1 next year is great, but this year we essentially had three number 1's and came away with an tackle and a DB who cannot stay healthy. In the process we passed on the best RB in the draft, three if the top 5 pass rushers in the draft and at least two quality defensive linemen. It doesn't really matter if BB whiffs on his OLB pick at this point, at least he has tried to address a glaring weakness, but he done nothing to this point unless Cunningham is the answer, but he wasn't all that impressive last year.

I am not requesting that he take 4 OLB in the first two rounds, but if you have the ammo in your chamber you may as well use it. Trading into the next draft is nice, but BB hasn't shown me that he will ever use that second pick, but instead would prefer to keep trading it.

Take a shot at it, if you miss, like Shawn Crable (for the record I thought Crable would be the steal of that draft), well you missed, everybody does every once in a while. But if you never try, then you get the ball washers having to make excuses for your inaction. There was one overwhelming need for this team coming out of last season, a pass rush. BB had plenty to work with, he could have traded up in the first or the second. he could have taken a chance on Bowers, who isn't any bigger a rish than Dowling is, he could have taken both Dowling and traded up to get Bowers, instead he takes two JAG RB's and a QB who has talent but will likely never take the field in an important situation for the Pats.

My problem isn't that he tried and failed, it is that he didn't do a thing.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

So should the Pats traded up to get Quinn who had a brain tumor, but was the only first round quality OLB that the Pats had a shot at? Every draft prospect has questions about them. To pretend that the Pats' picks have significantly more is silly.

Also, Cannon has first round talent and should be completely recovered by training camp. I think he was one of the steals of the draft.

The Patriots had two firsts and two seconds and two thirds, suppose BB had traded up to number two and picked Von Miller, Denver wanted to trade out of that spot but couldn't find anybody to trade with, or traded up two spots to take Ryan Kerrigan or kept their pick at 28 and took Can Heywood?

Cannon may be a first round talent, but he is very sick. Solder may become a great tackle, but my guess is that a Von Miller will have more effect on a game by game basis than Solder will. A stud OLB motivates his team and the staduim he plays in. If he is at home a sack in a big situation build the crowd's confidence and helps create a noisy environment, on the road a sack will silence the crowd and take them out of the game.

I think that my biggest complaint is that it really ws the only obvious weakness on the team and BB refused to even address it. He traded out of the position to address it. When the weather gets cold and the games count, the Patriots cannot play a game like they did two years ago against the Ravens, who dominated that game with a big run and a vicious pass rush, or a game like the Jets last year, when the Pats couldn't get a sniff of Sanchez throughout the entire game.

 

[Sicilian]

In the process we passed on the best RB in the draft, three if the top 5 pass rushers in the draft and at least two quality defensive linemen.

According to whom? How many interviews did you do with these players? How many workouts did you personally attend? Or are you just going by what Kiper and McShay are feeding you? We MAY have passed on all those things. Or we may have passed on the next Maroney, Gholston, and Harvey. We just don't know at this point, so your outrage is completely unwarranted.

It doesn't really matter if BB whiffs on his OLB pick at this point, at least he has tried to address a glaring weakness,

Oh, I get it now. You want BB to draft in order to make you feel better, not to actually put a better team on the field. That makes your posts a lot more understandable now.

but he done nothing to this point unless Cunningham is the answer, but he wasn't all that impressive last year.

He was a 2nd round pick who missed training camp and spent the early part of the season playing catchup. After that, I thought he did pretty well, and was our best all around OLB. If you're ready to call a 2nd round rookie in those conditions unimpressive, implying that that's all he'll ever be, then that's all I need to know about your opinions.

There was one overwhelming need for this team coming out of last season, a pass rush.

Not true at all. The pass defense was our biggest weakness, lots of areas had room for improvement, including the run game, and lots of areas were GOING to need improvement as players left in the coming years (OL, TE, etc.).

two JAG RB's

Again, according to whom? For all we know, BB and company had Vereen rated higher than Ingram. You can't call a player a JAG before he's played, then berate someone for not taking another rookie who could just as easily be a JAG, or worse.

My problem isn't that he tried and failed, it is that he didn't do a thing.

No, your problem is that you want BB to draft players he doesn't like just to satisfy your need for a new name.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

According to whom? How many interviews did you do with these players? How many workouts did you personally attend? Or are you just going by what Kiper and McShay are feeding you? We MAY have passed on all those things. Or we may have passed on the next Maroney, Gholston, and Harvey. We just don't know at this point, so your outrage is completely unwarranted.

No more unwarrented than your outrage at my questioning BB for not trying to address this problem.

Oh, I get it now. You want BB to draft in order to make you feel better, not to actually put a better team on the field. That makes your posts a lot more understandable now.

I want BB to address the issues that face this team, and the biggest need on this team is/was/will be pass rush.

He was a 2nd round pick who missed training camp and spent the early part of the season playing catchup. After that, I thought he did pretty well, and was our best all around OLB. If you're ready to call a 2nd round rookie in those conditions unimpressive, implying that that's all he'll ever be, then that's all I need to know about your opinions.

How do you know, where in the original interview? Maybe this is who he is, maybe he is a one sack type of player? Maybe BB hit it big? At least he tried to address an issue that the team has had for at least the last three seasons.

Not true at all. The pass defense was our biggest weakness, lots of areas had room for improvement, including the run game, and lots of areas were GOING to need improvement as players left in the coming years (OL, TE, etc.).

Our secondary was pretty good last year, our safties hit people, recievers had to look out when they came across the middle. Our CB's did well, McCorty was very good and will get better, Arrington did a decent job and will be much better as a nickle this year assuming Bodden comes back and can stay healthy. Run game, top ten in the league. OL, we addressed that, TE, we have two very good rookies from last years draft.

Again, according to whom? For all we know, BB and company had Vereen rated higher than Ingram. You can't call a player a JAG before he's played, then berate someone for not taking another rookie who could just as easily be a JAG, or worse.

I will give that to you, although everybody had Vereen going where he went and Ridley was a 6 or 7th round guy on most draft boards. I have a life, so I have to rely on other people's opinions, and they were pretty much all in agreement with the assessment of the two Pats RB draftees.

No, your problem is that you want BB to draft players he doesn't like just to satisfy your need for a new name.

Seems like BB doesn't like any OLB. The Pats will not get a better pass rush unless they actually try to do something to make it better. They haven't in a couple of years now, and we are 0 for 2 in the playoffs, in a large part because of pass rush. The Ravens had one and we didn't have one against the Jets.

 

[Rob0729]

The Patriots had two firsts and two seconds and two thirds, suppose BB had traded up to number two and picked Von Miller, Denver wanted to trade out of that spot but couldn't find anybody to trade with, or traded up two spots to take Ryan Kerrigan or kept their pick at 28 and took Can Heywood?

Cannon may be a first round talent, but he is very sick. Solder may become a great tackle, but my guess is that a Von Miller will have more effect on a game by game basis than Solder will. A stud OLB motivates his team and the staduim he plays in. If he is at home a sack in a big situation build the crowd's confidence and helps create a noisy environment, on the road a sack will silence the crowd and take them out of the game.

I think that my biggest complaint is that it really ws the only obvious weakness on the team and BB refused to even address it. He traded out of the position to address it. When the weather gets cold and the games count, the Patriots cannot play a game like they did two years ago against the Ravens, who dominated that game with a big run and a vicious pass rush, or a game like the Jets last year, when the Pats couldn't get a sniff of Sanchez throughout the entire game.

First, what if Von Miller turns into more of a Vernon Gholston than a DeMarcus Ware? You really want to trade two firsts and a second or possibly more to trade up for a guy who ultimately doesn't get a single sack in his first three years in the league?

Second, the other two guys aren't great picks for OLB in a two gap 3-4. Kerrigan is generally recognized as an one gapper and not a two gapper and Heyward would be a DE.

Third, Cannon has Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma which was detected very early. His prognosis that he will likely be close to 100% recovered before the start of the season. The 5 year survival rate for this type of cancer is 63% and most of the people who die are people who don't detect it early. Odds are good that he will have a long career as long as he lives up to his potential. Besides it was a fifth rounder. The odds of a healthy fifth rounder lasting more than two years in the league isn't great to begin with.

Fourth, a stud OLB benefits may be more visable to the fans, but a stud LT may be more important to the team. First, he helps keep the QB healthy. A stud OLB will probably not help this team much if Brady tears another ACL. Second, a stud LT will allow the QB not to worry about his blindside and may have an extra second or two. This could be the difference between a 5 yard dump off and a 50 yard TD pass. So a stud LT has far more affect on the success of a team than you give him credit for.

Fifth, how do you know that Belichick refuses to address the OLB issue? Did free agency already happen and pass rushers like Mathias Kiwanuka or Manny Lawson sign elsewhere. Belichick chose not to address it in the draft. That doesn't mean he won't in free agency. If you are worried about 2011, free agency is the better place to get help since the rookies are going to be behind the ball because of the lockout.

Sixth, you said that the Ravens dominated the Pats in the playoffs with a running game and a pass rush. Exactly how does a pass rushing OLB fix that problem? Flacco threw 10 times in that game and only completed 4 passes and had one INT. A dominant pass rush would have done nothing to stop that. On the other hand, a stud LT would have made a difference.

 

[Rob0729]

I am not doing any such thing. What I am arguing is that BB has failed to address the need for a pass rush and it has hurt the team. What f'ing good is it for the Patriots to have two 1's and three 2's if the Patriots are't going to use them? I understand that having another 1 next year is great, but this year we essentially had three number 1's and came away with an tackle and a DB who cannot stay healthy. In the process we passed on the best RB in the draft, three if the top 5 pass rushers in the draft and at least two quality defensive linemen. It doesn't really matter if BB whiffs on his OLB pick at this point, at least he has tried to address a glaring weakness, but he done nothing to this point unless Cunningham is the answer, but he wasn't all that impressive last year.

I am not requesting that he take 4 OLB in the first two rounds, but if you have the ammo in your chamber you may as well use it. Trading into the next draft is nice, but BB hasn't shown me that he will ever use that second pick, but instead would prefer to keep trading it.

Take a shot at it, if you miss, like Shawn Crable (for the record I thought Crable would be the steal of that draft), well you missed, everybody does every once in a while. But if you never try, then you get the ball washers having to make excuses for your inaction. There was one overwhelming need for this team coming out of last season, a pass rush. BB had plenty to work with, he could have traded up in the first or the second. he could have taken a chance on Bowers, who isn't any bigger a rish than Dowling is, he could have taken both Dowling and traded up to get Bowers, instead he takes two JAG RB's and a QB who has talent but will likely never take the field in an important situation for the Pats.

My problem isn't that he tried and failed, it is that he didn't do a thing.

First, the San Deigo Tribune reported yesterday that many believe that based on medical reports that Bowers' career is over and he will never play a down in the NFL. You are crying that the Pats used a fifth round pick on Cannon who should be healthy or close to it by training camp, but feel that Belichick should have drafted Bowers in the second where his career might already be over? Bowers is a far bigger risk than Dowling because, even if he does play, virtually everyone agrees his career is going to be very short and may not last longer than a few years.

Fantasy Football Breaking News - Rotoworld.com

Second, you would rather have Belichick just take a flyer on an OLB and miss than get a guy who he strongly believes will be a solid contributor for years? You would rather draft a Vernon Gholston than a Jerod Mayo just because of the position he plays rather than the Pats knew Mayo was going to be a very solid player in the Pats' defense? How does that make sense?

Third, how do you know that Vereen and Ridley are JAG RBs? Do you know what round the #1 RB in the league was drafted in last year? Here's a hint: He was an UDFA. The Pats had its first 1,000 yard rusher since 2004 in BJGE who was also an UDFA. Meanwhile the Pats' only first round RB that they selected never got 1,000 yards and may be out of the league after only 4 years.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I am not doing any such thing. What I am arguing is that BB has failed to address the need for a pass rush and it has hurt the team. What f'ing good is it for the Patriots to have two 1's and three 2's if the Patriots are't going to use them? I understand that having another 1 next year is great, but this year we essentially had three number 1's and came away with an tackle and a DB who cannot stay healthy. In the process we passed on the best RB in the draft, three if the top 5 pass rushers in the draft and at least two quality defensive linemen. It doesn't really matter if BB whiffs on his OLB pick at this point, at least he has tried to address a glaring weakness, but he done nothing to this point unless Cunningham is the answer, but he wasn't all that impressive last year.

I am not requesting that he take 4 OLB in the first two rounds, but if you have the ammo in your chamber you may as well use it. Trading into the next draft is nice, but BB hasn't shown me that he will ever use that second pick, but instead would prefer to keep trading it.

Take a shot at it, if you miss, like Shawn Crable (for the record I thought Crable would be the steal of that draft), well you missed, everybody does every once in a while. But if you never try, then you get the ball washers having to make excuses for your inaction. There was one overwhelming need for this team coming out of last season, a pass rush. BB had plenty to work with, he could have traded up in the first or the second. he could have taken a chance on Bowers, who isn't any bigger a rish than Dowling is, he could have taken both Dowling and traded up to get Bowers, instead he takes two JAG RB's and a QB who has talent but will likely never take the field in an important situation for the Pats.

My problem isn't that he tried and failed, it is that he didn't do a thing.

And Rome wasn't built in a day.

You have made your point, endlessly. And then even some more.

Why don't you go watch some more film of the great Demarcus Ware and the Cowboys.... looooossssiiinnnggg? :snob: