Pats defense set?

[Ring 6]

I think Burgess played mostly rush end, plus that was 4 years and countless inuries ago. The guy looks very average so far.

The Pats have all the players to be good on defense, I don't see them being 'excellent' but they may not have to be. Stopping the run is going to be critical, Jets, Ravens, Atlanta will all focus on a power running attack. The first few games could be a real tone setter, hopefully help the defense regain some of the swagger that seems to have been misisng lately.

Interestingly there is a lot of focus on the pass rushers and cover guys, but when we dominated on defense we STIOPPED THE RUN and put the pass D in a position of strength.
I suggest that the reason the issues we have seen in pass D have been highlighted is because we havent been dominant against the run to make teams one-dimensional, which is the key to our defense.
I do think however, that part of the problem we had was a lack of speed/quickness/ahtleticism in coverage (CB,S,LB) that had us at a disadvantage in 2minute D. I'm confident we are better in speed/quickness/athleticism in those situations than we have been since 2004.

 

[satz]

1)Lenon the guy who cannot get on the pratice field has taken bru spot cool

2)Burgess who lined up as a pass rushing DE in 4-3 sub package according to resis,price and casper all camp has taken over the OLB spot .OLB - seriously.
all opposing offence must scared to roll a RB to the flats or or put a TE in H back roll and have burgess cover them now. As you know he is a starting OLB who can cover TE and RB .Possibliy a reason he never practiced it in traning camp.

 

[Marqui]

The guy looks very average so far.

Yea, Im praying hes just saving his energy for the real games because if not then our defense is in huge trouble again.

 

[cstjohn17]

Interestingly there is a lot of focus on the pass rushers and cover guys, but when we dominated on defense we STIOPPED THE RUN and put the pass D in a position of strength.

The focus is natural because of how poor the pass defense looked last year. Similar to 2007 if the Pats get stake early leads opponents may become one dimensional.

I see a defensive unit with at least enought depth to go from good to average or very good to good. In the past if a top line player went down things went downhill quickly.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

The focus is natural because of how poor the pass defense looked last year. Similar to 2007 if the Pats get stake early leads opponents may become one dimensional.

I see a defensive unit with at least enought depth to go from good to average or very good to good. In the past if a top line player went down things went downhill quickly.

I see a defense that needs a lot of help from the offense.

I think our pass rush is weak to non existent.

I think Mayo and Guyton are not strong stack and shed run defenders and if they are making tackles 4 to 5 yards down field as opposed to at the LOS, then we are doomed.

BB has a strong D-Line and over the past several years, he has revamped the secondary very nicely. But the strength of any 3-4 defense is the linebacker core and I have a lot of questions about our current group.

If I was an opponent and saw Woods and Thomas lined up at OLB, I would slide the TE over to Thomas's side and pass everytime.

If I was an oppinent and saw Burgess and Thomas lined up at OLB, Would call for a power run because Guyton and Mayo tend to tackle downfield as opposed to the LOS.

 

[patriotscpfc]

Have only read the first few pages,

From the defense named.

My only change would be Wilhite for Springs. He's going to be great.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

I see a defense that needs a lot of help from the offense.

I think our pass rush is weak to non existent.

I think Mayo and Guyton are not strong stack and shed run defenders and if they are making tackles 4 to 5 yards down field as opposed to at the LOS, then we are doomed.

BB has a strong D-Line and over the past several years, he has revamped the secondary very nicely. But the strength of any 3-4 defense is the linebacker core and I have a lot of questions about our current group.

If I was an opponent and saw Woods and Thomas lined up at OLB, I would slide the TE over to Thomas's side and pass everytime.

If I was an oppinent and saw Burgess and Thomas lined up at OLB, Would call for a power run because Guyton and Mayo tend to tackle downfield as opposed to the LOS.

Good analysis. Although Mayo was in on a lot of tackles last year, there weren't really any impact tackles. For example, as you point out, he rarely met players at the line of scrimmage. Instead, most of his tackles were 4-5 yards down field. I think Mayo is going to be one of the best MLB's in the NFL, but he's a little overrated right now.

 

[livinginthe past]

I see a defense that needs a lot of help from the offense.

I think our pass rush is weak to non existent.

I think Mayo and Guyton are not strong stack and shed run defenders and if they are making tackles 4 to 5 yards down field as opposed to at the LOS, then we are doomed.

BB has a strong D-Line and over the past several years, he has revamped the secondary very nicely. But the strength of any 3-4 defense is the linebacker core and I have a lot of questions about our current group.

If I was an opponent and saw Woods and Thomas lined up at OLB, I would slide the TE over to Thomas's side and pass everytime.

If I was an oppinent and saw Burgess and Thomas lined up at OLB, Would call for a power run because Guyton and Mayo tend to tackle downfield as opposed to the LOS.

I see Chicken Little.

 

[Marqui]

I see a defense that needs a lot of help from the offense.

I think our pass rush is weak to non existent.

I think Mayo and Guyton are not strong stack and shed run defenders and if they are making tackles 4 to 5 yards down field as opposed to at the LOS, then we are doomed.

BB has a strong D-Line and over the past several years, he has revamped the secondary very nicely. But the strength of any 3-4 defense is the linebacker core and I have a lot of questions about our current group.

If I was an opponent and saw Woods and Thomas lined up at OLB, I would slide the TE over to Thomas's side and pass everytime.

If I was an oppinent and saw Burgess and Thomas lined up at OLB, Would call for a power run because Guyton and Mayo tend to tackle downfield as opposed to the LOS.

So basically the defense sucks. Great.

 

[Patspsycho]

Yea, Im praying hes just saving his energy for the real games because if not then our defense is in huge trouble again.

Don't forget he's out of shape. He was holding out in Raiders TC.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Campbell the comedian - Redskins 360 - Washington Times

Asked about going against New England Patriots newcomer Springs, his teammate the past four years whom he faced in practice as the scout team quarterback in 2005, Campbell teased, "You know Springs. Let me see if he's going to play first. Me and Springs are good friends so I can joke with him like that."

 

[TheComeback]

No he didnt.

Yeah he did. Go look up the facts. Oakland ran 3-4 package as part of its defense a few years ago, and Burgess was one of the outside linebackers in the package.

 

[TheComeback]

No he didnt.

"Whatever reason" is that this is the best role for Burgess on this team.
His strengths and weaknesses are not a tremendous fit for what we want at OLB on 1st and 10 in our base D against opponent X. They are, however, what we want in our sub packages, which we use about 50% of the time; using them on 3rd down, on many 2nds, on first downs in score/clock situations, and on almost every down against some opponents.
Burgess will be stronger on the 50% of the snaps he plays, and the team will be stronger doing what they want to do in the other 50% that he is not on the field.
I dont know why this is a surprise or a concern. We went out and got a guy to help with the pass rush. That means he will play when we need him to rush. I'm sure he could earn more time by showing skills it is not apparent he possesses at this time, but that is still to be seen.
If we were better in situations where the other team is obviously going to pass (particularly the last 2 minutes of a half and game, and when we are ahead earlier in the 4th) we would have at least 2 more Championships.
I don't know why anyone really cares if Derrick Burgess is ever asked to make a single tackle on a running play as long as he rushes the passer, and when you add Wilhite, Wheatley, Butler, Bodden, Springs, Chung to the secondary that couldn't get that job done in the biggest game 2 years in a row, I cant understand how there could be any negative feeling about the upcoming season by any Patsfan.

Andy, I don't think Belichick gave up two picks for a one-trick pony. He even spoke of Burgess' "versatility," albeit vaguely, after the trade was completed. It may that he only plays in sub packages, but I think he will have a bigger role than just rushing the passer on every play.

I don't know that versatility Burgess supposedly has is, but it may well be that he plays better against the run, or in coverage, than we have given him credit for.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Andy, I don't think Belichick gave up two picks for a one-trick pony. He even spoke of Burgess' "versatility," albeit vaguely, after the trade was completed. It may that he only plays in sub packages, but I think he will have a bigger role than just rushing the passer on every play.

I don't know that versatility Burgess supposedly has is, but it may well be that he plays better against the run, or in coverage, than we have given him credit for.

One thing at a time. Woods is adequate for the base defense, and Burgess can get acclimated working on the 3-4 in practice situations at first. By the time Indy and NO role around after the bye week, Burgess will hopefully have enough time getting acclimated to the Past scheme to be able to play regularly on first down, and then provide better pass rush on those play-action fakes than Woods, while still serviceably setting the edge and defensing the run.

 

[Ring 6]

Andy, I don't think Belichick gave up two picks for a one-trick pony. He even spoke of Burgess' "versatility," albeit vaguely, after the trade was completed. It may that he only plays in sub packages, but I think he will have a bigger role than just rushing the passer on every play.

I don't know that versatility Burgess supposedly has is, but it may well be that he plays better against the run, or in coverage, than we have given him credit for.

Why? Are you seriously trying to say you can conclude anything from anything BB says to the media about anyone?
A player who plays half of the snaps is an extremely important player.
By your description NFL teams are paying 100s of millions of $$ for 'one trick ponies'. One is named Freeney.
Its OK go ahead and expct an aging player to change positions and develop techniques and skills he has never used. I'll stick with the recognition that players on a BB team have roles, and Burgess role is to rush the QB. And that is a very important role.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah he did. Go look up the facts. Oakland ran 3-4 package as part of its defense a few years ago, and Burgess was one of the outside linebackers in the package.

I guess I misunderstood. I thought you said he played 34
OLB like it was his position. You are right. The Raiders had a 34 in their playbook that they used in some situations (i think it was a red zone mostly) so yes, the man play 30 or so snaps once at the position in a limitied pacakge. Your point?