Spikes Best Game as a Patriot?

[FredFromDartmouth]

Did anyone else notice how he was all over the field making tackles and clobbering guys? Almost every time I saw the RB get whacked there was Spikes at the bottom of the pile (except the Whupping that Mayo out on Peterson at the goal line). Spikes was unblockable and always seemed to be in the right place.

This defense really whacks guys and Spikes is at the forefront. I cannot remember a Patriots defense that was this hard hitting since the Ted Johnson days...

 

[DefenseRules]

I noticed that too. Go back and watch Spikes and Cunningham in college. Those guys were physical...and they brought it to the NFL.

 

[flycessna]

Did anyone else notice how he was all over the field making tackles and clobbering guys? Almost every time I saw the RB get whacked there was Spikes at the bottom of the pile (except the Whupping that Mayo out on Peterson at the goal line). Spikes was unblockable and always seemed to be in the right place.

This defense really whacks guys and Spikes is at the forefront. I cannot remember a Patriots defense that was this hard hitting since the Ted Johnson days...

great reference. I distinctly remember the announcers talking about a bill Belicheck defense knowing how to tackle. I dont think they got away from that as much aas an aging defense slowed them down a bit..This defense is young, fast, healthy and can make you pay for that yardage. As they get smarter and more seasoned I think we can expect some good things...
I am also starting to see some play making abilities coming at the right time from all over the field.... McCourty almost made what would have been an awesome iterception!

And no telling what we will get with those 6 picks in the first 3 rounds next spring..

 

[Patspsycho]

Spikes is nowhere near his potential.

 

[condon84]

Spikes reads running plays at such a high level. And he slips blocks like Tedy used to which is pretty remarkable for a rookie.

Speaking of clobbering people, every time Mayo hit somebody, you'd see their heads snap back. That guy is getting better and is starting to live up to the hype.

 

[Marqui]

Is Spikes/Mayo the best ILB tandem in the league already?

 

[Uncle Rico]

Spikes is nowhere near his potential.

That's the scary part (for the rest of the league). What's scarier is that you can say that about a lot of these Patriots defenders. Deaderick, Brace, Pryor, Cunningham, Chung, Mayo (though he's close), McCourty, Butler (a ways to go, but just one of those guys), Sergio B (did he play yesterday?). All will get even better.

(I'm sure I missed one or two names...)

 

[ausbacker]

I've been saying it for a while now. Assuming the status quo the 2012 Patriots are going to be scary good. I hope the whole bloody defense turns into a death squad for opponents.

 

[The Dynasty]

Spikes reads running plays at such a high level. And he slips blocks like Tedy used to which is pretty remarkable for a rookie.

Speaking of clobbering people, every time Mayo hit somebody, you'd see their heads snap back. That guy is getting better and is starting to live up to the hype.

Mayo really stood Peterson up at the goal line on Petersons "touchdown", that was one of the best hits I've seen out of Mayo. Both very strong guys going in the air and Mayo threw him right back

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I agree that Spikes is only going to get better. Once again, people put too much stock in 40 times, and not enough on what you see on tape. Anyone who watched him play in college, would have told you that this kid has a nose for the ball. He has a Jr. Seau like knack for shooting the gap, and will only get better with time......

Mayo has been an absolute tackling machine, all year. I think that he played hurt all last year, and we kinda forgot about how good he is. That's 4 rookies starting on the defense of the team with the best record in the NFL.

 

[ivanvamp]

That's the scary part (for the rest of the league). What's scarier is that you can say that about a lot of these Patriots defenders. Deaderick, Brace, Pryor, Cunningham, Chung, Mayo (though he's close), McCourty, Butler (a ways to go, but just one of those guys), Sergio B (did he play yesterday?). All will get even better.

(I'm sure I missed one or two names...)

The very exciting thing about this Pats' defense...look at the experience:

Pos - Name (Yr, Age)
DE - Deadrick (R, 22)
NT - Wilfork (7, 28)
DE - Wright (6, 28)
LB - Cunningham (R, 21)
LB - Spikes (R, 22)
LB - Mayo (3, 24)
LB - Ninkovich (5, 26)
CB - McCourty (R, 22)
CB - Arrington (R, 23)
S - Meriweather (4, 26)
S - Sanders (6, 26)

Key subs:
DL - Brace (2, 23)
DL - Pryor (2, 23)
LB - Guyton (3, 24)
LB - Banta-Cain (8, 29)
LB - Fletcher (2, 23)
LB - Crable (3, 25)
DB - Butler (2, 24)
DB - Chung (2, 22)

Etc. Remember when the defense featured a host of guys in their mid- to early- thirties (Vrabel, Harrison, Bruschi, Seau, Thomas, Colvin, etc.)? This defense is very young, very fast, and very talented. They are rapidly improving before our very eyes. It's easy to get excited about what they'll be like in 2011 and 2012. They could be scary good.

 

[JackBauer]

Speaking of clobbering people, every time Mayo hit somebody, you'd see their heads snap back. That guy is getting better and is starting to live up to the hype.

That hit on AP at the goalline (where IMHO Mayo kept him from breaking the plane and hence from scoring the TD) was sweet.

The front seven as a whole have really dialed it up a notch, which was certainly helped by excellent drafting in 09 and 10.

 

[patchick]

Is Spikes/Mayo the best ILB tandem in the league already?

Hmm, presumably the other contenders are Farrior & Timmons (Steelers) and Scott & Harris (Jets). Interesting, discuss.

 

[upstater1]

Did you guys notice that, in the second half, Aikman said the Patriots already stopped the Vikings twice on 4th down? Hah, apparently he agreed the refs blew it.

Since this thread goes beyond Spikes to talk about the Patriots young draftees, I'd like to make this point. Since Belichick has had little success with high-priced free agents, I'm imagining he'll horde as much of his salary cap as he can for the young guys with expiring contracts in the next several years.

One big factor: Jerry Jones is an unhappy camper right now. It was Jones who was a big problem in the last CBA, as he went to war with Brown in Cincinnati, Wilson in Buffalo, the Hunts in KC, Weaver in Jax. Jones wants to expand the salary cap so that big money teams can pay their guys top dollar. If Jones gets his way in this round of negotiations, it's conceivable that the Patriots will have the means to keep this group together for a very long time, and with Tom Brady already wrapped up, that could be a very good thing.

 

[condon84]

That hit on AP at the goalline (where IMHO Mayo kept him from breaking the plane and hence from scoring the TD) was sweet.

The front seven as a whole have really dialed it up a notch, which was certainly helped by excellent drafting in 09 and 10.

Mayo also stopped AP dead on his tracks on another 3rd and short later in the game. Play was going wide and Mayo shot through the hole and met AP and stopped his progress immediately.

I think this was their best game (Spikes and Mayo) together so far.

 

[Wax Frog]

I've been saying it for a while now. Assuming the status quo the 2012 Patriots are going to be scary good. I hope the whole bloody defense turns into a death squad for opponents.

Attn: visiting teams, be sure to pack your brown pants?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Spikes is getting sent on a lot of run blitzes as a counter to the fact he bites on too many fakes and misdirections. It hurts on passing downs, but it has Mayo playing more of a MLB, as opposed to 3-4 ILB, role where he knows he's got more coverage responsibility. The upside to his run blitzes is he is more disruptive in the backfield, which can help the DL and OLB make a play easier. Spikes physical play has been a nice bonus.

 

[reflexblue]

Spikes is my Binky this year, but i was thinking yesterday that i thought he had a reputatuion as a real hard hitter, and that except for a few times i hadn't seen that yet. I'm sorry but the only hit close to a classic Ted Johnson old school hit was Mayo's on the goal line stand. Maybe some haven't seen TJ at his best, find some videos of when the Pats and Steelers played back in the early 2,000's. You'll see TJ stop Jerome Bettis in his tracks in the hole on a regular. Spikes isn't there yet IMO

 

[SuperPatsFan]

Spikes is getting sent on a lot of run blitzes as a counter to the fact he bites on too many fakes and misdirections. It hurts on passing downs, but it has Mayo playing more of a MLB, as opposed to 3-4 ILB, role where he knows he's got more coverage responsibility. The upside to his run blitzes is he is more disruptive in the backfield, which can help the DL and OLB make a play easier. Spikes physical play has been a nice bonus.

I need to rewatch the game to confirm, but it's interesting to watch how BB brings along certain players.

In some cases, a player has to play the system, or he gets benched. In other cases, defensive calls are modified to take advantage of a particular player's strengths.

It might be an example of growing mutual comfort. Players get more comfortable with the system, and BB gets more comfortable that the players have the discipline and ability to execute the system, so he's willing to change things up to allow them to play to their strengths.

The defense's growth is just another reason to look forward to each game.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Remember when the defense featured a host of guys in their mid- to early- thirties (Vrabel, Harrison, Bruschi, Seau, Thomas, Colvin, etc.)? This defense is very young, very fast, and very talented. They are rapidly improving before our very eyes. It's easy to get excited about what they'll be like in 2011 and 2012. They could be scary good.

Nice breakdown- 14 of 19 rotation defensive players in their 4th year or less! This year's team, due to inexperience of the D, may be the weakest NE team we see for the next 4 years, and yet they are atop the NFL halfway through the season.

I hope that the next two drafts will give some youth & added talent to the OL and RB positions and keep this rolling.

Bill Belichick, I bow down to you.