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Post by rkarp on May 3, 2016 9:12:54 GMT -5
Scar-prefers OL pulling, trapping (even the C and T) more mobile, lighter weight Googs-prefers smash mouth, straight ahead, longer arms, good in a confined space Solder was more Scar. Mason was more Scar. Stork was more Googs. Andrews was more Scar. Cannon was more Scar. Vollmer was more Scar. Wardle was more Googs. Wednell was more Scar. Kline was more Googs. So we have a a Scar of Google or GoogleScar OL now? Thuney seems like a perfect Scar OL prospect. I think he is going to compete early for playing time. He needs to gain 10 or so pounds and increase his strength a bit, but he is going to be a good one. exactly. recall that even with Googs the OL coach, BB had Scar on draft try out visits with certain OL...but it has been a mish mash the past 2 seasons, and the run game is what was most effected. Brady release time is what made the passing game work. agree. Thuney is exactly the type of player Scar loves |
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Post by cyncalpatsfan on May 3, 2016 10:44:31 GMT -5
It doesn't really matter, at this point. What they have currently is not what they will have come the first game.
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Post by rkarp on May 3, 2016 10:51:19 GMT -5
It doesn't really matter, at this point. What they have currently is not what they will have come the first game. well...sure it is. the 11-13 guys currently on the 90 man will be whittled down to 9 for the 53 man roster and another 1 or 2 for the PS |
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Post by pcm4 on May 3, 2016 16:42:24 GMT -5
The OL will be better. Solder back healthy, Shaq (who has insane upside) another year in, the additions of Cooper and Thuney and the return of the best OL coach in the game all help.
The DL is more of a mystery. Really depends on how the new additions play as well as how much the 2nd year guys develop. One guy to look out for imo is Grissom. He has a real bend the edge quality that I don't think anyone else on the roster has. I saw a cutup of a handful of the limited snaps he got last year and the flashes were just bananas.
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Post by mthurl on May 3, 2016 17:33:53 GMT -5
I think it's strange that they basically revamped their defensive line, losing three young players (Jones, Easley, and the tackle from NO). That's some good young talent. Also those guys were more in line with 43 players, and the players they brought in during free agency and the draft are 34 tackles...so de we have enough linebackers to play the 34? Do we have enough DT's that can penetrate? Where's the first rounder from last year going to play? 34 end? 43 tackle? Because at least to me there's not enough 43 tackles and ends on the roster right now...and there's not enough 34 linebackers either.
I'll take a wait and see approach, but I know what we lost, and that was a lot. And I know what we gained (and on paper it doesn't seem like enough). We'll see.
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Post by wonderdrums on May 3, 2016 21:04:45 GMT -5
Hard to tell. Looks like they moved from a penetrating 43 DL to the old 34 bulk DL I wasn't a big fan of getting no pressure on QB's pre 2014 but we'll have to wait and see how this one turns out. But they completely swap what their DL does in a single season As for OL they added a couple players without losing any big pieces so they should be better but it depends how much they improve They definitely added some bulk to the DT position. I wasn't a big fan of the 2014 no pressure defense either but I don't forsee that happening with this group of players. The first difference to me is the bulk you mention. No disrespect to Big Vince, but he was a shell of himself and they really didn't have anyone to line up next to him besides Jones, Branch, and Silva. I expect Malcolm Brown, Knighton, Valentine, and Branch to out perform the 14' group. I think we'll see the reins taken off of Collins and Hightower to blitz more especially with the DTs swallowing up opposing lineman. On the outside I believe Sheard is capable of double digit sacks. Nink is slowing down a little but still capable, and Flowers and Grissom will bring a rotation of fresh legs they need. The X factor here is Chris Long. He could go either way. The Pats have three capable corners and a deep talented safety group so I'm optimistic they can make the QB hold the ball long enough for the front 7 to cause havoc. I agree with most posters here that health and the return of Scar will be the biggest difference maker on the OL this year. With the addition of two more guards in this years draft, NE has a lot of movable parts along the LOS. I'm confident that coaching will find the best combination to protect whomever is under center this season. Ill say both the OL and DL are better than last season. Go Pats! |
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Post by PatsRule on May 4, 2016 6:02:22 GMT -5
Overall, it seems that the Defense in general has switched around a bit from last year. DBs: If you recall, last year, this time, we were all wondering how we would cope w/o Revis. We did quite all right. Butler and Ryan were quite good. We don't have that kind of gut wrenching feeling this year. Quite the opposite, I feel our secondary is in great shape with couple of great looking draftees. LBs: The LB corp is great. If Shea McClellin works out, we will be in great shape, if not, there is a particularly steep drop off in case of injuries. DTs: The DT position I think is in better shape, but only if "pot roast" is not a bust like Haynesworth (we got that bum off Washington too). DEs: I think the real question mark is here. Not that Chandler Jones was the North Star, but he had great moments and we have no one like that. Nink, Sheard, Long, Grissom & Flowers. We seem a bit weak there. But BB will mask it; Only one drawback, no one will ever know! So overall, with changes and all, I would not be surprised if we were like last year - very good. Quite frankly, last year, the STs lost us at least two games and sucked otherwise. So as close as AFCCG was, the ST put us in a terrible position to play in Denver. That Eagles game, ugh. Good post man. I would say that BB has also improved ST via the offseason so far. A few of those kids he drafted are ST demons, and he signed a couple of FA ones as well. I expect a big jump in our ST play this year. And I agree with you Lifer. So the two troublesome areas last year: 1. Offense: ravaged by injuries. With little bit of luck and the fact that at least 2 solid additions in FA as well as draft, the offense might be fantastic, like it usually is. 2. ST: they truly sucked. If you noticed, that was after the Denver game, where we all thought, Slater was done for the year. He was never the same. Additionally, w/o Amendola & Edelman, our PR sucked. Then, many of the rookies in ST screwed up. so there is a lot to fix. Till I actually see with my own eyes for 2+4 games (1st and 3rd preseason, and 4 regular), I am gonna need Zantax. |
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mellymel6
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Post by mellymel6 on May 4, 2016 8:49:44 GMT -5
So we have a a Scar of Google or GoogleScar OL now? Thuney seems like a perfect Scar OL prospect. I think he is going to compete early for playing time. He needs to gain 10 or so pounds and increase his strength a bit, but he is going to be a good one. exactly. recall that even with Googs the OL coach, BB had Scar on draft try out visits with certain OL...but it has been a mish mash the past 2 seasons, and the run game is what was most effected. Brady release time is what made the passing game work. agree. Thuney is exactly the type of player Scar loves I also agree...With Scar, the Pat's love to use TFB's ability to use play-action fakes to set up intricate inside-the-tackles trap running game and is willing to pull even tackles from one side to the other, usually Solder, to lead the blocking. You get lot's of confusion and motion going on and run a smaller back through a hole made by a 6-5 or 6-7 guard or tackle and the small back only needs a crease to get through for 5 or 7 yards. Then that makes the short passing game to the TE's and crossing routes even more effective. |
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