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Re: Bradley and Rogers not up to the challenge.
I am hearing a lot of TBC bashing, I don't want to put him in Canton but as a backup and special teamer I thought he served his role and even managed to get 5+ sacks. I have no doubt that his responsiblities were paired down in coverage, this is to be expected for most DE/OLB conversions.
As far as getting run over they only game that stands out to me was San Diego, and they ran over a lot of teams. TBC was not alone, Seymour was driven back constantly by McNeil (6'7, 337), Bruschi was getting destroyed by their TE Manumaleuna (really just a OT with a TE number, 6'2, 288), throw in a FB like Neal and a runner like LT and it becomes a very effective power running attack (best in the NFL by far). On several of the plays TBC set the edge but Seymour or Bruschi couldn't get over to close the hole before LT (top 5 runner of all time) shot right through. And the screen passes were just scary, our LBs were 2 yards away at the start and 20 yards away at the end of the play (most of the screens were to Vrabels side).
What other games did TBC get run over in?
Against Indy it was strategic decision to play Vrabel outside (better pass rush) and Alexander inside (for... ummm... better coverage of the TE? how did that workout?). I don't think it had anything to do with TBCs ability to stop the run, Indy and SD are completely different offenses and it was a gameplan decision.
If Bruschi plays SILB in 2007 we should expect to see teams running right at him. Smart teams like Indy have been picking on him even when he lines up at WILB. Colvin is not exactly great at setting the edge either but a healthy Seymour makes a huge difference.
Personally I was hoping to see Bradley at SILB with some potential to lineup outside if necessary. He may not have been the true run stopper like Ted Johnson but may have had potential to play on all 3 down unlike Seau or TJ.
But the Patriots drafting a first day LB is like the great white elephant, we have heard it is possible and it may exist but no one has ever seen one to prove it.
Time will tell if Rogers makes anything other than the Pats PS. And I'll keep an eye on Bradley. I know a lot of you guys like Bradley and maybe a couple of you have watched him for years as a Cornhusker, but if you objectively try to project him into the Pats defense, he begins to look a lot like TBC and we know that the TBC types don't work.
To answer an earlier question, look at the Pats secondary when TBC was in the game. They are double rotating on his side. This is done because BB has pared down a lot of the coverage responsibilities for TBC. Of course opposing teams just ran at TBC and it basically negated all the clever scheming.
I am hearing a lot of TBC bashing, I don't want to put him in Canton but as a backup and special teamer I thought he served his role and even managed to get 5+ sacks. I have no doubt that his responsiblities were paired down in coverage, this is to be expected for most DE/OLB conversions.
As far as getting run over they only game that stands out to me was San Diego, and they ran over a lot of teams. TBC was not alone, Seymour was driven back constantly by McNeil (6'7, 337), Bruschi was getting destroyed by their TE Manumaleuna (really just a OT with a TE number, 6'2, 288), throw in a FB like Neal and a runner like LT and it becomes a very effective power running attack (best in the NFL by far). On several of the plays TBC set the edge but Seymour or Bruschi couldn't get over to close the hole before LT (top 5 runner of all time) shot right through. And the screen passes were just scary, our LBs were 2 yards away at the start and 20 yards away at the end of the play (most of the screens were to Vrabels side).
What other games did TBC get run over in?
Against Indy it was strategic decision to play Vrabel outside (better pass rush) and Alexander inside (for... ummm... better coverage of the TE? how did that workout?). I don't think it had anything to do with TBCs ability to stop the run, Indy and SD are completely different offenses and it was a gameplan decision.
If Bruschi plays SILB in 2007 we should expect to see teams running right at him. Smart teams like Indy have been picking on him even when he lines up at WILB. Colvin is not exactly great at setting the edge either but a healthy Seymour makes a huge difference.
Personally I was hoping to see Bradley at SILB with some potential to lineup outside if necessary. He may not have been the true run stopper like Ted Johnson but may have had potential to play on all 3 down unlike Seau or TJ.
But the Patriots drafting a first day LB is like the great white elephant, we have heard it is possible and it may exist but no one has ever seen one to prove it.
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