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By John Tomase / Herald Staff:
The linebacking corps got younger for basically the first time since Bill Belichick
became head coach in 2000. How quickly the newcomers pick things up will go a long way toward defining the Pats defense. By the time Super Bowl XLII rolled around, the Patriots boasted the oldest starting linebacker corps in the league. The quartet of Junior Seau, 39, Tedy Bruschi, 34, Mike Vrabel, 32, and Adalius Thomas, 30, averaged a shade under 34 years old. That trend could not continue for another year, so the Pats acted in the draft, snagging Jerod Mayo and Shawn Crable in the first three rounds to bring much-needed youth to the group.
A lot hinges on Mayo. If the rookie can step in and play inside on the weak side, that will allow Vrabel and Thomas to stay outside, where each has made Pro Bowls. It’s a tall order, though. There’s a reason the Pats have shied from taking rookie linebackers since Belichick arrived -- the system is difficult for a newcomer to master and better suited to an experienced veteran. At least that’s the theory, which Mayo and Crable are going to put to the test. The other question is Bruschi and whether he can withstand the pounding on the strong side in his 13th season. The presence of savvy veteran Hobson should help, and Seau’s potential return would add even more depth.
"Jeff's Barr-ometer" It's about time Belichick addressed this glaring need. Aside from the offensive line woes in Super Bowl 42, the Giants did their homework in the film room and exposed the chink in New England's armor. They ran right at the middle of that defense and Eli Manning attacked those soft spots making tight end Kevin Boss look like an all-pro leaving many to think Jeremy Shockey is expendable. Despite their age the LB crew played valiantly and the defense held New York to just 10 points until Manning made arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history by breaking tackles under tremendous pressure hitting David Tyree who also made an unbelievable catch to keep their game winning drive alive. Tyree has even written a book about it. If Ellis Hobbs didn't bite on Plaxico Burress' inside fake on a corner route resulting in the touchdown to win the game history would have been made. To sum it all up the Pats defense did look a step slower allowing the giant offense to move the football and kill the clock. Despite the loss of Asante Samuel this defense will be better and I know Belichick and Scott Pioli have something up their sleeve to offset the loss of Samuel. Training camp is right around the corner and the Pats will be kicking some serious ass starting in September.
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Sunday, 29 June 2008
By John Tomase / Herald Staff: The linebacking corps got younger for basically the first time since Bill Belichick became head coach in...
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