New England Patriots Links 7/27/10 - Crable on PUP; Questions on Defense

Tedy Bruschi offers his thoughts on the significant change-up in linebackers and in the defensive backfield.

I think the combination of Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Brandon Spikes and Tyrone McKenzie is a good group at inside linebacker. Look for all four players to get experience at both spots -- the "Mike" and the "Will." It's vital that the inside linebackers have experience at both inside spots. The reads and responsibilities can be very different and it's very easy for an offense to flip a formation to make the linebackers change their assignments to the other position. Think about a tight end that shifts from one side of the formation to another. If the linebackers don't move, the "Mike" now becomes the "Will" and vice versa. This is a tactic used by offenses to exploit young linebacking corps. At outside linebacker, the Patriots coaches are hoping that Jermaine Cunningham will be the answer on one side. Tully Banta-Cain can get it done on the other. Derrick Burgess, Pierre Woods, Rob Ninkovich and Shawn Crable all have their individual question marks on if they can consistently contribute over a 16-game season. So the development of Cunningham will be one to watch closely throughout training camp.

I think the safety position may be the strongest on the defense with Brandon Meriweather, Brandon McGowan, Patrick Chung and James Sanders. Out of those four, you have four solid players possibly starting for you over the course of the year. Let's see if Meriweather can build upon his Pro Bowl season. Patrick Chung is a player that I think picked it up very quickly last year. He has the desire to be a good player and is starting to realize what it takes to be a true professional. I think he has tremendous upside. At cornerback, I feel confident with Leigh Bodden on one side. Out of Darius Butler and Devin McCourty, they should be able to find someone they feel comfortable starting opposite of Bodden. You need three good corners to play good defense in this league. With Bodden, you have one. If Butler makes positive strides, you possibly have two. You're also hoping a rookie can contribute. That's a lot to hope for, but you still have a chance to have three good corners.

TEAM TALK

• The New England Patriots announced the signing of second-round draft choices TE Rob Gronkowski and DL Jermaine Cunningham.
• The New England Patriots will kick off their 2010 Training Camp on Thursday, July 29 and is scheduled to run through August 16th.
• Andy Hart breaks down the training camp battles along the defensive line.
• Mike Nugent reports Camp Harbor View in Quincy, MA dedicated their new field, "New England Patriots Field" with Josh Kraft and Andre Tippett on hand for the ceremony.
• Patriots Today - Safety position battle. (4.02 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Albert Breer reports 2nd-round pick Brandon Spikes signed a 4-year deal with a max value of just over $3.2 million with a $960k signing bonus.
• Ian Rapoport notes Randy Moss is in town and "excited to get started."  There goes Randy sweet talking me again.
• Mark Farinella looks at five pressing areas of concern for the Patriots, on both sides of the ball.
• Mike Reiss Camp countdown: Defensive changes.
• Jeff Howe feels the Patriots are secure at cornerback, with just one spot still up for grabs.
• Karen Guregian looks at six spots up for grabs at Patriots camp.
• Christopher Price rates the roster: Training Camp edition (Part 4).
• Albert Breer's Training Camp Preview, Part 1: Contract issues. (1.47 min. video)
• Albert Breer's Training Camp Preview, Part 2: What to expect this season. (1.51 min. video)
• Tedy Bruschi breaks down the trials of training camp.
• Mark Farinella notes that it will be a shortened training camp schedule for the public this year.
• Jeff Howe points out Bill Belichick's championship defenses have been flooded with some awesome linebackers, and looks at the current group heading into camp.
• Jeff Howe lists 25 things that need to happen for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl.
• Peter King was a guest on WEEI's Dale & Holley show.
• Tom E. Curran says Tom Brady is still the best in the biz. (1.42 min. video)
• Tom E. Curran analyzes whether Bill Belichick still has the edge. (1.23 min. video)
• Albert Breer scouts the schedule: Green Bay Packers.
• Ron Borges asserts a lockout could cost the owners.
• The Inside Track reports 'Professor' Tom Brady will appear in a new Comcast ad campaign.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Tim Graham (ESPN) AFC East training camp preview.
• Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) NFL pre-camp previews: AFC East.
• Andrew Brandt (Nat'l Football Post) Brady, Manning and their expiring contracts. Part 1 of 2.
  
• Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots' final WR spot: Holt vs. Aiken?
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Chow rankings: Pats best, Fins worst.
• Aaron Wilson (Nat'l Football Post) Jets taking a pass on Adalius Thomas.
• Adam Schefter (ESPN) Sources: Jets reach out to Owens' agent.
• Adam Caplan (Fox Sports) Holdouts that may alter NFL landscape.