FanPost

Why the Pats defence SCARES me.


While I firmly believe that NO defence in the entire NFL can hope to contain, never mind stop our offence, I do believe we are vulnerable on defence and that scares me. All is not doom and gloom though so let's address that first. For the purpose of our discussion let's agree the Pats run a base 4-2-5 alignment. Up front we have a exceptional group of linemen; Malcolm Brown is a beast, a stout and wide bodied stud. Terrance Knighton is another master move by coach Belicheck. Chris Long if healthy will be playing mad, and that's very good for us. He's made his money, hasn't many years left and is now playing for the ultimate prize, the Lombardi. Throw in Allen Branch and we have a group who will be provocative, disruptive and wrecking havoc on all offensive lines. PS no I haven't forgotten Vincent Valentine who's a terrific prospect who will clog traffic up the gut and set the parameters between the guards. So far so good.

Linebacker. We are blessed with TWO all-world ' backers in Hightower and Collins. Most teams have maybe one stud linebacker but not two, definitely not two! Im going to include Ninkovich and Shea McClellin both here and as Edge setters as Belicheck has been giving both of them time at both positions. Time will tell where they line up but suffice to say that this group is the very soul of this team. Again, I believe they rival any group in the NFL. Sadly this brings us to what I believe is the Achilles heel of an otherwise world class group.

Our DB's and safeties constitute an average group at best. Believe me when I say it pains me to say this but this group does NOT separate us from the very best on other teams. They are very good but not ELITE. Yes Malcolm Butler made the definitive play in our last Super Bowl, but I would suggest to you dear readers that he's defended that play countless times in the past but not, obviously, on the world stage with billions watching and the ball on the 1 foot line. A gift from the dreaded Seahawks and I'll be thankful to my final days. Having said that is Butler a top 5 DB in the league? Top ten? I suggest he isn't. None of the Patriot DB's are top 10 in my amateur estimation. And thus my fear. I shudder to think that these guys will be the reason we don't win #5 this year. And that pisses me off. Big Time. We don't have an Ed Reed, a Reevis , a Harrison a Chancellor or even an Eric Berry. Our genius coach, all due respect, refuses to draft anyone 6'0 or better, no one long and lean, no one that owns the middle of the field who strikes fear in opposing wide receivers.Whats the most glaring trend as of the last several years? Big Strong athletic wide outs. We lose that physical match up every time. Yes our guys are quick and fast, but there not big and long. I've got my fingers crossed. In Bill We Trust.

The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SB Nation.