Insult to...
It may be time to look at the 800-lb gorilla and ask if he wants a banana. Because it's Bill Belichick's seventh season in New England (where did the time go?) and once again we're entering the season with a long injury list and a bunch of second- and third-stringers starting for us. What's happening?
Since I'm on the company nickel as I write this, I won't attempt a statistical breakdown of the Pats vs. other teams' injury rate, but I note that year in and year out - including Super Bowl years - the Pats lead the league in number of different starters. It's always in the 40's, and the runners-up are always teams that have single-digits in the win column.
So what's up? Why can't Bill keep them on the field? Certainly his coaching and personnel savvy have saved the day more than once. I think the roadblock to a fourth Super Bowl victory last year was Tom Brady's sports hernia more than anything else.
But why do we constantly have to go so deep into the roster? Why did we start rookies Nick Kazcur and Logan Mankins on the OL all year? Why was Cory Dillon off the field so much? Why did we start Hank Poteat so much?
Where have all the linebackers gone?
I don't really know the answer, and I don't begin to quibble with the results. But why is 60-year-old Junior Seau playing ILB for us? Why do we have to carry like 35 DB's on the roster just to field four - often including WR Troy Brown?
It may have to do with run support. One of the keys to stopping a running game - particularly in a 3-4 defense - is to have the safeties and corners stand up to the run. But when 185 to 200 lb players start messing with 260 lb TE's and 300 lb OL's, bad things are going to happen. Ask Rodney Harrison.
Is there an answer? If the system - and its success - is predicated on 11-man run defense, the only answer may be to keep 35 DB's on the roster and burn through them. But why is DL Ty Warren out for the opener? And rookies Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson?
I guess the fundamental question is this: does Bill Belichick take unnecessary risks in practice? Does he work his guys too hard and too violently in practice? Does he take too many chances - starters playing special teams, all-universe DL Richard Seymour getting hurt playing FB?
Dunno. I know his way works. But I must admit to some disappointment in the injury lists.
And one more thing - I don't have any problem in their keeping a lid on injury information. They are not the government, there is not 'freedom of NFL information act.' If they get a competitive edge from running things that way, so be it. It's one thing for the Bush administration to declare everything down to the president's boogers a state secret, it's another thing entirely for a sports organization to keep things quiet.
Since I'm on the company nickel as I write this, I won't attempt a statistical breakdown of the Pats vs. other teams' injury rate, but I note that year in and year out - including Super Bowl years - the Pats lead the league in number of different starters. It's always in the 40's, and the runners-up are always teams that have single-digits in the win column.
So what's up? Why can't Bill keep them on the field? Certainly his coaching and personnel savvy have saved the day more than once. I think the roadblock to a fourth Super Bowl victory last year was Tom Brady's sports hernia more than anything else.
But why do we constantly have to go so deep into the roster? Why did we start rookies Nick Kazcur and Logan Mankins on the OL all year? Why was Cory Dillon off the field so much? Why did we start Hank Poteat so much?
Where have all the linebackers gone?
I don't really know the answer, and I don't begin to quibble with the results. But why is 60-year-old Junior Seau playing ILB for us? Why do we have to carry like 35 DB's on the roster just to field four - often including WR Troy Brown?
It may have to do with run support. One of the keys to stopping a running game - particularly in a 3-4 defense - is to have the safeties and corners stand up to the run. But when 185 to 200 lb players start messing with 260 lb TE's and 300 lb OL's, bad things are going to happen. Ask Rodney Harrison.
Is there an answer? If the system - and its success - is predicated on 11-man run defense, the only answer may be to keep 35 DB's on the roster and burn through them. But why is DL Ty Warren out for the opener? And rookies Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson?
I guess the fundamental question is this: does Bill Belichick take unnecessary risks in practice? Does he work his guys too hard and too violently in practice? Does he take too many chances - starters playing special teams, all-universe DL Richard Seymour getting hurt playing FB?
Dunno. I know his way works. But I must admit to some disappointment in the injury lists.
And one more thing - I don't have any problem in their keeping a lid on injury information. They are not the government, there is not 'freedom of NFL information act.' If they get a competitive edge from running things that way, so be it. It's one thing for the Bush administration to declare everything down to the president's boogers a state secret, it's another thing entirely for a sports organization to keep things quiet.
posted by fiduciary at 9:07 AM
2 Comments:
The Pats roster does seem to be pretty decimated already as it has been the past few years. One factor seems to be the salary cap - teams are pretty much forced to spend money on their starting guys, and even then can only afford quality starters at most of the positions, not all. It seems like in the pre-salary cap days or maybe the early days of the cap, teams would keep the same backups year after year and have longer to develop players. Now, either the rookies are ready to play in year 1 or 2 or they are cut. I don't think that explains all of this but that might be a factor. I also think the athletes themselves are getting to a level where they are truly dangerous to each other on the field. You look at a guy weighing 280-290 lbs running 4.6 speed and slamming into a 210 RB at full speed leading with his helmet, its a miracle any of these guys make it through a full season.
That's so true about the size and speed of these players. Former Giants/Colts DL Chad Brazke said in an interview once: "The pads don't keep you from getting hurt; they keep you from getting killed."
Too true. You wonder what the future holds. I'm surprised there haven't been more innovations in the padding. Where are the next generation materials? Where are the cords connecting the helmet to the shoulder pads to protect the neck? Where's the 'smart' knee brace that kicks in to protect the knee from hyperextending?
I think part of all this is that most players are just meat to ownership. Like they said in "North Dallas 40" - "we're the equipment."
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