Anybody know how this udfa is doing in camp? he seems like he has nice potential and a good opportunity here. "The reported signing of linebacker Jeff Tarpinian is definitely an interesting one. At 6'2", 235, he is a little bit undersized compared to the typical 3-4 inside linebacker for the Patriots. However, he has tremendous athleticism, and is stronger than you'd give him credit for (and is willing to take on blocks). He is also effective in coverage. At his Pro Day, he ran a 4.56 second 40 yard dash, 4.1 second shuttle, and a 6.78 second time in the three cone drill. The main concern surrounding Tarpinian is his health: he had a really hard time staying on the field for the Hawkeyes. However, when healthy, he really produced."
Posted by arodrambone

just wondering where the chinks in the armor might be. perhaps vs shifty running backs. Ellis might get beat to the edge on his side, speedwise, and Carter, Anderson, and Cunningham are all unexceptional setting the edge. if Spikes is going to man the mlb spot, his lack of range will be exposed. guyton should do okay outside, but mayo might need to play in the middle. who else can play outside in a 43? Fletcher? our dbs are all good against the run, so big runs outside should be limited. Reggie Bush, Spiller from Buf, LT to a much less extent. i'm wondering if Chung could play a lbish role in some packages. linebacker would appear to be the biggest weakness right now, followed by de run defense. not that i would trade this d for any other in the league. pretty freaking exciting.
Posted by arodrambone

In Response to potential weaknesses of this D. :      It's much too early to speculate how good this "D" will be. Much depends on how Haynesworth plays.  
Posted by TexasPat3

Pretty Simple.  Age (wearing down over full season) and injuries.  Already Haynesworth has missed 3 straight practices, brace is on PUP as usual, Spikes is out, Wright is coming of a serious concussion, bodden coming back from missing a full year.  Mayo missed half a season with knee.  Pats seem to have trouble staying healthy. Seriously if anything happens to Wilfork, watch out.
Posted by Patsman3

In Response to Re: potential weaknesses of this D. : That about wraps it up. If Albert Haynesworth plays as well as he can, this defense will transform itself overnight. He and Wilfork paired up will free up everyone around them to make plays in the running game and pass defense. Players like Mayo, Spikes, and Chung will blossom in ways they couldn't, simply because they have spent so much time wading through trash and trying to make up for the fact that Ne had to send five or six to get any pressure. In short, the margin for error in the backfield will shrink, and the 'space' to make plays on the ball and ballcarrier (ints & ff's) will grow. If Haynesworth is a shell of himself, or is mentally erratic, then the defense will only be marginally improved.
Posted by zbellino

Mike Reiss on Haynesworth not practicing: FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There have been a lot of questions from followers on Twitter about defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth and missing practice. Haynesworth hasn't been on the field for the last three sessions, and given his reputation, the absence has garnered headlines. That's fair. This somewhat reminds me of 2007 training camp with Randy Moss. Moss lit things up early in camp before slightly tweaking his hamstring. The Patriots played in safe, shutting him down until the regular season. There were questions throughout the preseason if Moss would be ready, then in the season opener against the Jets, they were answered with authority when he raced through triple coverage on a long-bomb 51-yard strike. Haynesworth, like Moss, had a strong start to camp in 2011. On his first play, he exploded past a blocker in a half-line running drill, blowing up the play in a glimpse of the type of disruption he could create when motivated. There were a few other plays like that before his workload was reduced. Why was the workload reduced? I think Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet was on to something when he reported on Haynesworth's " history of summer knee maintenance " over the weekend, and how that maintenance has probably extended into training camp because of the lockout. As reported by the Washington Post in 2009 , Haynesworth has received an offseason injection of Synvisc, which is similar to natural knee fluid, since his final two years in Tennessee (2007-2008). Haynesworth was in good enough shape to pass his physical when the Patriots acquired him in a trade, which is important context here. Then in practice, there wasn't anything noticeable that happened from an injury perspective, although Haynesworth certainly seemed to be trying to get his legs under him. Much like Moss in 2007, my sense is that Haynesworth's absence isn't anything close to a sound-the-alarms situation for Bill Belichick. I think Belichick views it more in the all-important "managing players' health" category following the lockout. I don't expect to see Haynesworth Thursday night against the Jaguars in the preseason opener, but at this point, I'd be surprised if he's not ready for the season opener Sept. 12 in Miami.
Posted by apdynasty23

In Response to Re: potential weaknesses of this D. :      If anything happens to Troy Polamalu...if anything happens to Clay Matthews...if anything happens to DeMarcus Ware...if anything happens to Darrelle Revis...etc. All teams would be in trouble if they lose key players to injury.      Really guys, it's much too early to project what this seemingly revamped defense can do. It will be a work in progress. How the "D" plays in September isn't nearly as important as how the unit fares in December.
Posted by TexasPat3

just wondering where the chinks in the armor might be. perhaps vs shifty running backs. Ellis might get beat to the edge on his side, speedwise, and Carter, Anderson, and Cunningham are all unexceptional setting the edge. if Spikes is going to man the mlb spot, his lack of range will be exposed. guyton should do okay outside, but mayo might need to play in the middle. who else can play outside in a 43? Fletcher? our dbs are all good against the run, so big runs outside should be limited. Reggie Bush, Spiller from Buf, LT to a much less extent. i'm wondering if Chung could play a lbish role in some packages. linebacker would appear to be the biggest weakness right now, followed by de run defense. not that i would trade this d for any other in the league. pretty freaking exciting.
Posted by arodrambone