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Focusing on 1-on-1 victories

Email|Link|Comments (2) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff August 21, 2008 10:15 AM

ANALYSIS

Linebacker Mike Vrabel usually gets right to the point, and his interview with media members on Wednesday was true to form.

Assessing the team's preseason performance to this point, he essentially said it's time for the players to step up.

"You can have all the scheme you want and you can have all the packages you want, but I think this is a time where you have to go out there and individually you have to win against the guy you’re playing against," he said.

Winning those 1-on-1 challenges has been a theme among players this week following Sunday's disappointing 27-10 preseason loss to the Buccaneers. Vrabel specifically pointed out third-down defense (Buccaneers converted 7 of 14 times) as an area that must be tightened up.

One aspect to keep in mind is that the Patriots aren't doing much scheming in the preseason (they have hardly blitzed, if at all), and they're going into games with only about 30 offensive plays, so there are few, if any, audibles.

In many ways, it's Football 101. Hence the focus on 1-on-1 battles.

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2 comments so far...

The pats have had such a hard time over the past few years getting off the field on third down. This is all because of the lack of a pass rush and down the field coverage. It gets so frustrating.

Posted by Ryan August 21, 08 10:52 AM

SEPARATED AT BIRTH .. MIKE FLYNN AND GARY BUSEY!!

Posted by Stephen Caswell August 21, 08 01:21 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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