Richard Seymour Back at Practice (1 Viewer)

[tombonneau]

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal.....;/reiss_pieces/

Seymour is back at practice. Given the NE Defense a boost in your rankings. I think this might be a good time to try to acquire, given the perception is they are starting to show cracks as they gave up yards & points in garbage time to Miami.

As a Pats fan, I can tell you that BB defenses always get better as the year goes on. Now that their best player is back, look for the D to become more dominant as the season goes on and the weather worsens.

 

[twitch]

just in time to get a week of practice in and hopefully be ready for the Colts.

 

[The Jerk]

As a Pats fan, I can tell you that BB defenses always get better as the year goes on.

In both 2002 and 2006, the Patriots gave up more points in their final four games (4th quarter of the season) than in the first, second or third quarter of the season.2002 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 80

games 5-8 = 85

games 9-12 = 86

games 13-16 = 95

2006 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 64

games 5-8 = 50

games 9-12 = 51

games 13-16 = 72

2002 is especially interesting as the points allowed increased in each successive quarter.

 

[redman]

This actually has a large impact upon the 'Skins game too as the 'Skins injured line is a major factor in this game.

 

[tombonneau]

As a Pats fan, I can tell you that BB defenses always get better as the year goes on.

In both 2002 and 2006, the Patriots gave up more points in their final four games (4th quarter of the season) than in the first, second or third quarter of the season.2002 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 80

games 5-8 = 85

games 9-12 = 86

games 13-16 = 95

2006 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 64

games 5-8 = 50

games 9-12 = 51

games 13-16 = 72

2002 is especially interesting as the points allowed increased in each successive quarter.

Maybe "always" was too restrictive, but given that you looked them up, I'd gather that 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005 teams had improving Ds.Also, not surprising they won the SB in 3 of those 4 years, as opposed to missing the playoffs in 2002 and losing in the AFC championship in 2006 (not-so-surprisingly due to a defensive second half meltdown).

 

[pats3in4]

As a Pats fan, I can tell you that BB defenses always get better as the year goes on.

In both 2002 and 2006, the Patriots gave up more points in their final four games (4th quarter of the season) than in the first, second or third quarter of the season.2002 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 80

games 5-8 = 85

games 9-12 = 86

games 13-16 = 95

2006 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 64

games 5-8 = 50

games 9-12 = 51

games 13-16 = 72

2002 is especially interesting as the points allowed increased in each successive quarter.

In 2002, the D actually was porous. KC exposed their run D on the edges in game 3 and teams killed them from there on out. In 2006, Rodney got hurt in the Colts game and Seau got hurt in the Bears game. Thereafter, their run D up the middle was horrendous.Blanket statements like "BB defenses always get better as the year goes on" can obviously be found to have exceptions. If you look at 2001, 2003, 2004 and even 2005 though, the D definitely jelled later in the year rather than earlier. We'll see if 2007 continues to hold to that form. Right now it bodes well with Seymour coming back to spell Jarvis Green who got exploited in the Cleveland game vs. the run and maybe is getting figured out by opposing coordinators. Also, I've read that teams aren't afraid of running at Adalius Thomas because he plays very upright and maybe an ILB spot isn't his strongsuit, either. Teams haven't been afraid of running at Bruschi for two years in a row now. Harrison has looked lost in coverage at times so teams have had their best passing success across the middle, especially to their TEs. FS Eugene Wilson hasn't looked sharp in the last several games and now it's rumored that he's banged up, further making the middle passing game attractive to opposing offenses. Colvin got his ankle (or knee?) dinged up earlier this year and has looked passive coming off the edge recently. Will all of these things clear up as the year progresses? Maybe. I'm betting a lot of them will, based on what I saw in those years I mentioned above.

 

[The Jerk]

As a Pats fan, I can tell you that BB defenses always get better as the year goes on.

In both 2002 and 2006, the Patriots gave up more points in their final four games (4th quarter of the season) than in the first, second or third quarter of the season.2002 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 80

games 5-8 = 85

games 9-12 = 86

games 13-16 = 95

2006 Points Allowed

games 1-4 = 64

games 5-8 = 50

games 9-12 = 51

games 13-16 = 72

2002 is especially interesting as the points allowed increased in each successive quarter.

Maybe "always" was too restrictive, but given that you looked them up, I'd gather that 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005 teams had improving Ds.Also, not surprising they won the SB in 3 of those 4 years, as opposed to missing the playoffs in 2002 and losing in the AFC championship in 2006 (not-so-surprisingly due to a defensive second half meltdown).

I'm just having a little fun with you. For the most part, I think the other years showed improvement. However, all I specifically was looking for was any season that showed the most points allowed in the final four games. So at the very least, in those other years, at least one other quarter featured more points allowed.