File Under: Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Jerod Mayo, Rosevelt Colvin, Mike Vrabel
07/21 — We're faced with a seeming impossibility: trying to find something to improve on from the 16-0 New England Patriots. But here's a ball we can take and run with for a while: the Pats' rushing defense.
Yes, New England was a respectable 10th in rushing yards allowed last season, but that's only part of the story. The Patriots also allowed 4.37 yards per carry in the regular season, and that figure wasn't in the NFL's top 10; it was in the bottom 10. Here are the league's 10 lowest-ranked defenses in yards per carry allowed last season:
| Team | Yds/Carry | Record, Playoffs |
| 32. Oakland | 4.80 | 4-12, no |
| 31. Denver | 4.55 | 7-9, no |
| 30. Miami | 4.51 | 1-15, no |
| 29. Cleveland | 4.50 | 10-6, no |
| 28. Buffalo | 4.39 | 7-9, no |
| 27. Houston | 4.38 | 8-8, no |
| 26. New England | 4.37 | 16-0, yes |
| 25. Kansas City | 4.34 | 4-12, no |
| 24. Chicago | 4.33 | 7-9, no |
| 23. Detroit | 4.27 | 7-9, no |
Interesting that the Patriots were the only one of these 10 to make the postseason. It could thus be argued that the statistic doesn't mean much — indeed, the 2006 Colts finished 32nd and last in yards per game and per carry allowed, then stonewalled their postseason competition all the way to victory in Super Bowl XLI.
But those are the two highest regular-season yards-per-carry averages by the 16 Super Bowl team since 2000. And the Patriots' 4.4 figure was the franchise's highest since the 2002 edition — the last one not to make the playoffs — gave up 4.7 yards a pop. So it could thus be counterargued that here is a red flag for Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli.
You can bet that the Patriots know all of this and more. There has been a changing of the 'backers up in Foxboro — their top draft pick, the 6'1", 242-pound Jerod Mayo, packs a club, and Victor Hobson was brought in from the Jets, while Rosevelt Colvin departed for the Texans and the ageless Junior Seau may still retire. Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel are getting long in the tooth, but they both can still bite.
Mix in a healthy Richard Seymour and his front-line mates, and we'll see how well opponents run on the Patriots this season.
We're down to one more of these AFC East Radar entries to go. Surprise: It's the Jets and a long-standing trend of theirs that not only leads the AFC East but, as will be revealed Wednesday, actually involves an NFL "record" that the Green & White equaled last season that you may not be aware of.
Week of July 1 — Miami Down, New England Up
Week of July 7 —Buffalo Up, Jets Down
Week of July 14 — Miami Up, Buffalo Down
Week of July 21 — New England Down, Jets Up
Row Said:
Tue, July 22, 2008 - 5:01pm EDT"I am horribly upset at you guys giving these college players more credit then deserved. 6 year contracts, 30-50 million dollars and everyone on here thinks Keller is going to be a stud. These rookies have done NOTHING! When these guys make plays, then give them credit. Baker is proven, 41 catches, the guy blocked more then anything. Someone send me a youtube of Keller blocking. "
GIOVANNI Said:
Wed, July 23, 2008 - 12:09pm EDT"I THINK BACKER PICKED THE WRONG YEAR TO TRY TO RENECOTIATE HIS CONTRACT,COMING OF A 4-12 SEASON IS NOT THE RITE TIME TO RENECOTIATE A CONTRACT,HE SHOULD PLAY THIS YEAR AND MAKE THE JETS THINK TWISE TO TRADE HIM OR GET A NEW CONTRACT,NOW HE IS IN A LOSE LOSE SITUATION,AS MUCH AS I LIKE BACKER HE SHOULD COME TO HIS SENSES AND JUST PLAY BALL,NEED GHOLSTON IN CAMP A.S.A.P.I HAVE A DREAM JETS 11-5 1AFC"
Ray Said:
Thu, July 24, 2008 - 3:14am EDT"Row, you'll get over it. In todays market that is what a top pick commands. That is why the owners have opted out of the CBA, they want a rookie salary structure. Everyone always sees the upside with rookies. I like him but Baker has had ONE solid year, lets see him do it again. I'll send you a youtube of Bubba Franks blocking, cause that is the guy taking snaps from Baker not Keller."
LukeV Said:
Mon, July 21, 2008 - 6:21pm EDT"Baker on PUP list....that is histerical!!! Serves him well! Its Keller time!!"
Offensive Comment?