The Patriots Aging Defense?
This is the one line summary for the #2 ranked Patriots given by John Clayton in the first edition of ESPN's NFL Power Rankings:
QB Tom Brady's broad shoulders have to carry an aging defense. (Clayton)
I'll be honest, I expect more from John Clayton. One of the things that excites me about this years Patriots is how young their defense is getting. Gone are Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, and Mike Vrabel, making room for younger players. In fact, of the 20 some odd defensive players on the Patriots roster, only four are over the age of 30: Cornerback Shawn Springs, 34, Linebacker Adalius Thomas, 32, Linebacker Derrick Burgess, 31, and Defensive End Jarvis Green, 30. That's it. Got it Mr. Clayton?
QB Tom Brady's broad shoulders have to carry an aging defense. (Clayton)
I'll be honest, I expect more from John Clayton. One of the things that excites me about this years Patriots is how young their defense is getting. Gone are Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, and Mike Vrabel, making room for younger players. In fact, of the 20 some odd defensive players on the Patriots roster, only four are over the age of 30: Cornerback Shawn Springs, 34, Linebacker Adalius Thomas, 32, Linebacker Derrick Burgess, 31, and Defensive End Jarvis Green, 30. That's it. Got it Mr. Clayton?
posted by lonely libertarian at 10:20 AM
4 Comments:
Technically no one on that defense is becoming younger, so they are actually aging.
Did he mean aging offense? The starting split ends Moss and Galloway and the starting tailback Morris (or Taylor or Faulk) all have 10-15 years in the NFL. The line is essentially intact for the last few years and isn't getting younger either (by definition, as mcmc adeptly points out).
I'm sorta shocked that came from Clayton. If Butler and Wheatley make their way into the starting lineup (and Butler will), all of their personnel will either be young or in their prime...and Mayo, Merriweather and Butler have a shot to be pretty damn good for awhile.
I'd be much more worried about the depth at wideout and o-line if injuries start to mount, which seems quite possible considering the history of some of these guys.
McMc, by that logic every team in the league is aging everywhere, making it a bit of a non sequiter as a comment.
That was the joke big guy.
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