Defensive Line Play

[KT2000]

I've confirmed after last night that the DL is the most important position unit in football.

If you have a great DL, you can handcuff an entire offense (star QB included).

The Giants gave the best collective effort I've ever seen from a DL. It didn't matter that they were average in the secondary last night because Brady didn't get any time to sit back and exploit them. It didn't matter that their LBs couldn't stay with guys like Welker underneath (until the late TD drive by the Pats).

Give me a DL like that, and I will kick your fanny out of the building.

My Super Bowl MVP is Justin Tuck although I can't complain with picking Eli either.

Maybe Gary Kubiak isn't as crazy as we think.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

This just re-confirms my thinking... Dallas needs to go back to the 4-3. Gimme size in the middle and speed on the edges. Let everyone pin their ears back and sniff out the blood of the QB. Stop the run and destroy the body of the QB... and life will be great!

[Favpack]

After about week 10 - we talked about pressuring Brady as the ONLY way to beat the Pats.

But, you have to love that the G-men did it with nothing exotic - just a straight 4 man front with a few blitzes thrown in. The Pats O-line was smoked last night - all night long.

I've got no problem with Eli - but remember the MVP's in Super Bowl 12 or so? Randy White and Harvey Martin.

Give it to Tuck and Strahan - but, again I don't care.

[dragonsdaddy]

i am going to agree with you by completely going contradictory. the oline is the most important group. without adequate protection, the greatest offensive stars are very average. when the oline fails, so does the offense.

[Favpack]

i am going to agree with you by completely going contradictory. the oline is the most important group. without adequate protection, the greatest offensive stars are very average. when the oline fails, so does the offense.

Agreed - and the Pats did lose a starting OL very early on. They frankly played pretty average throughout the PO's. Maybe these guys are just getting a little old.

[SLC93]

i am going to agree with you by completely going contradictory. the oline is the most important group. without adequate protection, the greatest offensive stars are very average. when the oline fails, so does the offense.

100% correct. The most important unit in football.

[Leander 6136]

I believe BOTH line are equally important. Thats why they say "the game is won in the trenches."

[country club]

i am going to agree with you by completely going contradictory. the oline is the most important group. without adequate protection, the greatest offensive stars are very average. when the oline fails, so does the offense.

BINGO !!! With that said the oldtimers like to say OFFENSE gets you to the BIG GAME, but defense wins the BIG GAME. My own personal feelings are put your money in your O-LINE. It is much harder to coach OFFENSIVE LINEMAN to pass protect, run block, pulling guards and tackles,slants, screens, doubleteams, etc etc etc... Than it is to tell a hungry DEFENSIVE LINEMAN one thing : GET TO THE QUARTERBACK. IMHO.... Platooning D LINEMAN was a great idea for NY. In my opinion Brady is overated, his O LINE isn't. They got beat because NY had a better Defensive scheme. And the circus catch didn't hurt.