mgteich

How long can we count on him as a starter?

ALP

i know there is a poll coming soon, but its not there yet...

so...

i think, depending on how many rookies we get, and how many pan out of this draft thats coming, that bruschi wont be back if a good number show promise, and that b/c we have more OLB's right now then ILB's, that vrabel will move inside for a year, and then call it quits

this way he will start next to Myao, with guyton spelling them

but to answer ur question, next year will be vrabel's last yr

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billdog3484

Vrabel is clearly getting older, and his physical abilities are not what they once were. I think ideally, we would have somebody on our roster ready to replace him or bring somebody in to do that. If I were running the team, my #1 and #2 priorities would be drafting an OLB to replace Vrabel on the outside and drafting either a Safety or OL. However, as we know, and thankfully, the patriots do not like reaching, so if there is not a quality player available when we draft, we will most likely prioritize elsewhere. I do think though, that there will be an OLB worth taking where we draft. If that is the case, it woud be ideal if that player replaced Vrabel. That being said, Vrabel might then become our 2nd best MLB, so he could still start.

It's hard to predict whats going to happen, but I think either way Vrabel is a part of our team, but he will have to take a pay cut I think.

satz

Vrabel played nearly every down and was the signal caller so expect to see him for 2 yr atleast. His replacement is not in the roster so even we get a guy as with every DE/OLB it will take 2 yrs to come to vrabel`s level and 1 more to be a starter.

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dhamz

I think the day has arrived to try to reduce his role from an every down player to more of a rotational guy not unlike what Bruschi did this year.

He hasn't been the same player for the past year and a half. He's a step slower. In past year's where he made the big play, now he seems to not quite get where he needs to get to make it.

I have no doubt injuries are a factor in that but I don't think that injuries are unexpected for a guy his age who has played as many snaps as he has over the past 8 years - in a lot of those games he played every single defensive play.

The defense really lacked guys at LB/DB (the back 8 if you will) who made plays this year. The guys who made too many to count over the years (Vrabel, Bruschi, Rodney) just aren't that type of player any more. That doesn't mean they can't play a role but the time has come for the Pats find guys to take their spots.

Nunchucks

Vrbel was solid this year but not dominating. I would like to see him start next year but also give some time to another guy as well, with that trend continuing into 2010

Box_O_Rocks

Year to year. Let's let him get healed up and see how things look in training Camp.

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mgteich

I presume that we have 4 OLB roster spots and 3 ILB spots, and 1 spot for a developmental LB.

I expect that we will tender Woods high enough to keep him for 2009 while we see what we have in Crable and perhaps Redd or Robertson. So, my 4 OLB's are Vrabel, Thomas, Woods and Crable.

My 3 ILB's are Mayo, Guyton and Bruschi. We are not cutting Bruschi in the last year of his contract. He is certainly valuable enough to be our #8 linebacker in 2009. He might be inactive every week (very unlikely), but someone needs to be inactive.

The bottom line is that there is room to add 1 linebacker if we think that Redd or Robertson won't cut it as our developmental LB. Personally, I expect Redd to make it as a special teamer (not at all clear) and would welcome drafting an ILB.

And I have little doubt that Vrabel will start in 2009 and 2010.

redsox33

The only worry and problem with him playing inside is that the second year he did that (I think 2006 when Junior got hurt) he had to finish the season on the outside because it took too much of a toll on his back. Remember the Indy game.... Alexander had to start that game and Vrabel played the outside. (Banta Cain was on the bench and if you asked me Tully vs. Alexander I would have had Tully on the field so thats why I'm assuming it was the back problem.)

I say give him this season to prove if he is still a starter- see if this season was an injury year or just what he is now- the guy had an all pro season the year before so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

For this reason, hold onto Woods and keep working with Crable.

BritPat

Option 3 for me. He's still very good setting the edge, but he's clearly lost a step with his pass rush.

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