mgteich

In the 3-4, Mayo and Guyton are starters. We have zero backups, unless you are ready to count on Alexander. If one of the starter were injured, Thomas would need to move inside. Also, note that he would also need to move inside if Guyton is not quite ready for lots and lots of reps.

In the 4-3, Guyton has been playing outside. Would he really be the backup MLB and signal caller? Again, wouldn't Thomas need to move inside.

The open question is whether we would be significantly weaker with Thomas inside. If not, then there is little to be concerned about. If we would be significantly weaker, then we are short one ILB.

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Personally, I think we are short one ILB. I think that we usually carry 15 front 7 players including the ST specialists. We certainly have those in Banta-Cain, Woods, Guyton and Alexander.

Also, Pryor is another LeKevin Smith to me, a developmental player who will usually be inactive. Might we be better off with Carter? But then, perhaps the "right" number of active DL's in five in any case.
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DL: Warren, Wilfork, Green, Wright, Brace, Pryor
DE/OLB: Burgess, Banta-Cain, Ninkovich (the 2009 improvement)
LB: Mayo, Thomas, Woods, Guyton, Alexander

Trocadile

Right now, I suspect they will be more of a 4-3 team, and Guyton is the most likely replacement at MLB if Mayo is out. I'd be surprised if they moved Thomas there. I think, BB has a pecking order at LB that goes: Mayo, Thomas, Guyton and Woods. If one of those is out he can use the other three as his starters in the 4-3.

As for Pryor, I think BB likes him more than you. When healthy, he got a lot of play with the 1's, in games and practice, more even than Brace. I think he'll be a regular part of the rotation.

Batman

I think we need one more LB also if Thomas or mayo was to go down I think we would be up the creak without a paddle. We have 1 open roster spot for the next 6 weeks then we need to look at whats happening with the players on PUP too. But it think we need another LB to fill that spot of a DE/LB so we can truly move Thomas inside if mayo needs a rest up.

The only other thing I could see as an option is be bring a DB down into the box like Rodney use to do sometimes. However I am not sure if any of them could do that job.

mayoclinic

I pretty much agree that we need 1 more ILB for me to be really comfortable with the defensive front 7 roster. Alexander as a 4th ILB/STer is adequate. Alexander as the 3rd ILB is ridiculous, even if we play a lot of 4-3. I still have nightmares of him from the 2006 AFCCG against the Dolts.

I think Pryor has much more promise than LeKevin Smith and is definitely worth keeping on the 53 man roster. I could even see him cracking the 45 man roster at some point if he continues to improve. An occasional "big 4-3" line of Warren-Wilfork-Pryor-Brace would be something to try to run against.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

Their defense is pretty much f***** if Mayo goes down.

mayoclinic

Yes, but wasn't that true at the beginning of preseason?

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

satz

We do are not carrying any pure ILB but think about this.

Chung/McGown will be in their in the 3 Safety Package where we pull a ILB.

Alexender backs up both Mayo and Guyton.What just make sure not alexander not asked to cover Dallas Clark again. The funny thing is i believe neither mayo or guyton can cover clark. We saw rodney do the ILB role from the next year. I look for chung/Mcgown to cover receiving TE in 3 safety package.

Woods can play in the middle with this guys.He need not come out in passing down for burgess and banta .

Ad can play inside too.

Now we will see 4-3 against teams with no real TE threat and good QB play.
we have no speed rushers and full of DT so hopefully we will not face a team where a speed rusher is needed.

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Marqui

Weak LB corps
Weakened defensive line by trading Seymour

Wow, BB must not care about defense anymore

mayoclinic

Either BB must not care about defense anymore, OR he must have a lot of confidence in the remaining personnel. In particular, I think he must have a lot of confidence in Burgess, Brace and Pryor to trade Seymour, even if Big Sey was a FA after this year.

If it's a matter of confidence over lack of caring, then look out for this defense by the end of the season.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

mgteich

Oh Belichick cares about the defense. He believes that he and the staff is so good that they can completely revamp the defense in a few weeks with half the players changed and take the team to a Super Bowl win. And he believes that he can do this better without Seymour. Some would call this aggressiveness. Some would have other names for this extent of risk-taking.