NOWAKJOE

What do you think TBC role will be in 06? I thought he looked really good Sunday and in some of the pre-season games.Seems like he could be that hybrid DE/OLB that could be part of our rotations. And by now he should have a good grasp of our def. schemes.

PATSNUTme

Haven't thought that far ahead because it would be disrespecting the Jags.

miamipat

To me its apparent he has the talent to play in this league it's just that he's playing behind two superior players in Colvin and Mcginest. Once Mcginest calls it quits (hopefully not next yr.) I expect a larger role for TBC.

stinkypete

I agree. It's tough to judge TBC thus far because he has always been playing behind pro-bowl caliber players. Two things convince me that TBC has a future in the LB rotation.

1) He has remained on the roster as a special teamer and mop up guy, despite the fact that we have had much more glaring needs in each of the last three seasons.

2) Linebackers make up the core of our defense, but Belichick has all but ignored the position in the past 2 drafts despite the age of Willie, Colvin's injury and Bruschi's stroke.

Altogether it makes you think that he has a replacement in house.

Box_O_Rocks

TBC did look good in the pass rush, I don't remember him dropping in coverage. He was versitile enough during the season to be plugged in at DT on passing downs.

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PatsChick87

Thought he looked really good, and Chatham was no slouch either!

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DaBruinz

I will be honest. I was very disappointed with Chatham and TBC. Both had too many penalties on Special Teams and they haven't advanced enough to help the Pats out in a regular rotation with the starters.

I honestly thought that TBC would have stepped up more to allow the move of Vrabel to the inside before the start of the season. It hurt the team that we had to have both Beisel and Brown in the middle and no one really able to call out the adjustments.

I am also disappointed in Vrabel. While Bruschi was out, I expected him to really step up his play. And he didn't. Now, that isn't to say that he stunk. He still played very well. But for being the smartest player in the LB corps, our LBs were the Achilles heal of the defense (more so than the secondary) until Bruschi got back.

Lloyd_Christmas

Vrabel had to move to the inside, which is why you didn't see him stepping up as you expected.

Colvin's play was dramatically better at OLB this year and TBC and Chatham didn't have a prayer of cracking the Colvin/McGinest lineup.

The only ones to blame for the problems at ILB are Brown, Beisel, BB, Pioli, and possibly T.Johnson for retiring. I could add God to that for all the injuries and bad luck, but I don't want to piss him off

PatsChick87

I should really just sit back and enjoy the reaction from this one, but I can't help myself!!!! cue Mora's voice - VRABEL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT VRABLE?
LB problems earlier in the season were when we were undergoing the Bisel/Brown experiment. Vrabes didn't get moved into the middle until around the time Tedy came back, and then he picked up the changes that move involved pretty quickly IMO!

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Pat the Pats Fan

The only time I was ever upset with Vrabel was in the 97 playoffs. He was a part time DE for the Steelers. His rush and forced fumble of Bledsoe sealed the Steelers 7-6 victory in the fog bowl.

IMHO, he is one of the players that best exemplifies the Patriot philosophy. How can I help my team win?