mgteich

DEFENSIVE LINE (much improved)

We've added lots of potential help to the five players returning from 2009. We've lost Green and we've added two solid veterans in Lewis and Warren. We've also added Deaderick who could get lots of reps at DE.

I think that Belichick understands the void left by Seymour and Green.

Who will make the roster is very up in the air, as is the depth chart. None of the backups should feel that they are guaranteed a roster spot. I expect us to carry seven defensive linemen. We WILL improve our run defense and short yardage defense!

The BOTTOM LINE is that there is lots of work to do, but the talent and the pieces are there to make this a top defensive line.
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INSIDE LINEBACKERS (much improved)

Many idenitifed this as a weakness before the draft. We're fine now. We have two veteran starters. Mayo should be healthy and stronger. And we have two youngsters in Spikes and McKenzie who should compete for reps. As long as one of them is an OK backup this year, we are better off than in 2009.
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OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS AND PASSRUSHERS (worse for now)

Could we really be worse off compared to 2009?

I suppose the improvements at DL, ILB and CB could make this hole a bit smaller. Less will be required from this sad group, our weak link.

As of now, we bring back Banta-Cain, Woods, Thomas and Ninkovich from 2009. We have free agents Murrell. Crable is back. And yes, we drafted Cunningham, but I'm not sure how much we should expect from a first year patriot linebacker.

No matter how we slice and dice, this is the worst set of passrushers and outside linebackers competing for a playoff team.

At minimum, we need to bring back Burgess or a veteran replacement. At best, we will bring back Burgess AND trade for an outside linebacker.

Sean Pa Patriot

What outside lb is available... ?? That is the key to the 2010 the outside lb and if Tate and Pryce can contribute in the passing game..

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We going to take it one game at a time

Patspsycho

Please don't tell me you're serious.

mgteich

1) I don't know who is available for trade at OLB. We have only one missing piece. Belichick may or may not know who is available for a 2010 2nd or even our own 1st. I think that we really are only one player away from being an elite team over the next couple of years.

2) I must say that I am not worried about how much production we get out of our #4 and #5 receiver. We now have three tight end threats to add to Moss, Holt and Edelman. The issues on the offense are schemes and playcalling. Hopefully O'Brien has learned a lot from last year's mistakes.

AndyJohnson

How are we worse at OLB?
You might as well consider Burgess being here in your analysis because we will sign him if we want to. I think we are choosing not to. We add Cunningham, theoretically Crable, and possibly Guyton. If we chose to not bring Burgess back it would be because we like the other guys better, and i dont really know how it could be any worse. The bar isnt very high for whoever gets the job of situational pass rusher from Burgess. Same holds true for AD, anyone we put out there cant be worse.

RayClay

I think you're much too pessimistic on the OLB situation.

So the ILB adds a rookie and a complete unknown coming back from injury, and they're all set, while the OLB does pretty much the same and they're disaster?

Thomas was dead weight and a distraction last year. If he's gone or decides to shut up and play, either way is a plus. Burgess and TBC were thrown in there with him and should both benefit from a camp. BB was very complimentary about how Burgess was much more than just a rusher in a post season interview, which leads me to believe he's transitioning to OLB. He is a good tackler. We also have Woods for early downs. Nincovich might get some reps too, he actually looked promising.

I'm not counting on Crable, but I don't think they're paying him for nothing, which would give us a decent mix of vet and young rushers. Cunningham is a Captain and is very agile, so I could see them trying to push him to learn the position.

Now these complete 3-4 linebackers someone is going to give us affordably...what team are they on?

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patsfan-1982

the only thing i can say about the OLB's it is what it is BB is not tradeing for anyone the only vet that is available is burgess, the pats may sign some JAG like Rob Ninkovich, who will add dept but not have any impact at all on the season.


i say BB will not cut AD untill he sees if the rookie can realy play if he cuts AD at all crable, is the wild card here if he makes the team



are the pats worst this year at OLB then last year.... will if TBC dose not have the same type of year he had in 09 and the rookie dose not make a impact yes i say they are worst.

Fencer

Is it really only one guy who's missing?

We need two guys standing up in the base set and two guys putting their hands down in the nickel set. Those may or may not be the same guys.

I think we're all comfortable w/ TBC as one of the hands-down guys. But I can't think of anybody else I'm comfortable with based solely on last year's play. We're waiting on young player development, vet player development (Burgess), rookie success, further player acquisition, whatever for, IMO, 2-3 roles.

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"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde

Rob0729

There are several options at OLB that I can think of although I don't know if the Pats will consider any of them:

1.) Shawne Merriman - The Chargers tried to trade him this weekend. They may be willing to let him go for less now. Granted what prevented him from being traded was a new contract and agreeing to terms. Granted there is no rush now that the draft is over to get a deal done quickly, but Merriman might overvalue himself.

2.) Greg Ellis - Still a good pass rushing specialist. Problems include his age (35 in August) and his previous distaste for playing OLB in the 3-4 in Dallas. The Pats did make him an offer last year.

3.) Bryan Thomas - Word was before the draft that he would be cut along with Faneca. No word yet if he will. Not a great option, but would be cheap and serviceable.

4.) Osi Umenyiora - Most likely available in a trade. The question is whether he can do a Willie McGinest and make a transition later in his career from DE to the elephant position (hybrid OLB/DE). Also, the question is whether he is done because of his knee injury. Now that the Giants have Jean-Paul Pierre, Osi might be able to be had for a song.

5.) Jarrett Johnson - Now that the Ravens drafted Sergio Kindle to line up opposite Terrell Suggs, could Jarrett be available for a trade? Granted he isn't all that special even if he was second on the team in sacks last year after Trevor Price.

6.) Clark Haggans - Now that Arizon drafted Daryl Washington in the second round, Haggan might be available for a trade or could be cut outright. He is older and not as productive as he used to be though.

Fencer

I actually went and looked up Matt Chatham's bio, but he's been out of the NFL for a year, so I'm guessing he's done.

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"To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." -- Oscar Wilde