AzPatsFan

People forget that we tend to lump the Patriots LBs into the OLB/DE and the ILB category but there are really four separate and distinct profiles for each position. The Patriots can adapt but when considering drafting LBs, please think of what types they have ,and what types they need...

The ROLB is a pass rusher more than anything with a good but not great ability to turn the run. (think Colvin)

The Weak ILB or who plays next to the ROLB is the run stuffer position; (think Cox or TJ), he makes up for the ROLB's lesser run capability and usually stuffs the run tackle to tackle but he may cheat to helping the ROLB by shading in that direction.

The LILB or SILB (stronside ILB), is the combo coverage and run stuffing and inside blitz type of jack-of-all-trades and complete ILB, (think Phifer Bruschi prior 2005). He has lesser need to handle the run because the WILB and LOLB are so good at it, but he must be able to pick up the TE and backs crosssing from the usual strongside formation, hence the coverage aspect of his game.

Finally, there is the LOLB or strongside OLB/DE. This is the true "elephant" position. Since most teams line up their TE on this side and run in that direction they run at the LOLB. He must be able to play the run at him, turn the outside run in, and also be athletic enough to slow down a TE or back releasing into the pattern. And he must be a passrusher like the ROLB but probably with a more controlled power rush, rather than an an all-out speed rush. That is the toughest position candidate to find, as you want the prototype guy, big enough to stop the run, agile enough for some short diatance coverage/chucking, and yet power rush pass rushing. The Specifications call for a rare human being. The prototype is 6-5, (to block the passing lanes) 260+ pounds, 4.7 speed, athleticism, agility and pass rush skills. These types a few and far between. Willie Mcginest was drafted # 4 overall because they come along so infrequently. Others are Lawrence Taylor drafted #2, Andre Tippett, truly unique players. It will be every difficult to replace Willie. Of the three examples, only Tippett was drafted out of the first round, and he went at the very top of the second.

I 'd say the Patriots need and elephant or a LOLB, an WILB or two, and a ROLB, Bruschi is getting old so eventually they will need a SILB too. Four distincrt player types and they have but three proven ones on the roster now. Note that TBC rates as a ROLB candidate. Beisel is a potential SILB. Claridge ???

Among the potential draftees:
Carpenter is both a LOLB and a SILB candidate,
Greenway is a SILB all- purpose guy,
Parham and Schlegal are WILB run stuffers, and
Manny Lawson, Kam Wimbly, and Chis CoCong are a ROLB pass rushers.
(Ccocong could eventually migrate inside like Phiffer and Bruschi and become a SILB)

rookBoston

Dont forget one of my favorites, Tim McGarigle, who would probably map into your run stuffer ILB role.

The key for BB, tho, is going to be finding players who can execute in two or three of those roles. Partly, this is because there's a lot of decoy in the scheme, which means the guy you think is going to rush drops into coverage, and the coverage guy blitzes or stunts. So, although the prototypes are clear, versatility, above all else, is vital.

That's why Carpenter is such an appealing choice. He can be the elephant or the pure pass rusher on the outside. And Greenway is great in coverage, but has the size to stuff the run inside. They both have college experience doing different things in a pro-style D.

The knock on Manny Lawson is that he (initially) projects only to the Colvin spot. Can he play the elephant, or shift inside, like Phifer did? Time will tell. He didn't do it in college, in any case. Same question for Wimbley.

Hawk could probably play either inside spot.

__________________
"We want to build a big, strong, tough, smart, fast, disciplined football team that will consistently compete for a championship."
-- Scott Pioli, from the Patriots scouting manual

PonyExpress

I think the best elephant in the draft is Mathias Kiwanuka and would not be surprised if the Pats draft him at #21.

jczxohn1

Excellent post and right on the money.

__________________
Felger started his question, "Correct me if I'm wrong," BB quickly interjected, "I can't wait--"


``The officials now are evaluating the players and their performance, I mean, that's great,'' Belichick deadpanned. ``I can't say how much that means to me, really.''

smg93

Great post. I learn something new everyday. This is why I like this site so much.

the taildragger

hallelujah

football talk!

all these armchair GMs are overloading my brain (and I've got a masters in finance).

I second Carpenter as our next elephant.

Feep_FLA

We need high quality pachyderms? Who knew? Great post, very interesting and enlightning read......

the taildragger

SERIOUSLY...DRAFT CARPENTER!

From "hawg" off Pats Planet:

I recently poked around on Buckeyeplanet.com (really) and found a 370 reply thread just on Carpenter. I knew he had the size and the athleticism to be a good pro, but didn't realize just how much they love him out there and how much he gave to their program and his teammates.

To sum it up "great motor", "fights his ass off on every down" and "true f$#king warrior" were typical comments. He tried to play on a fractured fibula in his last home game and cried on the sideline when he couldn't go (the injury isn't now a problem). He LOVES football and I'm convinced he has everything the Pats are looking for, including a personal in with Mike Vrabel who hangs out there. It just makes too much sense. He's the one.

The Pats love to obfuscate, but I would gamble that they will even move up to get him if they get a whiff that he is talking to teams drafting ahead of them (read: Miami). In this case the mock drafters might actually be right.

Put it this way: If I am Nick Saban -- I'm calling Carpenter just to dick with Belichick and see if you can get him to make a move.

BelichickFan

The good thing is that Colvin is the only one really locked into one spot. That would also be Lawson's spot which makes him an unlikely pick. Vrabel has played the LILB spot and I think he could play McGinest's Elephant fine. Bruschi has played both ILB spots. So I think we're versatile enough to draft any LB spot other than a guy who's exclusively a ROLB.

nickw308810

Great post AZ Pats fan. One thing I was wondering, do you think that Bruschi or Carpenter could be a WILB? It would be nice not to have a big slow guy in there just for his run stopping abilities. I would like to think that either of those 2 could stop the run about as well as a Ted Johnson, but are also more adapt to taking on other tasks as well.