mgteich

Many don't like calling Burgess a linebacker. Perhaps it is better to have a position called
OLB/DE/passrusher. It would seem that Burgess and Cunningham fit that role, and perhaps Ninkovich.

DE 3
NT 2
DT 1
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OLB/DE 2
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ILB 3
OLB 3
ST/dvlpmental 1
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THIS SEASON COMPARED TO LAST - MY TAKE
A) Spikes and McKenzie replace Alexander and Seau, taking the open ILB and ST positions
B) Cunningham takes the roster spot of Thomas
C) Burgess, Woods and Ninkovich are back.
D) Mayo is healthy.
E) The inside should be much improved, especially with the addition of a vet DT.
F) Crable could beat out Burgess or Ninkovich or be a 16th front 7 player, or not.
G) We could keep a 7th defensive lineman, or not.
H) By Game One, we likely won't have 16 front seven players that we want to keep; an injury or two will take care of that (as is normal).



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Elijah

If Crable beats anyone, it's Burgess, I think. I have a feeling BB will give him priority because of his age. You'd have to think that he likes Crable because he's still on the team after 2 IR seasons...

PatsWickedPissah

I don't think it's likes; it's simply that he has yet to see the guy in football action so that he can have sufficient info to decide to keep or cut him. Should The Crab get seriously injured yet again this training camp, it might become cut with an injury settlement.

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Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as "bad luck." RAH

Deus Irae

You can call Burgess whatever you want. LB, DE, Munkuahuanga the burly man, whatever floats your boat....

It really doesn't matter. Last year, he was a pass rushing specialist playing in a 3-point stance.

Where does Derrick Burgess fit? - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

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patfanken

Alexander is SUCH a consistently productive special teams player, plus he gives BB a guy who can play inside or outside, Plus BB knows that he will at least know where he is supposed to be in every defensive alignment. For these reasons, IMHO he will be a very hard guy to knock off the roster. Much harder than those who have consistently predicted his demise for most of his time here.

However if this is REALLY the year when he finally gets cut, it will bode very well for both Crable and the rest of the young LB corps. EVERY non-starting LB will have to show that he can be able to play special teams well if he wants a roster spot.

In fact I think we can call it the "Alexander barometer." If he gets cut it means BB is happy with Crabel and the rest of the LBs. If he makes the team, Crabel is gone and questions will remain about the most questioned position on the Pats roster.

supafly

I think your barometer theory is interesting, and could be right. Or it could be that Alexander's special team presence will be quickly replaced by a younger starter too--which is what I expect.

Count me as someone who thinks there's no way that Alexander stays another year. I wouldn't want him playing inside, outside, in between, or upside down. And I think whatever he brings on ST will be easily replaced by a starter--or at least someone who sees the field on occasion. Now that we have Spikes and McKenzie at ILB, there's not anywhere Alexander fits anymore. And I'd doubt he'd play outside even if Crable somehow gets cut.

But I respect your opinion of course, and your barometer theory just may be correct--or at least relevant.

RayClay

Yes, that was his best role. However, he played in 16 games last year, not four.

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RayClay

Yes, if Alexander makes the team it means our linebacker acquisitions have failed, unless our special teams are also awful and he makes it there.

I hadn't realized he was considered an inept OLB as well as ILB, but he has no role in the regular defense unless we have failed.

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eom

yeah, but reiss only gave him the last 4, and he's too lazy to go look at the rest.

mgteich

I think it DOES matter what you call Alexander. He is a special teamer who did not play on the regular defense, any more than Slater did. or Lockett or Arrington.

We don't know how many "special team Only" positions there will be. That depends on injuries. However, Alexander is certainly a candidate with those mentioned above, and Aiken.

None of the five players mentioned above should be considered a position player, although Aiken could be a receiver with two injuries of receivers on the 53.
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If Alexander makes the team, it will be because he is needed as a special teamer more than we need a 9th or 10th linebacker.