PATRIOTS-80

As of now, (assuming not vet pick-up), what's your guess as to who benefits the most by Willie's departure.

pats1

Beisel.

(TBC if he fails)

PATRIOTS-80

You know what I agree. I think Vrabel will be getting reps at both ILB and OLB again this training camp.

JR4

TBC doesn't compete for an ILB spot. The battle I believe is
between Claridge and Beisel if there is a battle .... I think Beisel
will be starting next to Bru. But I don't think that means Claridge
will get cut or TCB will be cut ... all three will probably make it.

PATRIOTS-80

To clarify, I think BB has 2 options.

OPTION A

Colvin, Bruschi, Beisel/Claridge, Vrabel

OPTION B

Colvin, Bruschi, Vrabel, TBC

IMHO, that's how I see it working right now.

JR4

...........................I agree

Brady'sButtBoy

Of the Lb's, Beisel will get the most time, at first anyway.

But I think we'll see much more 4-3 action - Seymour and Wilfork inside with Warren and Green/Hill outside - because that is where the strength lies with the team as it stands. This lineup would give the Pats a ball busting inside pass rush/disruption, with strong anchors on the edges. So I say that Green and Hill benefit from McGinest's absence the most.

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pats1

No, it doesn't. People don't understand that personnel don't interchange easily between a 4-3 and 3-4. They require totally different skillsets of players which, quite frankly, the Patriots don't have.

Tedy Bruschi is not nearly fast enough to play MLB in the 4-3. He'd be a OLB.

Mike Vrabel would likely move down to DE in a 4-3.

Neither Green nor Warren are light and quick enough to play a pass rushing DE. The better/best DEs in the league are in the 230 (Mathis) to 260 range (Freeney, Rice). Warren is 307. Hill is 300. Both are more run-stuffing guys than anything.

Wilfork and Seymour would be a nice combination inside, but they're still a bit on the big side.

The entire Patriot front 7 is built for the 3-4. They'd be simply too big and too slow to be an effective 4-3.

rookBoston

Watched his interview with the media on PVN (patriots.com), and there was something in it that left me a little concerned about Ryan. He said all the right things, but he seemed a bit offhand and unfocused, his body language in the tape of him on the field was casual and distracted, the reports are that he's put on weight this offseason, but in the video he looked soft around the face and neck... looked more like beer weight to me.

After losing his brother who was clearly a role model to him, I'm wondering if he's a little too unfocused to come in and win a starting role with the team.

Anyone else pick up on that?

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