patsox23

Bearing in mind, that I know it's only August 2, and that I am as far from the "chicken little" crowd as anyone here, I will say this...

The Patriots LB situation grows more dire by the day.

Claridge - cut

Banta-Cain - apparently just not good enough, possible cut

Beisel - better than last year, but nowhere in sight the last couple days. Working his ass off, but tackling technique remains a question

Vrabel & Colvin - terrific, hope to hell they stay healthy

Bruschi - likely out with a wrist injury for awhile

Barry Gardner - Eh. JAG

Chad Brown - could be okay as a sub pass-rushing OLB

Woods, Mincey, Roach - rookies, won't do much for at LEAST a year


BOTTOM LINE: I remain convinced that the biggest loss of the off-season rhymes neither with Trinitary or Smivens. Willie McGinest needed to be re-upped. Bad move.

Box_O_Rocks

Harumph, Tedy gets a cast - Vrabes did it in 2003, Willie did it last year - big woof, as my mommy's Shih Tzu would say.

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NEDAL

I also think letting willie get away was a bad decision. He was a player i was hoping would remain in NE for the rest of his career

belichickaholic

I share your concern, but he let Willie go for a reason. He must have confidence in the younger players. I don't know much about Gardner, but he seemed to be working with him a lot this week and today he said some positive things about him. maybe he'll be able to contribute.

In Bill We Trust!

flutie2phelan

Hope you're right.
But BB sounding good about someone ... too often has come just before their forced departure.
I was first fooled by this when he talked up J.J. Stokes a few years ago ... and have noticed it several times since.

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5 Rings for Brady!!

Why are you saying Tully is not good enough and might get cut? Are you basing that on something that is going on in camp, or more on his past inability to get into the defensive rotation?

mgteich

I am much more concerned with corner, returner and wide receiver that with linebackers. We have Beisel and Gardner as weakside linebackers. Bruschi is the captain, the playcaller. We also have Alexander who may or may not be able to step up (same as Tully). Outside we have Colvin and Vrabel, with Chad Brown and Tully as backups. That is not a major weakness. It may not be a strength (it could be), but it IMHO is not a major weakness. We even have hopes (not much) that one of the kids might make the squad and contribute: Mincey, Roach, Woods.

And what happens if Bruschi hurt for half a season. Then Vrabel moves to mike and Brown and Tully share the OLB position (with Green much more active on passing downs).

This is not a terrible situation.

Alternatively consider what happens if Branch or Harrison or even Wilson doesn't play. These are REAL nightmares. IMHO, we are much more vulnerability in the secondary (nothing new) and at wide receiver (nothing new) than at linebacker where we are at least average (usually we are even stronger).

Kdo5

Well...we couldnt pay everybody millions and million and millons of dollars can we?

patsox23

I am basing this solely on reports that I've read and the unanimous appraisal offered up by the guys on PFW radio today. I've heard literally NOTHING good about TBC's performance thus far. But, like I said, it's early so we'll see. But that's what I'm basing my opinion on.

spacecrime

Trust me, you are NOT as far from "Chicken Little" as anyone here. Read what you wrote above, then get indoors before something lands on your head.

Sheesh. We kept 10 of 11 defensive starters. What NFL team makes that boast?