tombonneau

I don't get it. Year after year, people say LB is a position NE needs to get younger in. Year after year, mock drafts have NE drafting a LB in R1 or R2 (or both!). Year after year, fans salivate over drafting LB [insert name here] in the first round.

Year after year, NE doesn't draft any LBs. (Save for late round scrubs.)

It simply is not the team's philosophy when it comes to LBs. You know what BB would rather do than draft a LB early? Sign a 44-year-old out of retirement to play ILB.

BB's concept of the LB is to rotate in vets every couple of years. Sprinkle in the occassional 3-4th year guy in FA (Vrable, Colvin, [cringe] Beisel) and that's that.

So please, no one panic or freak out when we draft some LB in the 6th round from Tulip Petal St. and sign a couple of ho-hum vet LBs in FA. It is what it is and likely won't change.

Keegs

weren't we pretty much guaranteed to draft Bobby Carpenter if he was available last year?

I remember all that talk about Vrabel working out with him.

Or was that all b.s. too?

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R_T26

In Patriot Reign it even states the Pats would of been willing to trade up for Vilma, so yes they would draft an LB in the first round. it just has to be the right guy. Last offseason people said the Pats would'nt draft an RB in the 1 st round, and yet they did.

pheenix11

I'm hoping for another day 1 TE. Screw WR's, who needs them. We can run the first 4 TE set.

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pats1

This is undoubtedly the year.

Not only are the LBs getting older, but there simply aren't as many there. McGinest, Phifer, Johnson, etc. need physical replacements.

signbabybrady

I agree BB definitely likes veterans at the position. and I am one that doesnt think the LB situation is as bad as people make it out to be. We have Three talented smart veterans all we need to do is round out the position for rotational and depth purposes. with that said these guys arent getting younger and I think people want an LB in the draft because youth represents future and our three guys represent the present.

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broadwayjoe

Thats exactly right the Pats tried the veteran and lower round picks on running backs before also and last year they finally used a first round pick on LoMo so its getting close to time to use a first rounder on a Linebacker especially since we have two #1 picks and I feel a good linebacker will be there this time just like Manny Lawson was last year but Maroney was to good to pass up at that point in the draft.

BelichickFan

I thought last year was undoubtedly the year when there was actually a strong year for LB. We passed on Manny Lawson, for instance.

Could we take a day one LB ? Yes. But I'll believe it when I see it.

cstjohn17

Good question.

Call it hopelessness, call it crazy or a pipe dream but I have been on the CB and LB bandwagon for the past 4 years... to very little ad veil, sigh...

This must be the year! maybe not, how about a TE and a Guard?

The article from Kevin Rousseau "Friends don't let friends watch the draft" is an all time classic, sums up my thoughts perfectly.

Our lack of speed and depth was exposed against Indy, so I know this is wacky but I do expect a Day 1 and a Day 2 LB to be drafted with the rotation looking something like this:
ROLB - Colvin, Woods
RILB - Veteran FA, Mays
LILB - Bruschi, Alexander, Draft Pick
LOLB - Vrabel, Draft Pick

Plus maybe one more spot for a special teamer like Izzo... but we shall see.

tombonneau

Does anyone have a link to FA LBs?