rookBoston

Reading the latest USAToday on the Pats, I came across a projection which is think is false. There seems to be a widely held belief that Thomas and Colvin will play outside backer, with Vrabel and Bruschi inside.

I think that's probably wrong. I expect, and this was partially supported by some of the mini-camp observations of where BB has Thomas lining up in practice, that Vrabel will return to his natural spot outside across from Colvin, and that Thomas will play inside beside Bruschi, with Seau/Lua rotating in on the inside and Brown/Woods on the outside.

Vrabel is adequate but not great dropping into coverage, and is most disruptive beating the OT to strip the ball from the QB on the outside. Thomas has the footspeed and agility to play in the secondary which makes him a far better fit covering a TE in the pattern.

I'm not sure why so many people assume that Thomas will play outside and Vrabel inside.

Vrabel was forced into it last year, after the injury to Seau with the hope that TBC would hold up outside. When that idea was disproved, they put him back outside, hoping that Alexander would fill on the inside. That concept was disproved, too, but has the benefit of putting Vrabel in the position he's best suited to play.

Thomas, by all accounts, is Mr. Versatility himself, and has even played S and CB for the Ravens. No doubt, he will see some snaps outside, but that's not where the team needs him most.

I'm excited to see some 3-5 alignments this year, with Seau, Bruschi and Thomas in the box along with Vrabel and Colvin. In that alignment, Thomas could be a blitzing S, a zone coverage DB, a run stopper or just about anything. Any team with slow-developing passing routes will get steamrolled by that defensive front.

__________________
"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

maverick4

A 3-5 alignment would be devastating on 1st down and 2nd and short.

unoriginal

2nd and short? AKA "2nd and hell why not chuck it down the field"?

patriot lifer

when thomas was placed at inside linebacker during minicamp, some have surmised (the Patriots football weekly writers) that this was simply to familiarize him with a position he hasn't played before, and it didn't mean that he will necessarily be playing inside all the time, but so if he does, he will be ready.

I'd like him to split time at each pretty evenly

psychoPat

Agree with the principal read.

Adalius Thomas : Bill Belichick :: a Lionel train set : me at Christmas, age five.

We are about to see defensive deployments never seen before.

PonyExpress

I would like to see Thomas and Vrabel start outside, with Colvin rotating in; and Bruschi/Seau inside.

patsox23

I prefer Vrabel outside, too. The more we can get guys like him back to their natural position, the better.

satz

I expect to see Vrabel, Thomas and Colvin at OLB with 1 dropping into coverage or both blitzing from 1 side. The side with 1 OLB wait to see a safety lined up next...expect to see:

Vrabel, Thomas, Seymour, Vince, Warren, Colvin, Harrison at the line with people dropping into coverage at snap and some rushing.

__________________
NFL - A perfect american business model .
HarleyDavidson-Turning gas into noise for more than 100 yrs without the side effects of power and still making a tonne of money a great american business model.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

robertweathers

IMO....

OLB rotation- Thomas, Vrable, Colvin, Brown, Woods
ILB rotation- Bruschi, Vrable, Thomas, Seau, Alexander

I have Vrable & Thomas doubling time as OLB/ILB. Because they can rush the passer from inside & outside and offer strong run support in 3rd and short and all 3 downs for that matter, I like them in both spots.

Colvin stays on the outside. Nothing wrong there.

I like Alexander spotting Seau and Bruschi maybe 10-15 plays a game.

I think Pierre Woods makes a nice push this year for some spot playing time on the edge to spell the Vrable, Thomas and Colvin OLB rotation. I love his speed on the edge.

Everyone else on the roster will either be STs or practice squad.

__________________
“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

MetalBleachers

I agree with most of this, although I think the rotations will change a lot from game to game to keep opponents guessing.

I'm also very curious to see how Larry Izzo does, only because a young LB might prove more valuable in a few years and he might need a place on the roster for ST duty. Nothing against Izzo, he's been awesome, but I wonder at what point a rookie would be able to get that ST slot.