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Regardless of what Pete Prisco might think, we do have some young linebackers with promise in camp. I'm high on Pierre Woods, and Eric Alexander was actually pretty good overall in the AFC Title Game.

Today, Christopher Price has a look at Oscar Lua, who is fighting for a roster spot, but who at least two Patriots veterans believe compares favorably to Tedy Bruschi.

Price also has 5 things to watch in Thursday's preseason finale, and a stat and quote of the week.

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RayClay

Well, there's a job there. He didn't look like a world beater to me, but if he's got any chance to even be in the rotation at ILB, we should keep him over Testaverde.

The transition from college DE to ILB is painfully slow, so I would think a natural ILB with the size would have an advantage in some ways.

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cstjohn17

Our young LBs are full of promise and not much else. I don't think any one them project as starters in the near-term especially because of the depth in front of them.

RANT Begins ---> Comparing Lua to Bruschi is not very fair him and is an extremely high compliment. Bruschi was a round 3 pick and when he left the NCAA he was the all time sack leader, although he was not a perfect fit at the NFL level he was clearly a far better college player than Lua. And as we all know Bruschi has played 11 years, went to the ProBowl and played in 4 Superbowls, winning 3. Lets hope Lua is 1/2 as successful.

Not to mention Bruschi is one of the most beloved players in franchise history. <---------- RANT Ends


I hope Lua and Rogers make the team, see my comments from another post.
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It would be great if Lua and Rogers made it. We would actually have 4 LBs 25 and under on the roster.
Young kids - Woods (25), Alexander (25), Lua (23), Rogers (if my math is right he turns 24 on Friday)
Time will tell if any of them turn into starters but should really help with the depth.

Future LB forecast
- they add a day 1 LB in both 08 and 09

2007
OLB - Vrabel, Colvin, Woods, Rogers (plus Thomas)
ILB - Thomas, Bruschi, Seau, Alexander, Lua, Izzo

2008
OLB - Vrabel, Colvin, Woods, Rogers (plus Thomas)
ILB - Thomas, Bruschi (one more year), Day 1 Draft Pick, Alexander, Lua

2009
OLB - Vrabel, Thomas, Woods, Rogers
ILB - 2008 Day 1 Draft Pick, Alexander, Lua, 2009, Day 1 Draft Pick,

Slagathor

Bruschi didn't exactly set the team on fire his first couple of years.

I think that had a lot to do with the team trying to find a fit for him.

One thing that he did have though was fire and intensity. You could see that from day one.

I haven't seen that from Lua yet.

RayClay

My thoughts exactly.

If they have some future backups/Jag starters from the young group, I will be ecstatic, considering how they've neglected to seed the position with young talent.

I still think at least one draftee or under 30 FA is in the offing as a starter, probably at ILB.

You need FAs, or low picks to make it somewhere to keep the budget tight, but depending on them totally to take over at a position is wishful thinking.

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TheSeymonsta

100% correct....Which is why some talented LB's should be drafted before Bruschi gets his AARP Membership.

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We Still Need LB's
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Pat_Nasty

My problem is one of language.

The phrase "X compares favorably to Y" is an idiomatic expression which says that between the subject (X) and indirect object (Y), the subject is the better of the two.

Unless Price has lost his mind, this is clearly not what he means -- he means that Lua is a similar player, in style, to Bruschi and that this reflects favorably on the rookie.

Pats67

I'm not sure the majority of posts here even understand in what context the comparison was made.

Just to be clear here, here's the passage that refers to comparisons with Bruschi:

So Chris hasn't 'lost his mind' at all. The comparison is being made by Lua's new teammates, not Chris. And to clarify further, the comparison is one of 'football intelligence, overall approach and physical appearance.' And on the intelligence angle, Chris also has comments from another interested party:

Despite the protestations above, no one has yet compared Lua to Bruschi in terms of anything but approach and appearance. Not sure where anyone got the impression otherwise, unless they're commenting on something they didn't actually read. Hope that addresses the language 'problem'.

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patsox23

Okay, I'll say it right now - Oscar Lua: LOCK. Here's my best-case for this being a done deal...

“He gets better out there everyday. He pays attention. I know he’s very attentive to what the veteran players do in the classroom and on the practice field. He’s always alert and trying to pick up more information. I think he’s working hard and he’s getting better.”

Beli ALWAYS talks about liking guys who always get better, how they're the toughest to cut. Combine that with the need to get younger at LB, and his play on S/T's and I think there's no way Lua doesn't make the 53.

Book it.

Christopher_Price

Pats67, thanks for the clarification. I meant in no way to compare a modern-day Tedy Bruschi with a rookie Oscar Lua--that would be the longest of stretches. However, at least two vets said that he compares favorably with Bruschi--it's clear that Belichick think a lot of him--and the physical comparison is dead on.

Someone else on this thread mentioned that Bruschi wasn't really TEDY BRUSCHI his first few years in the league, and it bears repeating. He didn't start a single game his rookie season (he had more special teams tackles than defensive tackles as a rookie), and didn't start more than half the games until his fourth year in the league. In fact, you could make an agrument that Bruschi didn't really flourish until his fifth year in the league--2000, which was Belichick's first season at the helm.

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