signbabybrady

I think there is a big Myth out there that BB and Pioli don't adress the MLB position.

They just don't do it via the draft.

Since BB and Pioli came here they have Found 3 stud LBers via Free Agency, Vrabel, Colvin, and Thomas. It may be early to call Thomas a stud but still.

Than add in guys Like Cox, Phifer, Seau....
That is 6 really good LBers, I wouldn't exactly call that ignoring the position.

When you consider the talented LBers that were already here Willie, TJ, Bru....there has actually probably been more talented players at that position than any other position on the team.

Think about it our LBing core has been one of the strenghts of this team year in and year out yet we always want to get more. Guess that is the nature of the beast.

Now I am not saying I don't want a young LBer that could possibly be here for 10 seasons but I don't think this has been a position that has been neglected the way some people around here like to think.

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oldskool138

LOL I thought you were talking about Babe Ruth calling the home run at Wrigley Field type myth. Wrong MLB.

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TripleOption

Vrabel, Colvin and McGinest are not MLB or ILB. Thomas played mostly at OLB.

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"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

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fgssand

I think he meant all Lb's and he is right......we do have now and have always had one hell of a group of linebackers.

By the way Thomas played inside much of this year and Vrable can be found inside quite often as well - as injury & need dictates.

No question, it would be great if we could find a young, smart stud LB'er to star from day one - maybe, picking #7 this is the year or maybe the Big "O" Oscar is the guy, who knows.

Man, it's nice to see a football post.

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primetime

Too early to call Thomas a stud? He was the best player on the defense in the biggest game of the year.

TripleOption

He said "MLB", which is the Mike LB or Middle LB.

Thomas was brought over after spending the bulk of his time at OLB. Vrabel has been and OLB/DE his whole career and was only moved to ILB for a short time due to injuries.

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"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon

signbabybrady

he was right though I had posted about ILB on another thread and it was on my mind when I started this one...I did mean just LBs and will change the title now.

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cornhuskers_2002

There aren't that many ILB'ers that can play this defense that have come out in the past 5 years. There are not many people who can play it well.

TripleOption

Not really. An MLB in a 4-3 or even some 4-3 OLB's would do nicely. Hell, a smart 3-4 OLB like Vrabel can fit. The Tampa 2 teams tend to have smaller faster LB's, more like bigger Safeties. They wouldn't fit.

Zach Thomas or Morgan would fit right in. If only the Pats had the low pick last year. Pat Willis would have been real nice to grab.

I would think that players like Kawika Mitchell, Ray Lewis, Keith Brooking, James Farrior, EJ Henderson etc...would fit in physically. Then it all comes down to their football smarts.

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"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon

VJ11

As you might know, BB likes his LBs experienced, who have seen almost everything, so they can digest the defensive playbook more easily. This rules out some draftee busting into the line-up in his rookie season. And due to the fact that the Pats base defense is the 3-4, they don't have MLBs, but ILBs. We've seen Chad Brown yo-yoing between the Pats roster and the street and even Pittsburgh the last couple of season. It's very hard to find the right guys to play ILB in the Patriots defense. Why do you think BB made that phone call to Seau when the man had retired from the Chargers only a day earlier?
We'll have to look at the current depth chart to find who will be ILB in 2008, because the only alternatives are FA guys who have played at Pittsburgh, San Diego, or Dallas (the teams that are running the 3-4 as well).

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