JoeSixPat

I'm as excited as everyone else to have two young LBs added to the roster, especially a Top Ten pick like Mayo...

But I'm having a tough time forgetting that Belichick is so particular about which LBs can fit in his system that he's pretty much passed on drafting any LB high in the draft since - well, forever.

That's a pretty stark fact noting that BB is a guy who is always drafting with the future in mind - and hasn't been willing or able to use the draft to gain some up and coming talent even as his LB corps gets older and slower.

He's preferred to look to proven NFL veterans as a barometer of whether they can fit in the system - and even then he's been wrong.

So can someone tell me why, once the euphoria from draft weekend dies down, that I should expect Mayo and Crable to do what Belichick never felt rookie LBs were able to do in the past and step right in and contribute? (or the first ones that BB even felt were a worthy investment for the future?)

Not trying to throw cold water on our draft picks - just trying to be realistic when everyone seems to have these guys starting in their minds.

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TheGodInAGreyHoodie

You answered your own question.

RayClay

I seriously believe they painted themselves in a corner by not acquiring young talented LBs during the last 6 years when BB says they were looking for them.

Necessity is the mother of invention, hence, all of a sudden, you don't need to be an experienced vet anymore.

Apparently, you don't need to be a DE convert anymore either (Mayo).

I'm guessing with Capers on board, they are prepared to coach the hell out of young linebackers similar to the successful model they've adopted with the secondary.

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Bella*chick

Maybe BB decided to try something a little different this time.

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borg

Depth. With Colvin going down at the end of last season, the Pats no longer had a rotation at LB with only spot substitutions. Asking the OLBs to rush the passer, cover TEs, and chase RBs out of the backfield for 60 minutes was too much to ask. Assuming Seau returns, the Pats LB Corps is now the deepest group on the roster. Hobson, Mayo and Crable have added youth, athletism, and depth.

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"In the end, Belichick juiced Moss like an orange, and once all the good pulp was squeezed, he tossed Moss aside. "


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Caspir

I think that anyone who expects Mayo, and especially Crable to contribute immediately will be disappointed. I think Mayo will be a third down LB, and Crable will be situational as an edge rusher, and they'll both get burn on pecial teams. I think it will be 2009 by the time either of them get any regular playing time on defense, giving them each a year under the veterans on the team to learn the techniques. I still think they're really good picks though.

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onegameatatime

If the Pats liked Crable so much, why were they willing to take a chance of him being snatched by someone else?

As it turns out, if they truly were going to use the 1st 3rd rounder for Crable, that means they got a second rounder next year and Matt Slater for a seventh rounder. Not bad.

dante828

Though I think you make a fair point, I also think that you forget the last time this happened, when the Pats drafted Logan Mankins. The Pats had rarely drafted an offensive lineman so high before (Klemm and Light being exceptions, but those were only second round, and the Pats haven't drafted a lineman that high since). At the time they needed a left guard, they had someone they liked, and drafted them. Not saying that Mayo or Crable will end up just as good as Mankins is at his position, but its not unprecedented that Belichick will draft outside his normal drafting patterns if the situation and player warrants it. That's what makes the Belichick Pioli team so good, and why they have earned the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

Franchise12

other teams that employ the 3-4 defense are able to infuse youth at the Lb position, so I often saw BB's desire to have veteran lb's more so as a preference and not a necessity. with his team falling short of its ultimate goal the last few years Belichick is simply unergoing an overall philosophical transformation . it started with the realization that the offense needed to put up 28+ a game to pretty much ensure victory (ala the colts, and 99-2001 rams) so he brought in the pieces to make that happen. I think that Belichick came to the realization that the day of the Ted Johnson "thumper" style of linebacker is nearly extinct. I believe that he realized this a few years ago and its indicative of his reported interest in Vilma when he entered the draft and with Willis and Beason last year. this year we were finally in the position to draft higher rated linebacker that we coveted. usually they were gone when we picked in the late 20's and 30's. all in all mayo is athletic, smart, and has very good speed and when you consider the fact that he will be protected by one of the best D lines in football, one can only think of the things bb will do with this guy.

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BelichickFan

I don't expect to see much of Crable until 2009, other than special teams. He can add about 20 pounds to his frame and I think he job this year will be to play special teams, learn the defense and be 260 pounds in 8/09.

Mayo will play quite a bit and will add speed to the middle of the defense but that doesn't mean he'll "start". We have Vrabel and Thomas outside. Some combination of Bruschi, Hobson and (sounds like) Seau inside. If an OLB gets hurt it could thin out depending on whether Woods plays or Hobson goes outside as he clearly can do; then Mayo would be a more obvious need. I don't expect Mayo to be a full time starter until 2009 unless injuries force the issue or if Mayo is just too good to have on the sidelines.