Bostonian1962

You can file this offseason post under the hyperbole category if you wish, but as I sit here at the end of June '08, I truly can see this Patriots' LB crew being VERY strong.

Couldn't you see any team's LB Corp improving if:

1. They added a stud 1st Round Pick to the Mix.

OR

2. They had a highly touted FA linebacker from a year ago, that was moved inside and out, settle into ONE position this year.

OR

3. They added a young, talented Free Agent LB THIS year.

OR

4. A young LB that has been improving on the team, finally explodes onto the scene.

OR

5. They hit with a 2008 Undrafted Free Agent LB, that has the talent, and with coaches pays off.

Now if you look at the Patriots, they might not just hit with one of these, but the realistically could hit with one or more of these areas. Think about it:

#1. - Mayo, or Crable, or less likely Ruud
#2. - Adalius Thomas
#3. - Hobson
#4. - Pierre Woods
#5. - Redd, or Guyton

It is definitely not too out of whack to think that this LB corp. could be a really tremendous group. Am I the only one having such great thoughts about a group we haven't even seen hit the field yet for '08?

skri65

Average is good enough to become above average. Almost all of our LB's started out average and became something more. (Bruschi, Adalius, Vrabel)

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"The Colts shock and awe offense ... was shockingly awful." - quote from NFL Game Of The Week (2005 div vs Indy)

signbabybrady

I for one am really excited about or LB corp. We have had some good ones thru this decade and this has potential to be better but those things listed above need to hit quickly.


I will except your rationale on what you saw on the field as he did play for team. But I think it is dumb to look into how long it took him to get signed. You have no idea what factors went into that and to assume it was lack of intrest is foolish.

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Rob0729

He was miscast by the Jets as an OLB. Even so, he had a pretty good year in 2006. The guy is built to be an ILB in the 3-4, but for some reason Mangini had him playing outside although his short arms, lack of size to take on big OTs, and last of edge rushing speed were huge negatives playing outside (but wouldn't hurt him inside).

I think the guy is versatile enough, smart enough, and has good instincts to fit in well in the Patriots' system. He seems to have picked up the system quickly which is always a positive.

Remember, Jets fans weren't overly impressed with Roman Phifer when he was a Jet either. He ended up being a great addition for the Patriots.

It all depends on the system and where you plug in a guy in a lot of cases. Mangini's approach seems to force fit guys into what he is trying to do rather than put the guys in the best postion to succeed even if it means revising what you are trying to do. I think Hobson was a victim of that philosophy.

patsox23

Hobson is a JAG. He couldn't get a multi-year deal anywhere. He settled for a crappy offer from the Pats for one year. I hope he works out, but I'm not counting on it.

Rob0729

Yeah, there are just some players who fall between the crack. It seems to be that way with LBs this year. It took Colvin longer than Hobson to find a new team and he is what teams are always looking for - a very good pass rusher. Takeo Spikes is still on the open market.

The Pats have a history of adding players no one wanted and getting maximum production out of them including Roman Phifer, Bobby Hamilton, Mike Vrabel, Randy Moss (granted it isn't really fair to include him since he was a previous superstar who had some bad years), Joe Andruzzi, David Patten, etc.

Bostonian1962

The story on his free agency is that many teams were after him and he said he would visit one team and one team only - The Patriots. That has many of us excited.

http://www.projo.com/patriots/conten...8.357de9c.html

Plus, many say he was played out of position with The Jets, and at 6'0, 252 lbs, is perfectly suited to be moved inside in the 3-4, where the Pats plan to play him.

Heck, even if he was out of position, he still posted 100 tacles and 6 sacks in '06, so he produced regardless. On top of it all, he's only 28. There is alot there to get excited about.

signbabybrady

and you know what teams actually showed intrest to him during the period in which he "wasn't getting much intrest".

How do you know 5 teams didn't want him but he didn't want to go to a team that was equally as bad as the Jets????

Do you know what was going on in his personal life...Maybe he had a reason to be slow on the market maybe he had more important things to deal with.

or maybe you are right....Just seems like an odd thing to make assumptions on especially if as you said you liked the guy.

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Bostonian1962

All good points, but I don't even buy into the statement that he took a long time to sign. Signing period opened some time in March and ends on July 22. Pats signed Hobson on April 8, 2008.

Also, see this interview with Hobson from Mike Reiss. From his own mouth there were "other teams" interested, including Arizona, but he wanted to stay on the East Coast. Let's not let the facts get in the way.

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal..._hobson_i.html

FarScapeR

Belichick has always been tweaking the LB corps, getting free agents and retired players to play up to their potential, but this draft haul is a dramatic restocking of that group. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if we still have the same starters on day one as we did at the end of last season.