I highly doubt the pats will draft anyone who is already an OLB in college to play OLB for the pats......

in the pats scheme, both OLB's put their hand on the ground alot more and it needs to be more than just smoke.......you have to be able to be able to get the attention of an OT to help reduce the double teams on the DL guys.....

the pats have not had a college OLB play OLB for them during belichiks tenure.........but then again, the pats haven't had a draft pick play for them at OLB under BB's tenure........

somewhere along the line, they have to find quality bodies for the outside or change their scheme a bit to allow for more college OLB types to play that position

I don't believe that gholston is a valid comparison.....I think there is more wrong with him because even as a rookie, you can put him in on obvious passing situations and have him get after it.......he ain't even doing that......he's a special teamer

As much as he didn't pan out as a starter, Tully Banta-Cain played reasonably well as a reserve OLB and a 7th round draft pick. Well enough to make his million after taxes signing with San Francisco.
Gholston is certainly a valid comparison:
- he played DE and even stood up on rare occasions in college at a fairly competitive university.
- he was drafted by a team that would need to transition him to a 3-4 OLB in a clone of the NE system.
- if they put him in on obvious passing downs they defeat the uncertainty as to which LBs are rushing by using a player who cannot drop into coverage on a zone blitz (yet, he may figure it out with good coaching and hard work).
- there is also the fact that pass rushing against NFL OL vice college OL is a whole new ball game that generally requires more than just speed - the kid's technique needed a lot of work.
- in order to play as more than a Special Teams player he needs to learn how to set the edge against the run, drop into coverage, and add technique to his speed off the edge as a pass rusher. This is the challenge for every player at the OLB position in a 3-4, even the blitz happy 3-4s of Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Dallas.

There is no reason someone playing OLB in a 4-3 couldn't learn to play a 3-4 OLB - if they have the tool set to get the job done. Gary Guyton has been singled out by BB as someone who can play both ILB and OLB for the team. Guyton was both a Sam and a Will at GA Tech.

We agree that the needs at LB seem to be lessoning as Mayo, Woods, and Guyton progress and the potential of Crable, Redd, and now Robertson developing within the system. Next year's Training Camp should be fun to track.

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Herzlich from bc looks like total prototypical bb olb. Got the size speed and big play potential

I'm not saying the guys we have developing at OLB are chopped liver, but neither have they shown they can get consistent pressure on the QB. If the Pats can add just one passrushing stud, this defense goes up to an entirely new level. Here's a name not mentioned much. What do you guys think about Aaron Curry out of Wake Forest?

I know these clips tell you very little, but take a look.
YouTube - Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry Official Highlight Reel

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"Are you not ENTERTAINED?!" - Addressing the Romans

What kind of OLB? There is the pure pass rush type, usually a bit smaller but fast(Colvin). There is the Elephant DE conversion(McGinest). But I think the most valuable without question is the type that can play BOTH inside and outside(Thomas/Vrabel). I would suggest Crable is going to be more like the Elephant, and IDing a guy that can play BOTH out of college is next to impossible because he has to succeed at one position on the next level before he can attempt the 2nd. It wouldnt surprise me to see Guyton groomed on the outside in the "Colvin" role seeing he was the faster LB in the draft....so I dont see this as a real NEED position. What they do need to find are PLAYMAKERS on defense at ANY position. Rodney,Bruschi and Seymour arent likely long for this team...

What kind of OLB? There is the pure pass rush type, usually a bit smaller but fast(Colvin). There is the Elephant DE conversion(McGinest). But I think the most valuable without question is the type that can play BOTH inside and outside(Thomas/Vrabel). I would suggest Crable is going to be more like the Elephant, and IDing a guy that can play BOTH out of college is next to impossible because he has to succeed at one position on the next level before he can attempt the 2nd. It wouldnt surprise me to see Guyton groomed on the outside in the "Colvin" role seeing he was the faster LB in the draft....so I dont see this as a real NEED position. What they do need to find are PLAYMAKERS on defense at ANY position. Rodney,Bruschi and Seymour arent likely long for this team...

We already found there replacements- Meriweather and Mayo. Both whom look very good so far and should continue to improve.

What we need is the long over due replacement at OLB. Willie McGinest, Rosevelt Colvin, and a deteriorating Mike Vrabel.

Really that guy that can play both is your Sintim. Jack of all trades, including coverage, master of none. He is the only guy that I have seen play that fits the both category.

Cushings is not a cover guy, so he would be an instant liability on our defense.

I would prefer the one dimensional pass rushing demon that can come in on 3rd and long and make the QB have to unload the ball before he wants to.
Perfect example was the Jets game on 3rd and 15. It is so frustrating that in a QB dominated league, we do not have a difference maker at that pass rushing demon position.

I agree on what an impact player would do from the edge. It seems (I'm not certain), that unless BB has confidence that this player can play well in coverage and vs the run, he won't see the field as just a pass rushing demon.

The problem that we as fans have, is the disadvantage of not knowing for certain which of our developing OLBs has the best pass rushing skills, which of course are mostly exhibited during practice under the eyes of coaches (Woods being the lone exception due to his game reps). It remains to be seen if Redd will get more reps during garbage time, or if Robertson will even see the field (due to his late arrival). Like most here, I have high hopes for Crable -- but he's a wait-and-see till next season.

For the rest of this season, we can only hope that Woods develops some pass rushing skills, Vrabel heals some, and AD returns. That's the hand we've been dealt.

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"What we want to try to do is maximize each spot on the roster; we want to be stronger at No. 1 than the opponent, stronger at No. 25 than they are, and stronger at No. 53 than they are, we're always looking to upgrade the talent level on the team, and play together to be functional."
- Bill Belichick -

i think a good OLB covers up some deficiencies in the secondary. if there is a top guy out there where we are drafting we should swallow that player up. however, if there is a great CB and a good OLB, ill take the great CB