Inside Story

[Revman]

It is very obvious that we need to upgrade the ILB next to Mayo. What options are there if we do not draft Maualuga? We are one injury away from signing Seau again. Actually Seau did great at seasons end-Pat's went 3-0 with him and Colvin forced into action. Please give me some other options to lessen this potential problem. We can sign Peppers or Taylor to instantly upgrade the rush-but if Thomas is forced back inside- this takes away his natural rush abilities. Is this not a major weakness? Need help Inside.

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm sure Barwin could move inside

There's some interesting mid round picks that could pan out but right now Bruschi and Mayo would have to split the time and play full time if one got hurt - unless they moved Thomas inside. I have to believe Maualuga is higher on our list than many would want, we have more talent competing for the one OLB spot (Woods, Crable, Redd, even TBC would get us through in an emergency).

 

[mayoclinic]

It is very obvious that we need to upgrade the ILB next to Mayo. What options are there if we do not draft Maualuga? We are one injury away from signing Seau again. Actually Seau did great at seasons end-Pat's went 3-0 with him and Colvin forced into action. Please give me some other options to lessen this potential problem. We can sign Peppers or Taylor to instantly upgrade the rush-but if Thomas is forced back inside- this takes away his natural rush abilities. Is this not a major weakness? Need help Inside.

Sign Jason Taylor, put him at OLB, put Woods/Crable at the other OLB. Have whatever rookie OLB we sign back them all up. Move Adalius Thomas inside. He's a much better SILB for us than anyone we could draft. Plus we can move him back outside on selected downs with Mayo and Guyton playing inside.

 

[sinned86]

Sign Jason Taylor, put him at OLB, put Woods/Crable at the other OLB. Have whatever rookie OLB we sign back them all up. Move Adalius Thomas inside. He's a much better SILB for us than anyone we could draft. Plus we can move him back outside on selected downs with Mayo and Guyton playing inside.

The question I have with that is "is Taylor an every-down linebacker at this stage in his career?" I'm leaning towards no. I see him more as a situational/3rd down pass rusher rather than an every-down OLB or even a starting OLB

 

[spann31]

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State in the second round, same size, same speed, more production, better coverage and a three down linebacker. Just not as strong or flashy as Rey

 

[Revman]

Is Mitch King-DT-Iowa a player that Belichek would draft to transition to ILB? He is a good football player. Many scouts stated that if he weighed 25 lb's more he would easily be a round one pick. King is an undersized at DT- but has 4.75 40 speed . He is very powerful in his attack. Could he be a player that could transition to a LB role for Patriots? I can see him being on Coach B's list.Just a thought. At worst he can be a good pass rushing end for Pat's system. Bruschi was a college DT.

 

[patchick]

I don't think the draft cupboard is totally bare. Jasper Brinkley, Jason Phillips and to a lesser extent Frantz Joseph have strong followings on this board.

 

[CoachK]

Binkley with # 97.

 

[TriplecHamp]

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State in the second round, same size, same speed, more production, better coverage and a three down linebacker. Just not as strong or flashy as Rey

He is more consistent but they are not the same size they do not have the same speed.
Rey Maualuga:6'3 250lbs ran as low as 4.59
James Laurinaitis: 6'2 244lbs ran as low as 4.64

 

[Warren94]

veikune from Hawaii. Spelling forgive me..

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't think the draft cupboard is totally bare. Jasper Brinkley, Jason Phillips and to a lesser extent Frantz Joseph have strong followings on this board.

The point is that the cupboard is almost bare next to Mayo - more bare than Vrabel's replacement - and, yet, many here are happy drafting some guy in the 4th or 5th round.

Also remember - defense up the middle before defense on the edges.

 

[patchick]

The point is that the cupboard is almost bare next to Mayo - more bare than Vrabel's replacement - and, yet, many here are happy drafting some guy in the 4th or 5th round.

"Some guy" in the (3rd or) 4th or 5th? Sure--because there is only 1 day-1 ILB likely to be around at #23, Laurinatis, and I really don't believe he's a good fit for the Pats' scheme. The alternative is to move one of the OLB candidates like Sintim & English inside, but that's enough of a learning curve that it doesn't address the immediate need.

So it's "some guy"...or throw half your draft at Maualuga. I see the appeal, but I don't think you can spend multiple premium picks on a guy with that many question marks.

 

[CoachK]

veikune from Hawaii. Spelling forgive me..

He might be worth a shot at a Bruschi-like transformation late on Day 2.

 

[Ungeheuer]

You don't need a traditional ILB to play inside in a 3-4. There are a lot of guys in this draft who could play inside at Bruschi's spot.

Matthews is one, for sure. He'd be better inside than outside, I think. Cushing is another -- he seems like a better fit as a Mike than as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. In fact he reminds me a little of a slightly more athletic, slightly smaller Ted Johnson, more of a power guy than an athlete.

Kruger has played inside. That kid Jason Williams would be an inside linebacker for the Pats. Antonio Appleby maybe. Lee Robinson. Jasper Brinkley. Josh Mauga.

But the big ones are Maualuga, Matthews, Cushing, and Laurinaitis. I think it's a pretty good bet that they get one of those guys, if not at 23 then at 34. If not, then they'll probably take an outside linebacker later in the draft and move him inside. I personally really like Lee Robinson from Alcorn St. He's a really big guy, fast, and can probably play that spot that Bruschi plays on all three downs. Check out his video:

Draftguys.com - Draftguys TV, Mock Drafts, Rankings, and more!

 

[bakes781]

Is Mitch King-DT-Iowa a player that Belichek would draft to transition to ILB? He is a good football player. Many scouts stated that if he weighed 25 lb's more he would easily be a round one pick. King is an undersized at DT- but has 4.75 40 speed . He is very powerful in his attack. Could he be a player that could transition to a LB role for Patriots? I can see him being on Coach B's list.Just a thought. At worst he can be a good pass rushing end for Pat's system. Bruschi was a college DT.

I like Mitch King. He's an all effort guy who really stood out at the Senior Bowl. I remember Mayock comparing him to Dan Klecko. I dunno if he could make the conversion, but I think he'd be a great guy to have come off the bench.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

It is very obvious that we need to upgrade the ILB next to Mayo. What options are there if we do not draft Maualuga? We are one injury away from signing Seau again. Actually Seau did great at seasons end-Pat's went 3-0 with him and Colvin forced into action. Please give me some other options to lessen this potential problem. We can sign Peppers or Taylor to instantly upgrade the rush-but if Thomas is forced back inside- this takes away his natural rush abilities. Is this not a major weakness? Need help Inside.

Kruger of Utah projects very nicely as a 2 down 3-4 ILB.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

I like Mitch King. He's an all effort guy who really stood out at the Senior Bowl. I remember Mayock comparing him to Dan Klecko. I dunno if he could make the conversion, but I think he'd be a great guy to have come off the bench.

I have loved King since the Senior Bowl but he reminds me of a Trevor Laws last year. He is not as heavy but moved very well and looked great in the one on ones. I really think a 4-3 team will get his kid to play 3 technique on passing downs but the kid did have a motor and great hands with good body lean at the Senior bowl and I think Indy will get him if they miss out on a DT early.

 

[StraightCashHomey81]

A few rebuffs from previous posts
-Mitch King= Dan Klecko, which to me means no way he can play LB.
-Kruger is not fluid enough to play the middle, even in a 3-4, but is a good fit on the outside.
-Stintim is a natural 3-4 OLB, who could play ILB in a pinch (a la Vrabel and AD) but his best skill set is rushing the passer.
-Lauriniatis and Cushing are two players i think are getting overrated. but even if you like them, they are more WILB and not the SILB, Ted Johnson type we need,
-If we don't draft Maluauga, here are some good fits later in the draft.

Jasper Brinkley, 6-2 265, SC 3rd-4th ( A little inconsistent, don't know if BB would like him but has the most potential of this group)

Jason Phillips, 6'1 242, TCU 4th

Frantz Joseph, 6'2 243, FAU (I really like him. Said to be a film nut a la Mayo)

Antonio Appleby, 6'2 260, UVA (Played 3-4 SILB at UVA with BB friend Al Groh. Groh Recommended Redd to BB last year and the Pats seem to like Redd accoridn got Mike Reiss, so maybe BB goes back to the well.)

Jason Williams, 6'1 242, Western Illinios (Was in a for a workout the other day, for what its worth)

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

A few rebuffs from previous posts
-Mitch King= Dan Klecko, which to me means no way he can play LB.
-Kruger is not fluid enough to play the middle, even in a 3-4, but is a good fit on the outside.
-Stintim is a natural 3-4 OLB, who could play ILB in a pinch (a la Vrabel and AD) but his best skill set is rushing the passer.
-Lauriniatis and Cushing are two players i think are getting overrated. but even if you like them, they are more WILB and not the SILB, Ted Johnson type we need,
-If we don't draft Maluauga, here are some good fits later in the draft.

Jasper Brinkley, 6-2 265, SC 3rd-4th ( A little inconsistent, don't know if BB would like him but has the most potential of this group)

Jason Phillips, 6'1 242, TCU 4th

Frantz Joseph, 6'2 243, FAU (I really like him. Said to be a film nut a la Mayo)

Antonio Appleby, 6'2 260, UVA (Played 3-4 SILB at UVA with BB friend Al Groh. Groh Recommended Redd to BB last year and the Pats seem to like Redd accoridn got Mike Reiss, so maybe BB goes back to the well.)

Jason Williams, 6'1 242, Western Illinios (Was in a for a workout the other day, for what its worth)

I think Maualuga is overpriced for what you get if the projections are to be believed.

Dryheat quoted a report (with no attribution, the bum) where Brinkley reportedly met with NE, but I'm not sure if it was a visit to Gillette or down in Carolina. That said, I think Brinkley is a better valued Maualuga without the character issues, I just never saw him playing that intuitively or finding the ball with any degree of ease - and this was before the knee injury.

Jason Phillips I like, for exactly the reasons I shy away from the other two. He gets a little over aggressive, but I think that's not a major negative.

The biggest knock on Frantz is he's just so slow, but I love the kid.

Appleby is like Brinkley again, good kid, good size, but little John Copper playing next to him at UVA was always 2-3 steps ahead of him at locating the ball in the one game I watched them together. Appleby didn't look any sharper in Texas vs. The Nation. I want an ILB with a pigskin seeking compass.

Jason Williams was being used at SLB in the Shrine game alongside Jason Phillips, that LB group shut down the run the best of the two units playing for the West. They gave up one huge play and I put the fault squarely on Phillips for getting too aggressive and leaving his assignment - Williams was exactly where he should have been. Game speed was excellent. The only thing I would have liked to see more of is stack & shed against OL, he did well against a TE.

 

[jays52]

I think that Mauawhosawhata is going to be a fantastic 4-3 Mike in the right system. When I watch him play, he seems to float back about seven yards, wait for a seam then hit it at mach schnell. However, I did notice that whenever he had a hat placed on him you couldn't make out a five nor an eight until the play was well over. Cut? Kissing the turf. Reached? Gave up his shoulder integrity. In-line drive blocked? 10 yards down the field trying to use his speed to get back into the persuit. Nice for a 4-3 with two big DT's, not so nice for a 2-gap 3-4.

I think that Brinkley is a pretty sound thumper, his nose for the ball just isn't as noticeable as it should have been for an inside guy. He does fight hard and displays a nice burst though.

Looking at Jason Phillips I think I see a near ideal inside run down guy. He stones the momentum of the blockers, fights with his hands to fend off cuts, has a way to come off blocks and plays like a real mean sumbeach. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe TCU plays a 3-3-5 stack. This is a penetration and persuit defense. If this is the case, Phillips will have plenty of coaching in how to shoot gaps, get after the ball in the backfield and is pretty adept and the backside persuit. Most 3-4 teams when playing the outside run have two keys for their inside guys. The playside backer flows to the playside c gap while the backside backer flows to the backside a gap. The logic is that the backside player will be in position to seal the cutback and can easily scrape to the playside a if the runner cuts it hard inside. The playside backer should be able to penetrate the playside b gap if the runner turns inside on his TE read, be in position for the c gap if a hole opens there, or scrape and fill to the d gap/be positioned to join the downfield persuit if necessary. A 3-3-5 Mike who displays the ability to square and stone blockers would be a very valuable asset in this scheme.