Vet ILBs - who is out there, will be cut, or avail for trade?

[ScottieC]

No, I went bananas (twice) when BB passed on Maualuga not one, but TWICE, I was going bananas on draft day, I'm still pissed over it. Can you imagine Maualuga and Mayo playing next to each other, wtf was BB thinking ????

Bill was not the only guy who passed on Rey more than once. KC, Browns, New England, Broncos, Rams, Green Bay and Detroit.......3 times.

There are some whispers about Maualuga, if true - he landed in the perfect spot.

It is ENTIRELY possible, that Maualuga is just not that good and not a first round guy. And before you go off on watching him play and all that - I watched USC many times last year and was completely unimpressed with his play after the Ohio State game. That's not a power conference they are in - it's not hard to look like a monster when your surrounded by that kind of talent and playing teams that don't have the ability that you have.

If 31 teams (minus the Cowboys) - Decide to pass on you, many times more than once and twice and THREE times, you might want to reach down deep and figure out what the hell went wrong and fix it.

 

[furry]

Bill was not the only guy who passed on Rey more than once. KC, Browns, New England, Broncos, Rams, Green Bay and Detroit.......3 times.

There are some whispers about Maualuga, if true - he landed in the perfect spot.

It is ENTIRELY possible, that Maualuga is just not that good and not a first round guy. And before you go off on watching him play and all that - I watched USC many times last year and was completely unimpressed with his play after the Ohio State game. That's not a power conference they are in - it's not hard to look like a monster when your surrounded by that kind of talent and playing teams that don't have the ability that you have.

If 31 teams (minus the Cowboys) - Decide to pass on you, many times more than once and twice and THREE times, you might want to reach down deep and figure out what the hell went wrong and fix it.

Not even sure I'd call them whispers. Folk are screaming from the roof tops about the issues he'd bring to a locker room. And while I don't know the exact score his wonderlic was meant to be shockingly bad.

Doesn't sound anything like a BB pick to me

 

[BradyFTW!]

WHAT ? Rey Maualuga was not worth of a top of R2 pick ? Are you freaking serious ? Do you have any idea what this man is going to do in this league ? And BB for some reason passed this up...........I'm still shaking my head.

Turns out that he probably just benefited from playing around absurdly athletic teammates. The guy was unable AND unwilling to learn a college defensive scheme, had troubling character issues, was often out of position, and is useless in coverage. He's exactly the kind of LB that a) the Pats don't need, and b) has a high probability of being a bust in the NFL.

 

[BradyFTW!]

There is no doubt in my mind that Rey Maualuga should have been our pick. He's the next Junior Seau/Lofa Tatupu and I think he's going to end up being even better.

You think that he's going to be better than Junior Seau? Are you kidding? Did you actually see Seau play in anything even close to his prime? Rey will have had an excellent career if he's half the player that Seau was.

Edit: check it out, this is my signature now. Now, when he turns out not be very good, I can get a good chuckle out of it every time I'm reminded of how 100%, ironclad certain you were. I've honestly never seen someone be so gung-ho about such an unremarkable player.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Oh, i think that's why I was so confused. I thought ILB generally weighed more than OLB's. That was my confusion. Thanks for clarifying that for me.

Depends a lot on the scheme. There are some 230ish ILBs out there, like Jonathan Vilma and Derrick Brooks. They tend to play in schemes that demand a lot of range from the LB position though, where they'll rarely have to engage offensive linemen.

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

Did you notice that everybody passed on Maualuga, so that the "sure-fire top 10 pick," "next Junior Seau/Lofa Tatupu" lasted well into round 2, despite a general dearth of top ILB talent? Perhaps the many reports of Maualuga's immaturity, rejection of coaching, low intelligence, alcohol problems, and need to be "babysat" scared teams off? Or perhaps everybody just overlooked him somehow.

No, sorry, not everybody...the Bengals saw that this was the kind of fellow their lockerroom needed.

I think Maualuga will be arrested within his first 2 years in the NFL...

 

[Feep50]

I wanted Karlos Dansby instead of Ben Watson a few years back, but I don't cry about is nonstop.....

Get over it, Riddler..... sheeesh!

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

There is no doubt in my mind that Rey Maualuga should have been our pick. He's the next Junior Seau/Lofa Tatupu and I think he's going to end up being even better. Ya, I feel like BB really missed the boat on this one, I really do. And the future is going to prove that out. I would have taken him at 23 and to believe that we even could have had him twice after that, again I shake my head. He filled an absolute need, I can't bear to watch another season of Tedy B getting abused at that position, we needed a major upgrade there, BB had his opportunity and I feel like he dropped the ball on it. That is my opinion.

Of all the ILBs you choose Seau and Tatupu as examples because they just happen to be of Hawaiian decent? - What does that have to do with anything?

 

[tombonneau]

I think Maualuga will be arrested within his first 2 years in the NFL...

Based on the fact he punched a guy at a Halloween party four years ago?

Ok.

 

[CoachK]

And while I don't know the exact score his wonderlic was meant to be shockingly bad.

Doesn't sound anything like a BB pick to me

According to Nawrocki, Maualuga scored a 15 on his Wonderlic.

I was all for him until it became apparent he wouldn't be able to get up to speed on our defense.

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

Based on the fact he punched a guy at a Halloween party four years ago?

Ok.

Based on the fact he was out of control in college.
That he now plays for a team that boasts more felons than any other.
That he slipped into the 2nd round because certain teams were not willing to touch him.

I didn't know about the punch at the party.
But he's a guy who has shown lack of control in the past and is now in an environment where guys that have had character issues in the past fail.

 

[Mack Herron]

For those with knowledge of NFL rosters, what teams are deep at MLB?

 

[furry]

According to Nawrocki, Maualuga scored a 15 on his Wonderlic.

I was all for him until it became apparent he wouldn't be able to get up to speed on our defense.

That seals it for me

The off field stuff could / should have come under control signing for BB and the Pats- you don't **** that chance up.

15 score, his role isn't just about hitting folk

 

[RoughingthePasser]

We'll bring in some more guys that can play ILB.
Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi could get injured.

 

[bagwell368]

I agree with you that I prefer keeping AD at OLB, at least for this year. I think there is enough uncertainty at the OLB position that having one established anchor there (to go with Mayo as the established anchor at ILB) is a better option than loading up at ILB and having OLB being completely up in the air.

#1. AT is better at OLB then ILB. However, learning ILB for the Pats is much harder then OLB. Mayo was a one in every 3-4 year type player. Don't expect another one coming in as a FA.

#2. If Taylor comes, there are enough bodies to go with him outside, that AT can play inside. Someone pointed out that AT can go outside on passing downs, and Guyton can take over.

#3. Whatever it takes to limit or eliminate snaps for Bruchi. Even Seau blew him off the field last year. Great Patriot, all time great. But I hope he retires, or they buy him out. Time to go.

 

[mayoclinic]

#1. AT is better at OLB then ILB. However, learning ILB for the Pats is much harder then OLB. Mayo was a one in every 3-4 year type player. Don't expect another one coming in as a FA.

I think Adalius Thomas is solid at both OLB and SILB. As he gets older and loses a step I can see him moving inside to SILB if we don't find a permanent counterpart to Mayo. I think that learning SILB is not quite as difficult as learning WILB - Mayo will be the field general and defensive signal caller. It will be much easier for an SILB to learn the system with Mayo in place. A veteran FA such as Dansby or even Napoleon Harris could probably get the base defense down reasonably well the 1st year, though I'm sure that the full defense and the nuances would take longer.

#2. If Taylor comes, there are enough bodies to go with him outside, that AT can play inside. Someone pointed out that AT can go outside on passing downs, and Guyton can take over.

I'm not sure I understand the logic of this. If we are weak at OLB with Thomas at one spot and Woods/Crable/Redd at the other, then why are we suddenly ok with Taylor at one spot and Woods/Crable/Redd at the other? I think we would prefer to keep AD outside even if we sign Taylor, and add an ILB to complement Mayo and Guyton. Barring some miracle of getting Dansby, Napoleon Harris is my favorite of the currently available FAs.

#3. Whatever it takes to limit or eliminate snaps for Bruchi. Even Seau blew him off the field last year. Great Patriot, all time great. But I hope he retires, or they buy him out. Time to go.

I personally agree with you and have said so previously, though I suspect that this is heresy to some. I'd like to see as little of Bruschi on the field as possible this year, great as he has been in the past. Time to move on.

 

[DW Toys]

Tank Williams will be finding his way onto the ILB position - He did it in TC last year at times instead of DB and it looks very likely it will be a bigger role for him if he can get on the field and healthy after preseason this year

Interesting.
DW Toys

 

[RoughingthePasser]

Good points Patriots 64.
I forgot about Tank.

We have some pretty flexible cats on the defensive backfield

 

[mgteich]

OK, let's be real. Nap Harris is available. We badly need an ILB. We haven't signed him. Perhaps Belichick has a reason for not signing him.

And also, let's get real about Dansby. He is under contract and is very unlikely to be going anywhere.

I do certainly agree that I would like to see either of them added. I would rather add Taylor, which would likely mean that Thomas moves inside.

I don't think that Belichick see any problems at OLB at all; otherwise he might have found help somewhere in the draft. Belichick's solution was re-sign Woods, sign Banta-Cain and bring back Redd (he didn't bring back Robertson or Ruud).

And obviously I have no clue with regard to Belichick's analysis of the ILB position. I would have drafted Laurinitis at 34 and Will Moore at 40 or wherever. Belichick must be expecting Guyton and Bruschi to be major contributers this year. If Guyton is viewed as a starter, then obviously the situation isn't very dire. I too would feel alot better if we signed a starter quality linebacker.

I think Adalius Thomas is solid at both OLB and SILB. As he gets older and loses a step I can see him moving inside to SILB if we don't find a permanent counterpart to Mayo. I think that learning SILB is not quite as difficult as learning WILB - Mayo will be the field general and defensive signal caller. It will be much easier for an SILB to learn the system with Mayo in place. A veteran FA such as Dansby or even Napoleon Harris could probably get the base defense down reasonably well the 1st year, though I'm sure that the full defense and the nuances would take longer.



I'm not sure I understand the logic of this. If we are weak at OLB with Thomas at one spot and Woods/Crable/Redd at the other, then why are we suddenly ok with Taylor at one spot and Woods/Crable/Redd at the other? I think we would prefer to keep AD outside even if we sign Taylor, and add an ILB to complement Mayo and Guyton. Barring some miracle of getting Dansby, Napoleon Harris is my favorite of the currently available FAs.



I personally agree with you and have said so previously, though I suspect that this is heresy to some. I'd like to see as little of Bruschi on the field as possible this year, great as he has been in the past. Time to move on.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

We badly need an ILB.