Caserio on OLB's

[slash83]

Patriots blog - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

Attendees were free to ask questions throughout the 90-minute event. One of the more direct questions came when Caserio was asked why the team didn’t draft an outside linebacker to address the team's struggles on third down last season [26th out of 32 teams] and fill the void left by Mike Vrabel's departure.

“I think we’ve got players on our team that we feel good about, between A.D. [Adalius Thomas], Pierre [Woods], we signed Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable didn’t have an opportunity to play last year ... ” he said, before noting that things could always change because the team doesn't play a game until September.

Caserio also noted that third down is about more than just outside linebackers and rushing the quarterback, as “there is a coverage component as well.”

Caserio said that while the team did have some outside linebackers it liked, that is generally one of the toughest positions for the team to find players that fit its scheme.

 

[signbabybrady]

I was there for this event.....and one of my favorite comments on the night came when he was asked of the pre draft trade-up rumor.

he said there was only one or two guys they would have even wanted that high and went on to say that for them to move that far the guy would have to have been as good as Mayo. And then cracked a joke about BB's less than %0 comment.

All in all I though it was very interesting. Man does BB really mold these guys he sounded like the hooded one the way he side stepped some questions. But he was very nice about and really informative about the whole draft/scouting processes.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I was there for this event.....and one of my favorite comments on the night came when he was asked of the pre draft trade-up rumor.

he said there was only one or two guys they would have even wanted that high and went on to say that for them to move that far the guy would have to have been as good as Mayo. And then cracked a joke about BB's less than %0 comment.

All in all I though it was very interesting. Man does BB really mold these guys he sounded like the hooded one the way he side stepped some questions. But he was very nice about and really informative about the whole draft/scouting processes.

More details please.

 

[RayClay]

“I think we’ve got players on our team that we feel good about, between A.D. [Adalius Thomas], Pierre [Woods], we signed Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable didn’t have an opportunity to play last year ... ” he said, before noting that things could always change because the team doesn't play a game until September.

Caserio also noted that third down is about more than just outside linebackers and rushing the quarterback, as “there is a coverage component as well.”

Caserio said that while the team did have some outside linebackers it liked, that is generally one of the toughest positions for the team to find players that fit its scheme.

I'm so hoping this is like when BB so convincingly told us that NT play was more about technique as we prepared to go into the season with Rick Lyle, Jarvis and Klecko.

Then he went out and got 400 lb. phenom Ted Washington.

 

[Sicilian]

I'm so hoping this is like when BB so convincingly told us that NT play was more about technique as we prepared to go into the season with Rick Lyle, Jarvis and Klecko.

Then he went out and got 400 lb. phenom Ted Washington.

Well, it is more about technique than precise size, but the player still needs to be at least in a certain range

I think the coverage statement is very true. More than just giving pass rushers more time (which is important, given it's not the line's primary responsibility), a good secondary opens up blitzing options because you have more faith in your players to cover without help.

I bet we make a depth signing or trade, at least for more bodies. Not expecting anyone with the impact of Washington to be added though.

 

[signbabybrady]

More details please.

Another response to one of my questions I found interesting......I asked him about taking a 3rd de linemen (Richard) and if he could explain the logic to taking 3 players on the deline when you only have 3 starters and we already have 4 or 5 guys that are really good.

He went on to say that it does no good to draft players who are not as good or that don't fit your system just because of numbers. And said that its not like there were alot of guys at the end of the draft they felt good about.

I followed up and said but do you see keeping 3 rookie DL as a possibility and his answer I thought was good.

He said I expect all 3 will compete and we will take the best 53 out of camp we can. He seemed to be saying that he would rather have a guy who fits the system than a guy in an area of need because its harder to fill the hole with a square peg.

 

[PatsChamp88]

Another response to one of my questions I found interesting......I asked him about taking a 3rd de linemen (Richard) and if he could explain the logic to taking 3 players on the deline when you only have 3 starters and we already have 4 or 5 guys that are really good.

He went on to say that it does no good to draft players who are not as good or that don't fit your system just because of numbers. And said that its not like there were alot of guys at the end of the draft they felt good about.

I followed up and said but do you see keeping 3 rookie DL as a possibility and his answer I thought was good.

He said I expect all 3 will compete and we will take the best 53 out of camp we can. He seemed to be saying that he would rather have a guy who fits the system than a guy in an area of need because its harder to fill the hole with a square peg.

Interesting stuff, this sounds like a really cool format so anyone can ask questions. He really gave some good information I hope to attend this one day if they decide to keep doing it. Thanks for posting about this...

 

[37Harrison]

Patriots blog - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

Attendees were free to ask questions throughout the 90-minute event. One of the more direct questions came when Caserio was asked why the team didn’t draft an outside linebacker to address the team's struggles on third down last season [26th out of 32 teams] and fill the void left by Mike Vrabel's departure.

“I think we’ve got players on our team that we feel good about, between A.D. [Adalius Thomas], Pierre [Woods], we signed Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable didn’t have an opportunity to play last year ... ” he said, before noting that things could always change because the team doesn't play a game until September.

Caserio also noted that third down is about more than just outside linebackers and rushing the quarterback, as “there is a coverage component as well.”

Caserio said that while the team did have some outside linebackers it liked, that is generally one of the toughest positions for the team to find players that fit its scheme.

I'm not sure about anyone else but the way Caserio phrased the above bolded line doesn't make me feel any better.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I'm not sure about anyone else but the way Caserio phrased the above bolded line doesn't make me feel any better.

That whole article just gave me a wierd feeling they're trying to do something. I really think so, I don't know why. I think the Ted Washington was actually decent, as he was a HUGE piece we added IN TC. So who honestly knows, I bet anything that o3 D wouldn't have been as good without that mountain of a man on the DL. I hope they have something planned, I don't know how though

 

[signbabybrady]

I'm not sure about anyone else but the way Caserio phrased the above bolded line doesn't make me feel any better.

It made me feel better.....reason being and maybe I am reading into it but the way he listed them off made it seem like he had confidence in their guys. He said Good things obviously about Thomas and than said Woods second (which I know in the past BB has praised Woods) and when he said Tully he seemed genuinely happy to have back in the fold and said Crable never really got a chance to show anything last year (which I took to mean we still have this 3rd rd talent to figure out). I thought he sounded optimistic about the guys we have........and than when he followed it by there is still plenty of time in the offseason too I wouldn't get to excited I didn't take to mean they had some ideas or something specific in mind...I just took it to mean you never know who could come available.


And much later he pretty much laughed at the Peppers question....saying there it is the "inevitible Peppers question"

 

[patchick]

It made me feel better.....reason being and maybe I am reading into it but the way he listed them off made it seem like he had confidence in their guys.

I think all the tea leaves do spell out that they have confidence in a couple of the young OLBs on the roster. The Patriots are legendary for composing a complete roster before the draft to maintain maximum draft flexibility and not have to count on any specific rookies falling to them (and panning out). So before the draft, they solidified their WR corps with Galloway and Lewis; and before the draft, they jettisoned a long-time starting OLB.

The fact that they didn't draft an OLB is a separate issue, more about 2010 and beyond. They showed that they were confident in the current lineup for 2009 before the draft.

They could be wrong, of course. Strong as their record is, it's not hard to find examples where they've misjudged their depth and talent at specific positions in the past. But it does seem clear that the Patriots BELIEVE that their current young OLBs are ready to do the job.

 

[RayClay]

Well, it is more about technique than precise size, but the player still needs to be at least in a certain range

I think the coverage statement is very true. More than just giving pass rushers more time (which is important, given it's not the line's primary responsibility), a good secondary opens up blitzing options because you have more faith in your players to cover without help.

I bet we make a depth signing or trade, at least for more bodies. Not expecting anyone with the impact of Washington to be added though.

When the technique is being administrated by Rick Lyle, you have officially reached the limit of technique as opposed to mass.

I'm not saying Ted doesn't also have great technique, I'm saying BB was telling a little fib that proper technique was going to make up for a real NT.

 

[RayClay]

Lots of things are true. The lack of a pass rusher in addition to AD that can beat somebody one on one will hurt the ability of AD and other rushers and hurt the coverage by requiring them to hold their coverage longer.

You can rationalize all you want. If we don't acquire someone, one of the "unproven"'s needs to become a premier pass rusher on day one or our whole defense will be weakened by the weak link in the chain factor.

Bruschi is a shadow of his former self, AD has not proven an outstanding rusher (partly due to an injured Vrabel on the other side) Mayo hasn't proven to be a rusher and I don't even know who else will be in the lineup.

Seymour will pick up some slack, to the detriment of doing his usual job, no doubt. We'll all say the new secondary sucks because there's no pressure and we'll never know whether they do or not. You can't cover forever.

 

[Jimke]

Our current concern is due in part to the McKenzie injury. I'd

like to remind folks that Crable was also a third round pick

drafted 19 spots ahead of McKenzie. He has to be a decent

player in the eyes of the Patriots.