How is Mayo best used?

[BelichickFan]

We need to find a way to build around Mayo, Meriweather and hopefully Chung in the middle of the field.

(Understanding he may not have reached 100% health this year) :

Mayo seemed to struggle shedding blocks against the run and was just OK in coverage.

Would we best in a 4-3 trying to keep OL off him and allowing him to run ?
Do we need a Ted Johnson type to do the grunt work ?
Do we need another Mayo type where both are good but not great vs. run and pass but combined are good against both ?

I'm trying to figure out what LB I want to look at in the draft or FA to put next to Mayo to best utilize what should be our cornerstone player.

I'm also assuming Guyton isn't going to be the long term starter next to Mayo but I could be wrong on that.

 

[Patspsycho]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

I actually think Mayo is best as a will. Guyton is a 3rd down pass LB, not a 3 down player. He is terrible against the rush. We need a run stuffing ILB and an OLB that doesn't fall down every time he is breathed on.

 

[Bonzo]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

On a lobstah roll.

 

[Jangles]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

On a lobstah roll.

ROFL

:youtheman:

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

He's not the type of LB that will do the dirty work. He needs to be more of a roamer.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

I think the OP is significant underrating Mayo.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Find it difficult to assess this LB corps... Mayo should have morphed this year into a pro bowl caliber MLB, but his injury obviously held him back...

Agree Guyton is a passing down LB... but major issues are with the OLB's, Thomas was almost invisible... and TBC seemed ok, but Burgess seemed weak..

Have felt for a couple of years now that our LB corps is substandard... with a stronger LB group and a healthier Mayo... we may be better able to assess how to use himn.. I suspect that this will be a focus for BB in the offseason, but have felt this for at least the last two preseasons.. so will see.

 

[Mack Herron]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

I can only assume that all the praise is deserved, but I did not see it. Seau was in the backfield more in one game than Mayo was all year. We can hope it was because of injury, because otherwise we need 4 LBs instead of 3.

 

[The_Riddler]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

I actually think Mayo is best as a will. Guyton is a 3rd down pass LB, not a 3 down player. He is terrible against the rush. We need a run stuffing ILB and an OLB that doesn't fall down every time he is breathed on.

Sounds like you're talking about 2 of 3 guys that stupid BB passed on last April and we know them well (Matthews, Maualuga and Laurinaitus - All 3 had tremendous rookie years).

What was he thinking? I went nuts then on that day and I keep thinking about what could have been. Can't believe he did that.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Sounds like you're talking about 2 of 3 guys that stupid BB passed on last April and we know them well (Matthews, Maualuga and Laurinaitus - All 3 had tremendous rookie years).

What was he thinking? I went nuts then on that day and I keep thinking about what could have been. Can't believe he did that.

Just because Matthews, Maualuga and Laurinaitus had great rookie years doesn't mean they are a fit for the Pats' defense. Maualuga, for example, would never fit into the Pats' defense. The knock on him was that he is not a smart player. It makes him perfect for Marvin Lewis' system that just allows his MLBs to freelance and run around making plays. I don't think he would do nearly as well when he has specific gap assignments.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

I actually think Mayo is best as a will. Guyton is a 3rd down pass LB, not a 3 down player. He is terrible against the rush. We need a run stuffing ILB and an OLB that doesn't fall down every time he is breathed on.

I agree, where I was coming from is whether we're better off trading up for a stud ILB if McClain gets to within trading range and having two athletes there or, more likely, trying to find the Ted Johnson type who can do the dirty work and let Mayo play the role Bruschi used to play more in 2004 and before.

 

[alvinnf]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Mayo is best suited as a 43 MLB. He does a good job scraping off of players and flowing to the ball. He struggles to get around or get through players in the 34.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Mayo was at his best playing the weakside or backside LB. Tedy filled the hole and Mayo came in and made the tackle. The problem with the Mayo-Guyton team is that neither of them is a hole stuffer, a Ted Johnson/Bruschi MLB. What the Pats need is a Big LB to play the strong side and then use Mayo backed up by Guyton for the weakside and both of them in passing situations.

I have always said to move Thomas to the strong side, he has the size and quickness to fill up a hole. The Pats have to find 3 starting LBs for next year.

 

[The_Riddler]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Just because Matthews, Maualuga and Laurinaitus had great rookie years doesn't mean they are a fit for the Pats' defense. Maualuga, for example, would never fit into the Pats' defense. The knock on him was that he is not a smart player. It makes him perfect for Marvin Lewis' system that just allows his MLBs to freelance and run around making plays. I don't think he would do nearly as well when he has specific gap assignments.

Really now ? What makes you so sure that he couldn't play in this defense, yet a Pierre Woods and Rob Ninkovich can ? I mean then it's time to change the damn scheme BB, if the defense is SO DIFFICULT and it take 10 freakin years to find the right FIT so to speak, then guess what. It is time to change the damn scheme !!!! Because BB is pidgeon-holing out tremendous LB talent.................If you think those 3 guys couldn't have had great years in our defense, I have to really question what you are thinking about, honestly you really have to be kidding me !

 

[bakes781]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Just because Matthews, Maualuga and Laurinaitus had great rookie years doesn't mean they are a fit for the Pats' defense. Maualuga, for example, would never fit into the Pats' defense. The knock on him was that he is not a smart player. It makes him perfect for Marvin Lewis' system that just allows his MLBs to freelance and run around making plays. I don't think he would do nearly as well when he has specific gap assignments.

ITA with Riddler. I'm tired of hearing that this guy is too small or this guy isn't able to shed. If they can make plays I want them on my team. I stated back in April that Clay Matthews looked like the perfect guy to replace Tedy Bruschi's role and I was laughed at.

 

[alvinnf]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Mayo was at his best playing the weakside or backside LB. Tedy filled the hole and Mayo came in and made the tackle. The problem with the Mayo-Guyton team is that neither of them is a hole stuffer, a Ted Johnson/Bruschi MLB. What the Pats need is a Big LB to play the strong side and then use Mayo backed up by Guyton for the weakside and both of them in passing situations.

I have always said to move Thomas to the strong side, he has the size and quickness to fill up a hole. The Pats have to find 3 starting LBs for next year.

That's great but when a team runs the ball 40 times to their left and uses an extra TE or Tackle on that side. What has your weakside LB become?
The 34 is a bilateral front. It is easy for an offense to isolate and attack either inside backer.

 

[Simkin]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Meriweather can't stand a chair . Hopefully Chung ll be a true Safety, not more CB bodys playing Safety .

Mayo is the kind of guy capable of lead a 4-3 D# .

 

[mayoclinic]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

I actually think Mayo is best as a will. Guyton is a 3rd down pass LB, not a 3 down player. He is terrible against the rush. We need a run stuffing ILB and an OLB that doesn't fall down every time he is breathed on.

Agreed. Mayo is best as a WILL and as a 4-3 MLB. Guyton is a good 3rd down pass LB, rotational guy, backup, and 4-3 WLB. McKenzie should be a good backup SILB and 4-3 SAM, but I'm not sure we can count on him for more at this point. I'd like to see a SILB to complement Mayo and solidify the middle, and a couple of OLBs with athleticism and high upside.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

Really now ? What makes you so sure that he couldn't play in this defense, yet a Pierre Woods and Rob Ninkovich can ? I mean then it's time to change the damn scheme BB, if the defense is SO DIFFICULT and it take 10 freakin years to find the right FIT so to speak, then guess what. It is time to change the damn scheme !!!! Because BB is pidgeon-holing out tremendous LB talent.................If you think those 3 guys couldn't have had great years in our defense, I have to really question what you are thinking about, honestly you really have to be kidding me !

I never said he definitely couldn't be a stud in the Pats' system, but my point is just because he was a stud in the Packers' system doesn't guarantee he would be in the Pats.

Fact of the matter, different systems require different players. An OLB in the Pats' 2 gap, 3-4 isn't going to produce in a Tampa 2 defense and visa versa. There are some positions and players that players can be plugged in anywhere, but those are the exceptions. Most players are suited for some systems and not others. That is the fact of the NFL.

I am not kidding you, I guess just I understand the way the differences in different systems and skill requirements than you do. Maualga would not have succeeded in the Pats system, because he is not suited for a read and react defense. I don't know enough about Matthews or Lauranitis to make that evaluation, but there is no guarantees.

If you don't believe that some players are suited for one system and not another in the NFL, you really don't know enough about player evaluation to be criticizing Belichick for his passing on drafting players.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: How is Mayo best used ?

ITA with Riddler. I'm tired of hearing that this guy is too small or this guy isn't able to shed. If they can make plays I want them on my team. I stated back in April that Clay Matthews looked like the perfect guy to replace Tedy Bruschi's role and I was laughed at.

I don't know enough about Matthews to make a judgement either way. I do know Maualuga wasn't a legitimate option due to the lack of football intelligence. I am just stating that just because Matthews was a stud in the Packers' system doesn't mean he would have here. He could have been DPOY here for all we all know, but Monday Morning QB the draft isn't always an exact science because different players play better in some systems than others.