Is Ninkovich a starting OLB? If not, why not?

[RayClay]

We are relying on improvents from the youngster brought in over the last few seasons

fixed.......

 

[RayClay]

I expect Crable to get cut as well. They can't cut him until he is healthy so it will happen during the summer.

Crable has had two years to develop but has been on I.R. both seasons. I doubt he will make the team if the Pats draft a couple LB's. Whether or not Ninkovich improves, Thomas needs to go so there will be another spot open on the outside. Although Banta-Cain is a very effective nickel and dime rusher, the Pats need to find a full time starter on the outside.

In short, they will never be a dominating defense with the players they have now.

Well, they can't get less out of Crable, so I'd have to put that in the wishing well category, maybe he'll show something.

In my opinion, we need a vet SILB so Mayo can play WILB.

That gives us Guyton as depth and sub in both 3-4 and 4-3. We need a complete OLB, maybe one draft and one vet. that'll give us some sort of rotation with the pass rush specialists who aren't complete OLBs, like Burgess and TBC.

So that's 2-3 players just to get to questionable IMO.

If we hit the lottery, McKenzie, Crable and or Nincovich turn into solid players of some sort.

Pierre Woods "is what he is" as Parcells would say. The opportunity has been there and he's proven to be a career backup, special teamer, which is fine, but people that think he's going to suddenly wake up and be a real NFL starter need to smell the coffee IMO.

 

[Marqui]

This thread is depressing.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

In my opinion, we need a vet SILB so Mayo can play WILB.

100% agree. Mayo is not a SILB and was exposed in 2009. The Pats need a nasty ILB to free up Mayo.

 

[BionicPatriot]

What youngsters? Ninkovich is in his fifth season. Woods is in his fifth season and has shown nothing to this point other than being a special teamer (as with Ninkovich); if you think he's all the sudden going to come on, that's the textbook definition of insanity.

That leaves who? Crable? Are you really expecting something out of him?

You don't build a team relying on unproven players to perform above their established level of play.

Amen. If only other people were this realistic. People act like we have young studs in waiting..

 

[RayClay]

Given the production that we got from Thomas last year, I project Ninkovich to be capable of giving us at least as much in 2010. I also expect Banta-Cain to be better with a year in the system. Finally, I expect all the OLB's to better with a healthy Mayo inside.

Banta Cain has much more than a year in the system. If you look close, you can still see Tomlinson's footprint on his face.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Amen. If only other people were this realistic. People act like we have young studs in waiting..

Come on this is pure comedic gold. Why is Ninkovich not a starting OLB? REALLY? This question even needs to be asked? LOL.

 

[Schmo]

I would say he has a better chance of being a starter this year than Woods or Crable, but right now isn't starter material. Watching Ninkovich, he is good at rushing the passer and a solid OLB. I think he has a ceiling of being a Vrabel-type player for us and a floor of being a solid STer. Either way, I think he is high enough on the depth chart on both D and ST that he will get a good amount of playing time this year.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Belichick may like what he sees in Ninkovich. he may be willing to have a rotation of Banta-Cain, Ninkovich and Woods.

I'm sure that he will bring in camp competition and perhaps draft a linebacker. After all, we have Thomas and Crable in the two other roster spots as of now.

I just threw up a little......

 

[HarkDawg]

Solid Back Up


He is better than Woods....

i Take Ninkovich over Woods because Woods has shown nothing. I like how Nin applies pressure

my order -=LB needs BIG UPGRADES=-
TBC
Ninkovich
Woods

 

[mgteich]

Our current stable of OLB's includes
Banta-Cain
Ninkovich
Woods
Crable and
Thomas
============
We usually carry five, although six is possible if one doubles as a passrushing DE. Then we add
(Burgess) who we will re-sign or replace.
==============================
I presume that you want upgrades on all six. This is very unreasonable. It is also unreasonable to expect more than ONE draftee to have significant reps in the early part of the season.
===============
So, we need to see how many new players will come in (and need to learn the system) and who will stay.

The BOTTOM LINE is that they are not all going.

Solid Back Up


He is better than Woods....

i Take Ninkovich over Woods because Woods has shown nothing. I like how Nin apllies pressure

my order LB needs BIG UPGRADES
TBC
Ninkovich
Woods

 

[pats1]

Our current stable of OLB's includes
Banta-Cain
Ninkovich
Woods
Crable and
Thomas
============
We usually carry five, although six is possible if one doubles as a passrushing DE. Then we add
(Burgess) who we will re-sign or replace.
==============================
I presume that you want upgrades on all six. This is very unreasonable. It is also unreasonable to expect more than ONE draftee to have significant reps in the early part of the season.
===============
So, we need to see how many new players will come in (and need to learn the system) and who will stay.

The BOTTOM LINE is that they are not all going.

Unreasonable as it may be, the current situation is unacceptable and WILL be the achilles heel of the team. Just like the wide receiver situation circa spring 2007, when the team signed Washington. Then Stallworth. Then traded for Welker. Then traded for Moss.

Thomas is a goner. You should stop wasting your time and don't even bother including him in your analysis.

Crable is a bubble player. If he makes the team it will be as a 4th or 5th OLB.

Woods and Ninkovich should be 4th OLBs/STs, but one of them will probably end up being the 3rd OLB due to the current personnel situation.

TBC ideally would be the 2nd or 3rd OLB, but will probably end up being the 2nd OLB due to the current personnel situation.

No matter how you slice it, the Pats are in the market for two Top 3 OLBs. They have one (Banta-Cain).

The Steelers have Harrison and Woodley. The Chargers have Merriman, Phillips, English, and Tucker. The Dolphins (had) Taylor, Porter, and Wake. The Cowboys have Ware and Spencer. The Jets have Pace and Thomas. The Packers have Matthews. The Broncos have Dumervil. The Chiefs have Hali and Vrabel. The Browns (had) Wimbley.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Unreasonable as it may be, the current situation is unacceptable and WILL be the achilles heel of the team. Just like the wide receiver situation circa spring 2007, when the team signed Washington. Then Stallworth. Then traded for Welker. Then traded for Moss.

Thomas is a goner. You should stop wasting your time and don't even bother including him in your analysis.

Crable is a bubble player. If he makes the team it will be as a 4th or 5th OLB.

Woods and Ninkovich should be 4th OLBs/STs, but one of them will probably end up being the 3rd OLB due to the current personnel situation.

TBC ideally would be the 2nd or 3rd OLB, but will probably end up being the 2nd OLB due to the current personnel situation.

No matter how you slice it, the Pats are in the market for two Top 3 OLBs. They have one (Banta-Cain).

The Steelers have Harrison and Woodley. The Chargers have Merriman, Phillips, English, and Tucker. The Dolphins (had) Taylor, Porter, and Wake. The Cowboys have Ware and Spencer. The Jets have Pace and Thomas. The Packers have Matthews. The Broncos have Dumervil. The Chiefs have Hali and Vrabel. The Browns (had) Wimbley.

thomas is still here and as long as he is, he pretty much belongs on that list........I believe he will be gone, but for now, he is still here......

I believe the pats will add 2 bodies through the draft who they will expect to contribute (meaning I think they will be in the first 2 rounds) like brandon graham and koa misi......there will also be another veteran added to the group maybe even 2...by the time the season starts....the only OLB's I expecet to be here that are already here are TBC and Ninkovich

 

[mgteich]

I agree.

I am just cautioning folks that it is unlikely that we will add three OLB's who will have an immediate positive effect on the team.

I'm fine with adding three. After all, Thomas and Burgess need to be replaced, and no more than 2 of Woods, Ninkovich and Crable are likely to be on the 53.

No matter how you slice it, the Pats are in the market for two Top 3 OLBs. They have one (Banta-Cain).

 

[HarkDawg]

Our current stable of OLB's includes
Banta-Cain
Ninkovich
Woods
Crable and
Thomas
============
We usually carry five, although six is possible if one doubles as a passrushing DE. Then we add
(Burgess) who we will re-sign or replace.
==============================
I presume that you want upgrades on all six. This is very unreasonable. It is also unreasonable to expect more than ONE draftee to have significant reps in the early part of the season.
===============
So, we need to see how many new players will come in (and need to learn the system) and who will stay.

The BOTTOM LINE is that they are not all going.

I want 1-2 others in the mix for competition.

I foresee Thomas being traded.

then Crable and others who r borderline have competition.

As stated before I am not Anti-Woods... don't care abou 2mill.... if he is that good on ST.

 

[VJCPatriot]

The Dolphins (had) Taylor, Porter, and Wake. The Cowboys have Ware and Spencer. The Jets have Pace and Thomas. The Packers have Matthews. The Broncos have Dumervil. The Chiefs have Hali and Vrabel. The Browns (had) Wimbley.

Any of these teams, particularly the Dolphins might be competitors in the draft for a 3-4 OLB Or 4-3 End who might project to OLB. That's not a good thing for us. Although KC will likely go OL early, so that helps, but they could still take an OLB prospect in early round 2 before the Pats get to pick.

I would like to trade Adalious Thomas for the Saints if they will have him. A 4th round pick is all I ask in return, not sure they would even give that though... Why hasn't AD's name appeared on the trading block yet?

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

TBC, Ninkovich and a high draft pick I think will be the top 3 spots. The rookie will see more time on 3rd down (ala Burgess) and Ninkovich will see more time on 1st/2nd. Brandon Graham or Koa Misi come to mind as potential draft picks in the first two rounds.

Woods would be in the 4th spot.

Unless, BB trades for a LB in RFA. Gocong comes to mind. But whoever plays opposite of TBC is not going to be a sack artist. BB will have to weigh out how high of a pick he would be willing to part with and how much better a player such as Gocong would contribute instead of Ninkovich. If it's a 2nd round pick, it might be better to draft a player with that pick and platoon him with Ninkovich.

We'll see.

 

[Schmo]

TBC, Ninkovich and a high draft pick I think will be the top 3 spots. The rookie will see more time on 3rd down (ala Burgess) and Ninkovich will see more time on 1st/2nd. Brandon Graham or Koa Misi come to mind as potential draft picks in the first two rounds.

Woods would be in the 4th spot.

Unless, BB trades for a LB in RFA. Gocong comes to mind. But whoever plays opposite of TBC is not going to be a sack artist. BB will have to weigh out how high of a pick he would be willing to part with and how much better a player such as Gocong would contribute instead of Ninkovich. If it's a 2nd round pick, it might be better to draft a player with that pick and platoon him with Ninkovich.

We'll see.

Graham and TBC on 3rd downs would make me very, VERY happy. That has the potential of being an actual pass rush.