We've Wanted Linebackers For 5 Years

[mgteich]

We've wanted to draft linebackers for many years. Belichick drafted Mayo, but for the most part we have been disappointed in our quest to draft linebackers, especially outside, passrushing linebackers. It is not clear to me that Belichick has changed how he thinks about the defense.
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We look at the defense and see holes. I suspect that Belichick sees a top 10 defense that is young and improving.
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Just maybe Belichick expects to see something out of Pryor, Brace, McKenzie, Crable, Chung, Wilhite, Ninkovich and/or Wheatley. I might mention that we were a #10 defense with almost no production from any of these players.
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For me, the obvious question marks are the positions held in the 2009 defense by Thomas, Green and Burgess. Perhaps Belichick will simply re-sign Burgess, and bring in some camp competition and draft one key defensive player.
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BOTTOM LINE
It is not clear to me that Belichick see a problem defense as he projects the defense into 2010, 2011 and 2012. He may see a top 5 defense that could be even better.

 

[Since1971]

We've wanted to draft linebackers for many years. Belichick drafted Mayo, but for the most part we have been disappointed in our quest to draft linebackers, especially outside, passrushing linebackers. It is not clear to me that Belichick has changed how he thinks about the defense.
==============
We look at the defense and see holes. I suspect that Belichick sees a top 10 defense that is young and improving.
===============
Just maybe Belichick expects to see something out of Pryor, Brace, McKenzie, Crable, Chung, Wilhite, Ninkovich and/or Wheatley. I might mention that we were a #10 defense with almost no production from any of these players.
===============
For me, the obvious question marks are the positions held in the 2009 defense by Thomas, Green and Burgess. Perhaps Belichick will simply re-sign Burgess, and bring in some camp competition and draft one key defensive player.
===========
BOTTOM LINE
It is not clear to me that Belichick see a problem defense as he projects the defense into 2010, 2011 and 2012. He may see a top 5 defense that could be even better.

I hear what your saying, we do have young talent on this defense. Additionally, it would be great if Crable and McKensie can come back form injuries and help. The lack of a pass rush is the one thing that bothers most of us. We've always had them: Garin Veris, Andre Tippet, McGinest, Buschi , Vrabel, Colvin, Seymour. Right now all we have is TBC, and I'm glad he has resurected his career during his 2nd stint in NE, but we need more. If we get a young pass rusher, we'll all feel better about out D.

 

[wilfork is beastin']

Like the OP said, we did draft a linebacker just 2 years ago when we needed to. I think (and hope) that BB realizes the Pass-Rush situation is at the point where the ILBs were 2 years ago and will use the draft to fix it. Following the 2007 season it was clear the team needed to finally address the ILB position. Bruschi and Seau were on their last legs and Thomas had to fill in for them sometimes so they ended up drafting Mayo. BB's obviously had enough of Thomas so hopefully that means Kindle or Graham will be in a Patriots' uniform in the fall.

 

[cstjohn17]

BOTTOM LINE
It is not clear to me that Belichick see a problem defense as he projects the defense into 2010, 2011 and 2012. He may see a top 5 defense that could be even better.

Or he may retire rather trying to mold this pile of 'diamonds' into a top 5 unit... we just don't know. This is a very deep draft, the LB core could be transformed with 1-2 picks if the players can stick. Personally I would keep Thomas and start him at ILB instead of Guyton, worst case is he would be one of the best backups in the league with an ability to play ILB / OLB or even DE.

 

[VJCPatriot]

This defense would pretty much be complete with the addition of just one dominant passrusher to line up opposite TBC. Our secondary has been locked up. Our DL has been locked up, Wilfork is the best at his position, Warren is solid, Wright is adequate. We could use an upgrade at DE, but how big of a need is it?

This defense is not that far off as some of us fear. A 2 down run stuffing ILB to sub for Guyton on obvious rush downs would be welcome as well. Anything else? Mostly nitpicking. Wilhite should be an adequate Nickel, obviously not starter quality though.

 

[captain stone]

We've wanted to draft linebackers for many years. Belichick drafted Mayo, but for the most part we have been disappointed in our quest to draft linebackers, especially outside, passrushing linebackers. It is not clear to me that Belichick has changed how he thinks about the defense.
==============
We look at the defense and see holes. I suspect that Belichick sees a top 10 defense that is young and improving.
===============
Just maybe Belichick expects to see something out of Pryor, Brace, McKenzie, Crable, Chung, Wilhite, Ninkovich and/or Wheatley. I might mention that we were a #10 defense with almost no production from any of these players.
===============
For me, the obvious question marks are the positions held in the 2009 defense by Thomas, Green and Burgess. Perhaps Belichick will simply re-sign Burgess, and bring in some camp competition and draft one key defensive player.
===========
BOTTOM LINE
It is not clear to me that Belichick see a problem defense as he projects the defense into 2010, 2011 and 2012. He may see a top 5 defense that could be even better.

If any or all of the bolded are true, then Bill sees & thinks wrongly, as evidenced by his complete eff-up of the Brace/Barwin pick, and his trading of both a 3rd & a 5th for Burgess.

 

[Coach42]

This is a pretty optimistic thread. I think the real reason we haven't seen any OLB's drafted is because he is very specific about the size/speed he wants in an OLB. I believe that it was Caserio that was asked the question why we haven't seen any drafted and he answered that 6'5" 265 lbs guys who run 4.6's don't grow on trees.

I would love to believe that the defense Belicheck wants is here but I don't think so.

 

[Patriot Missile]

This is a pretty sore thread that has been discussed in recent past. I think the only player to actually get drafted that Box and few others liked was Mayo.

There is a lot of confusion here deciphering what BB is looking for in a LB. God knows we have passed on some good ones that a lot of posters here felt were perfect glove fits for this team. Sure we are not professionals but how could so many be wrong when it came to Dansby,Woodley,Mathews,Barwin,Malaluga etc. It's a long list. I'll hold my breath this season with the nagging thought that we are going to take Gresham or Gronkowski as the 22nd pick arrives.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

If it's this hard to find LB's to fit this scheme, then maybe it's time to go in a different direction scheme wise. I think it's a lot easier for a college player to transition to a 1-gap 3-4 than a 2-gap 3-4. I don't know if Clay Matthews would have had as much success as he did last year with Green Bay if he was drafted by NE. It just seems like it takes a good amount of time for these guys to learn the 2-gap technique. It took Burgess like 12-13 games to really get it down and he's been in the league for a while.

I don't know. I know BB has won with this defense and is confident in his system, but it's concerning that even Mayo said he didn't have a great grasp of the defense during his rookie season. I just think simplifying things and getting after it more often is more enticing and beneficial to a young defense.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Well we did draft Lua, Rogers, Crable,Bunta Cain and Mckenzie. We did bring in FAs Guyton, Redd, Colvin, Thomas,Bunta Cain(again) and others. We even traded for Burgess and Vrabel. The draft alone cant be responsible for LBs. I think we can safely assume we cant coach a guy into being LT. Any other time I would have expected us to go right after Peppers, with the labor problem looming and all our potential FAs next year, I would expect next year to be more of a free agent-spending type year. Our D will have to do some maturing and fancy juggling if its to be top 10 this year for sure!

 

[captain stone]

If it's this hard to find LB's to fit this scheme, then maybe it's time to go in a different direction scheme wise. I think it's a lot easier for a college player to transition to a 1-gap 3-4 than a 2-gap 3-4. I don't know if Clay Matthews would have had as much success as he did last year with Green Bay if he was drafted by NE. It just seems like it takes a good amount of time for these guys to learn the 2-gap technique. It took Burgess like 12-13 games to really get it down and he's been in the league for a while.

I don't know. I know BB has won with this defense and is confident in his system, but it's concerning that even Mayo said he didn't have a great grasp of the defense during his rookie season. I just think simplifying things and getting after it more often is more enticing and beneficial to a young defense.

I agree, on all points.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

the part that makes no sense is that he knew vrabel and bruschi were going to get old......bruschi's stroke should have been a clear message (and it was considering he ran out and got beisel and toyed with chad brown)

part of the problem is BB's preference to dig up the LB's he had coached as a coordinator in previous places......he had everyone from the giants not named lawrence taylor do time in cleveland.....and then when he came here, he already knew mcginest, bruschi, johnson.....he then dragged in bryan cox, roman phifer.....guys he has coached in the past have all but disappeared.....

maybe this is why he is getting involved with the defense.......

if you go back.....the previous time he drafted an LB in the first round as a head coach was craig powell in 1995....needless to say, the guy was a bust