Who will be the base-package OLBs?

[Fencer]

Thomas -- surely gone
TBC -- not stout against the run
Guyton -- not stout against the run
Woods -- few discernible virtues except being stout against the run
Burgess -- not his role
Cunningham -- unlikely to be ready immediately, as he didn't do it in college
Crable -- actually did play the position in college, but a huge question mark until he can get and stay on the field
Ninkovich -- ???

 

[miDeuce]

According to Pro Football Focus TBC actually was not bad against the Run, only had one bad game in 09.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

When AD got benched, Ninkovich played..... So I'm guessing that TBC and Ninkovich will be the 3-4 OLB until Cunningham can show that he can play. I'm also guessing that Cunningham will see time as a nickel/dime DE pass rusher before he plays on 1st and 2nd down as a OLB.....

This is the depth chart I think we will see on opening day.

TBC...........Ninkovich
Woods........Cunningham

 

[patsfan-1982]

start of the season it will be guyton and mayo, at ILB and TBC and woods, at OLB

 

[jmt57]

I don't even know what the base formation will be, or if the base formation will change week-to-week depending on opponent.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more 4-3, 3-3-5 w/either 3-CB or 3-S, 4-2-5, etc. depending on the opponent and/or down and distance.

Burgess has not been re-signed and it's very doubtful Thomas will be back. How about moving McKenzie outside on the weak side, TBC on the strong side, and leaving Mayo, Spikes (and Guyton) inside? That leaves some combination of Ninkovich, Crable and Wood behind McKenzie and TBC at OLB.

 

[patsfan55]

This is the depth chart I think we will see on opening day.

TBC...........Ninkovich
Woods........Cunningham

Ugh, don't remind me. I'm praying Cunningham can be our savoir, and Crable can find a way to stay healthy and develop into the player I know he can be.

 

[italia44]

start of the season it will be guyton and mayo, at ILB and TBC and woods, at OLB

wanna bet?..............This is all done to get Mayo back into position..........and it ain't next to Guyton.

 

[sdh7711]

It will be Mayo inside and either of Spikes or McKenzie opposite him inside whoever displays a better grasp. On the outside it will be TBC and Woods.

This setup especially holds true for the fact that the Pats first four games are vs Cinci, Jets, Dolphins, Bills all very run oriented teams. This makes having Woods and either Spikes/McKenzie critical for their run support abilities.

Lets hope TBC's emergence last year as a all around OLB and not just a rush specialist is the norm and not a fluke year.

 

[patsfan55]

wanna bet?..............This is all done to get Mayo back into position..........and it ain't next to Guyton.

I hope you're right, I like Guyton, but as a 3rd down guy, and really nothing more.

 

[sbpatfan]

Moss
Wilfork
McCourty
and I'm guessing probably.. Thomas.. nah, more like.. Mankins. Yeah, Mankins picking up the fourth spot.

..Who really knows at this point in time?

 

[patsfan55]

Moss
Wilfork
McCourty
and I'm guessing probably.. Thomas.. nah, more like.. Mankins. Yeah, Mankins picking up the fourth spot.

..Who really knows at this point in time?

Nah, we should've kept....

Ben Watson
6'3" 255 lbs
Wow, perfect size for olb

 

[eagle eye]

When AD got benched, Ninkovich played..... So I'm guessing that TBC and Ninkovich will be the 3-4 OLB until Cunningham can show that he can play. I'm also guessing that Cunningham will see time as a nickel/dime DE pass rusher before he plays on 1st and 2nd down as a OLB.....

This is the depth chart I think we will see on opening day.

TBC...........Ninkovich
Woods........Cunningham

Personally I think its TBC and Woods but I do think Guyton is moving to the outside and I expect either of McKenzie/Spikes to be starters. We don't know whats going on with AD, I'm sure the guy wants to play football and hopefully he comes back with a new attitude, we could sure use a focused, hungry AD.

 

[patsfan55]

Personally I think its TBC and Woods but I do think Guyton is moving to the outside and I expect either of McKenzie/Spikes to be starters. We don't know whats going on with AD, I'm sure the guy wants to play football and hopefully he comes back with a new attitude, we could sure use a focused, hungry AD.

I just don't think Guyton is strong enough to play on the outside. Then again, Colvin had a couple okay years here...

 

[RayClay]

I don't want to seem stupid, but here goes. Why do I not remember us bringing in different OLB or DEs for every situation back in the days when our linebacker cotp was better?

We played a 3-4, and if McGinest went to the line and put his hand down, it was a 4-3. Sure we played other packages, especially on pass downs, but it seems like we used 3 OLBs, if they were healthy.

What happens when a team runs the no huddle? Are we stuck with the first down package as pass defense?

I think we are trying, or should be, to make our rushers at least adequate linebackers and rush off the line too, when appropriate, because that's what our defense calls for.

Thoughts?

 

[RayClay]

Nah, we should've kept....

Ben Watson
6'3" 255 lbs
Wow, perfect size for olb

Only if it was touch football.

 

[mgteich]

OUTSIDE
Banta-Cain and Woods are our starters, and Ninkovich will come in for Woods.

INSIDE
We should be able to start Mayo and Spikes, with Guyton coming in on passing downs. I see no reason to move Guyton. He is a fine ILB on passing downs. That is a role player we need.

PASS RUSHING OLB/DE
Cunningham or Crable. At least we have two options. I suspect that there will be free agent competition brought in.

THE GREAT UNKNOWN
McKenzie has that role. I don't think we have any clue where he will be tried, and where he might succeed.

 

[italia44]

I hope you're right, I like Guyton, but as a 3rd down guy, and really nothing more.

I like Guyton,too...He's was an UDFA........We have to solidify the RDE position,which I think Warren can do..........stop the run at RDE,put Mayo back in place and the rest will follow.We've done too much jury-rigging,because Mayo was hurt........It wasn't TBC,the problem was trying to play Wright and Jarvis Green at RDE,with the wrong LB's behind them.If you can't keep the OG's off your interior linebackers.......you're toast.

You can't blitz and you can't play a big nickle with rotating safetys if you can't hold the line against the interior running plays.

 

[Fencer]

I don't want to seem stupid, but here goes. Why do I not remember us bringing in different OLB or DEs for every situation back in the days when our linebacker cotp was better?

We played a 3-4, and if McGinest went to the line and put his hand down, it was a 4-3. Sure we played other packages, especially on pass downs, but it seems like we used 3 OLBs, if they were healthy.

What happens when a team runs the no huddle? Are we stuck with the first down package as pass defense?

I think we are trying, or should be, to make our rushers at least adequate linebackers and rush off the line too, when appropriate, because that's what our defense calls for.

Thoughts?

McGinest and Vrabel got the occasional Pro Bowl or All-Pro votes. Our current guys aren't on that level.

And BB was as surprised as anybody when he wound using Phifer in pretty much every package.

But the other thing is -- Phifer aside, guys usually got breathers anyway. To some extent, you're just forgetting how much rotation there was.

 

[patsfan55]

McGinest and Vrabel got the occasional Pro Bowl or All-Pro votes. Our current guys aren't on that level.

And BB was as surprised as anybody when he wound using Phifer in pretty much every package.

But the other thing is -- Phifer aside, guys usually got breathers anyway. To some extent, you're just forgetting how much rotation there was.

We did typically have one very capable backup both inside and outside "back in the day."

Just found the conference call on Cunningham. Gotta say, I wasn't as impressed as I had hoped to be..Jermaine Cunningham Conference Call - 4/23/2010

VERY impressed by McCourty's interview though, seems like a bright kid.

 

[Fencer]

So are there any loose or to-be-loose vets who would be good starters for us? E.g., does Keith Bullock have enough left?

What would it take to get Julian Peterson from the Lions (and they can have AD in the deal, of course)? Edit: Oops. The Lions are down one LB already ...