B. Spikes the MAN at ILB?

[PatsBoy12]

Here's an another article about the practice earlier today. However, the final few lines is what caught my attention:

Defensively, it’s clear that there is no more competition at the inside linebacker spot opposite Jerod Mayo, as Florida rookie Brandon Spikes continues to impress — he made some nice plays in 11-on-11 drills. It’ll be interesting to see how playing time is parceled out when Guyton returns to the field, but with each passing day, Spikes is doing more and more to make the job his own.

It Is What It Is Training Camp Report from Sunday afternoon practice

I guess it confirms what we've all thought for a few weeks now.

 

[ausbacker]

I cannot see why Spikes would be competing with Guyton. Spikes is clearly a team building guy whereas Guyton is a depth kinda guy.

 

[patsfan-1982]

i think he will start next to Mayo, or at lest get most of the rips on first and 2th down

 

[WhiZa]

I cannot see why Spikes would be competing with Guyton. Spikes is clearly a team building guy whereas Guyton is a depth kinda guy.

The reason they are not competing is Guyton is hurt. If he wasn't I think Guyton would be starting just because he has more experience. Spikes would have to beat him out and prove he can do his job. BB is not fond in starting rookies unless there is really no other option.

 

[ausbacker]

The reason they are not competing is Guyton is hurt. If he wasn't I think Guyton would be starting just because he has more experience. Spikes would have to beat him out and prove he can do his job. BB is not fond in starting rookies unless there is really no other option.

Experience schmexperience. Spikes will be a better football than Guyton. In the limited exposure to Spikes we've had he also appears to have a better feel for the game.

It's a no brainer that Spikes lines up next to Mayo for mine. Spikes is a game changer. In my opinion Guyton is a depth player and should be viewed accordingly.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I thought hat Spikes couldn't play in the NFL because of his slow 40 time?

I am so glad that he ran such a slow 40 and fell into the Patriots lap. I was overjoyed that his name was called by the Patriots on draft night.

But he still hasn't played in a regular season game, so let's not fit him for a bust in Canton just yet.

 

[satz]

I would wait till spikes can do some of the stuff i say guyton do cover smaller faster backs like leon washington step for step and break up plays.
Rush from outside and also drop in coverage 20-25 yards with amazing speed while covering TE .

36 snaps in a preseason game and he is already the MAN.i want to see him in coverage first.

 

[mgteich]

It doesn't take a Canton inductee to beat out Guyton as an ILB on run downs. Most of us were ready to annoint Spikes as the starter as soon as he was drafted. We all knew that he had a lot to show to the coaches in mini camps, in training camp, in meetings with coaches, and when he got on the field in his first preseason game. Spikes has done all that has been asked of him and much more. I'm not saying that we should consider him a candidate for DROY yet. I'm just saying that Spikes is ready to start, probably as ready as Mayo was. He'll make rookie mistakes, lots of them. But it is absolutely awesome to see us set at ILB with Mayo, Spikes and Guyton.

I thought hat Spikes couldn't play in the NFL because of his slow 40 time?

I am so glad that he ran such a slow 40 and fell into the Patriots lap. I was overjoyed that his name was called by the Patriots on draft night.

But he still hasn't played in a regular season game, so let's not fit him for a bust in Canton just yet.

 

[Sciz]

I think the bigger question is whether Spikes can beat out Guyton on passing downs. We've heard good things about his abilities in coverage, especially his instincts, but Guyton has a huge speed advantage. I am expecting Spikes to start on early downs with hardly any challenge from Guyton.

 

[mgteich]

Why wouldn't I want Guyton to continue to play on obvious passing downs. Of course, we'd like for Spikes not to be a liability in coverage.

I think the bigger question is whether Spikes can beat out Guyton on passing downs. We've heard good things about his abilities in coverage, especially his instincts, but Guyton has a huge speed advantage. I am expecting Spikes to start on early downs with hardly any challenge from Guyton.

 

[Rob0729]

I have a feeling Spikes may make the "Why didn't we draft Rey Maualuga or James Laurinaitis" crowd into "Thank God we didn't draft Rey Maualuga or James Laurinaitis or we wouldn't have drafted Brandon Spikes" crowd.

 

[mgteich]

Nonsense! Belichick drafted his future starter in 2009, McKenzie. Belichick couldn't pass on Spikes at 62. Having Mualuaga or Laurinitis on the team would likely not have made much difference.

I have a feeling Spikes may make the "Why didn't we draft Rey Maualuga or James Laurinaitis" crowd into "Thank God we didn't draft Rey Maualuga or James Laurinaitis or we wouldn't have drafted Brandon Spikes" crowd.

 

[Rob0729]

Nonsense! Belichick drafted his future starter in 2009, McKenzie. Belichick couldn't pass on Spikes at 62. Having Mualuaga or Laurinitis on the team would likely not have made much difference.

If the Pats had a legitimate solid starter at ILB, there is a very good likelihood he would have passed on Spikes. Last time I checked, McKenzie did nothing last year to earn a starting spot since he spent the year on IR and even before he was injured was not guaranteed the starting spot. He was also a third pick. Word is after a strong start in training camp, McKenzie hasn't been all that impressive and has already fallen out of the competition for the starting job and is battling Guyton to be first off the bench.

If McKenzie didn't tear his ACL and was a legitimate candidate for DROY, then it would be a valid comparison. But even if the Pats didn't draft Spikes, McKenzie wouldn't have been guaranteed the starter this season. Big difference between him and Mualuaga or Laurinitis even if I think Mualuaga is a wrong fit for the Pats. Both Mualuaga and Laurinitis are guaranteed starters and rising stars in the league. McKenzie isn't even guaranteed he will be in the league in the next two to three years.

 

[Brady2Welker]

Spikes better be able to cover seeing as with the way that even weak offenses try and go after the weakest point of the defense, he will get abused. Teams can still line up in a 2/3 WR 2/1TE 1RB package which has the capacity to both run and pass and let us put Spikes on the field and make him cover passes.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I had the pleasure of watching Spikes at Florida, usually in person, and he can cover pretty well. He also got his hands on a lot of passes and took a few to the house against top SEC teams (which is considered the fastest conference in college football). If it translates to the NFL, Spikes will be fine in coverage. Let's not forget that Mr. Bruschi wasn't the fastest LB and he did just find during his time here, as did Roman Phifer.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Spikes better be able to cover seeing as with the way that even weak offenses try and go after the weakest point of the defense, he will get abused. Teams can still line up in a 2/3 WR 2/1TE 1RB package which has the capacity to both run and pass and let us put Spikes on the field and make him cover passes.

This will be the real challenge for the Pats. They have guys who can do all the things we want them to do, but we may not have an 11 that can defend both pass and run really well. Teams that use the hurry-up can get guys like Guyton, Pryor, and Burgess on the field against a 3-wide formation in a passing situation, and run at them after that first play. Similarly, teams that run play action in running situations might take advantage of Spikes agressiveness and Brace's lead feet to make big gains through the air. One thing for sure, I'm sure glad we're not going up against that new Pats offense with Gronk and Hernanzez available to mix things up. It will be fun to see how BB game plans his way through the regular season.

 

[BTTA]

Experience schmexperience. Spikes will be a better football than Guyton. In the limited exposure to Spikes we've had he also appears to have a better feel for the game.

It's a no brainer that Spikes lines up next to Mayo for mine. Spikes is a game changer. In my opinion Guyton is a depth player and should be viewed accordingly.

I need to pay better attention to those Foster's ads.

 

[stinkypete]

This will be the real challenge for the Pats. They have guys who can do all the things we want them to do, but we may not have an 11 that can defend both pass and run really well. Teams that use the hurry-up can get guys like Guyton, Pryor, and Burgess on the field against a 3-wide formation in a passing situation, and run at them after that first play. Similarly, teams that run play action in running situations might take advantage of Spikes agressiveness and Brace's lead feet to make big gains through the air. One thing for sure, I'm sure glad we're not going up against that new Pats offense with Gronk and Hernanzez available to mix things up. It will be fun to see how BB game plans his way through the regular season.

Totally agreed. I think this defense has all the tools to be a top NFL defense, but a consistent group of 11 go-to defenders needs to emerge for this defense to coalesce. The development of Spikes is very good news to this end. If Spikes and Cunningham can emerge as clear starters by season's end, consider this defense built.

Until then, Belichick's challenge is to field a group of 11 without giving opponents a major matchup advantage.

As for 40 times and coverage, I will argue that Spikes will most often be assigned to the TE, a naturally slower position to begin with, and that the 0.1 or 0.2 difference is statistically insignificant in the 10-15 yard range, where he would be most likely to cover. Superior instincts can easily narrow that gap.

 

[bucky]

I was at yesterday's practice. Nothing new, but pretty much confirms what most are saying.

Spikes was awesome vs. the run - on 2 consecutive series they were faced with a 3rd and short, and both times he made a tackle for loss.

At the same time, he looks like a liability in coverage. He doesn't appear to have the feel for the zone coverage yet and guys are constantly getting behind him in cover 2.

Interestingly, he spent some time playing as a rush OLB on passing downs in an odd formation where they had Burgess, Pryor and Wright as the DL, with Mayo and Spikes (lined up as a stand-up DE) as the LBs, and 6 DBs - with Chung and Sanders coming in to play the slots.