Pats work out OLB Matt Roth and C/G Chris Morris

[BadMoFo]

We'll know soon enough if the newest incarnation of Adam Seward is a Patriot.

MikeReiss Mike Reiss
Mike Rodak of ESPNBoston.com reporting that the Patriots worked out free-agent OLB Matt Roth and C/G Chris Morris.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

Patriots workout....

MATT ROTH OLB and C/G Chris Morris

Mike Rodak of ESPNBoston.com reporting that the Patriots worked out free-agent OLB Matt Roth and C/G Chris Morris

via Twitter Mike Reiss

 

[cupofjoe1962]

Sign the Beast !

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

sign the beast !

what he said!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PushnPencils]

Re: Patriots workout....

Roth will be on the team. Decent all around player.

 

[Urgent]

Who?

Yeah, just kidding.
Not the athletic OLB many hope for, but Roth would be a big addition in terms of depth.

I hope the Patriots sign him.

 

[resdubwhite]

I'd take a Jag right now.

If its Roth so be it.

 

[Urgent]

Sign the Beast !

Apparently C/G Chris Morris has a big fan club here.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

Please post the link about Roth....

I do not see it.....
New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[Big-T]

I assume Roth can play DE in the 4-3 then?

That might be the reason he got a work out first instead of being signed straight away like some teams will have done with FA's

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

It would be interesting to know how much interest is/has received from other teams. I guess his agent has overinflated his worth because it has been a week into free agency and he is still out there. He might get a 1 year 'prove it contract' - maybe. We'll see in the next 24 hours how serious the Pats interest is.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Sign the Beast !

If he were a beast he'd already be signed somewhere.

I like Roth and think he'd help the team - but I'd also like to see fans keep expectations in line with the fact that he was not a hot commodity in free agency.

 

[Big-T]

He averages 4 sacks a year and people are getting excited about him as a pass rusher, why?

If he becomes a Patriots player and plays on a defensive line with Vince & Haynesworth however, I think his sack numbers could easily be in the double figures for this season.

 

[D-Money]

I would like to get through trade and sign the other beast from new york.

 

[BadMoFo]

It would be interesting to know how much interest is/has received from other teams. I guess his agent has overinflated his worth because it has been a week into free agency and he is still out there. He might get a 1 year 'prove it contract' - maybe. We'll see in the next 24 hours how serious the Pats interest is.

Exactly, I haven't even heard him visiting with any teams. I'd prefer Lofa Tatupu, just because of his family history, plus if healthy, he can be a true beast. I also wouldn't mind Roth, though.

 

[TheComeback]

Roth is not a pass rusher. He's more of a run-stopping OLB. I don't see him offering much more than Ninkovich in terms of production. Ninko is probably a better pass rusher--just hasn't had the same amount of playing time in his career.

If they want to play Roth on early downs and then bring in someone else as a rusher, that's fine with me. I'd still like to see where Ninkovich is at. He's never had an opportunity to develop before, and I thought he showed some potential at times last year. Not as much as Cunningham, but still showed a bit.

 

[Eat Da Pu Pu]

I remember hearing somewhere Roth was top 10 in the league in QB pressuers or something, a helpful stat and one you dont really get paid too much for. He'd fit in well in balancing out the D, plus he looks like he should live under a bridge clubbing small forest animals and eating peoples bones. Thats fine with me

 

[Urgent]

We've compared Roth to Ninkovich.

He excels at setting the edge. He had the most tackles of any of the free agent 3-4 OLB's we've considered (86 compared to 62 for $72mm Charles Johnson). However, he had about the fewest sacks with 3.5.

So, as people point out, he doesn't offer much pass rush. He doesn't even replace TBC.

He does offer sorely needed depth and experience in the 3-4. He's pretty stout - 25 pounds heavier than Manny Lawson. He doesn't seem to cover a whole lot.

The Pats run defense, with Wilfork and Haynesworth, Mayo, Spikes, Roth and either Cunningham or Ninkovich, would be very solid. None of those guys have delivered a lot of pass rush.

No one will compare him to McGinest, Colvin, or Vrabel. Adding him enables a rotation of Roth, Ninkovich, and Cunningham - with the possibility of Carter or Moore. Top three would be pretty interchangable. Roth as a starter is certainly not a major downgrade from TBC (as much as TBC started).

In summary, based on where the Patriots are, this spot is their only glaring hole, Roth plays the position, is available, and shouldn't be terribly expensive.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I remember hearing somewhere Roth was top 10 in the league in QB pressuers or something, a helpful stat and one you dont really get paid too much for. He'd fit in well in balancing out the D, plus he looks like he should live under a bridge clubbing small forest animals and eating peoples bones. Thats fine with me

QB pressures are just fine with me. Mike Vrabel's pressure on Kurt Warner in Super Bowl 36 led to a Ty Law pick 6. We don't need sacks every play, we just need uncomfortable QBs.

 

[RxJock1120]

He averages 4 sacks a year and people are getting excited about him as a pass rusher, why?

If he becomes a Patriots player and plays on a defensive line with Vince & Haynesworth however, I think his sack numbers could easily be in the double figures for this season.

How many sacks per year was Mike Vrabel averaging before he came to the Pats? (hint ints more than 1.5 and less than 2.5)!!