Vrabel

[Keegs]

I was wondering what we are going to do w/ Vrabel now. will he play inside mostly, or outside still?

I guess a more important question is what will AD be playing?

I figured that it would be Colvin-Tedy/Seau-Vrabel-AD

I guess the dude that can play 9 positions can adjust to whatever but i like thinking about this.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Fumblerooski]

I was wondering what we are going to do w/ Vrabel now. will he play inside mostly, or outside still?

I guess a more important question is what will AD be playing?

I figured that it would be Colvin-Tedy/Seau-Vrabel-AD

I guess the dude that can play 9 positions can adjust to whatever but i like thinking about this.

Does anyone have any ideas?

If you listen to some reporters who saw him in person, Vrable couldn't even get out of his chair before the Indy game. His back was hurt. This could have come from the cheap shot he took when he intercepted that one ball or it could have just been wear and tear from having to play inside LB.

The 3-4 tends to use it's OLBs as run stoppers first and foremost and he is well suited to handle attackers in space. IMHO, he will play both positions with Thomas, but look for Thomas to take the day in and day out bruising inside and Vrable stay outside. Also, the way the coverage broke down in the Indy game, the ILBs (Alexander and Bruschi) were forced to cover the TEs and RBs. Thomas is faster and the better choice for ILB.

Some one would need to follow up where Thomas got most of his sacks last year, was it up the middle or from the side.

Bottom line, I see Thomas as a replacement for Seau, not being paid $60 million to rotate with Vrable and Colvin at OLB.

Now all the Pats have to do is draft the eventual replacement for Bruschi and they should be set at LB for a couple of years anyway.

 

[BelichickFan]

If you listen to some reporters who saw him in person, Vrable couldn't even get out of his chair before the Indy game. His back was hurt.

Interesting, he had a few sack chances that he looked like he took a bad angle in the Indy game, I attributed it to having moved back outside and misjudging the angle. Maybe he was just not physically able to make the move that he usually would have been able to.

As a base defense, I expect Vrabel at SOLB, Colvin at WOLB, Bruschi at the run stopping ILB (like he was last year) and Thomas as the coverage ILB. Of course, Thomas would still play the run a lot but I expect he'd play Bruschi's old position from when TJ was insside with him - he big play, blizting, coverage ILB.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Interesting, he had a few sack chances that he looked like he took a bad angle in the Indy game, I attributed it to having moved back outside and misjudging the angle. Maybe he was just not physically able to make the move that he usually would have been able to.

As a base defense, I expect Vrabel at SOLB, Colvin at WOLB, Bruschi at the run stopping ILB (like he was last year) and Thomas as the coverage ILB. Of course, Thomas would still play the run a lot but I expect he'd play Bruschi's old position from when TJ was insside with him - he big play, blizting, coverage ILB.

hasn't vrabel played on warren's side which is the weak side? you are saying he'll not be on seymour's side?

correct me if i'm wrong

 

[Bertil]

correct me if i'm wrong

I can't wait...

(sorry, temporarily mind-melded BB there!)

 

[BelichickFan]

hasn't vrabel played on warren's side which is the weak side? you are saying he'll not be on seymour's side?

correct me if i'm wrong

Yes I expect Vrabel back on Warren's side. I believe that is the Strong Side, McGinest's old spot.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Yes I expect Vrabel back on Warren's side. I believe that is the Strong Side, McGinest's old spot.

Strongside linebacker
The strongside linebacker is often nicknamed "Sam" for purposes of calling a blitz. Since the strong side of the offensive team is the side on which the tight end lines up, the strongside linebacker usually lines up across from the tight end. Often the strongside linebacker will be called upon to tackle the running back on a play, because the back will be following the tight end's block. He is most often the strongest linebacker: mostly rushing the quarterback or stopping runs, allowing the weakside linebacker to drop into pass coverage.

I guess it's a matter of semantics where the tight end lines up, but if you think about it most tight ends would line up next to the left tackle to protect the qb's blind side because most throw righty.

 

[newton_tom_cat]

If you listen to some reporters who saw him in person, Vrable couldn't even get out of his chair before the Indy game. His back was hurt. This could have come from the cheap shot he took when he intercepted that one ball or it could have just been wear and tear from having to play inside LB.

The 3-4 tends to use it's OLBs as run stoppers first and foremost and he is well suited to handle attackers in space. IMHO, he will play both positions with Thomas, but look for Thomas to take the day in and day out bruising inside and Vrable stay outside. Also, the way the coverage broke down in the Indy game, the ILBs (Alexander and Bruschi) were forced to cover the TEs and RBs. Thomas is faster and the better choice for ILB.

Some one would need to follow up where Thomas got most of his sacks last year, was it up the middle or from the side.

Bottom line, I see Thomas as a replacement for Seau, not being paid $60 million to rotate with Vrable and Colvin at OLB.

Now all the Pats have to do is draft the eventual replacement for Bruschi and they should be set at LB for a couple of years anyway.

thats good analysis. finally someone with a clue around here. bruschi has got to go

 

[TripleOption]

The 3-4 tends to use it's OLBs as run stoppers first and foremost and he is well suited to handle attackers in space.

No. The OLB's in the 3-4 are edge rushers. They play the Flats in the pass game. As far as run goes, the are integral vs the Power O or the Stretch, but Iso and Inside Zone would be where the ILB's handle.

 

[RayClay]

Why would we stick a guy with his speed and athleticism at ILB?

He's Willie Mcginest replacement IMO. Strong side pass rush De/OLB, elephant and switching inside out at the snap.

I think Vrabel plays both, especially if we have 2 dependable ILBs which is doubtful at this point.

 

[Fencer]

It looks to me as if the ILBs have the bulk of the deep pass coverage responsibilities (to the extent the LBs have any), while the OLBs have more interaction with OL. I mean the latter point in two ways:

1. Pass rushing.
2. Taking on blockers with less protection from the DL than the ILBs get. (I know this isn't a pure "NT occupies the blockers" system, but there is some of that going on.)

I know this goes against conventional wisdom, but as a matter of fact the Pats' OLBs HAVE tended to be at least as big as the ILBs, on the whole, whereas most of the LBs' good pass defense plays have been made by the ILBs (usually Bruschi).

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Why would we stick a guy with his speed and athleticism at ILB?

He's Willie Mcginest replacement IMO. Strong side pass rush De/OLB, elephant and switching inside out at the snap.

I think Vrabel plays both, especially if we have 2 dependable ILBs which is doubtful at this point.

I think you have right - Thomas stays outside the majority of time, just like Willie. With his size and apparent strength, Thomas ought to be a great edge setter and funnel the runners back into the middle where they should go for our D to succeed. Vrabel and Banta-Cain were getting steamrolled on the edge by the Chargers and thus the whole D broke down against the run. Vrabel might not be the perfect ILB but would anyone argue that Thomas is the better OLB of the two?

 

[jeffd]

My guess is that Vrable becomes the 5th LB (ILB or OLB) and situational pass rusher much like Jarvis Green is to the DL. He'll get almost a starters number of snaps but not technically a starter. This assumes that either Bruschi and Seau return or are replaced. If not I'm sure he'll start inside. I think he better suited for the 1st option. Besides that will save his energy for some TE duty.

 

[Gene In Montana]

If we are all confused about who is gonna play where, how do you think opposing teams are gonna feel??? Heh, heh, heh, heh.... :singing:

 

[patsfan13]

IMO Vrabel will begin to play moere ILB, Thomas will be outside. I think the coaching staff will move them around based on the opponent.

What I do know is that BB will know who to use all the LB's to maximize the teams chances to reach the SB.

 

[Steamer86]

AD plays mostly outside in 07 and then maybe replaces Bruschi inside in 08 or 09.....Vrabel will be mostly inside in 07.....This D will also be able to go 4-3 - with AD or Vrabel in middle and Colvin and AD or Vrabel OLB......If we get a LB in draft then he will also be able to rotate.... They will be coming from everywhere......disguising who drops into coverage....The 07 Pats D may rank with the 85 Bears, 76 Steelers and the 00 Ravens......

 

[cstjohn17]

After reading Peter King's article from si.com and looking at a breakdown of how Thomas was used against the Chargers I expect Vrabel to be getting a lot of snaps inside. This was a specific gameplan to take Gates out of the picture but not a single snap at ILB seems to be very telling. They left him outside because of his range.
Article - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/03/04/thomas/index.html

Breakdown
Left outside linebacker: 27 plays
Right outside linebacker: 22 plays
Safety, running up to cover the slot receiver: 8 plays
Free safety: 1 play
Left end: 7 plays.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Maybe Vrabel could play a little tight end.

 

[teamplay]

We need more speed at ILB. Tedy, Vrabs, and Seau are all wonderful, but we were half a step behind TEs and WRs over the middle all season. TEs are getting faster every year.

Despite AD's versatility, he played the vast majority of his snaps at OLB. Will he assume Willie's old position, which both Colvin and Vrabs have played of late? Or will they put him in Tedy's old roving ILB role? I could see that too! I'm confused.

Vrabs isn't getting any faster, so moving him to ILB leaves us vulnerable in the middle, IMHO. He's such a good edge setter and rusher, I'd guess they try to keep Vrabs on the outside.

Anyone have the link on that great thread summarizing the attributes of the 4 LB positions in the Pats scheme? Time to dust it off!

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

I'll tell you where they'll both be playing ILB/OLB/DE the beauty of having both of them is that they're both so versatile it doesn't matter where they are. Having both Vrabel and now AD probably just doubled the size of BB's playbook I feel bad for those guys the both of them are going to have to learn like a million different personel packages.