LB depth chart

[micronin127]

Reiss has a good blog post now that Fletcher has signed with the Bcs:
Dane Fletcher's departure thins LB depth - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

With available ratings: Base - Sub - Both - ST

Mayo (Base)
Hightower (Base)
Collins (Both)
White (ST)
Beauharnais (ST)
Davis (ST)

I worry about the sub-defense. Woodyard was a good option, but he got 4 yrs/16 million and that's a bit much for a good coverage linebacker.

I guess Mayo and Hightower could both play a little in the sub-defense, but neither is very good in coverage.

Picking Collins last year is looking better and better, but we need a backup ILB and some coverage LB's with good speed.

 

[Brady6]

Reiss has a good blog post now that Fletcher has signed with the Bcs:
Dane Fletcher's departure thins LB depth - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

With available ratings: Base - Sub - Both - ST

Mayo (Base)
Hightower (Base)
Collins (Both)
White (ST)
Beauharnais (ST)
Davis (ST)

I worry about the sub-defense. Woodyard was a good option, but he got 4 yrs/16 million and that's a bit much for a good coverage linebacker.

I guess Mayo and Hightower could both play a little in the sub-defense, but neither is very good in coverage.

Picking Collins last year is looking better and better, but we need a backup ILB and some coverage LB's with good speed.

Mayo is a three down linebacker and would be on the field ahead of Collins. Beauharnais was drafted to be the backup inside LB and potential replacement as a run stopper for Brandon Spikes. He is not a ST player.

 

[Dexter]

My guess is we'll add a vet and late draft pick for depth. Not worried at the moment.

 

[mgteich]

Beauharnais was drafted to be the backup ILB? I guess 7th rounders are locks.

I guess that's it. Plug him in. We don't need any free agents. You do know that Beauharnais never played a down on defense, and was inactive almost always?

Do you read your posts?

Beuaharnais may or may not make the team. If he is not a special teamer, he has even less chance to make the team. He's a prospect, just like lots of others who played almost not all. However, to simply plug him as the the FIRST man up is not really very good analysis.

Belichick knows we need free agent help, even if you do not. Others here understand that we will likely draft another more qualified prospect, even if you do not.

Mayo is a three down linebacker and would be on the field ahead of Collins. Beauharnais was drafted to be the backup inside LB and potential replacement as a run stopper for Brandon Spikes. He is not a ST player.

 

[ATippett56]

With available ratings: Base - Sub - Both - ST

Mayo (Base)
Hightower (Base)
Collins (Both)
White (ST)
Beauharnais (ST)
Davis (ST)

I worry about the sub-defense. Woodyard was a good option, but he got 4 yrs/16 million and that's a bit much for a good coverage linebacker.

I guess Mayo and Hightower could both play a little in the sub-defense, but neither is very good in coverage.

If had not noticed in previous seasons, Mayo never comes off the field on defense.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I could see them Drafting a ILB anywhere from round 1 to round 3 if a good one falls to the pats but they will Draft a ILB at some point, maybe Yawin Smallwood, from UCONN in the 3rd or 4th round

 

[mgteich]

I am amused by those who think that Collins is a 3-down linebacker, ahead of Mayo who is not. Last I heard, Mayo was the top tackler in the NFL when healthy, and almost never comes off the field.

We need backups.

Some are satisfied with four linebackers plus special teamers. IMHO, that is fine if Ninkovich can be a linebacker as needed. If not, I would like to see 5 linebackers who can actually play linebacker, including two backups.

 

[JMC00]

Is OP joking? Mayo play a little in sub-defense? Not very good in coverage?

 

[Brady6]

Beauharnais was drafted to be the backup ILB?

I guess that's it.

Plug him in.

Do you read your posts?

Beuaharnais may or may not make the team. If he is not a special teamer, he has even less chance to make the team.

Do you ever quote one of my posts without making some snide remark MG? As I said in the other thread, I have attempted to place you on ignore because personally I do not like the way you speak to me at all, I find it to be disrespectful and argumentative, I also feel as though you make a point to identify as many of my posts as possible and take issue with them. You seldom argue the merits of the posts but instead focus on me personally with some comment like the one you have made here, you drop Belichick’s name as if you know him personally and he is informing you of decisions. I cannot ignore you because you are a MOD so it will not allow me to ignore you, I would appreciate it if you could either not come at me the way you do or reframe completely from quoting my posts because you are making my user experience on this site uncomfortable and less than pleasurable.

Also please do not attempt to dispute what I have said, whether it is the case or not that is my perception and my feelings on the situation and nothing you say is going to change them, the only way to change my view is to behave in a more endearing way.

In response to the football aspect of your post - I did not say he could not play STs I said he was not drafted to play STs; he is not that good of a ST Player so why would they have drafted him if that was his purpose.

Belichick knows we need free agent help, even if you do not. Others here understand that we will likely draft another more qualified prospect, even if you do not.

Do you know Belichick? Have you ever had a conversation with him? Do you know how many times a day you make a post saying what Belichick knows or thinks as if you are speaking for him? You do not have any clue what Belichick knows, you think because he had one LB come in for a visit and did not sign him that is how he feels.

 

[JMC00]

I could see them Drafting a ILB anywhere from round 1 to round 3 if a good one falls to the pats but they will Draft a ILB at some point, maybe Yawin Smallwood, from UCONN in the 3rd or 4th round

I've seen a few places that compare him to a poor man's Mayo. Who better to teach him how to play in the NFL than Belichick and Mayo?

If they are going to take an ILB I want either Christian Jones or Smallwood.

 

[ATippett56]

I could see them Drafting a ILB anywhere from round 1 to round 3 if a good one falls to the pats but they will Draft a ILB at some point, maybe Yawin Smallwood, from UCONN in the 3rd or 4th round

No thanks.

Yawin Smallwood, ILB, Connecticut, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Slow as molasses.

 

[ATippett56]

2014 Patriots Draft Contacts | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft

Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[mayoclinic]

2014 Patriots Draft Contacts | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft

Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Please, God. Jordan Tripp, Christian Jones, or both.

 

[patchick]

My guess is we'll add a vet and late draft pick for depth. Not worried at the moment.

I wish I could be as optimistic -- I see this as a clear and major need.

Mayo, Collins and Hightower are the only LBs on the roster who I see as locks to be playing in the NFL this year. And a speedy coverage LB is a key missing piece for flexibility in game planning. (Notice that the FAs they've shown interest in were the smaller, faster kind, while they let Dane Fletcher seek greener pastures.)

 

[ATippett56]

Please, God. Jordan Tripp, Christian Jones, or both.

Do you know the Pro-Day Workout results for the following player:

Brock Coyle, ILB, Montana (PW)

 

[PatsChamp88]

Do you know the Pro-Day Workout results for the following player:

Brock Coyle, ILB, Montana (PW)

I believe their Pro Day is 03/18/14

 

[ATippett56]

I believe their Pro Day is 03/18/14

Okay.

Thanks!

 

[PatsChamp88]

Arthur Moats? Besides that possibility I'm guessing we'll get a couple in the draft/udfas

 

[50-yard-line]

We definitely need another linebacker - Woodyard would have been a great addition, but I suspect it was playing time as much as money that moved him along.

I wonder if in certain passing downs...we have a couple of BIG secondary guys who can patrol the middle of the field and hit like linebackers now in Browner and Wilson. Maybe we see a new wrinkle - can Wesley Woodyard really do anything those two guys couldn't? He's not much bigger.

 

[Brady6]

Couple of players I would worth a look in my opinion –

- Pat Angerer
- Desmond Bishop
- Jonathan Vilma
- Erin Henderson