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Week Five brings us to the charming controversy of Linebackers. 'Nuff said.
I need to catch up with CB, and I think patchick still owes us some interior linemen.
Week One OC/OG: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-...ad.php?t=51105
Week Two DL: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-...ad.php?t=51395
Week Three OT: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-...ad.php?t=51983
Week Four CB: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=52730
Chatting with the Willis fans, I'm made aware of differing opinions on the actual size profile the Pats might use for their version of 3-4 linebackers. Keeping with my disagreeable stance on the subject, I continue looking at the Patriots' roster and drawing my conclusions from the players who have worked their way into the starting line-up:
Tedy Bruschi 6'1' 247 - I personally believe he has been playing heavier the past two seasons since coming back from his stroke, it's slowed him and made it more difficult for his slippery style of block avoidance in close quarters.
Ted Johnson 6'4" 253
Junior Seau 6'3" 248
Rosevelt Colvin 6'3" 250
Mike Vrabel 6'4" 261
Willie McGinest 6'5" 270
Tully Banta-Cain 6'3" 250
Eric Alexander 6'2" 240
Chad Brown 6'2" 245
Monty Beisel 6'3" 238
Roman Phifer 6'2" 248
Matt Chatham 6'4" 250
Brian Cox 6'4" 250
That roll call includes linebackers back to 2001 who have started. The least successful LB was also the smallest by weight. The next smallest has one start, reportedly earned for his coverage skills. Bruschi was listed at 245 on older rosters, Chad Brown struggled reportedly playing at that same weight in 2005. The lads just get bigger from there. The most successful LBs are listed in the 250 and up range and appear to be 6'3" or more by preference.
Last year I used these criteria when looking for ILB:
Willis' recent 40 times further highlight to me how he fits so much better in the Cover 2 speed system and would appear likely to struggle if plugged into a New England two-gap style system, despite meeting my minimum measurables. Harris of Michigan with his 4.6-ish speed looks to be a better fit, his weight distribution appears to have more lower body anchor for taking on OL. Both would need to be built up more for the 3-4 system (Vrabel was listed at 250 his first two years with the Pats), so perhaps Willis could be remade to fit, but his skinnier lower body seems tailor made for sideline-to-sideline coverage and thus less stout in the 3-4's gap responsibility battle, taking on the bigger boys to control your lanes. Still, this is "your" board, even Chad Nkang fans are welcome to list him at ILB if the spirit moves them. As always, have fun.
I need to catch up with CB, and I think patchick still owes us some interior linemen.
Week One OC/OG: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-...ad.php?t=51105
Week Two DL: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-...ad.php?t=51395
Week Three OT: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-...ad.php?t=51983
Week Four CB: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=52730
Chatting with the Willis fans, I'm made aware of differing opinions on the actual size profile the Pats might use for their version of 3-4 linebackers. Keeping with my disagreeable stance on the subject, I continue looking at the Patriots' roster and drawing my conclusions from the players who have worked their way into the starting line-up:
Tedy Bruschi 6'1' 247 - I personally believe he has been playing heavier the past two seasons since coming back from his stroke, it's slowed him and made it more difficult for his slippery style of block avoidance in close quarters.
Ted Johnson 6'4" 253
Junior Seau 6'3" 248
Rosevelt Colvin 6'3" 250
Mike Vrabel 6'4" 261
Willie McGinest 6'5" 270
Tully Banta-Cain 6'3" 250
Eric Alexander 6'2" 240
Chad Brown 6'2" 245
Monty Beisel 6'3" 238
Roman Phifer 6'2" 248
Matt Chatham 6'4" 250
Brian Cox 6'4" 250
That roll call includes linebackers back to 2001 who have started. The least successful LB was also the smallest by weight. The next smallest has one start, reportedly earned for his coverage skills. Bruschi was listed at 245 on older rosters, Chad Brown struggled reportedly playing at that same weight in 2005. The lads just get bigger from there. The most successful LBs are listed in the 250 and up range and appear to be 6'3" or more by preference.
Last year I used these criteria when looking for ILB:
For last year's OLBs I used these criteria:1. A nose for the ball.
2. An ability to play through trash.
3. An ability to fight off blocks.
4. Great tacklers.
Minimum measurables: 240 lbs, 5'11", 4.8-ish 40
This year I need to add I'm also looking for LBs with decent short area coverage skills.1. A nose for the ball.
2. An ability to play through trash.
3. An ability to fight off blocks.
4. Great tacklers.
5. Speed and/or power off the edge.
Minimum measurables: 250 lbs, 6'3", 4.8-ish 40
Willis' recent 40 times further highlight to me how he fits so much better in the Cover 2 speed system and would appear likely to struggle if plugged into a New England two-gap style system, despite meeting my minimum measurables. Harris of Michigan with his 4.6-ish speed looks to be a better fit, his weight distribution appears to have more lower body anchor for taking on OL. Both would need to be built up more for the 3-4 system (Vrabel was listed at 250 his first two years with the Pats), so perhaps Willis could be remade to fit, but his skinnier lower body seems tailor made for sideline-to-sideline coverage and thus less stout in the 3-4's gap responsibility battle, taking on the bigger boys to control your lanes. Still, this is "your" board, even Chad Nkang fans are welcome to list him at ILB if the spirit moves them. As always, have fun.