Does a "2-down, run-stuffing" linebacker (and specifically that it is a good fit for the Patriots) sound as stupid to anyone else as it does to me? Makes perfect sense if everyone was forced to run on 1st and 2nd down. You think the Colts, Chargers or Broncos...teams with solid TEs who the Pats are likely to encounter on the way to the Super Bowl...know what to do on early downs with a run-stuffing, no-coverage, no-pass-rush linebacker sitting in the middle of the field? I think they just might.
If the Pats take a LB early in the draft, look for them to get someone they believe can hold their own against the run, rush the passer and drop into coverage. BB still has fresh memories of TEs dancing through his defense. Getting AT was step 1 in purging those memories. Look for that theme to continue in the draft...just like Warren and Wilfork served as therapy for 2002 and Steve Martin.
BB strikes me as someone who is guided by the past but not not constrained by it. I don't think Ted Johnson would have helped much against the Colts, so I'm not convinced BB is interested in finding the next Ted Johnson.