Convince me about LB depth, and....

[Ring 6]

.....I cannot find a flaw; this is easily BBs best team.

Offensively, there are no OL worries, Brady is the best QB in the NFL, we are set at RB with Maroney, and with the WR moves, if all work out, it will be the best WR corps in the NFL, and if even 2 or 3 disappoint, it is still a huge strength.

Defensively, but for one half our secondary had a tremendous season (and the 2nd half of the AFCC was more about injured safeties and LBs than corners) and to what we had last year we have added James, Gay (injured all season) Meriweather, Harrison (injured most of season) and Wilson (injured most of season). We have the best DL in the NFL.
We have the best starting LB unit in the NFL. (I dont even think there is an argument)
We passed on a ton of LBs in the draft, in some cases saying no one (and a pick next year) was better for us than whoever was available.
I don;'t have a huge comfort level with Woods, Mays, Alexander, the late picks we made today as solid depth, but BB knows what they are capable of better than I. Thelack of emphasis tells me either the guys here for depth are promising, we have a plan to bring more in or the guys in this draft just were not any good. I doubt its the 3rd, because there was at least potential there.
The only issue I see is the depth at LB, and as that answer becomes clear, I feel better about this teams chances than any Pat team to date. (Speaking with foresight rather than hindsight about previous champs)

 

[pats1]

Yeah, I think Beioli will assess the LB situation come camp time. If they feel Rogers, Woods, Alexander, Lua, etc. are sufficient, then they'll probably go into the season with that. If not, they'll probably look towards Seau, Hartwell, or whoever else is available.

Look for the Pats to address the LB situation in the 2008 draft, when Bruschi's departure will most likely be a reality.

 

[Barnsie]

I just hope the RB situation pans out. I love Maroney to death, but if he gets hurt or simply can't handle all of the wear, then we don't have a lot after him.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Yeah, I think Beioli will assess the LB situation come camp time. If they feel Rogers, Woods, Alexander, Lua, etc. are sufficient, then they'll probably go into the season with that. If not, they'll probably look towards Seau, Hartwell, or whoever else is available.

Look for the Pats to address the LB situation in the 2008 draft, when Bruschi's departure will most likely be a reality.

Good point. When I heard the news, my first reaction was "Piolichick must be confident that they've got another year left in the LB's."

Now, if we can only secure the services of Mr. Samuel...

 

[zippo59]

We know we have Bruschi, Vrabel, Colvin, and Thomas, with Izzo for spot duty in certain packages.

The question marks are Woods, Alexander, Mays, Rogers, Lua.

And keep an eye on Seau and Hartwell.

If we can get something out of some of these guys then we are well off. It's certainly not ideal at this point, but there is a lot of time and many variables that if solved would make this not a problem.

 

[BelichickFan]

ILB is a mystery for sure.

I would say that for the one starting spot beside Bruschi we'll sign a starting caliber journeyman (at this point in their career) like Hartwell or Seau. We still lack depth but with three starting caliber OLB we know that Vrabel can move inside if he has to.

 

[BelichickFan]

Now, if we can only secure the services of Mr. Samuel...

At $500K per game, that's not a problem.

 

[Ring 6]

I just hope the RB situation pans out. I love Maroney to death, but if he gets hurt or simply can't handle all of the wear, then we don't have a lot after him.

We certainly wont be worse than the 2003 Champion that had Antowain Smith and Kevin Faulk splitting the job 50/50, and the entire rest of the offense outside of RB is significantly better.

We have a stud RB. There are rarely teams that have a stud RB, and also have another stud just in case anything goes wrong.
Morris is a solid backup, Faulk a strong 3rd down guy, who can expand his role if he is needed more due to injury. Evans can also run from the 1 back set and we just drafted a couple of possible depth guys.

I think there is an enormous overreaction to the RB position, because last year we had the luxury of a vet on his last legs coupled with a rookie. Somehow that has turned into the thinking that teams need 2 starters at RB. They dont. Any team in the NFL would suffer a severe dropoff if their starting RB were injured. IMO, having Tom Brady and an incredible receiving corps, along with a defense that was 2nd in the NFL last year and has gotten better, means we are well equipped to overcome a stretch of games being decent at rB if Maroney is injured.

 

[Ring 6]

I'd also feel a little better if we found a 3rd QB. Would have loved Troy Smith in this draft, but so be it.
I'd just rather have someone in that role that is somewhat realible, rather than a bunch of guys paraded in who have never really made a team, or another dinosaur holding the clipboard.
Im not asking for much just a guy under or even close to 30, who has at least a couple hundered NFL passes of experience.

 

[All_Around_Brown]

I'd also feel a little better if we found a 3rd QB. Would have loved Troy Smith in this draft, but so be it.
I'd just rather have someone in that role that is somewhat realible, rather than a bunch of guys paraded in who have never really made a team, or another dinosaur holding the clipboard.
Im not asking for much just a guy under or even close to 30, who has at least a couple hundered NFL passes of experience.

That kinda says alot about Cassels development, no??

 

[stcjones]

I'd also feel a little better if we found a 3rd QB. Would have loved Troy Smith in this draft, but so be it.
I'd just rather have someone in that role that is somewhat realible, rather than a bunch of guys paraded in who have never really made a team, or another dinosaur holding the clipboard.
Im not asking for much just a guy under or even close to 30, who has at least a couple hundered NFL passes of experience.

I personally am a little shocked on this as well......Cassel is a huge question mark in my opinion....and if gawd forbid something happens to Brady next year, I don't have a ton of confidence personally in Matt.....I would have liked to have seen them go after another QB in FA or draft...at the very least we need a #3 right?

 

[cstjohn17]

with Izzo for spot duty in certain packages.

I won't change my earlier opinion, if Izzo plays any snaps at any position other than special teams I will eat my own vomit.

Our weakest roster areas before the draft were ILB (by a mile) and then CB,S depending on how you feel about Samuel, Wilson on others.

IMO very little was done to improve these areas, if anything happens to our 34 year old ILB (who is slowing down) the defense takes a big hit.

 

[zippo59]

I won't change my earlier opinion, if Izzo plays any snaps at any position other than special teams I will eat my own vomit.

Our weakest roster areas before the draft were ILB (by a mile) and then CB,S depending on how you feel about Samuel, Wilson on others.

IMO very little was done to improve these areas, if anything happens to our 34 year old ILB (who is slowing down) the defense takes a big hit.

Izzo plays in spot duty ever year, especially in goal line packages, so that's an unfavorable bet to make.

 

[cstjohn17]

Izzo plays in spot duty ever year, especially in goal line packages, so that's an unfavorable bet to make.

He has been less than very poor in situations I remember, just because he gets the snaps (and proceeds to look silly) doesn't mean it is a good thing or I have to like it.

 

[Kdo5]

I'm beggining to like Alexander I hope he continues to improve through training camp. IMO he is def. our best "young" LB.

 

[BelichickFan]

I'd also feel a little better if we found a 3rd QB.

I was surprised we didn't draft one . . . I think Vinny will be coming back.

 

[cstjohn17]

I'm beggining to like Alexander I hope he continues to improve through training camp. IMO he is def. our best "young" LB.

Leaving the argument of his skill level aside, he is a UFA at the end of the year. I would have been nice to get a backup onto the roster who could eventually start.

 

[Seneschal2]

I won't change my earlier opinion, if Izzo plays any snaps at any position other than special teams I will eat my own vomit.

I realize there aren't many lofty expectations of the day two Lua -- but he is a run stuffer. He's not the day one ILB we all hoped for, but in our situational/rotational defense -- he could play a role. His addition is the main reason I want Seau to return -- he's Lua's idol. I can imagine the kid sitting next to the long-time vet learning the tricks of the trade. And according to reports, he is a quick study.

If Lua first makes the cut, we could see an upgrade at the ILB position, even if it's only in goal line packages. I'd also not like to see Izzo anywhere but ST. Lua's a hope anyway...

 

[RayClay]

.....I cannot find a flaw; this is easily BBs best team.

Offensively, there are no OL worries, Brady is the best QB in the NFL, we are set at RB with Maroney, and with the WR moves, if all work out, it will be the best WR corps in the NFL, and if even 2 or 3 disappoint, it is still a huge strength.

Defensively, but for one half our secondary had a tremendous season (and the 2nd half of the AFCC was more about injured safeties and LBs than corners) and to what we had last year we have added James, Gay (injured all season) Meriweather, Harrison (injured most of season) and Wilson (injured most of season). We have the best DL in the NFL.
We have the best starting LB unit in the NFL. (I dont even think there is an argument)
We passed on a ton of LBs in the draft, in some cases saying no one (and a pick next year) was better for us than whoever was available.
I don;'t have a huge comfort level with Woods, Mays, Alexander, the late picks we made today as solid depth, but BB knows what they are capable of better than I. Thelack of emphasis tells me either the guys here for depth are promising, we have a plan to bring more in or the guys in this draft just were not any good. I doubt its the 3rd, because there was at least potential there.
The only issue I see is the depth at LB, and as that answer becomes clear, I feel better about this teams chances than any Pat team to date. (Speaking with foresight rather than hindsight about previous champs)

We now have 4 linebackers., (probably just added our most physically talented).

We play a 3-4.

What am I supposed to convince you of about depth?

Our depth is fine as long as we don't have any injuries. Or a lot of flu cases.

 

[ayjackson]

Maybe a trade could still help out the ILB situation. We do have five day one draft picks as it stands. Dallas drafted another OLB to start opposite Ware in Anthony Spencer. They have said that they want to move Bobby Carpenter inside. That would leave them with Kevin Burnett, Akin Ayodell, Bradie James and Bobby Carpenter at ILB. All of them (Carpenter excepted) have started numerous games at ILB in the 3-4.