Lua will make the roster

[Dragda]

I'm calling my shot. Oscar Lua is a fine linebacker. He will find a role and place on this roster.

We need a run stuffer, too. I predict he'll be a regular contributor by season end.

 

[miDeuce]

That's bold but it's just what we would need (a young LB to step it up) so here's to hoping you're right...

 

[Flying Fungi]

I'm calling my shot. Oscar Lua is a fine linebacker. He will find a role and place on this roster.

We need a run stuffer, too. I predict he'll be a regular contributor by season end.

he may well be a regular contributer early in the season as well--ST

 

[zippo59]

I too think he will make the roster but I'm sure that he will be a regular contributor by season's end, except on special teams.

 

[sieglo]

Richardson, Merriweather, Lua?

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Richardson, Merriweather, Lua?

I agree that Richardson could well be a surprise also.
Going along with that, I think a surprise cut will be Tory James...well semi surprise I guess.

 

[patsox23]

If Oscar Lua were to somehow BE something, even just by year's end, that would be a BIG development. Hope so.

 

[unoriginal]

Dragda is a brave man. Consider all the things he has working against him:

(1) He is picking a new linebacker with no track record to do something on this defense.
(2) This linebacker is also a rookie.
(3) This rookie was a 7th round pick.

If he works out as well as TBC I'll consider us fortunate.

 

[DarrylS]

Right now would like to think of him as our find of the '07 draft, but it is way too early to tell much of anything except that Junior Seau was his childhood hero.

 

[satz]

Next year is a good draft for defensive players and i see a LB and CB taken high so not sure lua is going to do.

 

[Mike the Brit]

If he works out as well as TBC I'll consider us fortunate.

Yes.

TBC was a seventh-round steal because, when he was drafted, undersized college defensive ends were neglected at draft time. That is why, despite an excellent college record, he dropped so far.

Now, with the proliferation of 3-4 defenses there are fewer seventh-round steals available at linebacker.

 

[reflexblue]

Yes.

TBC was a seventh-round steal because, when he was drafted, undersized college defensive ends were neglected at draft time. That is why, despite an excellent college record, he dropped so far.

Now, with the proliferation of 3-4 defenses there are fewer seventh-round steals available at linebacker.

For what it's worth TBC was projected to go in the third rd.

 

[sieglo]

NFL - A perfect american business model .
HarleyDavidson-Turning gas into noise for more than 100 yrs without the side effects of power and still making a tonne of money a great american business model.

Satz, you need to add a line to your signature:

Ron Borges -- turning other people's material into gas and noise without the side effect of journalistic integrity, a great American business model.

 

[Dragda]

Dragda is a brave man. Consider all the things he has working against him:

It's a bit more of a bolder prediction than last year: Maurice (Jones-)Drew would be good.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

and i see a LB taken high so not sure lua is going to do.

Hahahahahahahahahah....That was funny..I almost spit my coffee on my screen....

BB take a LB....

 

[patsox23]

Yes.

TBC was a seventh-round steal because, when he was drafted, undersized college defensive ends were neglected at draft time. That is why, despite an excellent college record, he dropped so far.

Now, with the proliferation of 3-4 defenses there are fewer seventh-round steals available at linebacker.

Mike, TBC was also injured in the run-up to the draft, which played a big role in his slipping so far.

 

[TeamPats]

Mike, TBC was also injured in the run-up to the draft, which played a big role in his slipping so far.

Guys I think a very important point for Givens and Banta-Cain making the roster back in '03 was that we had a very incomplete team with little youth. Cain had to compete with the likes of Jerod Cherry and Givens had to compete with J.J. Stokes. This allowed them to initially make the team and conitnue to practice throughout the year and improve in order to solidify a spot.

This team is much deeper now these days and it makes it much more difficult to beat out a quality roster player. If Lua makes the team, does that mean we cut Willie Andrews? I know he is at another positions but his role was primarily ST which is what Lua's would be too. I for one think Andrews is an excellent player and would not be happy to see him cut be it for a ILB or anyone.

 

[Oswlek]

Guys I think a very important point for Givens and Banta-Cain making the roster back in '03 was that we had a very incomplete team with little youth. Cain had to compete with the likes of Jerod Cherry and Givens had to compete with J.J. Stokes. This allowed them to initially make the team and conitnue to practice throughout the year and improve in order to solidify a spot.

This team is much deeper now these days and it makes it much more difficult to beat out a quality roster player. If Lua makes the team, does that mean we cut Willie Andrews? I know he is at another positions but his role was primarily ST which is what Lua's would be too. I for one think Andrews is an excellent player and would not be happy to see him cut be it for a ILB or anyone.

Givens was on the team for more than a year before Stokes came along, although the point still applies.

I do think that there is a little more opportunity that you seem to indicate, however.

 

[BelichickFan]

Guys I think a very important point for Givens and Banta-Cain making the roster back in '03 was that we had a very incomplete team with little youth. Cain had to compete with the likes of Jerod Cherry and Givens had to compete with J.J. Stokes. This allowed them to initially make the team and conitnue to practice throughout the year and improve in order to solidify a spot.

This team is much deeper now these days and it makes it much more difficult to beat out a quality roster player. If Lua makes the team, does that mean we cut Willie Andrews? I know he is at another positions but his role was primarily ST which is what Lua's would be too. I for one think Andrews is an excellent player and would not be happy to see him cut be it for a ILB or anyone.

Sure it's more difficult but Belichick looks at the total value of a player (what he can get over the entire period until the player becomes a FA) not just this year. He found a spot for Pierre Woods, he can find one for Lua if he can play. Without this thinking he wouldn't keep trading picks for future picks.

 

[captain stone]

Dragda is a brave man. Consider all the things he has working against him:

(1) He is picking a new linebacker with no track record to do something on this defense.
(2) This linebacker is also a rookie.
(3) This rookie was a 7th round pick.

If he works out as well as TBC I'll consider us fortunate.

Don't forget (4):
He couldn't even start for his college team.

Now, unless his replacement becomes the next Seau, that is a fatal indictment.

I would have taken a chance on Brandon Siler instead. Lua could have been signed as an UDFA.