rookBoston
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2004
- Messages
- 2,060
- Reaction score
- 1,326
Reading the latest USAToday on the Pats, I came across a projection which is think is false. There seems to be a widely held belief that Thomas and Colvin will play outside backer, with Vrabel and Bruschi inside.
I think that's probably wrong. I expect, and this was partially supported by some of the mini-camp observations of where BB has Thomas lining up in practice, that Vrabel will return to his natural spot outside across from Colvin, and that Thomas will play inside beside Bruschi, with Seau/Lua rotating in on the inside and Brown/Woods on the outside.
Vrabel is adequate but not great dropping into coverage, and is most disruptive beating the OT to strip the ball from the QB on the outside. Thomas has the footspeed and agility to play in the secondary which makes him a far better fit covering a TE in the pattern.
I'm not sure why so many people assume that Thomas will play outside and Vrabel inside.
Vrabel was forced into it last year, after the injury to Seau with the hope that TBC would hold up outside. When that idea was disproved, they put him back outside, hoping that Alexander would fill on the inside. That concept was disproved, too, but has the benefit of putting Vrabel in the position he's best suited to play.
Thomas, by all accounts, is Mr. Versatility himself, and has even played S and CB for the Ravens. No doubt, he will see some snaps outside, but that's not where the team needs him most.
I'm excited to see some 3-5 alignments this year, with Seau, Bruschi and Thomas in the box along with Vrabel and Colvin. In that alignment, Thomas could be a blitzing S, a zone coverage DB, a run stopper or just about anything. Any team with slow-developing passing routes will get steamrolled by that defensive front.
I think that's probably wrong. I expect, and this was partially supported by some of the mini-camp observations of where BB has Thomas lining up in practice, that Vrabel will return to his natural spot outside across from Colvin, and that Thomas will play inside beside Bruschi, with Seau/Lua rotating in on the inside and Brown/Woods on the outside.
Vrabel is adequate but not great dropping into coverage, and is most disruptive beating the OT to strip the ball from the QB on the outside. Thomas has the footspeed and agility to play in the secondary which makes him a far better fit covering a TE in the pattern.
I'm not sure why so many people assume that Thomas will play outside and Vrabel inside.
Vrabel was forced into it last year, after the injury to Seau with the hope that TBC would hold up outside. When that idea was disproved, they put him back outside, hoping that Alexander would fill on the inside. That concept was disproved, too, but has the benefit of putting Vrabel in the position he's best suited to play.
Thomas, by all accounts, is Mr. Versatility himself, and has even played S and CB for the Ravens. No doubt, he will see some snaps outside, but that's not where the team needs him most.
I'm excited to see some 3-5 alignments this year, with Seau, Bruschi and Thomas in the box along with Vrabel and Colvin. In that alignment, Thomas could be a blitzing S, a zone coverage DB, a run stopper or just about anything. Any team with slow-developing passing routes will get steamrolled by that defensive front.
