Pay Asante or get a stud ILB next year

[nowayback]

dont know which lb's will be available(free agents) next year..but i would rather have another AD(yes he is unique) type ILB. especially since the pats dont draft lb's

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

dont know which lb's will be available(free agents) next year..but i would rather have another AD(yes he is unique) type ILB. especially since the pats dont draft lb's

wouldn't we all like another AD, but I say give BB two #1 draft picks and let him choose a couple good players.

hopefully the 9ers lose tonight

 

[cstjohn17]

Some draft and potential free agent ideas are here:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=58296

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=59400

excert
This LB thing is driving me crazy. By not drafting any LBs we have put the heart of the defense in a tough spot next year. Keeping Rogers would have helped the cause, I don't think he was ever going to be a starter but could provide TBC quality backup (which wasn't that bad).

2008 LB Picture
ROLB - Colvin, Woods - no real problems here
RILB - Alexander, Herron
LILB - Thomas, Lua, Mays
LOLB - Vrabel, ????

Assessment
Colvin - Very solid player in the peak of his career, no issues with him at all.
Woods - Appears to be an improving adequate backup, time will tell.
Thomas - Good player, not sure I want him at ILB but so far I like what I see.
Alexander - Improving player, not sure I want him as the number 1 starter
Vrabel - Trending down, it will be interesting to see if he bounces back with more time at OLB.

Mays, Herron - Fringe roster players, JAGs who can contribute on special teams, take the spot of Izzo.
Lua - Has shown some potential, it would be a disaster to pencil him in as the starter next year.

Wildcards - Bruschi - I think he returns for P/T duty.

Forecast - very hazy
Day 1 - ILB\OLB is drafted, doesn't start but provides some versatility and backup ability
Aging veteran - Who knows maybe Big Willie is brought back from the dead


Potential FAs - A ragtail bunch to be sure, outside of Haggins, Hobson and Dansby none of them offer starting ability.
Name Team Pos DOB Age Height Weight Comments Link
Victor Hobson Jets ILB 2/3/1980 27.6 6'0 252 Knows system http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...=910&sport=NFL
Clark Haggins Steelers OLB 1/10/1977 30.6 6'4 243 Pure OLB http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...=689&sport=NFL
Chaun Thompson Browns ILB 5/22/1980 27.3 6'2 249 Hardly starting quality http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...rt=NFL&id=2591
Boss Bailey Lions ILB 10/14/1979 27.9 6'3 235 Small, no 3-4 http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...1884&sport=NFL
Dontarrious Thomas Vikings ILB 9/2/1980 27.0 6'2 241 Small, no 3-4 http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...2791&sport=NFL
Karlos Dansby Cardinals ILB/OLB 11/3/1981 25.8 6'4 240 May be expensive http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...2663&sport=NFL
Darryl Blackstock Cardinals ILB 5/30/1983 24.3 6'3 240 RFA in 08 http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...3302&sport=NFL
Calvin Pace Cardinals OLB/ILB 10/28/1980 26.9 6'4 270 Seems like more of an OLB http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...2054&sport=NFL
Niko Koutouvides Seahawks ILB 3/25/1981 26.4 6'2 244 special teams http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...1731&sport=NFL
Brandon Chillar Rams ILB 10/21/1982 24.9 6'3 242 Hardly starting quality http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...1630&sport=NFL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[carolinatony]

We need 1 LB under 30 one of these days

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

dont know which lb's will be available(free agents) next year..but i would rather have another AD(yes he is unique) type ILB. especially since the pats dont draft lb's

How about pay Randy Moss and draft a CB and a LB with the two first round picks?

 

[Underoath]

ILB, no question. It's so much harder to find a linebacker for this team than a CB. If we have pressure on the QB and good run defense, than it doesn't really matter who's in the secondary for us, but if we have no run defense and no pressure on the QB, I don't care if we have Champ Bailey and Asante Samuel for CB's, teams will just run on us and have all day to pass.

 

[patsfaninpa]

We don't need a stud ILB next year. We will just need someone whom is capable of playing the run well. Then, gets pulled for a nickel back. AD is getting paid very well because he's a 3-down lb. There aren't a lot of those around any more. I love Bruschi as much as any Pats fan. But, isn't it clear that Seau is a better player right now? Tedi just hasn't been the same since his stroke. And, who would be?

 

[D-cleater]

Some draft and potential free agent ideas are here:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=58296

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=59400

excert
This LB thing is driving me crazy. By not drafting any LBs we have put the heart of the defense in a tough spot next year. Keeping Rogers would have helped the cause, I don't think he was ever going to be a starter but could provide TBC quality backup (which wasn't that bad).

2008 LB Picture
ROLB - Colvin, Woods - no real problems here
RILB - Alexander, Herron
LILB - Thomas, Lua, Mays
LOLB - Vrabel, ????

Assessment
Colvin - Very solid player in the peak of his career, no issues with him at all.
Woods - Appears to be an improving adequate backup, time will tell.
Thomas - Good player, not sure I want him at ILB but so far I like what I see.
Alexander - Improving player, not sure I want him as the number 1 starter
Vrabel - Trending down, it will be interesting to see if he bounces back with more time at OLB.

Mays, Herron - Fringe roster players, JAGs who can contribute on special teams, take the spot of Izzo.
Lua - Has shown some potential, it would be a disaster to pencil him in as the starter next year.

Wildcards - Bruschi - I think he returns for P/T duty.

Forecast - very hazy
Day 1 - ILB\OLB is drafted, doesn't start but provides some versatility and backup ability
Aging veteran - Who knows maybe Big Willie is brought back from the dead


Potential FAs - A ragtail bunch to be sure, outside of Haggins, Hobson and Dansby none of them offer starting ability.
Name Team Pos DOB Age Height Weight Comments Link
Victor Hobson Jets ILB 2/3/1980 27.6 6'0 252 Knows system http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...=910&sport=NFL
Clark Haggins Steelers OLB 1/10/1977 30.6 6'4 243 Pure OLB http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...=689&sport=NFL
Chaun Thompson Browns ILB 5/22/1980 27.3 6'2 249 Hardly starting quality http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...rt=NFL&id=2591
Boss Bailey Lions ILB 10/14/1979 27.9 6'3 235 Small, no 3-4 http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...1884&sport=NFL
Dontarrious Thomas Vikings ILB 9/2/1980 27.0 6'2 241 Small, no 3-4 http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...2791&sport=NFL
Karlos Dansby Cardinals ILB/OLB 11/3/1981 25.8 6'4 240 May be expensive http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...2663&sport=NFL
Darryl Blackstock Cardinals ILB 5/30/1983 24.3 6'3 240 RFA in 08 http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...3302&sport=NFL
Calvin Pace Cardinals OLB/ILB 10/28/1980 26.9 6'4 270 Seems like more of an OLB http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...2054&sport=NFL
Niko Koutouvides Seahawks ILB 3/25/1981 26.4 6'2 244 special teams http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...1731&sport=NFL
Brandon Chillar Rams ILB 10/21/1982 24.9 6'3 242 Hardly starting quality http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/pla...1630&sport=NFL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LOL . BB could most of those guys into near-probowlers. Vrabel, Seau at 36, Phifer come to mind. Even Johnson was considered a stiff but BB found a spot. I image he could do wonders with Haggans, Dansby and definitely hobson, but hobson will be resigned by Mangini.

Tedy will be starting next year right next to AD. BB doesn't draft ILB's , he converts players that have a few years in the league.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

And Beisel and Brown come to mind.

 

[Nordy]

Draft Dan Connor if he falls to one of our picks.

 

[MetalBleachers]

Draft Brinkley, Maualuaguagua, or Goff. Youth, please.

 

[WhiZa]

I don't see Samuel being with the team next year. I expect a down year and he will not be worth the franchise tag, but he still will be looking to get paid. Also, we need the money to sign Moss. So sign a ILB and draft a CB.

 

[patriot lifer]

And Beisel and Brown come to mind.

let's go with Lua and Heron instead.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Draft Dan Connor if he falls to one of our picks.

Draft Brinkley, Maualuaguagua, or Goff. Youth, please.

Laurinaitis also. Hell, after watching Patrick Willis tonight, I'd love to shore up the heart of the Pats D with a homegrown, young, stud LB, preferably an ILB.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

let's go with Lua and Heron instead.

As much as I liked Lua, I'm not sure if he'll be ready to contribute much next season. Herron, I know little to nothing. And I've always been very high on Alexander since we picked him up as an UDFA and I still think he'll get better. But if one of the LBs the other posters in this thread have mentioned become available to the Pats in the draft, be it in the first or the second round, I'd love for the Pats to pick one these guys up.