Rodney at Outside Linebacker

[brdmaverick]

Maybe I am behind in noticing this, but yesterday I was at the game and I noticed that Eugene Wilson and Randall Gay were the primary safeties, with Rodney getting a lot of action around the line of scrimmage. Is he the answer to Rosie's injury? I actually like this setup. Rodney is a versatile guy who is physical yet can play coverage.

Is this something they did last week too and I am late in picking up on this?

 

[jays52]

They've been running the set since the Dallas game..maybe before that. He's primarily in there to matchup on the tight end, but also is capable in the run game and can blitz efficiently. His matchup on the athletic ends enables the patriots to negate guys like Whitten, ****pie Clark, Gates, Heap and others. While allocating the backs, run and rush responsibilities to the linebackers. His body type and style of play are fairly conducive to a nickel will, hell he could play mike in a Cover-2 defense.

 

[brdmaverick]

has Randall Gay been lining up at safety since the Dallas game too?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

he plays at the line alot over the tight end as mentionned but also i saw him in their when the jets had the 3 wr set.

he did this against witten and dallas clark.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

has Randall Gay been lining up at safety since the Dallas game too?

off and on...it's primarily been double strong safety with harrison and sanders

 

[BradyToMoss]

The Pats "Big Nickel" with Sanders/Geno playing back and Rodney cheating up to the LOS will cause fits. I hope they use it more and more.

 

[Fencer]

Good find. I was wondering what they'd do if all three starting safeties were healthy at once, but I didn't realize they'd already started it w/ Gay in place of a "real" safety.

Maybe the chances of Wilson staying with the team are a little higher than we thought.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Good find. I was wondering what they'd do if all three starting safeties were healthy at once, but I didn't realize they'd already started it w/ Gay in place of a "real" safety.

Maybe the chances of Wilson staying with the team are a little higher than we thought.

the Eugene Wilson doghouse thing is all specualtion. I think it was created on this message board.

Same deal with Lomo doghouse thing.

No one knows anything... for all we know is that they were taking extra precautions to have these guys for the playoffs.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Maybe I am behind in noticing this, but yesterday I was at the game and I noticed that Eugene Wilson and Randall Gay were the primary safeties, with Rodney getting a lot of action around the line of scrimmage. Is he the answer to Rosie's injury? I actually like this setup. Rodney is a versatile guy who is physical yet can play coverage.

Is this something they did last week too and I am late in picking up on this?

Belichick remarked on this on WEEI tonight... somewhat in passing he noted that Rodney often plays up near the linebackers in certain schemes.

(A listener emailed in a question about who on Defense changes the playcalls at the line of scrimmage - the answer is an LB and S both are responsible for noting the offensive scheme and adjusting the guys upfront and in the secondary according to their situational gameplans.

(He specifically mentioned Brushci or Seau for the LBs and Rodney or Sanders for the Safeties - which might suggest Sanders as the top S along with Rodney)

Speaking of Rodney, is it me or is this his best season yet? Maybe he's got renewed energy after sitting out the first 4 games and wants to prove something, but I thought he'd be slowing down at his age -not getting better.

Hopefully he's got another good season or two left in him - which would really be gravy for this team.

 

[Fencer]

the Eugene Wilson doghouse thing is all specualtion.

It's more than just speculation about a doghouse. Wilson is NOT an unqualified starter; Pees said as much. And he's a FA after this year, and the Pats' track record of resigning guys after rookie contracts is mixed.

 

[Fencer]

Speaking of Rodney, is it me or is this his best season yet? Maybe he's got renewed energy after sitting out the first 4 games and wants to prove something, but I thought he'd be slowing down at his age -not getting better.

Hopefully he's got another good season or two left in him - which would really be gravy for this team.

Rodney loves the game. He always was going to come back for the next couple of years, at least, health permitting.

And that's something I've been saying all along. In fact, it's one of the reasons I've been expecting Wilson to go.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Speaking of Rodney, is it me or is this his best season yet? Maybe he's got renewed energy after sitting out the first 4 games and wants to prove something, but I thought he'd be slowing down at his age -not getting better.

Yes, he's looked great out there to me. Wonder what it could be?

That aside, he's one of my all time favorites. I say he does NOT retire soon.

 

[Brady_12]

Speaking of Rodney, is it me or is this his best season yet?

I think so. And it's great to see. He is by far my favorite defensive player. I know there are lots of playmakers on this team but he always seems to be there when it counts the most.

 

[RayClay]

Deep at safety, thin at linebacker. Playing Rodney up seems like a winner to me.

Maybe even get Meriweather in the mix. Hell, Baker and Mitchell can play in the regular defense somewhat.

Could be our ace in the hole.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Deep at safety, thin at linebacker. Playing Rodney up seems like a winner to me.

Maybe even get Meriweather in the mix. Hell, Baker and Mitchell can play in the regular defense somewhat.

Could be our ace in the hole.

Supposedly Merriweather's having a tough time learning the scheme - but until he (hopefully) does I can't help wonder if he too can't be brought up to play a type of Elephant LB position to keep track of certain players.

Obviously he's not as big as say McGinest was in that role but he can tackle and has speed - and that's a pretty simple role.

 

[pheenix11]

When Rosey went down I thought the Pats should move towards a 3-3-5 with Rodney playing the 4th LB/3rd S position. Then Seau and Brusci can be platooned at MLB. I think it gives us a very versatile defense as Rodney is faster than a LB and just as tough.

 

[RayClay]

Supposedly Merriweather's having a tough time learning the scheme - but until he (hopefully) does I can't help wonder if he too can't be brought up to play a type of Elephant LB position to keep track of certain players.

Obviously he's not as big as say McGinest was in that role but he can tackle and has speed - and that's a pretty simple role.

Well, they have an underutilized Wilson too. They would rather let him sit and play guys that have experience, like Baker, for instance. It's really the best way to build confidence.

I think they messed his confidence up by playing him almost exclusively at corner in training camp.

I think losing teams rush their rookies while winners show patience. He'll have to earn his spot. Sanders did, Maroney's on the way and I hear good things about Jackson's maturity.

If these guys develop into confident vets who are ready, instead of ****y, flash in the pan rooks like we see on other teams, it's an embarrassment of riches for us.

 

[Fencer]

Supposedly Merriweather's having a tough time learning the scheme - but until he (hopefully) does I can't help wonder if he too can't be brought up to play a type of Elephant LB position to keep track of certain players.

Obviously he's not as big as say McGinest was in that role but he can tackle and has speed - and that's a pretty simple role.

I doubt it's really as simple as you're making out, because I don't think the Pats very often use pure spies like that.

And if you spy somebody who's apt to be kept back to block, then you have to be adept at getting into the backfield. Rodney is an all-time-great rusher from a DB position. Meriweather is rather unproven in that capacity.

 

[DarrylS]

Well, they have an underutilized Wilson too. They would rather let him sit and play guys that have experience, like Baker, for instance. It's really the best way to build confidence.

I think they messed his confidence up by playing him almost exclusively at corner in training camp.

I think losing teams rush their rookies while winners show patience. He'll have to earn his spot. Sanders did, Maroney's on the way and I hear good things about Jackson's maturity.

If these guys develop into confident vets who are ready, instead of ****y, flash in the pan rooks like we see on other teams, it's an embarrassment of riches for us.

Rodney also alluded on WEEI yesterday that Wilson had some injury issues and that may have been the reason why he was held back, after last week's effort will be difficult to hold him back any more.

 

[RayClay]

Well, they have an underutilized Wilson too. They would rather let him sit and play guys that have experience, like Baker, for instance. It's really the best way to build confidence.

I think they messed his confidence up by playing him almost exclusively at corner in training camp.

I think losing teams rush their rookies while winners show patience. He'll have to earn his spot. Sanders did, Maroney's on the way and I hear good things about Jackson's maturity.

If these guys develop into confident vets who are ready, instead of ****y, flash in the pan rooks like we see on other teams, it's an embarrassment of riches for us.

So instead of ****y, should I say penisy, ****y, wangy? What?