Linebackers can be found in the later rounds.

[MrBigglesWorth]

Have we as a franchise been too picky when it comes to picking a linebacker?

At what point does speed and youth outweigh the intelligence of a savy veteran? Speed can make up mistakes and experience can prevent them. Where's the middle ground?

Lance Briggs was a third rounder.
Vrabel a third rounder
AD a sixth rounder
Demeco Ryans in the early second
Zach Thomas a 5th rounder
David Harris- 2nd round
Karlos Dansby- 2nd round

If we never draft linebackers we can never find a diamind in the rough and never develop this player.

Are we just bad at drafting linebackers?

I get kind of sick of hearing the "we need big linebackers that fit our system"

We need speed and become an attacking defense.

 

[chunkypony]

I'm all for drafting Jonathan Goff in the later (3rd, 4th) rounds and see how he works out.

Not to mention Oscar Lua. I still want to see something out of him. He was a late round pick.

 

[BostonBullit]

now list all the LBers drafted in later rounds who have been complete busts. you can run down the list of later round draft gems at almost any position but you have to keep it in perspective - for every gem there where probably 15 JAGs and a couple total duds

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Have we as a franchise been too picky when it comes to picking a linebacker?

At what point does speed and youth outweigh the intelligence of a savy veteran? Speed can make up mistakes and experience can prevent them. Where's the middle ground?

Lance Briggs was a third rounder.
Vrabel a third rounder
AD a sixth rounder
Demeco Ryans in the early second
Zach Thomas a 5th rounder
David Harris- 2nd round
Karlos Dansby- 2nd round

If we never draft linebackers we can never find a diamind in the rough and never develop this player.

Are we just bad at drafting linebackers?

I get kind of sick of hearing the "we need big linebackers that fit our system"

We need speed and become an attacking defense.

Thats really not the later rounds. 2nd and 3rd rounds are techinically still really good players who just need some work.

Zach Thomas and Adailius were both diamond in the rough players because after round 4 anything you can get that can become a starter is gravy.

 

[Keegs]

a perfect example of this would be Monty Beisel, who was drafted in the 4th round (pick 107) out of Kansas State.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

now list all the LBers drafted in later rounds who have been complete busts. you can run down the list of later round draft gems at almost any position but you have to keep it in perspective - for every gem there where probably 15 JAGs and a couple total duds

you can list busts for every position in the NFL. how come you cann find a jarvis green or a kacur or a o'calloghan but why have they stayed away from linebackers?

some may say they haven't by having woods and lua on the roster.

I think it comes down to BB having trust in some of these guys to give them legit snaps.

 

[upstater1]

you can list busts for every position in the NFL. how come you cann find a jarvis green or a kacur or a o'calloghan but why have they stayed away from linebackers?

some may say they haven't by having woods and lua on the roster.

I think it comes down to BB having trust in some of these guys to give them legit snaps.

Why are Kaczur and O'Callaghan listed there? They seem like average types, if that. We got as much from Gorin and Ashworth as we have from Kaczur and O'Callaghan.

We've drafted a lot of LBs over the years. And cut a lot of them too.

That being said, last year's draft was annoying because the Patriots showed complete disregard for the value of their picks, and meanwhile, we could have used a guy like Ahmad Bradshaw.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

you can list busts for every position in the NFL. how come you cann find a jarvis green or a kacur or a o'calloghan but why have they stayed away from linebackers?

some may say they haven't by having woods and lua on the roster.

I think it comes down to BB having trust in some of these guys to give them legit snaps.

Woods and EA have been big pickups for our team and both went undrafted.

Last year we tried to draft Stewart Bradley but was taken by the Eagles a few picks earlier. Same with several other LB's. They find players who they like and stick to their guns. Jeremy Mincey we drafted and although he didnt make it here has caught on well with the Jaguars.

 

[FarScapeR]

Don't forget Justin Rogers, whom we lost on waivers.

 

[Ring 6]

Have we as a franchise been too picky when it comes to picking a linebacker?

At what point does speed and youth outweigh the intelligence of a savy veteran? Speed can make up mistakes and experience can prevent them. Where's the middle ground?

Lance Briggs was a third rounder.
Vrabel a third rounder
AD a sixth rounder
Demeco Ryans in the early second
Zach Thomas a 5th rounder
David Harris- 2nd round
Karlos Dansby- 2nd round

If we never draft linebackers we can never find a diamind in the rough and never develop this player.

Are we just bad at drafting linebackers?

I get kind of sick of hearing the "we need big linebackers that fit our system"

We need speed and become an attacking defense.

We need speed and become an attacking defense

That statement contradicts the defensive philosophy of Bill Belichick.
You will never see BB fielding a team with small fast linebackers, or playing and attacking style of defense.
You either need to accept that you will not get what you want or start calling for BBs firing.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

We need speed and become an attacking defense

That statement contradicts the defensive philosophy of Bill Belichick.
You will never see BB fielding a team with small fast linebackers, or playing and attacking style of defense.
You either need to accept that you will not get what you want or start calling for BBs firing.

I'm sure if he could draft lawrence taylor he would(was LT an attacking LB?). I'm not looking for tiny linebackers..... is bruschi huge or seau? i'm looking for speed. so BB can get back to being creative and blitzing.

 

[Mack Herron]

Our track record for LBs via the draft is pretty bleak. Vrabel, Sea, and AD were FAs, but $ are hard to come by now. Alexander cannot get on the field at LB, and neither can Woods (save for one memorable play). There is precious little in the cupboard and little hope for help in the draft. Maybe they have some other plan.

 

[mgteich]

We can draft as many 4th round or later linebackers as seems reasonable. They can compete with Lua, Woods and Alexander for the position of emergency backups, special team star, practice squad and 2008 binky. You will compete with those who with those who want to waste their late draft picks on an OL.

While we wait for one of these to step up to be a starter, or someone who should get significant reps, we need another way to get 3-4 linebackers.

BTW, please list all successful linebackers we've drafted in the 4th round or later. There's Banta-Cain who contributed in his 4th year. Who else?

No, IMHO, later draftees are always a long shot, but especially for 3-4 linebackers we would like to contribute in their first two years.

If you want a late round LB, find one who has played for another team for four years.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Have we as a franchise been too picky when it comes to picking a linebacker?

At what point does speed and youth outweigh the intelligence of a savy veteran? Speed can make up mistakes and experience can prevent them. Where's the middle ground?

Lance Briggs was a third rounder.
Vrabel a third rounder
AD a sixth rounder
Demeco Ryans in the early second
Zach Thomas a 5th rounder
David Harris- 2nd round
Karlos Dansby- 2nd round

If we never draft linebackers we can never find a diamind in the rough and never develop this player.

Are we just bad at drafting linebackers?

I get kind of sick of hearing the "we need big linebackers that fit our system"

We need speed and become an attacking defense.

It's a bit of myth that "Linebackers can be found in the later rounds". The LBs of TOMORROW who can be ready to start 2-4 years from now certainly can be found later in the draft.

But if you are expecting someone who can be a significant contributor THIS SEASON you're better off looking in free agency or in the Top 10 of the draft.

You are correct that Belichick is picky about his LBs - he could speak to that better than I but his preferred LB combining speed, smarts and excellent tackling skills isn't easily found - and as more and more coaches copy BB's model, they are that much more in demand.

Those that have been good fits for us in past drafts I've felt have been gone well before #15. After that it's difficult to determine whether you're getting the next Monty Biesel or the next Mike Vrabel.

 

[Jimke]

Why are Kaczur and O'Callaghan listed there? They seem like average types, if that. We got as much from Gorin and Ashworth as we have from Kaczur and O'Callaghan.

We've drafted a lot of LBs over the years. And cut a lot of them too.

That being said, last year's draft was annoying because the Patriots showed complete disregard for the value of their picks, and meanwhile, we could have used a guy like Ahmad Bradshaw.

Following are the linebackers drafted by Bellichick with the draft

round in parenthesis: Tisdale (7), Turner (7), Banta-Cain (7), Claridge

(5), Mincey (6), Rogers (6), and Lua (7). No wonder The Pats don't

have any young linebacker to replace any veterans who retire or

leave as free agents.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I guess my contention is that the Pats aren't patient with the linebackers(Mincey, Justin Rodgers) and aren't given legit snaps until it happens to be a big game(ie. Alexander, Woods)

Do we continually want to bring in 30 year old linebackers?

 

[Jimke]

I guess my contention is that the Pats aren't patient with the linebackers(Mincey, Justin Rodgers) and aren't given legit snaps until it happens to be a big game(ie. Alexander, Woods)

Do we continually want to bring in 30 year old linebackers?

I think your contention is 100% correct. Rather than devote a lot of

time grooming young linebackers, the Pats prefer to use free agency

to get veteran linebackers. The reason they are oftentimes 30 years

old is simply that 25 year old linebackers are worth more on the open

market. I think the Pats should use Andre Tippett as a tutor for their

young linebackers.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Seau and Bruschi are both pretty big guys. You cant just have smaller linebackers in a 3-4. They will get mauled by the Guards.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Seau and Bruschi are both pretty big guys. You cant just have smaller linebackers in a 3-4. They will get mauled by the Guards.

Very true... but I think the Pats could find linebackers who are 250.... look at David Harris.

The defense goes as the linebackers go. They need to be able to put pressur eon the QB with a 4man rush.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

We can draft as many 4th round or later linebackers as seems reasonable. They can compete with Lua, Woods and Alexander for the position of emergency backups, special team star, practice squad and 2008 binky. You will compete with those who with those who want to waste their late draft picks on an OL.

While we wait for one of these to step up to be a starter, or someone who should get significant reps, we need another way to get 3-4 linebackers.

BTW, please list all successful linebackers we've drafted in the 4th round or later. There's Banta-Cain who contributed in his 4th year. Who else?

No, IMHO, later draftees are always a long shot, but especially for 3-4 linebackers we would like to contribute in their first two years.

If you want a late round LB, find one who has played for another team for four years.

ding ding ding we have a winner...