Just my opinion I think he is ready to take over from Rosie Colvin at the OLB position. BB seems to trust him and speaks highly of him. Pierre led the league in percentage of special teams plays with him being involved in 88.9% of all special teams plays. To me this suggests that he has gained the trust of the coaching staff and will be given an opportunity to be a starter.
Some people seem to be assuming that Adalius Thomas will be the new OLB since that is where he ended up playing after Colvin got hurt. I'm saying Thomas will be more valuable inside as a physical presence againts the run. Mayo will have to make his mark on special teams and hope for some playing time as the season rolls on.
I felt I and BB, were the only ones who thought Pierre Woods would turn into a star. Welcome to the group.
Woods was terribly mis-managed by Michigan Coach Lyold Carr, (just like he mismanaged Brady! and Crable) otherwise he would have been a first or second round pick which he was, going into his Junior year.
Instead BB picked him up as a free agent as Carr benched him and bad mouthed him to scouts as a lazy headcase. You don't lead the league in ST plays, which I didn't know, but it was quite obvious to me that he has left aging Larry Izzo in the dust as the ST guru.
A ST ace is NEVER lazy. Period. Nor unwilling to stick his head in there.
Woods is big, 6-5 to bat down passes, and block passing lanes, agile, as proved by his leading ST tackles, despite not being a swift gunner, and speedy enough to be a prime talent at OLB. He is faster than either Rosey Colvin or Mike Vrabel.
Now that he has two years of grooming at 3-4 OLB, (and Starring) on ST, he is ready for full time action. I thought he did well in the later portion of the year, after Colvin was hurt, and had he held onto the fumble, he would have been a hero of the undefeated season. Close but no cigar; but his time is coming, I beleive.
From a position point, I too think he would be best at ROLB instead of SOLB, but Vrabes may need more blows as he is older than AD this year. Eventually Woods and Crable will be two of new generation pass rushing troika at OLB for the Pats.
Needless to say, I concur in you post...