First Linebacker Off The Bench

mgteich · May 11, 2014

I realize that our starters don't play all the downs. However, if there is an injury, we do need 3 "starters".

The first LB off the bench is Beauharnais, Hull, White or Davis. Last year, we needed significant reps from TWO backup linebackers. Who will be our 2014 backup linebackers?

CheeseMonkeys · May 11, 2014

Yeah, I'm thinking they have to get someone else before the season begins. TE and LB were 2 of our biggest needs, and the Pats didn't draft one of either! Crazy... As much as I support the Garrapollo pick for the future, I'm a little bummed out we didn't select Chris Borland when we had the chance. It is important depth, in my opinion.

JMC00 · May 11, 2014

Beauharnais, Morris, ?

Ivan · May 11, 2014

I realize it's almost impossible to get everything done in an offseason but the depth at LB situation is one i really expected them to address by now and i am really surprised they haven't done so. They are almost oput of options as free agency is lacking and they will have to rely upon releases and street free agents to shore it up. Not a good thing, i would have loved a cover backer from that draft.

DarrylS · May 11, 2014

IMO this was one of the biggest areas of need in this draft, thought it would have been an area of focus...

IcyPatriot · May 11, 2014

At least 2 of our backup linebackers are yet to be signed to the team IMO ...
I'm expecting this area of the team to be filled out by summer cuts from other teams ... vets getting pushed aside.

nowayback · May 11, 2014

I assume Pats will pick up a Lb from future cuts. What were there like 5 LB's chosen in the whole draft?!!! Seems OLB's and DE's are about the same thing nowadays

micronin127 · May 11, 2014

Can Rob Ninkovich still play LB? In a pinch. That means that Buchanan, Smith, Bequette, or Easley would have to play DE.

In sub packages do we need 3 or 2 LBs?

I think this means Beaharnais is going to see an opportunity. Haven't checked to see if there are any free agents out there still available.

stinkypete · May 11, 2014

I assume that Berthunais is next in line, but I also assume that some competition is making its way in as we speak. Adrian Hubbard remains undrafted and unsigned. There remain several vet FAs who, while deep into the tail end of their careers, could come in and compete (Vilma, Desmond Biship, Nick Barnett, Larry Foote).

BelichickFan · May 11, 2014

We definitely may need to look around but it depends on Beauharnis and Morris, the former was an interesting 7th rounder who hopefully is ready to be a backup now and Morris was a draftable player who is very experienced (for college) and could be ready quickly as a backup.

patfanken · May 11, 2014

Definitely concerned about the lack of LB's. But I always look at what the draft tells us about what BB is thinking. Or it could be that BB's lack of a LB pick is tell us about the entire position of LB as it relates to today's defense game. Do we really need a lot of LB's in a game which is increasingly focused on DL and DB's? How many 3 down LB's are there really?

When you add that to fact that Ninko and Jones BOTH can play some LB, and maybe we really do have enough LB's. Still, Tripp or KPL would have been nice additions

50-yard-line · May 11, 2014

There are a couple out there (Angerer) and there will be more. I was surprised, too, that they didn't draft a LB.

They have 3 solid starters right now, with Beauharnis and Nink if necessary. They averaged 2.13 LB per defensive snap last year, so that seems very thin to me. I'm sure they'll address it.

signbabybrady · May 11, 2014

Beaurharnis is a good young depth replacement for Fletcher but we still need to replace the depth lost by Spikes. Assuming Collins is ready to start this player doesn't need to be as good as spikes but we certainly need someone capable of starting.

Ring 6 · May 11, 2014

patfanken said:
Definitely concerned about the lack of LB's. But I always look at what the draft tells us about what BB is thinking. Or it could be that BB's lack of a LB pick is tell us about the entire position of LB as it relates to today's defense game. Do we really need a lot of LB's in a game which is increasingly focused on DL and DB's? How many 3 down LB's are there really?

When you add that to fact that Ninko and Jones BOTH can play some LB, and maybe we really do have enough LB's. Still, Tripp or KPL would have been nice additions

Jones cant play LB. Sometimes he stands up as a DE but he cant play LB, otherwise yeah, LB is becoming less important, however, we still need 2 in sub and 3 in base, so while backups don't see the field, a starter getting injured would leave a hole.
I think Ninkovich would be considered.

Brady6 · May 11, 2014

I think they could be moving back to the 4-3 under, so that would mean the rotation in the base would look like this potentially.

5Tech LDE – Easley, Armstead, C. Jones (#95)
1Tech NT – Wilfork, Kelly, Siliga
3Tech DT – Kelly, Easley, Armstead, C. Jones (#94)
Leo RDE – C. Jones (#95), Ninkovich, Buchanan, Smith, Moore
Sam – Ninkovich, Collins, Hightower
Mike – Hightower, Mayo, Beauharnais
Will – Mayo, Hightower, Collins, White

Ring 6 · May 11, 2014

Brady6 said:
I think they could be moving back to the 4-3 under, so that would mean the rotation in the base would look like this potentially.

5Tech LDE – Easley, Armstead, C. Jones (#95)
1Tech NT – Wilfork, Kelly, Siliga
3Tech DT – Kelly, Easley, Armstead, C. Jones (#94)
Leo RDE – C. Jones (#95), Ninkovich, Buchanan, Smith, Moore
Sam – Ninkovich, Collins, Hightower
Mike – Hightower, Mayo, Beauharnais
Will – Mayo, Hightower, Collins, White

No

Brady6 · May 11, 2014

AndyJohnson said:
No

I do not care if you disagree, but offer some reasoning; you make yourself look like a pompous know it all when you do things like this.

patsfan13 · May 11, 2014

I expected a LB or 2 in the draft. Didn't expect a DL in the 6th rnd.

I view the draft as an opportunity to get an idea of what BB is thinking. What I take from the non drafting of LB's is that he sees a lot of situational football where we will have 4 DL's only 2 LB's and 5 DB's on the field. If this is the case and we can use a DL as a Big LB in running situations we may be fine with a 4-5 man LB rotation. Very different than 10 years ago when we had 10-11 Lb's on the roster...

joepatsfan · May 11, 2014

(Vilma, Desmond Biship, Nick Barnett, Larry Foote)

Good post but Larry Foote signed somewhere just recently.. which sucks cuz that would've been a nice add

meatface · May 11, 2014

yeah the lack of depth for LB and DE surprises me

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