Report: Tennessee Titans LB Akeem Ayers traded to the Patriots

mayoclinic · Oct 22, 2014

mgteich said:
I like the signings, but there is no reason to believe that these players are good enough to start.

They've both been solid starters in the past, as recently as last year. From 2011-2013 Branch started 44 games and played in 47, while Ayers started 43 and played in all 48. The question is whether they have enough left in the tank, for various reasons.

BB acquired 2 guys who have been decent starters over the prior 3 years for the total cost of a likely late 6th pick exchanged for a likely early 7th, and at low cap hit. That's not shabby. They may or may not have much left to contribute, but it's a good gamble.

mayoclinic · Oct 22, 2014

Akeem Ayers apparently passed his physical:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...fficially-welcome-akeem-ayers-to-new-england/

PatsWickedPissah · Oct 22, 2014

Patriots medical staff physical...

Heartbeat? Check!
All limbs still attached? Check!

You're good to go!

TBR · Oct 22, 2014

AzPatsFan said:
But whatever it was, would work.

Miami game

Deus Irae · Oct 22, 2014

AzPatsFan said:
But whatever it was, would work.

Except when it doesn't...

AzPatsFan · Oct 22, 2014

Deus Irae said:
Except when it doesn't...

Of course, but since 12/16th of the time, over the past decade and a half, the evidence indicates the veracity of the observation.

Deus Irae · Oct 22, 2014

AzPatsFan said:
Of course, but since 12/16th over the past decade and a half of the time, the evidence indicates the veracity of the observation.

No, it doesn't. Belichick's game plans are usually not the sort that would apply. You keep trying to equate "A" with "Not A". You're doing it in the post-game thread, and you're doing it here.

Brady_to_Moss · Oct 22, 2014

mayoclinic said:
They've both been solid starters in the past, as recently as last year. From 2011-2013 Branch started 44 games and played in 47, while Ayers started 43 and played in all 48. The question is whether they have enough left in the tank, for various reasons.

BB acquired 2 guys who have been decent starters over the prior 3 years for the total cost of a likely late 6th pick exchanged for a likely early 7th, and at low cap hit. That's not shabby. They may or may not have much left to contribute, but it's a good gamble.

Ayers wasn't that good last year and wasn't used this year. Could be knees..could be something else.

I just hope Branch doesn't look like a guy who eats at mcdonalds 6 days a week

Tom meets Kaepernick · Oct 22, 2014

Brady_to_Moss said:
I just hope Branch doesn't look like a guy who eats at mcdonalds 6 days a week

Ain't nothing wrong with a little Mickey D's

JMC00 · Oct 22, 2014

Wait don't we want a guy that looks like he eats at mcdonalds 6 days a week? clog them rushing lanes and hold up them blockers trying to get to the next level.

mgteich · Oct 22, 2014

So, we've lost Mayo, Jones and Buchanan, and have added Ayers. It still feels very thin at LB/DE with Ninkovich, Collins, Hightower, Moore, Skinner and Ayers.

IMHO, we are fine at DT with Wilfork, Jones, Walker and Easley.

If Branch can be a productive part of DT unit, I guess Easley can move outside, especially in the 3-4.

jays52 · Oct 22, 2014

The Branch signing makes this move a little more intriguing. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ayers playing end and Wilfork playing over the guard now. If Branch shows up they'll have damn near 700 pounds up front to keep bodies off the linebackers which will make a world of difference. Another thought is that it could be they're going to completely turn Wilfork loose to be their primary run defender. I question how much has he has left and if it's wise given when he will be really needed but the guy has the recognition ability and talent to pull it off. There's going to be a lot of interesting experiments in the next few weeks.

ausbacker · Oct 22, 2014

jays52 said:
The Branch signing makes this move a little more intriguing. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ayers playing end and Wilfork playing over the guard now. If Branch shows up they'll have damn near 700 pounds up front to keep bodies off the linebackers which will make a world of difference. Another thought is that it could be they're going to completely turn Wilfork loose to be their primary run defender. I question how much has he has left and if it's wise given when he will be really needed but the guy has the recognition ability and talent to pull it off. There's going to be a lot of interesting experiments in the next few weeks.

That's the thing that excites me @jays52. Right now it's only an if, but once Siliga returns and assuming health, the Patriots will have a DT rotation of 325, 325, 325 & 335 (hell if they want to go jump DE-NT-DE) there's nearly 1000 pounds to be run on there. Wilfork is going to be Wilfork. If Branch and Siliga hold up, the run D should be much improved. I'd be willing to sacrifice a little of the pass rush in the hope that our secondary, the supposed strength of the D gets the job done.

That DL has to become dominant moving forward. It's a must.

jays52 · Oct 22, 2014

ausbacker said:
That's the thing that excites me @jays52. Right now it's only an if, but once Siliga returns and assuming health, the Patriots will have a DT rotation of 325, 325, 325 & 335 (hell if they want to go jump DE-NT-DE) there's nearly 1000 pounds to be run on there. Wilfork is going to be Wilfork. If Branch and Siliga hold up, the run D should be much improved. I'd be willing to sacrifice a little of the pass rush in the hope that our secondary, the supposed strength of the D gets the job done.

That DL has to become dominant moving forward. It's a must.

100% man. Couldn't be more in agreement.

SHOWTIME15 · Oct 22, 2014

mgteich said:
So, we've lost Mayo, Jones and Buchanan, and have added Ayers. It still feels very thin at LB/DE with Ninkovich, Collins, Hightower, Moore, Skinner and Ayers.

IMHO, we are fine at DT with Wilfork, Jones, Walker and Easley.

If Branch can be a productive part of DT unit, I guess Easley can move outside, especially in the 3-4.

don't forget silaga to the DT rotation when he comes back, but that won't be until December.

TruthSeeker · Oct 22, 2014

AzPatsFan said:
Of course, but since 12/16th of the time, over the past decade and a half, the evidence indicates the veracity of the observation.

60% of the time it works all the time.

mayoclinic · Oct 22, 2014

Brady_to_Moss said:
Ayers wasn't that good last year and wasn't used this year. Could be knees..could be something else.

Ayer's comments on his injuries affecting his play last year, from earlier this summer:

Last season, Ayers only had 49 tackles and one sack in a disappointing follow up to his breakout 2012 campaign. This past summer, he told the Tennessean that he had surgery on both knees to repair his patellar tendons.

The linebacker said that he had surgery on his right knee in January, and six weeks later, had his left knee operated on.

“It was actually pretty bad even before the season started,” Ayers said in the report. “I didn’t know the severity of the injury until pretty much after the season. I pretty much thought it was soreness or pain that would eventually go away.

“But throughout the season, it got worse and worse. I had to sit [parts of] games out and sit practices out, but I didn’t really know how bad it was until the end of the season. That’s when I found out I needed surgery.”

Ayers was still recovering this past summer and has quickly fallen out of favor with new Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt and his defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...trade-for-tennessee-titans-lb-akeem-ayers.ece

It could well be that knee problems affected Ayers' play in 2013 and accounted for the dropoff from 2012. His lack of play in 2014 could be from coming off surgery and falling out of favor with a new regime. Not implausible.

Of course, it could also be that 2012 was an anomaly and that Ayers is on a rapid decline, and won't do much.

Pissah's comment aside, I have to assume that the Pats would do diligence in checking out the known knee issue before approving the trade. There's certainly an element of risk involved, but there is an all trades, and given the low cost and lack of good alternatives, it seems like a decent gamble.

PatsFanInVa · Oct 22, 2014

shmessy said:
From Rotoworld 10/4/2014: TWO offseason knee ops.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6453/akeem-ayers

Titans OLB Akeem Ayers is optimistic he will be active this week against the Browns.
Ayers has been active once this season, and has yet to log a defensive snap. Ayers may not be the player he was before two separate knee operations this offseason, but he is a prototypical 3-4 outside 'backer that could add a spark to the Titans pass rush. The Titans have zero sacks from their outside linebackers this season. Oct 4 - 10:02 AM

Waitttaminnit... Easley first, now Ayers... is that pixie dust stuff they use to heal up military guys considered a performance enhancing substance?

Ross12 · Oct 22, 2014

scott99 said:
60% of the time it works all the time.

It's called "Sex Panther"...

Mac&Barmore FTW · Oct 22, 2014

Ross12 said:
It's called "Sex Panther"...

If I was talking to you face to face, I would high five you.

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