Distinguishing Between DE's and LB's

I'll use the kind of breakdowns that we have usually used. I understand that scheme and game plan changes everything. However, it is good to have a place to start.

DT's (5)
This position is pretty clear. We need stout DT's, three fatties: Brown, Siliga and Branch.
We also need 2 DT's that have some flexibility, and are a bit smaller. These guys sometimes provide an inside pass rush. We have Easley and Chris Jones. Johnson could beat out Jones.

DE/pass-rusher (5)
Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Flowers, Grissom
This group include sub package players who might play with their hand up or down. The last three are our replacements for Ayers, Moore and Buchanan.

LB (4)
Mayo, Hightower, Collins, backup/coverage LB

LB/ST (1)
White/Freeney
Posters tend to ignore this category. Belichick usually carries 1-3 LB's who are special team specialists, and are very unlikely to be seen on defense. I don't recall White's 2014 stats. I don't think he had any defensive reps in 2013.

OTHERS CONTENDING
Fleming, Martin, Gordon, Wells, ****son, Moore, Buchanan, Bequette, Vellano
Is one of these our coverage linebacker? Will one of these force themselves onto the 53? Will Belichick bring in free agents to compete for a linebacker roster spot?

Matthew Wells has great potential as a coverage-linebacker. And would likely contribute a lot on special teams.

Ideally, I'd like to see him play as a safety/coverage linebacker hybrid.

Hopefully Jordan Richards can coach him up.

TBR said:

Matthew Wells has great potential as a coverage-linebacker. And would likely contribute a lot on special teams.

Ideally, I'd like to see him play as a safety/coverage linebacker hybrid.

Hopefully Jordan Richards can coach him up.

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Perhaps Richards could BE the safety/coverage linebacker hyrid.

Mayock sayed, when Patriots picked Wells, that he was the best core ST guy this year, safe to say he is a lock if so.

I have a really good feeling about this years crop of LB's, DE's, and DB's. I think the Pats realize Jamie Collins is the prototypical LB for today's NFL with his pass rushing coupled with his strong coverage ability and are targeting these athletes with similar traits. Geneo Grissom, Matthew Wells, and maybe even AJ Derby if he goes back to playing some linebacker from TE.

Thanks for laying this out

I do not recall the Pats going with a pure coverage LB last year, instead playing a 4-2-5 on many passing downs. Perhaps there is no coverage LB, (besides Collins).

When it is laid out like this, looks like interesting competition in Training Camp...

DarrylS said:

When it is laid out like this, looks like interesting competition in Training Camp...

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That's truly the crux of it. Outside of Malcom Brown, it will be quite a fight to make the final 53 let alone the game day roster. I have to believe that how a guy looks on 1st, 2nd and 3rd down in the 4th quarter against the Packers and Saints in August will have less weight than how he looks on 4th down and kickoffs.

SacPete1 said:

That's truly the crux of it. Outside of Malcom Brown, it will be quite a fight to make the final 53 let alone the game day roster. I have to believe that how a guy looks on 1st, 2nd and 3rd down in the 4th quarter against the Packers and Saints in August will have less weight than how he looks on 4th down and kickoffs.

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Assume you mean for the newbies. Siliga, Branch, Easley, Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Mayo, Hightower, and Collins would have to suck pretty badly in camp to get cut.

BlitzFritz said:

Thanks for laying this out

I do not recall the Pats going with a pure coverage LB last year, instead playing a 4-2-5 on many passing downs. Perhaps there is no coverage LB, (besides Collins).

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Hopefully Collins can play more intelligently with all the experience he had playing this year. 2 plays come to mind in the SB. On that pass rush, he had Wilson in his sights and came flying at him, just to have Wilson do a quick juke and run for 20 yards. Collins has to know that with a quick qb like Wilson, you can't just lunge at him, you have to fake like you are lunging but be ready to adjust for the juke so he doesn't fake you out. And on that coverage with Lynch on the last Seattle drive, how can you let Lynch get by you in that situation for a 25 yard gain, that was devastating.

Hopefully, we add Fletcher and Spikes to the mix next week.

betterthanthealternative said:

Assume you mean for the newbies. Siliga, Branch, Easley, Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Mayo, Hightower, and Collins would have to suck pretty badly in camp to get cut.

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OF course. I'm really referring to the younger DE/LB types that we seem to have quite a few of right now (less Buchannon now), not the veteran starters.