Wheelman
Pro Bowl Player
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I'm sure better coaching will mean this won't happen here, but this McClellin play is pretty funny.
All pro baby!
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I'm sure better coaching will mean this won't happen here, but this McClellin play is pretty funny.
His contract says he is more than a backup LB but his production does not. He failed on the edge where he had mediocre production (4 and 2.5 sacks). His own coach admitted they were forcing him to do something he couldn't do on the edge. Flowers has good potential and I see no reason to think this guy should take snaps from Flowers as a situational pass rusher. (I even like Rufus Johnson better). Bill obviously sees something, but I don't think part time DE is the explanation. Special teams perhaps?I think the money makes sense, with one assumption. As a pure backup LB, that's a lot of money. If he can also contribute as a pass rusher, then I like it a lot.
I've spent the last few months explaining how hard it would be to find a backup LB this offseason due to the Patriots' unique situation. They averaged only 2.046 LBs per snaps last year, and Hightower and Collins are both going to play basically every snap that they're healthy. I don't think any other team has the "problem" of having two amazing, young linebackers and almost solely using two linebackers. Where the third LB is a part-time starter on plenty of teams, that guy is almost purely a backup for the Patriots (albeit a backup that would have gotten a lot of playing time last year). Free agency is often hard for good teams because they want to pay a guy to be a pure backup but have to compete with all the bad teams offering part-time starter money (or more), and this is a good example.
So of course, the solution to this problem is for the Patriots to sign a guy who can contribute even when the top linebackers are healthy, because he's contributing at a different position. McClellin was a situational pass rusher in 2012 and then a full time 4-3 DE in 2013. He probably doesn't have a future at DE on first down, but he was a capable pass rusher. At the very least, he has shown more as an NFL pass rusher than Flowers, Grissom, and Johnson (but I have high hopes for those guys too). If he can get into the DE rotation on obvious passing downs, then that's added value that you're not normally going to get out of a backup LB. So while other people hate the contract because they think he's a complete bust, I think it's a contract that makes a lot of sense if they're getting a mediocre starting LB (who is actually a backup) that can also contribute at DE. This option makes a lot more sense to me than paying similar money to a guy like Rolando McClain, Demario Davis, or Vincent Rey to be a pure backup, and it's also a safer option than relying on Freeny to be the top backup LB.
Short answer: I think the goal is for McClellin to be more than just the backup LB, and I think his contract reflects that.
I think he looks like Freeney but Bill paid him like Bruschi. In Bill we trust.If McClellin’s 2012 output ignited a flame of doubt about his effectiveness as an NFL player, then surely his 2013 season was a four-alarm fire.
According to Pro Football Focus, McClellin had the second-worst season (ranking 51st out of 52 qualifying players) of any 4-3 defensive end in 2013 who played at least 25 percent of their team’s snaps. The same data reveals that McClellin ranked dead last defending against the run and was sixth most ineffective pass rusher at his position league-wide.
People are really mad about this contract...? He's a first round talent who hasn't yet panned out but can potentially be a nice third LB and situational pass rusher. That's definitely worth $3-4M a year in my book, compared to Collins & Hightower who will likely get $10M or more. You're saying you don't think McClellin can be 30% the player that Collins is here?
If anything the money tells me that BB is fairly confident in the kid here, which is putting my mind at ease over the third LB issue, since it has been a thorn in the team's side for a little while now.
All pro baby!
Is that more than Beisel got?Looks like 3 yrs 12 million (3.5 guaranteed)
Is that more than Beisel got?
Where did you get the 2.05 lbs used per snap? PFF?I think the money makes sense, with one assumption. As a pure backup LB, that's a lot of money. If he can also contribute as a pass rusher, then I like it a lot.
I've spent the last few months explaining how hard it would be to find a backup LB this offseason due to the Patriots' unique situation. They averaged only 2.046 LBs per snaps last year, and Hightower and Collins are both going to play basically every snap that they're healthy. I don't think any other team has the "problem" of having two amazing, young linebackers and almost solely using two linebackers. Where the third LB is a part-time starter on plenty of teams, that guy is almost purely a backup for the Patriots (albeit a backup that would have gotten a lot of playing time last year). Free agency is often hard for good teams because they want to pay a guy to be a pure backup but have to compete with all the bad teams offering part-time starter money (or more), and this is a good example.
So of course, the solution to this problem is for the Patriots to sign a guy who can contribute even when the top linebackers are healthy, because he's contributing at a different position. McClellin was a situational pass rusher in 2012 and then a full time 4-3 DE in 2013. He probably doesn't have a future at DE on first down, but he was a capable pass rusher. At the very least, he has shown more as an NFL pass rusher than Flowers, Grissom, and Johnson (but I have high hopes for those guys too). If he can get into the DE rotation on obvious passing downs, then that's added value that you're not normally going to get out of a backup LB. So while other people hate the contract because they think he's a complete bust, I think it's a contract that makes a lot of sense if they're getting a mediocre starting LB (who is actually a backup) that can also contribute at DE. This option makes a lot more sense to me than paying similar money to a guy like Rolando McClain, Demario Davis, or Vincent Rey to be a pure backup, and it's also a safer option than relying on Freeny to be the top backup LB.
Short answer: I think the goal is for McClellin to be more than just the backup LB, and I think his contract reflects that.
Hill agrees:3/12m is not a large amount of money. If you look at how many snaps Freeney played last year it's worth it.
New Contract Details for Patriots LB Shea McClellin is Fairly Team FriendlyThe average of $4 million per year tag places him around the 50th highest paid player at the position, which is essentially a low-level veteran contract for a player expected to serve on defense.
$3.5 million guaranteed is actually pretty low for a player with a $4 million per season value, which means that McClellin will have one season to prove that he deserves to be on the Patriots, or the team will move on without much long term repercussion.
McClellin will add valuable depth on defense and special teams, is an improvement over Freeny, and provides insurance for Hightower and Collins. Hard to ask for a better linebacker signing this offseason.
Hill agrees:
New Contract Details for Patriots LB Shea McClellin is Fairly Team Friendly
The expectation seems to be that he is a big step up from Freeney. If so, I think most would welcome it.