Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

Analysis aside, bottom line, can the Pats win a championship with this group of linebackers, even assuming a veteran pickup? I suppose in one sense of course the answer is yes--the team is obviously loaded in a lot of areas, and will contend. I guess the better question might be will they. It became clear to me in the middle of last year that the LB core was becoming a weakness. Now, Bruschi & Vrabel & Co. are all a year older, and I'm just not sure that that softness in the middle won't hurt more than we think.

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

If the starters stay healthy, YES. If injuries happen, NO. I am VERY CONCERNED about the DEPTH at inside linebacker position.

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

Depends who we pick up in FA if any

If you are asking if our LB is good enough as it is to win a championship?
Absolutely not - We need another younger guy to help fill that hole - losing pick 28 which should have gone for a young promising LB like Poz or Harris may have been a mistake,But I am not the one doing the drafting so we have to live by thier decision.

Bruschi and Vrabel may very well be at the point that a 16+ game schedule may seem more like 60 games - Age wil be a factor as the season progresses and they will need a break at times in the lineup

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

Exactly. To be honest, I don't follow the college game enough to have an opinion on whether Harris or Pos would have been a smart pick there or not. I defer to management enough to accept that they probably wouldn't have been (you wonder about Beason). But either way, we didn't draft a first-day LB, so here we are.

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

Only if the offense puts up a ton of points or the D-line dominates next year.
The defense has been on the 'decline' for a few season now. Not stats wise so much as talent wise. Bruschi is a shell of what he was. Vrabel is still playing well but he is playing out of position inside. Colvin never really became what we hoped he would be – but the injury is mostly to blame. Banta-Cain is no big loss and Adalius is 100x better. So, as a group of starters I would say the team is slightly above average. The depth right now – unless these guys are better than we think – is awful. Izzo is a special team only. Alexander I will give the benefit of the doubt. Mays and Woods are complete unknowns but as they were both undrafted I will refrain from saying they will be the saviors UNTIL they prove to be more the ST’ers.
Lua and Rogers are also unknowns.

I love the guys we have as they have all proven to be warriors, i just wish we had one young guys they has shown anything that we could feel good about

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

Just to clarify, i still think the Pats are going to be a good team but I think it will have to be more with offense as opposed to defense

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

Heck even if someone goes down and Alexander starts we could still win due to our sick nasty offense.

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

<< The defense has been on the 'decline' for a few season now. Not stats wise so much as talent wise. >>

This statement makes no sense at all.

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

It does if you don't include DLine. Look back 3-4 years. Outside of a healthier Colvin, we had more talent then.

DBs Ty law, healthy Rodney and Wilson Asante.

Phifer, Johnson, Bruschi, Vrable ,Colvin, McGinest.

Asante and Colvin are better, I'd argue Bruschi and Vrable look more worn out.

Re: Simple Question: Is the LB Core Good Enough to Win?
 

Vrabel, Colvin, Brushi, and Thomas are "slightly above average"?

Damn, an average set of starting linebackers must be pretty frickin' good.

Depth is an issue, but it just blows my mind when people say our starting linebackers are mediocre. Remember, last year when Vrabel moved inside, we didn't have much to take over the outside. Now, we have a Pro Bowl linebacker in Thomas.