Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

Alexander, Lua and Woods: Can and will any of these three contribute significantly in the regular LB rotation this coming season? Granted, Lua is an unknown commodity. But it seems time for Woods and Alexander to fish or cut bait in 2008 -- what's the deal with those two? Seems to me that special-teams contributors should also be capable of playing their position, though Izzo has been a longtime exception.

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

I don't have any reasonable hope for any of them except Woods. Maybe Lua will surprise, who knows. After Woods got no minutes with Colvin out I was starting to give up on him except as a ST player. But with them willing to give him a series in the SB (admittedly only because the defense had to be tired after the long opening drive, but still) I have renewed hope and have to remember this was only his second year.

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

Well for Alexander I think that..maybe a bit less for Woods and Lua..esp Lua...He has PSqd time as well...while the others do NOT. I would like to see if any could get into the rotation. One would think that EA might be an ILB candidate..I think this is more the fish or cut bait year for him.. 4 years with the team? I do think they are all possibilities..takes awhile to develop.

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

I think it is time for woods and Alexander to fish or get cut but Lua is such an x factor that I think you would want to give a fair shake as a healthy player.

He has some skills otherwise he would not have been at USC and he would not have deen drafted despite injury history. So here is hoping he is the answer to the future of the ILB on this team.

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

I hope so but wouldn't bet on it. Most likely they are ST players at best.

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

We know nothing about Lua yet,As for Woods and Alexander they are career 3rd string backups or STers IMO

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

You mean like vrabel was in his first run with the steelers ?.

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

None of the three have really distinguished themselves, have they? Periodically impressive on Special Teams, they have been unimpressive when asked to take the field in the defensive packages.

This is the one area where Pioli and Belichick have done a poor job, IMO, which is surprising, considering Belichick has always been a linebacker guy. Outside of Adalius Thomas, they have bowled goose-eggs since signing Colvin.

We've had several drafts go by where we have not succesfully addressed the LB position.

We need to get it right in the draft this year, add another decent Free Agent LB in his mid- to late-20's, and pray for the healthy return and re-signing of Colvin.

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

I see your point, but have you seen any of Vrabel in Lua, Woods & Alexander?

You're praying for a diamond in the rough, and it would be great if it happened, but I'd rather get my hands on a proven commodity.

I really thought we should have Paul Posluszny from Penn State when he was on the board last year. We took Brandon Merriweather instead as a young Safety for the future, even though we already had James Sanders and Eugene Wilson on the roster. Now, I know Wilson has not really panned out and will probably be off the roster this off-seaosn, but Sanders has shown promise and safeties are much easier to come by (read: Artrell Hawkins) than solid LBs like Posluszny.

God, wouldn't Jonathon Vilma look great in a Patriots uniform?!?!?

Re: Alexander, Lua and Woods
 

Right after the Colvin injury, didn't Pees publicly talk about how they were thinking about giving Woods some of his reps? I wonder what ever happened there, but it's either an encouraging sign that they were considering it or a discouraging sign that it didn't happen, and I'm not sure which.