Metaphors
In the Starting Line-Up
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- Oct 10, 2005
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Locked Down Roster Spots
ROLB: AThomas
LOLB: Vrabel
Camp Battle
Bruschi vs Hobson vs Mayo for Starting ILB (2)
Bruschi has really slowed down in the last year or so. Still blessed with tremendous football smarts and his brain knows exactly where to be...but his legs just can't get him there fast enough. Not battling for a roster spot, but for a role (beyond coach on the field and beloved area icon).
Hobson looks like a typical Pats acquisition. Solid yet unspectacular player in a less-than-optimal situation in NY. Given a new scheme and a new role, he could really have a breakout year. Solid tackler and is sneaky fast. Can he shed blocks effectively on the inside? Something to watch for in camp.
Mayo has no NFL experience obviously so camp is huge for him. Has all the skills needed to patrol large areas of the middle of the field...where big plays on defense have been virtually non-existent for quite a while.
Camp Battle
Crable vs Woods vs Alexander for Reserve LB
With the starters in place at OLB, there is still a need for spot pass rush duty. End rushers start to lose effectiveness at 50 snaps and are useless after about 60. Crable lived in the opposing backfield at Michigan so if the skills translate, he should see opportunities right away.
Woods has shown improvement as an all-around OLB and earned some snaps. Alexander's star seems to be fading after getting the call in the 2006 AFCC game.
Metaphorically Speaking
Bruschi, Hobson and Mayo are all safely on the roster, but responsibilities will be earned in camp. Bruschi just isn't a full-time player anymore. He can still be effective but only in selected game situations and with a controlled number of snaps. He'll start early, but they won't be able to keep Mayo off the field for long. I also believe Hobson will thrive with the move inside and will compliment Mayo's skill set very well. So we'll put Hobson at SILB and Mayo at WILB...with Bruschi spelling them both and becoming a situational specialist (particularly red zone).
Tempted to give Woods some regular rotation opportunities and he would be the backup plan if AD has to shift back inside. But AD and Vrabel can handle the majority of the snaps, so the real need is have a plan B on attacking the QB in case of injury or fatigue. That points to Crable getting the call at OLB on the active 45 and Woods getting bumped to the special teams group (quick preview, Woods is a monster on ST and is a lock).
The rest of the bunch (Izzo, Alexander, Guyton, Ruud, Redd) join Woods on the rapidly growing special teams battleground. We still have some spots on the gameday inactive list and also need the annual UFA to make the roster. Guyton looks to be able to handle the transition to ILB and his speed makes him an interesting prospect, so he gets a backend roster spot (with opportunity to move up to the active 45 on special teams).
Roster So Far...
1-2: QB Brady, Gutierrez
3-5: RB Maroney, Faulk, Morris
6-9: WR Moss, Welker, CJackson, Gaffney
10-11: TE Watson, DThomas
12-18: OL Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Hochstein
19-23: DL Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright
24-29: LB AThomas, Hobson, Mayo, Vrabel, Bruschi, Crable
Gameday Inactives
46: QB O'Connell
47-48: OL Britt, Yates
49: DL LSmith
50: LB Guyton
Cut or Traded: Cassel, Pollard, Ross, Mruczkowski, SThomas
Battling for Special Teams: Evans, Eckel, KWashington, Aiken, Spach, Stupar, Izzo, Woods, Alexander, Ruud, Redd, Guyton
CB up next...
ROLB: AThomas
LOLB: Vrabel
Camp Battle
Bruschi vs Hobson vs Mayo for Starting ILB (2)
Bruschi has really slowed down in the last year or so. Still blessed with tremendous football smarts and his brain knows exactly where to be...but his legs just can't get him there fast enough. Not battling for a roster spot, but for a role (beyond coach on the field and beloved area icon).
Hobson looks like a typical Pats acquisition. Solid yet unspectacular player in a less-than-optimal situation in NY. Given a new scheme and a new role, he could really have a breakout year. Solid tackler and is sneaky fast. Can he shed blocks effectively on the inside? Something to watch for in camp.
Mayo has no NFL experience obviously so camp is huge for him. Has all the skills needed to patrol large areas of the middle of the field...where big plays on defense have been virtually non-existent for quite a while.
Camp Battle
Crable vs Woods vs Alexander for Reserve LB
With the starters in place at OLB, there is still a need for spot pass rush duty. End rushers start to lose effectiveness at 50 snaps and are useless after about 60. Crable lived in the opposing backfield at Michigan so if the skills translate, he should see opportunities right away.
Woods has shown improvement as an all-around OLB and earned some snaps. Alexander's star seems to be fading after getting the call in the 2006 AFCC game.
Metaphorically Speaking
Bruschi, Hobson and Mayo are all safely on the roster, but responsibilities will be earned in camp. Bruschi just isn't a full-time player anymore. He can still be effective but only in selected game situations and with a controlled number of snaps. He'll start early, but they won't be able to keep Mayo off the field for long. I also believe Hobson will thrive with the move inside and will compliment Mayo's skill set very well. So we'll put Hobson at SILB and Mayo at WILB...with Bruschi spelling them both and becoming a situational specialist (particularly red zone).
Tempted to give Woods some regular rotation opportunities and he would be the backup plan if AD has to shift back inside. But AD and Vrabel can handle the majority of the snaps, so the real need is have a plan B on attacking the QB in case of injury or fatigue. That points to Crable getting the call at OLB on the active 45 and Woods getting bumped to the special teams group (quick preview, Woods is a monster on ST and is a lock).
The rest of the bunch (Izzo, Alexander, Guyton, Ruud, Redd) join Woods on the rapidly growing special teams battleground. We still have some spots on the gameday inactive list and also need the annual UFA to make the roster. Guyton looks to be able to handle the transition to ILB and his speed makes him an interesting prospect, so he gets a backend roster spot (with opportunity to move up to the active 45 on special teams).
Roster So Far...
1-2: QB Brady, Gutierrez
3-5: RB Maroney, Faulk, Morris
6-9: WR Moss, Welker, CJackson, Gaffney
10-11: TE Watson, DThomas
12-18: OL Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Hochstein
19-23: DL Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright
24-29: LB AThomas, Hobson, Mayo, Vrabel, Bruschi, Crable
Gameday Inactives
46: QB O'Connell
47-48: OL Britt, Yates
49: DL LSmith
50: LB Guyton
Cut or Traded: Cassel, Pollard, Ross, Mruczkowski, SThomas
Battling for Special Teams: Evans, Eckel, KWashington, Aiken, Spach, Stupar, Izzo, Woods, Alexander, Ruud, Redd, Guyton
CB up next...