Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday [UPDATE: Reiss: It's Monday]

[Drewwho]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

ESPN has him visiting every team BUT the Pats. Just saw that he is on his way to New Orleans, then Dallas, then Oakland (I think)...just saw it on ESPN news. The Patriots were not mentioned. Maybe that's because we don't have a franchise anymore

 

[DropKick Flutie]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Do you have a link for this? I believe you when you say you saw it on TV, but no one else seems to be reporting this.

Anyway, the Pats need to get younger on defense. Zack Thomas may be a good fit, but he would be keeping a younger player on the bench that needs to be developed.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Mr Bigglesworth, you're probably right that a 4-3 is a mistake w/current personnel... although it is also an apparent mistake to pick up a Z. Thomas with a standard 3-4 alignment. I saw a post earlier saying basically that if everything else adjusts you can use a small guy in that alignment... and I believe something like that would happen.

Being somewhat less clever, I'll let BB adjust the Xs and Os. I agree w/your assessment that this is a good defense, and there is no need or desire to tear down and start over.

I disagree that we "just need a leeeetle more" to get over some hump. I don't think that's the case. I think we just need to always get better... this year, you can hardly go out trying to sign wideouts (watch them make me eat my words when they pick up Chad Johnson for a fifth round pick and a million bucks a year...)

PFnV

Losing Colvin was a big loss this year. Without him the pass rush was definitely not as good and I've read that Vrabel's numbers were impacted with that loss.

When I say a "little more" I am talking specifically about a stud OLB or at least picking up a pass rushing specialist. In reality we are going to be seeing more of Merriweather. I think Gay will take Asante's spot as he's gone. We just need some more speed for 3rd and long and 1st and 10 passing downs. We also need Colvin back.

Saban ran a 4-3 over defense, which looked a lot like the 3-4.

It depends how you want to classify Jason Taylor? A linebacker or d-end? Much like Colvin plays on the line at times.

 

[cornhuskers_2002]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

I'd rather have Jason Talyor

amen
:rocker::rocker::rocker::rocker:

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

I don't understand the "No to Thomas" crowd on this one. He's always been undersized, so that's nothing new. He's generally very durable. He's a heady player who's got limitations. In short, he's a smaller Tedy Bruschi.

Signing Thomas would give the team 2 rotation groups:

OLB: Thomas, Vrabel, Colvin

ILB: Seau, Bruschi, Thomas.

Backups: Woods, Lua, Alexander, or whomever

I don't view that grouping as a weakness, particularly if Meriweather gets more time at safety to increase the rest of the defense's overall speed.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

ESPN won't report anything good on the Pats...Especially Stupid Pompous Nonsense........
I would not mind him here at all..

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

I don't understand the "No to Thomas" crowd on this one. He's always been undersized, so that's nothing new. He's generally very durable. He's a heady player who's got limitations. In short, he's a smaller Tedy Bruschi.

Ted Johnson stated it best:

"In the Patriots' system, it would be a lot different. He'd have to take on 320-pound guards, straight on. At this stage of his career and having had some problems with concussions, the question would be if he wanted to do that. When you look at the prototype inside linebacker in the 3-4, think of those old Giants teams with Pepper Johnson and Harry Carson. They were big enough, stout, with great upper body strength, and could disengage blockers. I don't see that as being Zach's style."

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/tj_on_zach_thom.html

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Ted Johnson stated it best:

"In the Patriots' system, it would be a lot different. He'd have to take on 320-pound guards, straight on. At this stage of his career and having had some problems with concussions, the question would be if he wanted to do that. When you look at the prototype inside linebacker in the 3-4, think of those old Giants teams with Pepper Johnson and Harry Carson. They were big enough, stout, with great upper body strength, and could disengage blockers. I don't see that as being Zach's style."

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/tj_on_zach_thom.html

1.) New England plays both a 3-4 and a 4-3, depending upon game circumstances. The Patriots also play a lot of nickel and dime sorts of packages because they get such big leads.

2.) In a rotation, Thomas doesn't need to be in for every play. If for example, you think he can't consistently handle run defense in the system, you don't play him on obvious running downs. That's what a rotation is all about.

 

[PatsCanada]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d806b4a7c&template=with-video&confirm=true



mentions a lot of Thomas' scheduled meetings, not one with the Patriots.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

1.) New England plays both a 3-4 and a 4-3, depending upon game circumstances. The Patriots also play a lot of nickel and dime sorts of packages because they get such big leads.

2.) In a rotation, Thomas doesn't need to be in for every play. If for example, you think he can't consistently handle run defense in the system, you don't play him on obvious running downs. That's what a rotation is all about.

The Patriots need to get younger on defense, especially at the linebacker position. It's about time the Patriots invest first day draft picks on linebackers and hybrids (defensive ends converted to outside linebackers).

 

[Drewwho]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Do you have a link for this? I believe you when you say you saw it on TV, but no one else seems to be reporting this.

Anyway, the Pats need to get younger on defense. Zack Thomas may be a good fit, but he would be keeping a younger player on the bench that needs to be developed.

Found this on NFL.com
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d806b4a7c&template=with-video&confirm=true

Same as ESPN, no mention of Thomas visiting the Pats

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

The Patriots need to get younger on defense, especially at the linebacker position. It's about time the Patriots invest first day draft picks on linebackers and hybrids (defensive ends converted to outside linebackers).

Why does everyone here think they are smarter than Belioli? This team is built around veteran linebackers. It's what the defensive schemes call for. All these ancient linebackers did last season was get the team to the Super Bowl with the defense playing better than the offense.

 

[BHSL2]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

I repeat myself:

A lot of you guys say he is undersized for the 3-4, but you can have an undersized 3-4 ILB if the SILB and the 3 d-linemen control the o-line. Thomas would most likely play WILB, a position where 3-4 ILBS make a lot of plays (due to the athleticism the position features). AD did an excellent job this year in controlling the middle with his strength when he played SILB, and that freed up Seau, Colvin, and Vrabel to make plays. I see no reason Zach Thomas can't do the same once AD goes back to the middle. What does worry me is his concussion history, but we will see.

Imagine Michael Boley playing WILB for us...

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Why does everyone here think they are smarter than Belioli? This team is built around veteran linebackers. It's what the defensive schemes call for. All these ancient linebackers did last season was get the team to the Super Bowl with the defense playing better than the offense.

Funny how the Steelers, Cowboys, and Chargers find linebackers and hybrids via the NFL Draft.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Funny how the Steelers, Cowboys, and Chargers find linebackers and hybrids via the NFL Draft.

Funny how the Steelers, Cowboys and Chargers all play different defenses than the Patriots.

Of course, it's also funny how the Patriots way of working linebackers has netted more Super Bowls this decade than the other 3 teams combined.

 

[BHSL2]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Those clubs play more of an attack defense, so the hybrid learning curve is easier. In NE, there are much more responsibilities to learn and grasp.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Funny how the Steelers, Cowboys and Chargers all play different defenses than the Patriots.

Of course, it's also funny how the Patriots way of working linebackers has netted more Super Bowls this decade than the other 3 teams combined.

Funny how the Patriots have not won the Super since 2004, the last year Ted Johnson and Roman Phifer played inside linebacker for the New England Patriots because the Patriots have been ineffective replacing those two with young inside linebackers via the draft. You can be happy with trash like Monty Beisel, Chad Brown, Eric Alexander, and Tully Banta-Cain but I'm not.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Funny how the Patriots have not won the Super since 2004, the last year Ted Johnson and Roman Phifer played inside linebacker for the New England Patriots because the Patriots have been ineffective replacing those two with young inside linebackers via the draft. You can be happy with trash like Monty Beisel, Chad Brown, Eric Alexander, and Tully Banta-Cain but I'm not.

Hmmm.... let's see.

Adalius Thomas
Junior Seau

Yes, I'm happy with those two replacing Pfifer and Johnson. Then again, I'm not fool enough to blame the linebackers for things like this year's offensive line gas piping it in the Super Bowl.

Furthermore, none of your 4 listed players, Biesel, Brown, TBC or Alexander would have started for this year's team.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Hmmm.... let's see.

Adalius Thomas
Junior Seau

Yes, I'm happy with those two replacing Pfifer and Johnson. Then again, I'm not fool enough to blame the linebackers for things like this year's offensive line gas piping it in the Super Bowl.

Furthermore, none of your 4 listed players, Biesel, Brown, TBC or Alexander would have started for this year's team.

Pinning your hopes on a 39 year old linebacker for the 2008 NFL season is laughable, especially one that has been injury prone 3 of the last 4 years.

http://www.nfl.com/players/juniorseau/profile?id=SEA743138

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Larry Ridley: Zach Thomas visiting Pats on Sunday

Pinning your hopes on a 39 year old linebacker for the 2008 NFL season is laughable, especially one that has been injury prone 3 of the last 4 years.

http://www.nfl.com/players/juniorseau/profile?id=SEA743138

Pinning your hopes on a rookie for the 2008 season is laughable, especially one that's never played ILB in a 2 gap system before.