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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.patchick said:McGinist, Bruschi, Vrabel, Colvin looks to me like one of the most formidle LB lineups since the 1990 Giants. But I'd still love to see a top draft pick spent on a future elephant type. Who the heck is behind Willie?
mgteich said:As we look at this playoff team, do we really think that bb and pioli should change their strategies with regard to how to fill the linebacker positions?
bumpmgteich said:Every year, you guys want to use a top draft for a LB for two years down the line. We now have an excellent set of flexible linebackers for 2006 and probably 2007. Our linebackers must be able to play DE and be top special teamers, especially the backups.
I suppose if you want to cut Chatham and Banta-Cain, drafting a linebacker makes some sense. Surely, Claridge will be given another year to develop.
But in the end, bb hasn't used Day One picks for linebackers, and I don't expect him to do so now. After all, last year, he had just lost Phifer and Bruschi, and Ted Johnson was questionable as a starter (healthy or not). Surely would use a Day One pick for a linebacker. There were so many good ones. NOT!
When was the last time this team drafted a linebacker on Day One; not a DE convert (McGinist and Bruschi), but an actual linebacker???
bb and pioli will meet the need at linebacker, using their system, not ours. Some positions are better filled though top draft picks, some through lower ones, some through top free agents and trades, and some through low level UDFAs and free agent projects.
BTW, we still have developing youngsters on the team: Banta-Cain, Chatham and Alexander.
As we look at this playoff team, do we really think that bb and pioli should change their strategies with regard to how to fill the linebacker positions?
mgteich said:Beisel and Chad Brown did fine. Vrabel, Colvin and McGinist were awesome. And it will get better (through the Super Bowl and in 2006) with Bruschi back. We are set at linebacker into 2006 with TBC, Izzo and Claridge/Chatham in the mix.
mgteich said:Every year, you guys want to use a top draft for a LB for two years down the line. We now have an excellent set of flexible linebackers for 2006 and probably 2007. Our linebackers must be able to play DE and be top special teamers, especially the backups.
I suppose if you want to cut Chatham and Banta-Cain, drafting a linebacker makes some sense. Surely, Claridge will be given another year to develop.
But in the end, bb hasn't used Day One picks for linebackers, and I don't expect him to do so now. After all, last year, he had just lost Phifer and Bruschi, and Ted Johnson was questionable as a starter (healthy or not). Surely would use a Day One pick for a linebacker. There were so many good ones. NOT!
When was the last time this team drafted a linebacker on Day One; not a DE convert (McGinist and Bruschi), but an actual linebacker???
mgteich said:bb and pioli will meet the need at linebacker, using their system, not ours. Some positions are better filled though top draft picks, some through lower ones, some through top free agents and trades, and some through low level UDFAs and free agent projects.
BTW, we still have developing youngsters on the team: Banta-Cain, Chatham and Alexander.
As we look at this playoff team, do we really think that bb and pioli should change their strategies with regard to how to fill the linebacker positions?
patsox23 said:Once again people are chirping about what Belichick "doesn't do." Belichick may or may not draft a Day One LB. MAybe the fact that he doesn't generally, and hasn't in awhile, means that he WILL or MUST now. Especially with such a terrific LB draft-class, I think it's more likelyt than not that he does. When you have guys like Vrabel, Bruschi, McGinest and Colvin, there's not as much call for it, but some of the LB's are aging, and it's about time. I fully expect BB to draft a LB in round one or two.
By the way, he didn't draft OL on Day One, either, but then he up and went for an INTERIOR lineman at #32 overall. The Belichick rule: Never rule ANYTHING out.
mgteich said:But in the end, bb hasn't used Day One picks for linebackers, and I don't expect him to do so now. After all, last year, he had just lost Phifer and Bruschi, and Ted Johnson was questionable as a starter (healthy or not). Surely would use a Day One pick for a linebacker. There were so many good ones. NOT!
Arguably TE is a "skill" position, but your first paragraph immediately focused me on the point you made here - they're trench warriors. Their first year they may not have been starters, but they contributed immediately and their second year has them starting. Can you say as much for a LB in BB's system? Granted, drafting 32 a developmental LB isn't a stretch, but for the money, a trench warrior does seem to be a safer bet.rookBoston said:Granted, to date, all BB's first rounders have been "in the trenches". No skill players (QB, RB, WR). But IMO, now that the DL and OL are basically "solved", BB/SP have the luxury to start drafting players at new positions.
Box_O_Rocks said:Their first year they may not have been starters, but they contributed immediately and their second year has them starting. Can you say as much for a LB in BB's system? Granted, drafting 32 a developmental LB isn't a stretch, but for the money, a trench warrior does seem to be a safer bet.
I'll look at candidates in February, for now I'm thinking strategy.rookBoston said:I think any LB that BB drafts in the first round would work with the starting unit in training camp, and be a regular starter by mid-season. That's what BB/SP expect from their first rounders, and it would be no different for first round LBs.
That's why Vilma was a candidate: he was ready as a rookie. And that's why I think this year may be the year for us at LB-- there are a few players who might be ready to start for us in their first year, and who might last long enough to fall to us. Greenway, Carpenter, Ryans, Posluzny... if BB/SP thinks any one of them is "ready", we should have a shot at him.
Box_O_Rocks said:I'll look at candidates in February, for now I'm thinking strategy.