Pats work out linebackers Orlando Ruff and Chris Claiborne

[spacecrime]

What do we have to lose?

- "Patriots" defensive system experience.
- A slot on the 53-man roster, do we cut a younger unproven LB or do we cut from another position?
- Team chemistry.

Speaking of damning with faint praise: "was pretty good with the Lions." Sorry blue, that's a caution flag for any personnel man.

RayClay amongst others have asked this, and while BBF had the answer, I'll repeat it for the folks who only read odd-numbered words: Pioli brings guys in for testing just about every week of the year. The largest portion of his shadow roster are players who have never practised a down for the Pats sitting in a rolodex (or electronic equivalent) on his desk. Those of us who party on the Hank Poteat bandwagon are true believers in the shadow roster's poteatancy. Mike Reiss is one of the best at tracking who the Patriots workout and he barely scratches the surface. Clairborne and Ruff are candidates for the one remaining roster spot, they also are candidates to bring in at the end of September, or November, or the first week of January when the injury toll creates an opening for a veteran player. If one of them is in camp Monday, well and good, the more time they can practice with the team the better they can hope to be. We also need to remember that they don't have to be ILB despite Mike's specualtion. They're size fits the OLB description too. It would make more sense in terms of training time to use Vrabel inside and bring in a veteran to backstop Banta-Cain.

For those whom whole-heartedly subscribe to spacecrime's tongue-in-cheek prophecy, enjoy yourselves, just think how wonderful it could be to be right!

What? What? What do you mean?

Anyway, I agree with you about the tryouts. In fact, for some reason, I thought the Huff/Claiborne tryouts actually took place a month or so ago, well BEFORE Bruschi got hurt.

Two hours and 17 minutes to kickoff!!!!!!!!!!

Oops. 16 minutes

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Box, put these two together and I think you end up with an argument for bringing another vet into camp. A midseason injury replacement at RB is one thing, at LB quite another. A guy who's at least had a TC in the Pats defense is vastly more valuable later on.

I'm easy.

SP brought in Berlin to compete at WR and Special Teams after we lost Mitchel and McGrew, with Tedy taking time to heal, there is no reason not to increase competition at the other consensus thin spot. But, there is no reason to play with Nut's panic button either (not the least because he enjoys it!).

Then again, if Roach is starting to find his way, and Beisel is reading the plays better, and Gardner proves he can hold up at ILB, another school of thought would suggest we allow them to have the extra reps...:singing:

 

[Julius]

I have been thinking that Clairborne would be a nice fit in the Pats defense for the last three years. We could really use a Brian Cox type of ILB on this team.

 

[captain stone]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/


Don't know much about either guy, but Ruff sounds intriguing.

I would bring in any one or more of them on that list right now, the sooner to acclimate themselves to the system, the better. Probably with some or more of them, health questions must be answered. Speaking of health questions, how are Peter Boulware (OLB) and Junior Seau (I/OLB) feeling today?
Sorry to repeat myself, but when discussing ILB depth, please refrain from mentioning Don Davis and Larry Izzo, m'kay? These two are marginal STers. They are not legitimate options at ILB - starting or backup - on a team that is championship-driven. They are simply too small, too slow and too old. Thank you very much.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Box' has this covered very well. I agree that it's very early to assume the Roach/Gardener experiment will only be a pest and not bear fruit (get it? ). When 32 teams pass on a 28 yr. old LB like Clairborne, who once put up some pretty solid numbers, there has to be a reason. I really have no idea how good Gardener can be and no one has a clear vision of Roach as a pro. The downside of waiting to give these two guys more time to reveal their abilities is the difficulty players have picking up the Pat's system and how long it takes for them to fully assimilate it to a functional level.

 

[mgteich]

Sign one of them; NOW!

 

[RayClay]

Sign one of them; NOW!

Where's the button P-Nut?

Mincey and Woods get honorable mention. All inside linebackers except the career special teamers, MIA!!

 

[NEPatriot]

I've wanted Clairborne for years. While he's under preformed and has injury issues, he's got major talent. That said, even I wonder why he's still unsigned.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/PatsBlog/

We've got a minor flurry of activity around a couple of former USC guys -- wide receiver Johnnie Morton and linebacker Chris Claiborne in addition to former Browns linebacker Orlando Ruff. We're trying to ferret out further information on the team's interest....There's no interest being shown in former Bills linebacker Jeff Posey, probably because he's a little one-dimensional as a pass-rushing specialist. ...

 

[patsox23]

when discussing ILB depth, please refrain from mentioning Don Davis and Larry Izzo, m'kay? These two are marginal STers. They are not legitimate options at ILB - starting or backup - on a team that is championship-driven. They are simply too small, too slow and too old. Thank you very much.

Two words: BRA and VO. People mentioning Izzo and Davis as possible LBs EVER, in any regular defense, at any position, need to be maced, tied up and tossed in a trunk somewhere on the road to nowhere.

Just Say No.

 

[PatriotsRiot93]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/


Don't know much about either guy, but Ruff sounds intriguing.

Rocky Calmus was a super stud at Oklahoma. Too bad he can't stay healthy. He's one of those blue collar high motor guys BB love...

 

[mgteich]

And I thought we were talking about Beisel and Gardner when we talk about two marginal Ster's playing ILB!!

Two words: BRA and VO. People mentioning Izzo and Davis as possible LBs EVER, in any regular defense, at any position, need to be maced, tied up and tossed in a trunk somewhere on the road to nowhere.

Just Say No.

 

[RayClay]

And I thought we were talking about Beisel and Gardner when we talk about two marginal Ster's playing ILB!!

I was talking about Davis and Izzo. Neither belongs there, but they actually shed the blocks and made some contact.

It was hard to tell who else played ILB. I had a roster for numbers, but the offensive linemen were sitting on them so I couldn't read them.