Spikes off crutches, not sure about Camp

[supafly]

But when the game is on the line, and they're dropping into coverage, who do you feel confident about at MLB? I'd almost pick Fletcher, who I think will have a big year. So yep, if there's a chance to upgrade, i'd say they should. Against the run? no worries. Against the pass, i'm worried

Unfortunately, I tend to agree on some level.

I don't think that ILB is a big concern, but I would like to upgrade if possible.

There's no one good in coverage, and even though you'd take Fletcher--Bill Belichick disagrees since he started Tracy White in the Super Bowl over him, which was a bit of a shock to some.

It is what it is, but I can see your point in somehow wanting to improve the pass coverage in that position. Exactly "how" we'd realistically do that, I'm not sure though.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Unfortunately, I tend to agree on some level.

I don't think that ILB is a big concern, but I would like to upgrade if possible.

There's no one good in coverage, and even though you'd take Fletcher--Bill Belichick disagrees since he started Tracy White in the Super Bowl over him, which was a bit of a shock to some.

It is what it is, but I can see your point in somehow wanting to improve the pass coverage in that position. Exactly "how" we'd realistically do that, I'm not sure though.

I wondered about White in the SB too.

I should clarify something. When i said Fletcher will have a big year, I meant as a player in the rotation. Im not saying he's going to have 10 sacks or anything like that.

Its quite possible, that their coverage skills can improve with just more experience, and coaching. Hell, even Spikes could. Afterall, he's just a kid. Im just not sure they will, but I trust that BB knows better than me

 

[supafly]

I wondered about White in the SB too.

I should clarify something. When i said Fletcher will have a big year, I meant as a player in the rotation. Im not saying he's going to have 10 sacks or anything like that.

Its quite possible, that their coverage skills can improve with just more experience, and coaching. Hell, even Spikes could. Afterall, he's just a kid. Im just not sure they will, but I trust that BB knows better than me

I know what you meant. I agree too.

It'd be nice to improve the position somehow, but I think we'll have to hope for improvements from the guys that we have, and maybe some better safety play that tends to cover the middle a little better.

I think as long as the team can cut down on the big pass play, or the poor pass defense (both are appropriate), they should be able to be improved.

After all, the bar wasn't set too high last yr, so we do have that going for us

 

[DaBruinz]

Yes, upgrading the Ilb spot has been steadily becoming more if an apparent need:
-Misses four games of a season for, at a minimum, a stupid oversight.
-Seemingly bipolar (twitter.).
-Was already slow to start with, and if memory serves correctly, hasn't always kept himself in the greatest shape during the off season.
-"Porngate"
-Not very good against the pass, but can bring the lumber and knows the defense.
-I have a sneaking suspicion he will want to get paid when his rookie contract is up, don't see it happening here.

I wouldn't expect us to burn a second looking for his eventual replacement, but I do see us drafting someone in the later rounds (with a pick presumably picked up from the inevitable trade out). Draft should be interesting this year. Some might expect some moving around (down) similar to years past, and part of me wants to agree based on history alone. On the other hand, the offense is pretty well stacked as is (lineman or two in the draft would be my guess, maybe a late ST type wr), and the rest is spent on the defense.

One and two are related. He has ADHD. And, in all honesty, the suspension was BS by the NFL. He let them know at the draft he was on that medication. Yet, he gets suspended for it for some dumb technicality on their part?

Where do you get that Spikes hasn't kept himself in the best shape during the off-season? First I've heard of that.

Spikes was known to not be good against the pass. That's why he was a 3rd round pick. But, guess what? He's been out there in passing situations and done decenlty enough.

As for the porn tape. If you are holding that against him then you really need to figure out what is important in life. That isn't one of the things..

You do realize that we can't have All-Stars at every position, yes?

 

[Deus Irae]

Yes, upgrading the Ilb spot has been steadily becoming more if an apparent need:
-Misses four games of a season for, at a minimum, a stupid oversight.
-Seemingly bipolar (twitter.).
-Was already slow to start with, and if memory serves correctly, hasn't always kept himself in the greatest shape during the off season.
-"Porngate"
-Not very good against the pass, but can bring the lumber and knows the defense.
-I have a sneaking suspicion he will want to get paid when his rookie contract is up, don't see it happening here.

I wouldn't expect us to burn a second looking for his eventual replacement, but I do see us drafting someone in the later rounds (with a pick presumably picked up from the inevitable trade out). Draft should be interesting this year. Some might expect some moving around (down) similar to years past, and part of me wants to agree based on history alone. On the other hand, the offense is pretty well stacked as is (lineman or two in the draft would be my guess, maybe a late ST type wr), and the rest is spent on the defense.

There's a whole lot of silly in your post.

 

[JackBauer]

Dont be a smarta** Jack.

Sure, Mayo Spikes and Fletcher is pretty good. I'd be satisfied with that going into the season, being that you cant have probowlers at every position. But when the game is on the line, and they're dropping into coverage, who do you feel confident about at MLB? I'd almost pick Fletcher, who I think will have a big year. So yep, if there's a chance to upgrade, i'd say they should. Against the run? no worries. Against the pass, i'm worried

I'm not being a smartass.

Spikes isn't good in coverage, but that's not his game. Mayo is good in coverage when he's not trying to come back from an MCL injury or inexplicably missing easy picks in the Super Bowl.

Fletcher is still an unknown, but there's potential there. Ditto Tarp, if he can stay healthy.

 

[woolster22]

Porn isn't the issue, just one small piece of a larger body of work. When is his rookie deal up? I just don't envision BB coughing up the kind of pay day I am guessing spikes will be looking for...call me crazy but I think we could find an adequate replacement in the draft with a bit more upside.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Porn isn't the issue, just one small piece of a larger body of work. When is his rookie deal up? I just don't envision BB coughing up the kind of pay day I am guessing spikes will be looking for...call me crazy but I think we could find an adequate replacement in the draft with a bit more upside.

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

whats all this talk about porn? Did he star in an offseason porn movie with Gronks girl??? I mustve missed something.

How do you know he wants a big payday? 2 years from now, he could be great, and be worth the money. Right now, we just dont know. Im not as high on the guy as some others, but he's young and can improve. So lets not write him off yet.


nevermind, i found the porn story. Who cares? If Gronk had done porn with that chick last year, i could care less.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I'm not being a smartass.

Spikes isn't good in coverage, but that's not his game. Mayo is good in coverage when he's not trying to come back from an MCL injury or inexplicably missing easy picks in the Super Bowl.

Fletcher is still an unknown, but there's potential there. Ditto Tarp, if he can stay healthy.

ok,,,so basically,,,,,,we agree

 

[mgteich]

I've made a conclusion I've made from all of this. It's early but Tracey White seems to be almost a lock for a roster spot. He is trusted to start at ILB when needed, and is a top special teamer. This is the very definition of a solid backup, especially at ILB.

This doesn't mean that we should should look for linebacker upgrades. We have THREE open linebacker positions, with 2 OLB positions all but locked up, and 4 ILB posiitions all but locked up. I expect us to carry 9 linebackers, including any special team specialists.

Tracey White will NOT need to compete for a special-teams only roster spot. His situation is much different from that of Slater, who occupies a ST roster spot.
=================================
MG's LINEBACKER SUMMARY

DE/OLB Ninkovich, Scott, open, open
LB/ILB Mayo, Spikes, Fletcher, White
9th LB/ST open

Primary competitors for the THREE open roster spots include,
Cunningham, Carter, Carpenter, Koutouvides, Tarpinian, and Larsen

In other years, we might be discussing the possibility of upgrading Spikes, Fletcher, Scott, and/or White. They might not get alot of reps, depending on who we add; but these players seems very likely to win roster spots barring injury.

We COULD draft an ILB like Hightower, if he fell to us. White would then likely win the 9th spot. I don't expect this to happen. Obviously, we have greater needs at DE, DE/OLB and DB.

 

[Fencer]

I suppose it all depends on Spikes' potential to miss any time.

My point is that it doesn't depend upon that, due to the difficulty in acquiring anybody and having him be a lot more useful than, say, Fletcher, over the period Spikes will be recovering.

Now, if your point is that our LB corps isn't quite up to McGinest/Vrabel/Phifer/Bruschi/Johnson levels, and might be upgraded, I can't argue. But

A. It doesn't have to be upgraded, necessarily.
B. If it is upgraded, the benefits of doing so won't come before Spikes has recovered from his injury.