Why are the choices only include the top 15 and 7th round?
1) I agree that Belichick is very unlikely to use the first pick on a linebacker.
2) I agree that Belichick will also look for value ion the 5th and later later, as he will at all positions.
3) The question is whether there is value in the 25-125 range.
4) While I agree that Belichick is much more satisfied at LB than those posting, I still think that a player like Reed would be an upgrade.
QUOTE=Box_O_Rocks;2524553]Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
You raise the specter of the 2003 linebacking corps who dominated the NFL the one season NE's defense finished first in scoring defense:
-- McGinest: #4 overall in the 1994 draft was entering his 10th season - all with NE.
-- Vrabel: A free agent acquisition and former #91 overall in the 1997 draft was entering his 7th season - his 3rd with NE.
-- Bruschi: A #86 overall in the 1996 draft was entering his 8th season - all with NE.
-- Johnson: #57 overall in the 1995 draft was entering his 9th season - all with NE.
-- Phifer: a free agent acquisition and former 2nd round pick was entering his 13th season - his 3rd with NE.
In comparison:
-- Mayo: #10 overall in the 2008 draft is entering his 4th season - all with NE.
-- Guyton: undrafted, signed following the 2008 draft, is entering his 4th season - all with NE.
-- Spikes: #62 overall is entering his 2nd season - all with NE.
-- Fletcher: undrafted, signed following the 2010 draft, is entering his 2nd season - all with NE.
-- Banta-Cain: #239 overall in the 2003 draft is entering his 9th season - all but 2 with NE.
-- Ninkovich: a free agent acquisition and #135 overall in the 2006 draft is entering his 6th season - his 3rd with NE.
-- Cunningham: #53 overall in the 2010 draft is entering his 2nd season - all with NE.
-- Moore: a free agent acquisition and #186 overall in the 2006 draft is entering his 6th season - his 2nd with NE.
-- Murrell: a free agent acquisition and former undrafted free agent is entering his 2nd training camp with NE - he appeared in 1 game for NE in 2010.
Apples to apples, no question the 2003 core linebackers had a significant experience advantage in both the NE system and in NFL experience over the 2011 roster. Banta-Cain, Mayo, and Guyton are the only three to have practiced and played with some or all of the 2003 core group to pick-up some of the mystique from those days.
So, what can we expect Bil Belichick to do with a linebacker core from a 14-2 team entering 2011 with one or more full seasons in the NE system and the NFL?
Some advocate for chasing a top edge rushing prospect such as Kerrigan or Bowers or Quinn to see if these elite rookie edge rushers are one of the very few who earn double digit sacks as rookies. I like two out of three and would love to see them.
An alternative consideration is to be a bit more patient with the core group BB is building. Perhaps cherry pick an edge rusher somewhere lower down in the draft and see how he performs on Special Teams and spot duty in games.
Competition, I agree there should be some. Yet, who do you bring in who will push the NFL's leading tackler in 2010? I see no one in this draft class capable of meeting that challenge.
Cunningham is the highest drafted OLB prospect of the BB era, drafted in the second round like Roman Phifer. If he takes a second year leap, is there a rookie edge rusher whom we believe will push him for playing time? Quinn doesn't have Cunningham's run stopping resume; Kerrigan and Bowers could, perhaps, give Cunningham a run for his money - but I did read where Ninkovich and Moore both credited Cunningham with creating pressure which helped them with their sacks and pressures - I'd argue it is premature to draft a top 15 edge rusher to replace him just when he's showing promise. With five OLB fighting for a standard three-man rotation, there is already competition.
Poor Guyton is once again under attack in this thread, yet to my eyes he's getting better each year. For the money he's demonstrated he can step in and cover for Mayo, pretty good for an undrafted guy who was third wheel in the 2010 rotation. In this same thread I read some who believe Fletcher will push Guyton and Spikes for playing time - one could argue there is a three-man competition to play alongside Mayo. Again, who in the 2011 draft class is capable of pressuring those three players for playing time? Martez Wilson? He's the top rated ILB, yet he's accused of having the same lack of LB instincts which sometimes hampers Guyton - doesn't sound promising. NE is looking at kids who might be drafted later or signed as undrafted to challenge for core STs roles, perhaps there can be a four-man competition, or more, with a later round kid like Hogue or J.T. Thomas?
The new core LB corps struggled in 2010, but they made enough plays to help towards a 14-2 season. I'm hard pressed to see true competition outside of drafting a top 15 prospect - which could happen and I'd welcome it - but I'm not expecting it to happen. I'm looking back on my experience training entry level personnel in advanced equipment operations and search & rescue techniques, I'm looking at the time it took for a new crew to develop the partnership which made them work effectively together in a chaotic environment. I consider my own experience, and I believe Coach Belichick and his new LB coach will be content to let the competition for playing time come internally with maybe a BPA score for a STs coverage LB to throw into the mix. Patience, it's tough to have when building a team, but whether search & rescue or football, it's a necessary evil. My trainer's eyes see the core of another 2003 LB corps coming together, rough days ahead still, but all to soon we're going to be lamenting the new kids replacing our old favorites - again.
