Spikes looks disinterested & in a funk

[Marinlik]

If we don't resign Spikes I don't think it will be Hightower at MLB, the way the scheme is setup the primary play makers are the Will LB which is Mayo being the primary tackler, and the Sam LB which is Hightower being a dual threat as a pass rusher and a tackler. The Mike which is Spikes just needs to be solid against the run, putting Hightower in that role would be a waste in my opinion.

I don't think you want to have a Mike in todays NFL that is only good at stopping the run. NFL is a passing league, and with an added emphasis on pass catching tight ends I believe that you want a Mike that can cover the pass in the middle.

 

[PatsBoy12]

My gut feeling is that Spikes won't be with the team next season.

 

[borg]

The drafting of Spikes is somewhat similar to the drafting of Dowling and Gronk, and the signing of Amendola. Talented players but with known knocks/limitations/medical red flags. Spikes' speed, the other three...prior injury history.
Looking at Spikes...he is the perfect MLB against all those run first teams with a feature back. You know they are going to run it and the QB play often borders on the incompetent. The problem is these type of offenses don't make it to or survive long in the playoffs...and once they are gone, the high powered O's can exploit Spikes when he is on the field. I see it especially when RBs release from the backfield.
For the past few years, Spikes was a perfect match vs the AFC East ....the run first Dolphins and Jets. Not so much Buffalo. Today, Miami seems to have straightened out the QB position so their offense is evolving. The Jets have no threats anywhere on offense...and Buffalo wants to be up tempo.....so my point....Spikes may be an unnecessary luxury in terms of $$$ to keep him on the roster...at least vs the AFC East. Looking at the NFL divisions, Spikes may find a bigger role on a team in the AFC North or AFC South. If the writing is on the wall....who can blame a guy for grabbing dollars when he can vs a niche role on NE...especially given his style of play...head first.

 

[RayClay]

To replace Ninkovich as the DE/OLB since he is entering free agency as well.

Yet, he is more suited to be a 4-3 lb and Hightower would be a better substitute Nincovich (who will be resigned anyway since he is much more valuable to us than his market value IMO).

I think they got caught signing 3-4 linebackers,but couldn't find 2 DEs to go with Wilfork or good enough DE/OLB rushers. Therefore this "scheme" that fits this linebacker group is more a case of fitting the most talented LBs they drafted to the defense they have to play without enough talented DE/Ts (such as Seymour, Warren).

 

[RayClay]

Originally Posted by Brady6

To replace Ninkovich as the DE/OLB since he is entering free agency as well.

Yet, he [collins]is more suited to be a 4-3 lb and Hightower would be a better substitute Ninkovich (who will be resigned anyway since he is much more valuable to us than his market value IMO).

Well that was quick.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...054306-ninkovich-extended-through-2016-a.html

Probaly should go hit a casino before the game.

 

[Brady6]

Re: Re: Spikes looks disinterested & in a funk

Originally Posted by Brady6





Well that was quick.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...054306-ninkovich-extended-through-2016-a.html

Probaly should go hit a casino before the game.

Right good call buddy!

 

[JMC00]

Looked pretty interested yesterday

 

[BradyFTW!]

My thoughts too. It sucks because i love the aggression and instincts of spikes, but the three LBs in the base seem to be way too big/slow compared to mist 4-3s I've seen (no expert here of course) and in sub packages, Spikes is the odd man out.

Collins with Hightower in the middle is a whole new defense coverage wise. Unless this prediction doesn't happen for some reason, I'm going to hate watching Spikes thumping people for someone else, but you never know.

Agreed - I really like Spikes as a player, but when Mayo and Hightower are starters for you, Spikes becomes a role player. If the Pats can keep him around at a salary that reflects his snap count, I'll be psyched. Realistically, though, I'd bet that a team with a need at MLB and some good coverage guys to use him a lot more, and will make him a contract offer that reflects that.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Agreed - I really like Spikes as a player, but when Mayo and Hightower are starters for you, Spikes becomes a role player. If the Pats can keep him around at a salary that reflects his snap count, I'll be psyched. Realistically, though, I'd bet that a team with a need at MLB and some good coverage guys to use him a lot more, and will make him a contract offer that reflects that.

Teams like the giants are desperate for linebackers. You know they are going to overpay.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Teams like the giants ate desperate for linebackers. You know they are going to overpay.

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea for them, but I think part of the reason why they're desperate for linebackers is because they refuse to pay a premium for them.

If I had to guess, I could easily see him ending up in Jacksonville. That would put him in a division with two run-first teams, where he'd get to play six games per year against Chris Johnson, Arian Foster/Ben Tate, and Trent Richardson. Luck is probably the only QB in that division who could really exploit him, the Titans and Texans both lack the WR depth to consistently force him off the field (and I say that even after account for DeAndre Hopkins looking like the real deal) and Posluszny has the athleticism to move back to OLB if needed, which I believe is where he played at Penn State. Plus, the Jacksonville fans love their Gator alums.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Spikes comes to play, and he did yesterday! How many big plays does he have to make before he stops getting trashed? He looked pretty interested when he stuffed them on 4th down!

Granted he is not a great cover guy, but he is not Ted Johnson. He hits like a truck. How many guys have coughed up the ball just because Spikes knocked them loopy?

 

[letekro]

Quite the conundrum this Spikes situation. On the one hand, how much can you really pay for a 2-down LB in today's NFL? On the other hand, the guy is an emotional, playmaking force on those 2-downs. Some part of defensive football is about emotion, and I worry that without Spikes our D lacks enough guys that eat iron and crap out range rovers

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Looks disinterested. Slow to run support, glacial in pass coverage. Sit his as down until he gets it.

Chalk this up to the Rashomon phenomenon because I thought he had a hell of a first half. To me, yesterday's first quarter was at least bearable due to the defense and in particular, the play of Spikes.

[Edit: Just saw that the OP had posted this last week. Carry on...]

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Just read somewhere that he was only out there for 6 snaps last game. Is this true? If so, it's pretty much cementing his status as "gone" once the season ends. Possibly even at the trade deadline.

 

[JMC00]

Just read somewhere that he was only out there for 6 snaps last game. Is this true? If so, it's pretty much cementing his status as "gone" once the season ends. Possibly even at the trade deadline.

Is this a sarcastic post?

Spikes is a run stopping LB, not a coverage LB. The Falcons pretty much abandoned the run for this game. They only ran it about 15 times

 

[andrewgarrr]

They were in nickel almost all game.

If you would rather see Spikes in the nickel instead of Hightower... Tony Gonzalez would've had 300 yards.

 

[mgteich]

Being less in the game plan is one thing; being invisible is something else. Spikes had 6 reps. I don't expect to see him next year.

They were in nickel almost all game.

If you would rather see Spikes in the nickel instead of Hightower... Tony Gonzalez would've had 300 yards.

 

[DarrylStingley]

Being less in the game plan is one thing; being invisible is something else. Spikes had 6 reps. I don't expect to see him next year.

If the season ended today, I'd agree with you. But lots of guys go from limited usage under Bill to max usage. Not that I expect that with Spikes. His bad coverage skills make that unlikely. But still, I would not be surprised if that 6 grew to a much larger number in several weeks (or even a few weeks).

 

[BradyFTW!]

My thoughts too. It sucks because i love the aggression and instincts of spikes, but the three LBs in the base seem to be way too big/slow compared to mist 4-3s I've seen (no expert here of course) and in sub packages, Spikes is the odd man out.

Collins with Hightower in the middle is a whole new defense coverage wise. Unless this prediction doesn't happen for some reason, I'm going to hate watching Spikes thumping people for someone else, but you never know.

Realistically, nickel is the new base. It's just the way the league has evolved over the past decade or so. Your nickel back is going to see more snaps than your run-specialist LB, and the pay scale is going to adjust accordingly. Guys like Spikes are now specialists who play limited roles in most defenses, while guys like Arrington now play a distinct, 'starter' role. The Patriots have already recognized it, which is why Arrington makes the money that he does. The other side of that coin is that they're not going to pay Spikes starter money. If he stays around, it will be for role player money, because that's what he is. If he gets starter money, it will be from a team that plays a different scheme that allows him to stay on the field on passing downs and against passing-oriented personnel groupings.

 

[andrewgarrr]

Being less in the game plan is one thing; being invisible is something else. Spikes had 6 reps. I don't expect to see him next year.

It's hard not be invisible when you're not in the game. I don't understand your point...

He was effective at his job in the last three weeks.