Linebackers, who else besides Donta ?

[captain stone]

He would solve all our problems

Can it be…could it be…Adam Seward?

 

[PatriotReign]

Trade for Mychal Kendricks.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Belichick worked out LB prospect Zach Cunningham today personally at Vandy's pro day. If we get #32 back, he'll be around there.

 

[maineman209]

Belichick worked out LB prospect Zach Cunningham today personally at Vandy's pro day. If we get #32 back, he'll be around there.

BB also had a film session with Cunningham in which he was "grilled" (Cunningham's word) on the Vandy defense.

While this seems to indicate an extra level of interest on BB's part, I'm guessing that he does this kind of thing with more prospects than what we hear about.

FWIW, though, Cunningham posted the 4th highest pSPARQ score (via 3sigmaathlete.com, Zach Whitman) among LBs at the Combine (124.2). Whatever we may think of SPARQ ratings or other attempts to consolidate testing results into a single "athleticism" number, it may be something that BB pays attention to. In 2015, Matt Wells posted 122.7. In 2016, Roberts and Trevor Bates both posted 123.3.

And that's just recent LBs. A lot of BB's recent acquisitions as draftees, UDFAs, free agents and trades have posted top pSPARQ scores.

In 2016, KGH was 6th among safeties, Glenn Gronkowski was 6th among FBs. DJ Foster ranked 12th out of over 200 RBs rated. Thuney was 12th among OL.

In 2015, Lengel was 15th among TEs (Derby was 49th). Shaq Mason was 17th among 300 OL., Andrews was 38th. Flowers was 16th among Edge players and Grissom was 19th. Rowe was 3rd among 200 CBs, and Coleman was 14th. Brandon King was 21st among safeties. (Jordan Richards was only 64th, making his selection even more of a head-scratcher.)

3sigma will eventually calculate the pSPARQ scores for 200-300 prospects at each position from pro day as well as Combine testing, so, not all of the 2017 number are in yet - and they haven't even finished with the Combine numbers, so Cunningham's ranking could change. That said, Cunningham currently ranks behind only Blair Brown, Duke Riley & Ben Gedeon, and just ahead of Biegel, McMilla and Anzalone.

Several of this forum's binkies for Day-2 & Day-3 (including potential UDFAs) at various positions are currently ranking pretty high (e.g., Jonnu Smith tops all TEs).

 

[condon84]

Roberts.

He has the physicality and instincts to be productive in his role. What I saw that i didn't like was often times he looked a bit out of control. Might be that the game was still going at warp speed for him. Once it slows down, which i think will happen in his second year, he'll start to be more consistent.

 

[RobertWeathers]

BB also had a film session with Cunningham in which he was "grilled" (Cunningham's word) on the Vandy defense.

While this seems to indicate an extra level of interest on BB's part, I'm guessing that he does this kind of thing with more prospects than what we hear about.

FWIW, though, Cunningham posted the 4th highest pSPARQ score (via 3sigmaathlete.com, Zach Whitman) among LBs at the Combine (124.2). Whatever we may think of SPARQ ratings or other attempts to consolidate testing results into a single "athleticism" number, it may be something that BB pays attention to. In 2015, Matt Wells posted 122.7. In 2016, Roberts and Trevor Bates both posted 123.3.

And that's just recent LBs. A lot of BB's recent acquisitions as draftees, UDFAs, free agents and trades have posted top pSPARQ scores.

In 2016, KGH was 6th among safeties, Glenn Gronkowski was 6th among FBs. DJ Foster ranked 12th out of over 200 RBs rated. Thuney was 12th among OL.

In 2015, Lengel was 15th among TEs (Derby was 49th). Shaq Mason was 17th among 300 OL., Andrews was 38th. Flowers was 16th among Edge players and Grissom was 19th. Rowe was 3rd among 200 CBs, and Coleman was 14th. Brandon King was 21st among safeties. (Jordan Richards was only 64th, making his selection even more of a head-scratcher.)

3sigma will eventually calculate the pSPARQ scores for 200-300 prospects at each position from pro day as well as Combine testing, so, not all of the 2017 number are in yet - and they haven't even finished with the Combine numbers, so Cunningham's ranking could change. That said, Cunningham currently ranks behind only Blair Brown, Duke Riley & Ben Gedeon, and just ahead of Biegel, McMilla and Anzalone.

Several of this forum's binkies for Day-2 & Day-3 (including potential UDFAs) at various positions are currently ranking pretty high (e.g., Jonnu Smith tops all TEs).

BB and his staff can deny it all they want how they use analytics by I will bet my bottom dollar that they absolutely look at pSPARQ scores. Its another piece of data that is pretty legit.

It would also not surprise me if Chip educated BB on why its a pretty cool metric to use when evaluating talent.

With that said, if the player has a high pSPARQ score but can barely remember a play if you gave him 2 hrs to study he ain't coming here.

They look at EVERYTHING.

 

[captain stone]

BB also had a film session with Cunningham in which he was "grilled" (Cunningham's word) on the Vandy defense.

While this seems to indicate an extra level of interest on BB's part, I'm guessing that he does this kind of thing with more prospects than what we hear about.

FWIW, though, Cunningham posted the 4th highest pSPARQ score (via 3sigmaathlete.com, Zach Whitman) among LBs at the Combine (124.2). Whatever we may think of SPARQ ratings or other attempts to consolidate testing results into a single "athleticism" number, it may be something that BB pays attention to. In 2015, Matt Wells posted 122.7. In 2016, Roberts and Trevor Bates both posted 123.3…
...3sigma will eventually calculate the pSPARQ scores for 200-300 prospects at each position from pro day as well as Combine testing, so, not all of the 2017 number are in yet - and they haven't even finished with the Combine numbers, so Cunningham's ranking could change. That said, Cunningham currently ranks behind only Blair Brown, Duke Riley & Ben Gedeon, and just ahead of Biegel, McMillan and Anzalone...

That Cunningham is an excellent athlete is undeniable; his tackling, however, is garbage. I want nothing whatsoever to do with him.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

That Cunningham is an excellent athlete is undeniable; his tackling, however, is garbage. I want nothing whatsoever to do with him.

For those who haven't seen him, I'll link the gifs I cut up the other day that show what we're talking about: Pro Days 2017

Look, if he can clean up his tackling technique, then he's exactly the kind of athlete we could use around here. But in such a deep defensive class, I'd rather get a more immediate contributor early on, if we do end up with picks in the 1st or 2nd again.

 

[MSPatsFan28]

Kendall Beckwith in the draft is my pick. FA offers a lot of talent for potentially low cost. Donald Butler, Kelvin Sheppard, or Jelani Jenkins are available. Sadly Kiko Alonso is not an option, but D'Qwell Jackson or Christian Jones would not count in the compensatory pick formula.

 

[shmessy]

Patriots rarely use more then 2 LBs so why all that focus on it ?

When did the Patriots become a "we do what we do" team?

The Patriots game plan for each and every team they face. Game to game and change year to year.

 

[Uptown]

BYU LB Harvey Langi

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Harvey Langi

Harvey Langi Profile | The Official Site of BYU Athletics

 

[WaterfallJumper]

BYU LB Harvey Langi

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Harvey Langi

Harvey Langi Profile | The Official Site of BYU Athletics

Ran a 4.60 today at his pro day. Patriots scouts have met with him a couple times. Belichick reportedly gave him a 1st round grade last year before his position change, based on Combine reports. No idea what to make of his tape -- he's so raw and switched between RB, DE, and LB -- but his athleticism stands out regardless. Very quick, fluid athlete. Apparently we like him a lot. Who knows if we'll draft him or not, but there's an awful lot of smoke for no fire.

 

[rochrist]

A run stuffer who can't cover their grandmother?

Coming off his rookie season. What is it BB likes to say about a player's first to second season?

 

[Urgent]

Considering we only play 2 LB 90% of the time we may be set.

That's not necessarily the defensive strategy by an means - merely a reaction to the current situation.
Note that the biggest free agency signing before Gilmore was a versatile linebacker in Adalius Thomas.

For most of Belichick's tenure the defense has relied upon multiple good linebackers, whether in the earlier 3-4 or later 4-3 variants.

2013 Mayo-Collins-Spikes-Hightower
2012 Mayo-Spikes-Hightower
2011 Mayo-Spikes-Ninkovich-Cunningham (with Andre Carter & Mark Anderson at ends
2010 TBC- Cunningham-Ninkovich- Mayo-Spikes-Guyton-Fletcher
2009 Adalius Thomas-Pierre Woods-TBC-Ninkovich0Mayo-Guyton
2008 Thomas-Vrabel-Woods-Bruschi-Mayo-Guyton
2007 Colvin-Vrabel-Woods-Bruschi-Thomas-Seau
2006 Colvin-Vrabel-TBC-Bruschi-Seau

I think if there were more starting-caliber LB's Belichick would play schemes with more linebackers.

 

[woolster22]

Ran a 4.60 today at his pro day. Patriots scouts have met with him a couple times. Belichick reportedly gave him a 1st round grade last year before his position change, based on Combine reports. No idea what to make of his tape -- he's so raw and switched between RB, DE, and LB -- but his athleticism stands out regardless. Very quick, fluid athlete. Apparently we like him a lot. Who knows if we'll draft him or not, but there's an awful lot of smoke for no fire.

Havent seen a de/olb getting in on goal line sets in a while...

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Kendall Beckwith in the draft is my pick. FA offers a lot of talent for potentially low cost. Donald Butler, Kelvin Sheppard, or Jelani Jenkins are available. Sadly Kiko Alonso is not an option, but D'Qwell Jackson or Christian Jones would not count in the compensatory pick formula.

I am also a fan of beckwith. His game has some rough edges, but if healthy, he is already a better lb than Roberts.

He was a beast in the Alabama games.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Fans are always worried about the last war. BB traded Collins with "little replacement" according to the fans. But the Defense improved even with him gone. It is not like there is Donte and nobody. There is Donta and unfamiliarity, that's all.

The Pat have two First Round LBs and a Second Rounder, plus a heady rookie and an old pro stalwart left at LB. An an UDFA in Freeny that isi a ST type who can take a few regular snaps.

McClellen was a First Round pick and Kyle Van Noy is a Second who only now are beginning to play to their draft scouting. Most LBs take a few years of seasoning to contribute and they both seem to be fitting in, as BB wanted and thought they would.

I really don't think LB is a crying need at all.

 

[Joey007]

What about Van Noy? I thought he did some things pretty well last year. Seems like many are dismissing him.

 

[jmt57]

FWIW

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Rey Malaugua was just cut by the Bengals. Can't cover, but can still stop the run.