Do We Need A New LB Coach To Develop The Kids?

[mgteich]

Judon will be back.

Van Noy is likely to come back. For me, Van Noy is worth $5M even as role player. We might replace him with another veteran.

Hightower and Bentley are likely to not come back.

That leaves
McMillan
Winovich
Uche
Jennings
Perkins
McGrone
Tavai

Perkins and McGrone will almost surely be given another year. With McMillan, the issue is health.

I expect to see a us sign a veteran ILB.

 

[Patriot Missile]

McGrone and Perkins are wild cards. Best thing that could happen to this team is they excel. So many positions to draft and so much uncertainty of whom stays and goes. Not sure where they are going to go but the salary cap is real and only so many slots to draft.

 

[Joker]

they have to improve the SPEED at LB...we need a couple of players like TB has that can cover sideline to sideline and run down the QB's and RB's at or behind the LOS...I don't know if it was the weather or just the age but our LB's were sorely outmatched in the Buffalo game...slow reacting and slow to the play. I keep thinking about that Georgia/Alabama championship game and the Georgia LB that was running down runners and receivers sideline to sideline with great authority. THAT is the type of player I want to see on the Pats going forward.

 

[VectorPrime]

I do not under any circumstances want Van Noy back.

 

[Sciz]

I mean, there’s a really good chance the next LB coach is from inside the building because that’s often how position coach openings get filled. Other teams can block the Patriots from stealing their position coaches that are under contract.

Anthony Campanile (Dolphins LB coach) would be a natural fit in that he played for Schiano, worked for Flores, and was Uche’s LB coach for a year at Michigan. But if Flores is going to get a HC job somewhere else, I imagine he’ll bring a lot of his Miami staff with him.

That leaves expiring contracts (generally rare), recently fired coaches without connections to the team (and likely without the recent defensive success of Flores’ Dolphins), coaches hired away from college teams (how they got DeGuglielmo a few years ago), and former players who aren’t coaching yet but could skip the quality control position altogether (Mayo, and maybe Hightower someday).

The most likely moves involve Brian Belichick, maybe with Sunseri moving from assistant RBs to his more natural fit with safeties.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I do not under any circumstances want Van Noy back.

I'm ok with him returning even though he annoys me.

He's entered the Roman Phifer stage of his career. Still has value and had great instincts but I don't think has the speed to do it for 50 snaps a game anymore.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Why is Judon “likely to comeback?” Shouldn’t he be a lock?

Van Noy, Collins, HT and Bentley need to go.

That list above is brutal.

 

[50-yard-line]

they have to improve the SPEED at LB...we need a couple of players like TB has that can cover sideline to sideline and run down the QB's and RB's at or behind the LOS...I don't know if it was the weather or just the age but our LB's were sorely outmatched in the Buffalo game...slow reacting and slow to the play. I keep thinking about that Georgia/Alabama championship game and the Georgia LB that was running down runners and receivers sideline to sideline with great authority. THAT is the type of player I want to see on the Pats going forward.

Well said.

Everyone talks about the inner lack-of-stoutness in the Pats DL - and yeah, they could use a huge guy in the middle - but as the year wore on, the off-tackle stuff began killing them.

One player can make a huge difference in a D - Bob Sanders in Indy all those years, Parsons in Dallas now, Devin White in Tampa, Darius Leonard in Tampa, Wagner for all those years in Seattle...Pair a guy like that with Dugger as he continues to develop and the D will take huge strides.

 

[mgteich]

Why is Judon “likely to comeback?” Shouldn’t he be a lock?

Van Noy, Collins and Bentley need to go.

That list above is brutal.

ty
fixed

 

[RobertWeathers]

Judon and Van Noy are likely to come back. For me, Van Noy is worth $5M even as role player. We might replace him with another veteran.

Hightower and Bentley are likely to not come back.

That leaves
McMillan
Winovich
Uche
Jennings
Perkins
McGrone

Perkins and McGrone will almost surely be given another year. With McMillan, the issue is health.

I expect to see a us sign a veteran ILB.

Judon is 100% coming back. Where is that coming from?

I thought KVN had a decent year but hes looking at a restructure whether he likes it or not. I also don't want him playing 50 snaps a game anymore.

I think High is gone.

Why not Bentley? He is a serviceable 4th/5th LB and has usefulness in running downs but in space and in coverage hes below average. If guys like McGrone, McMillan, Uche etc beat him out so be it.

We need the next Jerod Mayo and Jamie Collins. Two freak athletes with speed to burn.

 

[Sciz]

Devin White in Tampa

White is quickly becoming the new Deone Bucannon, the "new ILB prototype" for the 31 fanbases that see his highlight plays and a huge liability according to his own. Bucs fans say he was awful this season, continuing to be a massive liability in coverage and playing the run worse than he did a year ago. Any Bucs fan will say that Lavonte David is the guy teams should strive for, not White.

 

[jmt57]

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Linebackers

Judon has $11 million guaranteed and would result in $15.5 mil of dead money. Most snaps among the LBs (81%). He's a lock.

Van Noy will turn 31 in March; he was 6th overall on defense with 75% of the snaps. KVN will have a cap # of $7,450,000, so a restructure is in order. A cut results in $2.45 mil of dead money but $5 mil in cap savings, regardless on when that happens.

Bentley is only 25 years old (will turn 26 just before the start of the 2022 season). He will become a free agent next spring. I doubt the Pats re-sign him, unless the terms are very team-friendly in terms of guaranteed money. It is concerning however that other LBs couldn't get on the field more than he did; in other words, the other options were perceived to be worse? Bentley appeared in 64% of the snaps, which was 3rd most among LBs and 8th most among all defensive players.

Hightower was on the field for 59% of the snaps, 10th most on defense; he will turn 32 in two months. HT had the highest cap number on the 2021 Patriots, including a base salary of $8 million. As a free agent my guess is that the Patriots will let him test the market, then decide whether or not to match the offer.

Josh Uche was on the field for 236 snaps (22%). Most telling was the regression in playing time: 175 snaps in the first eight games he played, 67 snaps in his final six games. He is young (turns 24 in September) and inexpensive (2022 cap figure of $1.46 mil), so keeping him or letting him go is not that big of a deal. Not being a factor on special teams (only 22 snaps in 2021) doesn't help his case though.

I'm not sure what to make of Jamie Collins. The only time he got on the field was late in the season, mostly when either Bentley of Hightower was hurt. Obviously much of that was due to his ankle injury - but there was a stretch of six games where he was active, but on the field for 17 or fewer snaps. He did play a lot down the stretch though. Collins just turned 32 and will be a free agent in March.


Other than Judon there are five other LBs in the rotation. I don't think it is realistic to think that a team can mass overhaul at linebacker in a single offseason. Most likely it would be a change of either two or three. Free agency will be interesting, once again.

 

[holyredeemer]

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Linebackers

Judon has $11 million guaranteed and would result in $15.5 mil of dead money. Most snaps among the LBs (81%). He's a lock.

Get the man some help!

Van Noy will turn 31 in March; he was 6th overall on defense with 75% of the snaps. KVN will have a cap # of $7,450,000, so a restructure is in order. A cut results in $2.45 mil of dead money but $5 mil in cap savings, regardless on when that happens.

I thought KVN was dependable. I’d love to see him in more of a platoon role/specialist role on the cheap.

Bentley is only 25 years old (will turn 26 just before the start of the 2022 season). He will become a free agent next spring. I doubt the Pats re-sign him, unless the terms are very team-friendly in terms of guaranteed money. It is concerning however that other LBs couldn't get on the field more than he did; in other words, the other options were perceived to be worse? Bentley appeared in 64% of the snaps, which was 3rd most among LBs and 8th most among all defensive players.

I’m not a big fan of Bentley. Then again, he could be a really solid role player for us. I guess it’s all gonna depend on how much he can get on the open market. He’s the kinda guy I could see really benefitting from a DL that can keep him clean. He definitely doesn’t play up to his size, but can make some splash when playing downhill.

Hightower was on the field for 59% of the snaps, 10th most on defense; he will turn 32 in two months. HT had the highest cap number on the 2021 Patriots, including a base salary of $8 million. As a free agent my guess is that the Patriots will let him test the market, then decide whether or not to match the offer.

Same as the other guys. Quite the theme for me here. If he’s affordable, role player/leader. If not, thanks for everything you magnificent beast, but it’s time to rest.

Josh Uche was on the field for 236 snaps (22%). Most telling was the regression in playing time: 175 snaps in the first eight games he played, 67 snaps in his final six games. He is young (turns 24 in September) and inexpensive (2022 cap figure of $1.46 mil), so keeping him or letting him go is not that big of a deal. Not being a factor on special teams (only 22 snaps in 2021) doesn't help his case though.

You nailed it. All this athleticism and his play declined. Same with Winovich. Both are cheap, so I guess it doesn’t hurt to keep them but if someone offered up a 5th or higher, I take it and move on.

I'm not sure what to make of Jamie Collins. The only time he got on the field was late in the season, mostly when either Bentley of Hightower was hurt. Obviously much of that was due to his ankle injury - but there was a stretch of six games where he was active, but on the field for 17 or fewer snaps. He did play a lot down the stretch though. Collins just turned 32 and will be a free agent in March.

Thanks for the crazy interception highlight. No thanks for disappearing yet again. Let him walk.

Other than Judon there are five other LBs in the rotation. I don't think it is realistic to think that a team can mass overhaul at linebacker in a single offseason. Most likely it would be a change of either two or three. Free agency will be interesting, once again.

Isn’t it really disheartening that we have a smart, veteran group of LB’ers and the talent bench behind them is awful? They could’ve been helping lead the way for the next generation of LB’ers ready to step in and ease them out. No, we ****ed around, and became obsessed with Wolverine LB’ers for some reason. Hopefully McGrone can come in and be a saving grace for all of that. Perkins shows a lot of pop and initial quickness. I’m eagerly awaiting to see how his transformation to OLB is going. McMillan was getting a lot of positive press before the injury wasn’t he? If he can pick up where he left off, that would be great!

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Telling that you left out Winovich. Word up is that he's appointed Director of NH Tourism by Gov Sununu.

 

[jmt57]

Telling that you left out Winovich. Word up is that he's appointed Director of NH Tourism by Gov Sununu.

Telling that Winovich had more Special Teams playing time (161 snaps, 37%) than Defense (113, 10%).
Ranked 20th in playing time on defense, slightly ahead of Daniel Ekuale.

I guess I overlooked him because I didn't bother to scroll down that far.

 

[Steve102]

Telling that Winovich had more Special Teams playing time (161 snaps, 37%) than Defense (113, 10%).
Ranked 20th in playing time on defense, slightly ahead of Daniel Ekuale.

I guess I overlooked him because I didn't bother to scroll down that far.

I am thinking Wino is done here.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

White is quickly becoming the new Deone Bucannon, the "new ILB prototype" for the 31 fanbases that see his highlight plays and a huge liability according to his own. Bucs fans say he was awful this season, continuing to be a massive liability in coverage and playing the run worse than he did a year ago. Any Bucs fan will say that Lavonte David is the guy teams should strive for, not White.

Devin White definitely played bad this year. He is the typical player that bought his own hype. But I think nobody can deny that, that kind of physical abilities is exactly what the patriots needs at linebacker.

 

[jmt57]

White is quickly becoming the new Deone Bucannon, the "new ILB prototype" for the 31 fanbases that see his highlight plays and a huge liability according to his own. Bucs fans say he was awful this season, continuing to be a massive liability in coverage and playing the run worse than he did a year ago. Any Bucs fan will say that Lavonte David is the guy teams should strive for, not White.

Very true.

Devin White is able to make flashy plays solely because of Lavonte David. The moment David was sidelined with an injury, his stats plummeted. It's similar to how a defensive lineman piles up sacks and tackles for a loss all due to a highly effective nose tackle getting double and triple teamed, or a #2 receiver putting up big numbers due to the #1 WR constantly drawing double teams and being game planned to stop.

 

[Scotty]

Apologies if I have got this wrong but I looked at the Game Book team stats on the Pats website for Bentley over 16 games. (played in 16 , did not play in one.

For tackles and assists Bentley lead the team in 6 games and in another 5 , he was in the top 5. I am aware from others posts that stats dont always show a true picture of a players skill etc.

I am not trying to give Bentley a boost and he is very slow and poor in coverage. But maybe the stats do show that he could be a player for specific downs ???

On the other hand if he gets cut or does not make the team others will get a chance

 

[TomPatriot]

they have to improve the SPEED at LB...we need a couple of players like TB has that can cover sideline to sideline and run down the QB's and RB's at or behind the LOS...I don't know if it was the weather or just the age but our LB's were sorely outmatched in the Buffalo game...slow reacting and slow to the play. I keep thinking about that Georgia/Alabama championship game and the Georgia LB that was running down runners and receivers sideline to sideline with great authority. THAT is the type of player I want to see on the Pats going forward.

Nakobe Dean