Are we set at LB?

[JohnJH]

I think it's the end of the line for one of the most bizarre drafts picks in Mapu. Is he still a S or is he going to try to play LB? The problem is he doesn't even know what he wants to do since the day he was drafted. I've tried looking up what he played in college or what he's projected to play, but can't get a clear answer. It's always different depending on where you look.

It's going to be a battle between Jennings and Chaisson. Swinson is on the outside looking in.

I see an injury settlement for Tavai.

IMHO Swinson has too much potential to not be on the Roster (barring that he just looks horrible in camp).

 

[Water Boy]

I keep hearing our defense described as a 5 2 front. I would think we'd want a minimum of 4 ILBs on the roster. Assuming Tavai is healthy, I'm cool with rolling with Spillane, Gibbens, Tavai and Ellis.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think it's the end of the line for one of the most bizarre drafts picks in Mapu. Is he still a S or is he going to try to play LB? The problem is he doesn't even know what he wants to do since the day he was drafted. I've tried looking up what he played in college or what he's projected to play, but can't get a clear answer. It's always different depending on where you look.

It's going to be a battle between Jennings and Chaisson. Swinson is on the outside looking in.

I see an injury settlement for Tavai.

Mapu doesn’t decide where he plays the coaches decide that.if he hasn’t had a consistent position the coaches are the ones to blame for it.

 

[mgteich]

LB, S, OL, WR, TE have a whole lot of average, which may be enough to allow other groups to shine this year. To be a contender, they need to add one excellent player to each of those groups, or at least three of the five That's the 2026 task. If the QB develops as hoped, could be fun to be a Pats fan again.

But I don't see how they add excellence at this point, at LB our anywhere else.

ADD EXCELENCE
probably not

PROVIDE POSSIBLE UPGRADES
It would seem so.
I have all of these on my current roster. Are any so good that it wouldn't be possible to have a newbie beat them out for a roster spot?
BELL?
BOLDEN?
DIAL?
PHARMS?
ROY?
We might have UDFA's who compete with them, but competition can't hurt.

PROVIDE DEPTH IN CASE OF POSSIBLE INJURY OR TERRIBLE PERFORMANCE BY SOMEONE
almost for sure, especially at cornerback.

For me, it is a no brainer to bring in an Austin level player (or close) to compete with Austin, Bolden and Dial for backup spots, and to provide another qualified body if any of the current 6 are injured.

 

[Huckleberry1]

He's a 5th round pick competing with Jennings who can show his value by setting the edge and Chiasson who just had a career high in sacks with 5. If White stays at "OLB", then the odds get worse for him.

That's his best bet. However, the problem is that he's competing with Ellis and Gibbens to get time on the field. Even at his brief time at LB, his reaction to plays have been really poor - like Madden AI bad. No matter what position he tries to play, he's on the outside looking in.

Swinson isn’t going anywhere. They love his potential.

 

[mgteich]

I keep hearing our defense described as a 5 2 front. I would think we'd want a minimum of 4 ILBs on the roster. Assuming Tavai is healthy, I'm cool with rolling with Spillane, Gibbens, Tavai and Ellis.

I agree.

Some think Mapu could be one of the ILB's

 

[mgteich]

Swinson isn’t going anywhere. They love his potential.

WE love his potential.

The team may not like his potential enough for him to automatically push out Jennings or Chaisson.

 

[BTTA]

ADD EXCELENCE
probably not

PROVIDE POSSIBLE UPGRADES
It would seem so.
I have all of these on my current roster. Are any so go that it wouldn't be possible to have a newbie beat them out for a roster spot?
BELL?
BOLDEN?
DIAL?
PHARMS?
ROY?
WE might have UDFA's who compete with them, but competition can't hurt.

PROVIDE DEPTH IN CASE OF POSSIBLE INJURY OR TERRIBLE PERFORMANCE BY SPMEPONE
almost for sure, especially at cornerback.

For me, it is a no brainer to bring in an Austin level player (or close) to compete with Austin, Bolden and Dial for backup spots, and to provide another qualified body if any of the current 6 are injured.

Don't disagree. That's setting the floor more firmly, and not raising the ceiling.

 

[Brick27]

I keep hearing our defense described as a 5 2 front. I would think we'd want a minimum of 4 ILBs on the roster. Assuming Tavai is healthy, I'm cool with rolling with Spillane, Gibbens, Tavai and Ellis.

Think folks who don’t keep up with anything non-Pats (aka most who post here) will be pleasantly surprised with the Spillane and Gibbens adds

 

[Wozzy]

I keep hearing our defense described as a 5 2 front. I would think we'd want a minimum of 4 ILBs on the roster. Assuming Tavai is healthy, I'm cool with rolling with Spillane, Gibbens, Tavai and Ellis.

3/4 Over defense, it will be hard to distinguish LB’ers from Strong Safeties and it will look like a 4 man front. One side with a DE (White/Milton), the other with an OLB (Landry). Not so different from Chandler Jones and Nincovich.

 

[TommyD4207]

Or, better yet, draft one. In Captain Stone’s many mocks he went out of his way to draft Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman. Dude fell to the fourth round. A shocker.

I can see him having a highly productive ten year nfl career at middle linebacker.

And I can see him not making it through his rookie contract. There's a reason he fell that far.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Let's wait to SEE what happens when they smash each other.
Fkn know it all's...

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think there will be opportunities to add some decent players this summer because many teams face situations where they want to clear contracts off their cap, and/or want to replace veteran players with their younger cheaper draft picks. I also have confidence that this front office is having their personnel departments looking closely at team depth charts and cap hits to be ready when these opportunities arise, and to be proactive in contacting teams about potential trade opportunities. Overall I feel like they have done a great job of addressing their entire roster and its many many needs this offseason, but that was action intended to take them from the dregs of the league to a competitive team, they are still going to have to make many moves over the next two years to take them from being a competitive team that can grab a wild card spot, to a team that can beat any team in the league and challenge for a Super Bowl.

 

[patman52]

I agree.

However, SOMETIMES a 3-4 team actually plays a 3-4 including a nose tackle. Both Barmore and Milton are undersized for that role.

As a sub package, Tonga, Williams, Barmore with Landry and White as OLB. and the 3 big safeties in (Spillane/mapu), Peppers and Duggar. And the 3 CBs.

 

[Real fan 02]

Obviously, Vrabel need to assess roles, but do we need any competition from a new acquisition?

I have White as a lock, and list him as a 7th DL.
=============
OLB
Landry, Jennings, Chaisson, Swinson

ILB
Spillane, Ellis, Tavai, Gibbens, (or Mapu)
===========
I expect the normal injury in camp in which case one of the above will be gone (my guess in Mapu, but it could be Tavai or Jennings).

As expected Tavai is dealing with the calf. That's likely going to be an issue for him all season.. as players generally don't get healthier as the season goes on.

Between UDFA, some veteran FA and guys on the roster. Someone else I'd expect to be signed for camp, depth purposes.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

As expected Tavai is dealing with the calf. That's likely going to be an issue for him all season.. as players generally don't get healthier as the season goes on.

Between UDFA, some veteran FA and guys on the roster. Someone else I'd expect to be signed for camp, depth purposes.

Tavai has about 8 weeks to heal before camp. He might fully heal depending on the injury severity. He also might be out of cardio shape too without running while he heals which might take 2 to 3 more weeks.

 

[Real fan 02]

Tavai has about 8 weeks to heal before camp. He might fully heal depending on the injury severity. He also might be out of cardio shape too without running while he heals which might take 2 to 3 more weeks.

You make a good point One. Cardio is everything to an athlete. I can see Vrabel singing another veteran player or some other FA as a camp body. As we've learned from last season specifically depth is of the utmost importance. Especially with a late bye this season.

 

[Real fan 02]

As a sub package, Tonga, Williams, Barmore with Landry and White as OLB. and the 3 big safeties in (Spillane/mapu), Peppers and Duggar. And the 3 CBs.

White will primarily be inside. His skill set is that of an interior rusher. Expect the interior rush to be a real emphasis this season. Edge rushers can be neutralized at times, as we've seen..by chip blocks and blocking scheme. The interior rush is hard on OGs and Cs. Brady said it before he hated teams that had dominant interior rushers. Don't forget farmer as well..

 

[TheRainMaker]

Swinson isn’t going anywhere. They love his potential.

WE love his potential.

The team may not like his potential enough for him to automatically push out Jennings or Chaisson.

Show me, don't tell me. We've heard these stories before that the team "likes him" only to flame out. Until then, he's up against guys who have NFL experience.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Show me, don't tell me. We've heard these stories before that the team "likes him" only to flame out. Until then, he's up against guys who have NFL experience.

Actually Rainmaker we are allowed to have our own opinions on who will make the team and who won’t. You are welcome to hold us to them when the time comes, but until then I’ll disagree all I want to. I think both Chism and Swinson will be on the final roster, we’ll see who is right?