What is our plan for ILB?

[rkarp1]

 

[Wozzy]

Muma, Britt, 3 rookies behind the starters… still thin?

 

[mgteich]

Will be interesting to see how well Muma replaces Gibbens

Britt is the replacement for Gibbens.

 

[rkarp1]

Muma, Britt, 3 rookies behind the starters… still thin?

until Muma, Obiazor and now Jacobs show they can play at this level, yes, very thin

 

[rkarp1]

Pulpit comments on the LB's in todays Q & A

What additional veteran free agent signings do you see as possibilities and who might be corresponding veteran cut candidates? - wrw921
To me, that linebacker spot is the weakest spot on the Patriots roster after leaving the draft with just Obiazor in the sixth-round. That leaves the main depth behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss as Obiazor, K.J. Britt and Chad Mama. Perhaps they feel confident in that group, but if not they could explore some one-year stop gap veteran options like Matt Milano or Bobby Okereke.

 

[stinkypete]

Jacas was listed as a LB when drafted. That may be his role in the base defense, with him rotating to the edge on passing downs.

A base defense made up of our best 11 looks like this:
Landry - Barmore - Williams - Jones
Spillane - Jacas
Gonzalez - Woodson - Byard - Jones - Davis

I wonder if LB will be de-emphasized in the base defense, with Jacas used in a hybrid role much like Vrabel was.

 

[manxman2601]

Jacas was listed as a LB when drafted. That may be his role in the base defense, with him rotating to the edge on passing downs.

A base defense made up of our best 11 looks like this:
Landry - Barmore - Williams - Jones
Spillane - Jacas
Gonzalez - Woodson - Byard - Jones - Davis

I wonder if LB will be de-emphasized in the base defense, with Jacas used in a hybrid role much like Vrabel was.

I don't think so. Jacas will be a rotational piece for the EDGE. Christian Elliss, last years starter will most likely start again next to Spillane.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Jacas was listed as a LB when drafted. That may be his role in the base defense, with him rotating to the edge on passing downs.

A base defense made up of our best 11 looks like this:
Landry - Barmore - Williams - Jones
Spillane - Jacas
Gonzalez - Woodson - Byard - Jones - Davis

I wonder if LB will be de-emphasized in the base defense, with Jacas used in a hybrid role much like Vrabel was.

There's abolutely no way he's playing "LB". LB in today's game is basically an inside LB who goes sideline to sideline. He's an edge guy which is another term in today's game for "stand up DE" or "Elephant".

 

[n1997y]

I don't think so. Jacas will be a rotational piece for the EDGE. Christian Elliss, last years starter will most likely start again next to Spillane.

Can Jacas play off the line LB? The kid they just picked up, Khalil Jacobs, had a couple of highlight clips that showed him sacking the QB. I’m wondering if they might be looking for some versatility across both ILB and Edge?

 

[n1997y]

There's abolutely no way he's playing "LB". LB in today's game is basically an inside LB who goes sideline to sideline. He's an edge guy which is another term in today's game for "stand up DE" or "Elephant".

Jacas is fast, but his RAS does not have the agility scores. Is he not agile or did he just skip them? His straight line speed is good, so he might be able to go sideline to sideline if his change of direction is not a disadvantage.

 

[manxman2601]

Can Jacas play off the line LB? The kid they just picked up, Khalil Jacobs, had a couple of highlight clips that showed him sacking the QB. I’m wondering if they might be looking for some versatility across both ILB and Edge?

Jacas is an EDGE player only, either at OLB or DE. Jacobs played mostly as a spy at Missouri. Whether he can grow into a backup to Spillane is questionable. I think he's been brought in to add some speed to the LB room. We spent quite a bit of time with him pre-draft.

 

[Wozzy]

until Muma, Obiazor and now Jacobs show they can play at this level, yes, very thin

So just about every position group on all 32 teams in the league are thin… got it.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I think he's been brought in to add some speed to the LB room.

He ran a 4.77 sec 40. A 7.35 3cone. I don't see him as a speed or agility guy.

 

[captain stone]

Backups are Britt and Muma. Team seems to feel comfortable with that because the did nothing else in FA or the draft

Yeah we already knew that; but some here feel that it's not enough and want to discuss ways to help it, if that's all right with you

 

[captain stone]

Muma, Britt, 3 rookies behind the starters… still thin?

Yes. Obviously.

 

[manxman2601]

He ran a 4.77 sec 40. A 7.35 3cone. I don't see him as a speed or agility guy.

You only have to see him on tape to see his speed.

 

[Wozzy]

Yes. Obviously.

Captain starts every offseason by telling us all the best players on the team suck… why should 2026 be any different.

 

[Wozzy]

He ran a 4.77 sec 40. A 7.35 3cone. I don't see him as a speed or agility guy.

This Khalil Jacobs kid is like all our LB'ers, weak side WILL sized LB'ers... that's Vrabel's philosophy. His forty speed is the same as Robert Spillane so that's not so concerning, but his agility drills are pretty poor. That being said his explosion drills are nuts, 40" vertical and 133" broad jump are exceptional, and another thing that stands out is his strength, he benched it 27 times, so he's stronger than our rookie offensive linemen.

Players like him that only work out at their pro day are a mixed bag. We've seen repeatedly in the past prospects work out at the combine, post poor numbers in a specific drill... then go to their pro day and improve greatly on those same drills. Football players don't do these drills in practice, they only do these leading up to the draft, so often the drills are foreign to them. If Jacobs had another chance and took some time he might increase his agility some. His times weren't good, but they weren't absolutely horrible either. Spillane also isn't a great athlete, he's an instinctual guy who just knows how to play football. This kid might be similar.

They have a pretty good group of ILBer's with Spillane in the middle, Ellis starting behind him, Muma a full year in the system, an athletic Obiazor added and two potential developmental guys in Declan Williams and Khalil Jacobs. The latter two probably won't make it, or might make the practice squad, but the top four are solid assuming health.

"Thin" is an abstract meaningless negative Nancy designation, no team has two or three Pro Bowl backups chomping at the bit on their bench.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah we already knew that; but some here feel that it's not enough and want to discuss ways to help it, if that's all right with you

I’m not sure what makes you think me recapping where the team stands and what they appear to be thinking violates your right to free speech.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

They have a pretty good group of ILBer's with Spillane in the middle, Ellis starting behind him, Muma a full year in the system, an athletic Obiazor added and two potential developmental guys in Declan Williams and Khalil Jacobs.

A lot of posters do not think it is a pretty good group.

"Thin" is an abstract meaningless negative Nancy designation, no team has two or three Pro Bowl backups chomping at the bit on their bench.

Saying "no team has 2 or 3 Pro Bowl backups" to create a false analogy does not make the Patriots ILBers "a pretty good group".

Spillane is good, not great, Elliss is weak, and after that everyone has been released by multiple teams or is a rookie. That does not add up to "pretty good". The ILBers is the Pats weakest talent group at this point. Let's hope the need is addressed before September with someone other than castoffs or rookies.