What is our plan for ILB?

[Wozzy]

but players get hurt. we saw Spillane go down and the team not miss a beat with Gibbons. we saw Landry get hurt and Jennings snap count increased, and the team did not miss a beat.
not sure we have that type of depth this season

The defense clearly suffered without Spillane.

They tried Gibbens and he wasn't put to the task neither was Tavai, that's why they moved on from both of them. Neither of them was very good.

 

[Wozzy]

There are still several older vets who are Free Agents who could come in and start for this team. Okereke, Wagner and White are probably the 3 biggest names. Whether or not they Pats are interested and whether or not the guys are looking for longer term deals vs. a 1yr is a whole other can of beans.

They're not paying Spillane ten million per to ride the pine.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

not sure starter/depth is the way to look at it
situational football
players play in a base D most of the time. most likely this will be Spillane and Ellis. they will be mostly backed up by Britt, a downhill run defender.
other players come in on passing downs. this most likely would be Obiazor, perhaps Muma
all players would have a role, and get regular snaps, depending on the situation

Correct but still the same concept here. if spillane or ellis get hurt one of the others will need to fill in the base defense like gibbens last year. This is what im referring to as depth and the only changes that i could see between now and start of the season. Spillane and ellis are going to be playing the majority of snaps in 26 barring a major injury.

 

[rkarp1]

The defense clearly suffered without Spillane.

They tried Gibbens and he wasn't put to the task neither was Tavai, that's why they moved on from both of them. Neither of them was very good.

up to the task?
the team was 3-1 with Spillane out
the first 2 of those games, Gibbons went wire to wire on defense, and also played ST groups
he had 19 tackles, and 3 tackles for loss in those 2 games
the next 2 games, the Pats won in blow outs and Gibbons played fewer snaps, yet he still had 10 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. and again played ST in both games.

you think there is a better back up LB on the current roster?

 

[Zuma]

Very true is why I believe Britt and Muma as well as Obiazor will be real factors..

No they won't...or haven't shown to be more then 3rd stringers. Some have never taken a snap in an NFL game. Their are free agent "starters" still available who could "be real factors"...It's still only May.

 

[Real fan 02]

No they won't...or haven't shown to be more then 3rd stringers. Some have never taken a snap in an NFL game. Their are free agent "starters" still available who could "be real factors"...It's still only May.

Yeah..I guess your right.. maybe it's just my optimism getting the of me.. but let's hope we all get pleasantly surprised...

 

[Wozzy]

up to the task?
the team was 3-1 with Spillane out
the first 2 of those games, Gibbons went wire to wire on defense, and also played ST groups
he had 19 tackles, and 3 tackles for loss in those 2 games
the next 2 games, the Pats won in blow outs and Gibbons played fewer snaps, yet he still had 10 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. and again played ST in both games.

you think there is a better back up LB on the current roster?

The defense took a big hit while Spillane was out. They fell from being the best rushing defense in the NFL to outside the top five. More importantly is what we saw with our eyes.

Gibbens was not big or stout enough to stick his head in there and play traditional inside LB, he wasn't fast or athletic enough to do Ellis's job either. Tavai was toast.

They moved on from Gibbens because the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. The Cards didn't pay him that much, the Pats knew they could do better for less money. Younger, better, cheaper.

They've brought four rookie LB'ers to camp and want to get a better look at Muma... they'll find at least one, maybe two players from this group better than last year's backups.

 

[Wozzy]

No they won't...or haven't shown to be more then 3rd stringers. Some have never taken a snap in an NFL game. Their are free agent "starters" still available who could "be real factors"...It's still only May.

Mike Vrabel didn't start a single game his first four years. Rob Nincovich bounced around the Saints and Dolphins practice squads before getting his first start in year five with the Pats. Some players need development, some just need a real opportunity.

 

[rkarp1]

The defense took a big hit while Spillane was out. They fell from being the best rushing defense in the NFL to outside the top five. More importantly is what we saw with our eyes.

Gibbens was not big or stout enough to stick his head in there and play traditional inside LB, he wasn't fast or athletic enough to do Ellis's job either. Tavai was toast.

They moved on from Gibbens because the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. The Cards didn't pay him that much, the Pats knew they could do better for less money. Younger, better, cheaper.

They've brought four rookie LB'ers to camp and want to get a better look at Muma... they'll find at least one, maybe two players from this group better than last year's backups.

not true
the Cards gave Gibbons $4m guaranteed
too much for a back up LB
perhaps the Pats find a back up. but today, there isn't one on the roster
hopefully that changes

 

[Zuma]

Mike Vrabel didn't start a single game his first four years.

We should bring Mapu back then

 

[Wozzy]

not true
the Cards gave Gibbons $4m guaranteed
too much for a back up LB
perhaps the Pats find a back up. but today, there isn't one on the roster
hopefully that changes

Dumb teams do dumb things all the time.

 

[Wozzy]

We should bring Mapu back then

They had a long look at Mapu.

They’re bringing Muma back and four rookies.

It will be a better unit barring total calamity or injury.

 

[mgteich]

Very true is why I believe Britt and Muma as well as Obiazor will be real factors.. the team likely saw Tavai and Jennings while solid players here weren't in the plans.. they still would have helped with the depth though.. the defensive line is the deepest part of the front..

Yes, the backups will be real factors. Unfortunately, that is the issue.

I continue to disagree with your assessment that we have a deep DL. At one point, I think that once you said "one of the best".
Barmore, Gregory, Williams, Durden, Farmer

I like our front seven "starters" if we start Durden
Williams, Barmore, Durden
Spillane, Ellis, Jones, Landry/Jacas

Vrabel is very good at finding the best schemes for the players he has. Given who we have as backups, staff will need to work very hard, especially if there are any injuries.

 

[rkarp1]

They had a long look at Mapu.

They’re bringing Muma back and four rookies.

It will be a better unit barring total calamity or injury.

Muma could not play over Mapu, or any other LB that you rip for that matter

 

[Zuma]

Spillane will be 31 this season...he will be serviceable. Ellis is average...sometimes good. After that their is nobody. I don't believe for a minute the team will play the Seahawks lacking that badly at ILB. It's still only May.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yes. He is. But WTF do you know.

The amount of work the Captain puts into being wrong is truly impressive.