AD taking some ILB snaps in nickel situations

[14thDragon]

I would be a little weary of jumping on the Guyton bandwagon just yet. It seems that every year there is a low round or undrafted rookie that appears to be a stud in the preseason that never makes it to the Patriots 53 man roster (Lua, Patrick Cobbs, etc.). Guyton may buck the trend, but I won't get my hopes up until at least after the 3rd preseason game.

I go under the why not label. Youth and speed on defense is something that is badly needed, especially at LB. Before Maroney it was the same story at RB. So the tendency is to look for something out of the new guys to become the starters of the future.

Why not 8 rotational LB's?

Mostly becuase I only have 7 LBs on the game day roster. I leave one spot open for a special teams ace. Just the way I count it up. 8 is fine if you have that many for the 45.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'm sorry, but I still think there is a very good chance that Guyton doesn't even make the team other than on the practice squad.

Everyone was just as high on Oscar Lua last preseason. Yes, he had an injury that landed him on IR, but was he injured enough to lose him for the entire year or enough that it was worth IRing him to protect him without taking a roster spot (He was IRed after the last preseason game so he might not have had that bad of an injury at all). He was cut this past offseason without even getting a shot to build on what he did last preseason and win a roster spot. He was a stud last preseason, even playing better than Guyton did in his first game.

I would be a little weary of jumping on the Guyton bandwagon just yet. It seems that every year there is a low round or undrafted rookie that appears to be a stud in the preseason that never makes it to the Patriots 53 man roster (Lua, Patrick Cobbs, etc.). Guyton may buck the trend, but I won't get my hopes up until at least after the 3rd preseason game.

Lua in camp last year did not perform nearly as well as Guyton has so far. Last season was a desert at LB. Justin Rodgers showed better and also did well LATE in pre-season games. BB keeping Chad Brown over Rogers was a mistake in hindsight. I think that BB has once again taken a hard look at his own decision making process and we may see some new 2008 type thinking.

The critical weeks for all these bubble guys are now upon us.

EDIT: P.S. The Capers input to the decision factor could also change historical trends in this season's D

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

It was still one game. You were right about Lua, but we don't know yet about Guyton. I just don't get too excited either way based on one preseason game about any player. Guyton could be closer to a David Givens type of player (a guy who people gave little shot of making the team at all, but ended up being a solid starter) than a Lua or Patrick Cobbs, but I guess we will have to see.

I hope you are right (well about Guyton, not Hobson) since I want to see the team get younger and better at the LB spot and not have to worry every year if this is the year that age catches up to the defense.

Caution is appropriate, but there is another judgement that appears to coincide with mine: Lua's reps came mid-late second half, Guyton's reps started at 6:12 in the 1st Quarter.

 

[Rob0729]

Caution is appropriate, but there is another judgement that appears to coincide with mine: Lua's reps came mid-late second half, Guyton's reps started at 6:12 in the 1st Quarter.

The only reason I discount this is because of the number of players who were actually out for the game and how fast they pulled other starters. I think the weather had a lot to do with it. Let's see how fast he goes in Sunday night assuming the weather is good.

 

[Rob0729]

Lua in camp last year did not perform nearly as well as Guyton has so far. Last season was a desert at LB. Justin Rodgers showed better and also did well LATE in pre-season games. BB keeping Chad Brown over Rogers was a mistake in hindsight. I think that BB has once again taken a hard look at his own decision making process and we may see some new 2008 type thinking.

The critical weeks for all these bubble guys are now upon us.

EDIT: P.S. The Capers input to the decision factor could also change historical trends in this season's D

I disagree that Lua hadn't performed as good as Guyton did so far. But I guess it is a judgement call. He had an outstanding first preseason game with 5 solo tackles (led the team in solo tackles in that game). Lua was getting as much buzz as Guyton is now in practice although admittedly I haven't seen either practice other than one practice each season and I didn't focus in on either.

I am not saying that Guyton won't make the final 53 man roster, but it is far from a lock at this point. Each year is different. So even if in hindsight Belichick regrets not keeping Rogers, doesn't mean he will keep Guyton.

My problem is that everyone thinks we will keep 6 WRs, 5 RBs, 10 LBs, etc. It seems like at every roster spot everyone wants to keep extra guys whether it is Guyton, Slater, Aiken, etc. There are just so many roster spots available and sometimes the young guys no matter how promising get cut because of concerns what they can do immediately to impact the team even if they can contribute on special teams. That is why I am not hedging my bets on Guyton at least until two more preseason games.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The only reason I discount this is because of the number of players who were actually out for the game and how fast they pulled other starters. I think the weather had a lot to do with it. Let's see how fast he goes in Sunday night assuming the weather is good.

Besides Vrabel, what linebackers were missing? Hobson and Alexander were both there and both played in the second half. Izzo was available. I'm all for playing things down, but the simple fact of this camp is the ILB depth chart is shaking out to be Bru, Mayo, Guyton, Alexander, Hobson, Izzo in that order. Adalius and Vrabel taking inside reps is dependent on Woods continuing to improve and carry the 3rd OLB's share of the load. BB has Seau on standby as soon as he's healthy, but for now...look to the rook.

 

[Rob0729]

Besides Vrabel, what linebackers were missing? Hobson and Alexander were both there and both played in the second half. Izzo was available. I'm all for playing things down, but the simple fact of this camp is the ILB depth chart is shaking out to be Bru, Mayo, Guyton, Alexander, Hobson, Izzo in that order. Adalius and Vrabel taking inside reps is dependent on Woods continuing to improve and carry the 3rd OLB's share of the load. BB has Seau on standby as soon as he's healthy, but for now...look to the rook.

Bruschi was pulled pretty quick. But maybe I overstated the inactives and pulled players. Let's see Sunday if the same rotation shakes out. Chad Jackson started and if you ask people, he is 156th on the WR depth chart right now and trending down (sorry, didn't mean to turn this into a Jackson thread, but I couldn't resist).

I think it is too early to do a depth chart after one game.

I do think it is likely Seau will be back in a Patriots uniform at the start of the season. If he does, it could be a better chance that Guyton makes the final roster. But I am still cautious..

 

[JSn]

I do think it is likely Seau will be back in a Patriots uniform at the start of the season. If he does, it could be a better chance that Guyton makes the final roster.

I'm not following you. Can you explain what you mean?

BTW, that's not baiting, it's genuine n00b interest.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I disagree that Lua hadn't performed as good as Guyton did so far. But I guess it is a judgement call. He had an outstanding first preseason game with 5 solo tackles (led the team in solo tackles in that game). Lua was getting as much buzz as Guyton is now in practice although admittedly I haven't seen either practice other than one practice each season and I didn't focus in on either.

Keep hedging your bets, but Lua's first game and Guyton's are comparable only in the sense that both payed ILB. Lua was out of position, slow on his reads, and generally clueless. That he had 5 tackles just went to show why stats aren't used to evaluate Seymour - they obscure the perspective. Guyton played his responsibilities, he did "his" job and made the rest of the team look better for it. LeKevin Smith is credited for a tackle, but Guyton made the play. Mayo dehelmeted Rice because Guyton played his responsibility (along with Santonio and Fifita) and Mayo played his - result, Patriot poetry. Guyton played all four quarters alongside Mayo and Alexander, he may have been pushed around by OL at times, but he was in the right spot for "his" assignment, Lua could never manage that.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I'm not following you. Can you explain what you mean?

BTW, that's not baiting, it's genuine n00b interest.

Many here believe that Seau's role will be to join the team in season once a starter or prime backup gets injured and cannot play.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm not following you. Can you explain what you mean?

BTW, that's not baiting, it's genuine n00b interest.

If Seau comes back, there is less of a need to keep either Alexander or Hobson to make sure there is experience at the position. Since the Pats are probably not nearly as sold on either Alexander or Hobson as they are with Seau, they are more likely to keep them both if Seau doesn't return whereas both may be cut if Seau does return because they can risk going with the less experienced Guyton.

 

[JSn]

If Seau comes back, there is less of a need to keep either Alexander or Hobson to make sure there is experience at the position. Since the Pats are probably not nearly as sold on either Alexander or Hobson as they are with Seau, they are more likely to keep them both if Seau doesn't return whereas both may be cut if Seau does return because they can risk going with the less experienced Guyton.

Gotcha. That makes good sense to me. Seau and Bru bring a ton of wisdom. A year with that kind of tutelage and our LB's take raw ability and become "weapons of pass destruction".

 

[Rob0729]

On the Seau topic, here is Profootball Weekly's take on the Seau situation:

Patriots abstaining from asking Seau back, for now

The Patriots have Junior Seau on speed dial, but they’re in no rush to call the veteran linebacker. Word we’re hearing out of Foxborough is that a season-ending injury to SS-ILB hybrid Tank Williams and the uninspiring play of free-agent pickup Victor Hobson is a bit deflating, but isn’t enough for the Pats to ask Seau back. Yet. According to a source close to the team, the decision of whether or not to offer a deal to the future Hall of Famer could hinge on how Hobson progresses through camp. Hobson earned his keep playing outside with the Jets, but the Pats envisioned him slotting inside when they signed him. There’s also the issue of whether Seau would even want to return. He’s out in his home state of California enjoying the easy-going beach life, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him slink into retirement instead of returning to football. Seau has made this much clear: If he does come back, it only will be with New England.​

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm

 

[PATRIOT64]

Just curious why everyone in here calls Adalius AD for short instead of AT- I thought just about all players were going by their initials like Brady as TB the coach as BB,Welker as WW and so on?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Just curious why everyone in here calls Adalius AD for short instead of AT- I thought just about all players were going by their initials like Brady as TB the coach as BB,Welker as WW and so on?

Reportedly he's one of twenty-eleven NFL players who goes by the nickname "All Day."

 

[khayos]

weapons of pass destruction".

Thank you thank you thank you I just laughed so hard at that.