Scheme implications of the Spikes pick

If BB were planning to move away from a classic 3-4 alignment, how would the Spikes pick make any sense?

1. We already have a starting ILB.

2. Spikes seems too slow, all his reaction quickness notwithstanding, to be the only ILB/MLB, even if flanked by speedsters like Mayo and Guyton. If that were the plan, wouldn't the Pats have gone w/ somebody faster?

Fencer said:

If BB were planning to move away from a classic 3-4 alignment, how would the Spikes pick make any sense?

1. We already have a starting ILB.

2. Spikes seems too slow, all his reaction quickness notwithstanding, to be the only ILB/MLB, even if flanked by speedsters like Mayo and Guyton. If that were the plan, wouldn't the Pats have gone w/ somebody faster?

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We are not moving away from the 3-4, we do play it on occasion. Football speed is much different from track speed. Show me one play where the ILB runs 40 yards without touching anyone.....MOOT, you make no sense:bricks:

Fencer said:

If BB were planning to move away from a classic 3-4 alignment, how would the Spikes pick make any sense?

1. We already have a starting ILB.

2. Spikes seems too slow, all his reaction quickness notwithstanding, to be the only ILB/MLB, even if flanked by speedsters like Mayo and Guyton. If that were the plan, wouldn't the Pats have gone w/ somebody faster?

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First off, there were plenty of circumstances behind Spike's 40 number (wet field, actual grass vs. Field turf). One of the things that should be telling in regards to his 40 is that his 3 cone shuttle was a 6.97 at the combine. That's WR ability.

As the SILB, Spikes is responsible for, roughly, 75% of the field. Mayo, at WILB, is also responsible for 75% of the field.

It's unlikely that Spikes is going to be asked to play a lot of MAN coverage, but he can do so. He also can play in the zone coverage schemes. Not only that, he's got the ability to take on guards and not get pushed around.

Spikes also has the ability to read and react the way Bruschi used to. So, he doesn't need ELITE speed inside.

That being said, I believe you are correct in that the Patriots are going to be using more 30 fronts than 40 fronts this year.

DaBruinz said:

First off, there were plenty of circumstances behind Spike's 40 number (wet field, actual grass vs. Field turf). One of the things that should be telling in regards to his 40 is that his 3 cone shuttle was a 6.97 at the combine. That's WR ability.

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In his press conference Belichick said Mayo is about as fast Tackle to Tackle as Mayo. I understood that the 40 wasn't wholly relevant but that was still interesting - and surprising.

BelichickFan said:

In his press conference Belichick said Mayo is about as fast Tackle to Tackle as Mayo. I understood that the 40 wasn't wholly relevant but that was still interesting - and surprising.

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Against all my instincts to agree with you, In this I have to agree... Mayo is as fast as himself between the tackles, which is interesting, but not so surprising...

mcgraw_wv said:

Against all my instincts to agree with you, In this I have to agree... Mayo is as fast as himself between the tackles, which is interesting, but not so surprising...

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I dunno, Mayo looked a little slower than Mayo this past season.

mcgraw_wv said:

Against all my instincts to agree with you, In this I have to agree... Mayo is as fast as himself between the tackles, which is interesting, but not so surprising...

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I don't follow...








:singing:

mcgraw_wv said:

Against all my instincts to agree with you, In this I have to agree... Mayo is as fast as himself between the tackles, which is interesting, but not so surprising...

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Ooopsy

That was meant to be SPIKES is about as fast between the tackles as Mayo; so said Belichick.

Spikes = 3-4. It has to. Mayo's not coming off the field on any down or in any allignment. That means if Spikes is on the field he's at SILB, SLB, or in some funky blitzing/run stopping package.

He's not in anyway a 4-3 SLB, so you can discount option 2, and pretty much discard option 3 because those types of formations are seen only a couple of times a game. That means it has to be option 1.

I've been sure we would approach 2010 as a 4-3 team, but now I'm certain it's back with the 3-4.

BelichickFan said:

In his press conference Belichick said Mayo is about as fast Tackle to Tackle as Mayo. I understood that the 40 wasn't wholly relevant but that was still interesting - and surprising.

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I believe you are correct, Sir! I hear they are identical in almost every way possible.

I love the pick.....BB took a "football player" as opposed to a combine freak....Spikes has just made plays in the SEC.....I love this pick and pretty soon we will be fielding Florida's whole team next season....lol

Spikes and Mayo on early downs, different combos with Mayo and Guyton or whoever otherwise.

I thought they might go vet at ILB, but I am psyched for some young, enthusiastic LBs.

It's been so long since we had top players in their prime at the position that watching the growing pains shouldn't be too bad.

Not only does the Spikes pick appear to strongly support the 3-4 but also it appears to me that not drafting another DE also indicates the 3-4. I think BB is confident that he can man the third DL position from Wright, Pryor, Brace, the two new JAGs, Richards, etc.

Also, I think with both Spikes and Mckenzie at ILB, BB will likely shift Guyton to OLB as the Thomas replacement. That may well be his more natural position anyway and is where he played in college.

Fencer said:

2. Spikes seems too slow, all his reaction quickness notwithstanding, to be the only ILB/MLB, even if flanked by speedsters like Mayo and Guyton. If that were the plan, wouldn't the Pats have gone w/ somebody faster?

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I will take instinct and playmaker over speed every single time.

Just ask Uncle Al how speed works out for you.

willdeespats said:

Not only does the Spikes pick appear to strongly support the 3-4 but also it appears to me that not drafting another DE also indicates the 3-4. I think BB is confident that he can man the third DL position from Wright, Pryor, Brace, the two new JAGs, Richards, etc.

Also, I think with both Spikes and Mckenzie at ILB, BB will likely shift Guyton to OLB as the Thomas replacement. That may well be his more natural position anyway and is where he played in college.

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Guyton doesn't shed tackles well enough to be the Thomas replacement, and needs 10+lbs of sand in his pants to set the edge vs. Tackles...he had enough trouble with Guards.

Guyton is a nickle ILB though and through.

Umm, I don't know what you're talking about.
Spikes will play SILB and Mayo will be WILB.
Spikes will be the thumper in the middle and Mayo will be counted on to make sideline to sideline plays with his range.
They seem like very good complementary players and if anything even MORE strongly indicates that the 3-4 remains in favor with BB.

We are certainly all set at insider linebacker. We have 4 young backers, 2 with elite speed (Mayo and Guyton) who will play weakside ILB and two that are monsters (McKenzie and Spikes) that are best suited for strong side ILB. Hopefully the outside linebackers pan out jut as well.

bigcountry75 said:

I love the pick.....BB took a "football player" as opposed to a combine freak....Spikes has just made plays in the SEC.....I love this pick and pretty soon we will be fielding Florida's whole team next season....lol

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BTW As I write this, they are in the 6th round....Who are the best Florida players still available?

capetide said:

BTW As I write this, they are in the 6th round....Who are the best Florida players still available?

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LOL.

As for the rest:

1. Good point re workout numbers, but I still think a 4-3 MLB can be forced into footraces often enough that being slow is a liability. Less so in a 3-4.

2. Unless somebody thinks one of Mayo or Spikes is moving outside in a 4-3, the plan is presumably for them to play side by side in a 3-4. That's really my main point.

3. Good point about us not drafting any DEs. Pure 3-4 DEs are very hard to find. If we were shifting to a 4-3, it presumably would have been easier to find somebody.