Is this the best linebacking corps we’ve had?

mosslost said:

Tippett is the best Linebacker the Patriots ever had. Steve Nelson was amazing as well. We have championship bias a lot when analyzing "best ever" Patriot stuff. John Hannah has no close second for best OLineman Patriot ever as well.

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Funny story.. as a kid after a pats game my parents drove us down the street to a mexican restaurant where we ran into a number of Patriots players in the lobby getting a table.... I proceeded to throw up all over Tippett's legs and shoes... think it must've been around 1985 or so.. some splatter hit Mosi Tatupu as well... my dad was so proud.

Tough to say. I do think the outstanding secondary allows a lot of flexibility in the front 6 or 7 scheme-wise, perhaps enhancing the output of the LBs. The 80s LBs were the D and may have salivated at playing under BB with this secondary. Yet back then, LBs were run thumpers and edge rushers almost exclusively as passing games, particularly involving RBs, weren't as mature as today. Today's LB crew is much better in coverage out of necessity due to the way the game is played today.

Regards,
Chris

That's a really good question. Almost 1/2 way there, but I'll see how the rest of the season plays out.

I think this group has the most talent.

But I don’t think you can beat the depth the 03-04 LB groups had. It was a stupid amount of depth... we had so many guys.

Before Colvin was hurt early in 03, we had Willie, Mike, Rosie, Tedy Bruschi, Ted Johnson and Roman Phifer. SIX high quality LB’s.


And I believe all those guys actually remained healthy in 04 as well.

pats_premi said:

What’s changed for Patriots defense for them to play at the current level ? Is it the scheme/coaching ? Players ? All of the above ?

Earlier part of last season, I thought the Patriots defense lacked speed and their LB’s couldn’t cover RB on swing passes. I don’t see that anymore. They added Collins and lost Flowers.

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They have finally decided to play their pre-season defense for the entire year.

Hard to compare eras....different style of play...

But, I'd put these guys in the top 5, IMO.

What this defense is doing isn't supposed to happen in the NFL

They stacked at all levels... They're not going to slip .. they are not reliant on 1 or 2 guys

Bruschi, McGinest, Vrabel, then a fourth of any of Johnson/Phifer/Colvin was awfully good. This LB crew is awfully good, but I don't think I can call them our best.

Not sure if it's our best LB group, but I think this could be our best use of a defensive scheme for our LB group.

I was a teenager in the early 80's in Stoughton. I was new to Karate at the time. In walks Tippett to the club. I knew it was him because he and several other Pats lived in Greentree or Greenbrook (forgot the correct name...one of those is in Weymouth where i lived too). Apparently I was assigned to spar against Tip and he was already a blackbelt in something else. So yeah...it was intimidating...and awesome at the same time.

EDIT: yeah it was Greenbrook in Stoughton. Whole bunch of Pats lived there in the early 80's.....condos. During the off-season they would shoot hoops at the court there at Greenbrook.

Tippett is my all-time fav LB

UptownPatsFan said:

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I think I found out the secret of this defense. We're playing 14 guys!

mosslost said:

Tippett is the best Linebacker the Patriots ever had. Steve Nelson was amazing as well. We have championship bias a lot when analyzing "best ever" Patriot stuff. John Hannah has no close second for best OLineman Patriot ever as well.

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Sure he does - Leon Gray. At least according to him.

State said:

I don’t think we are appreciating our current crop of LBers. They are difference makers. They have size, athleticism, and versatility.

KVN, Collins, and a rejuvenated Hightower are better than any other three in Patriots history. And I loved the Tippett, Blackmon, Nelson group.

But facts are facts.

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We're trying to compare a 4-3 group with a 3-4 group so that becomes kind of difficult.

Absolutely, it is. The responsibilities required for linebackers in the modern game is much different than teams of the past. Rushing the passer and stopping the run used to be the overwhelming responsibilities. Now there’s so much more coverage responsibility, and you have a lot of short passes and running backs catching passes. The rules make it much harder to avoid holding penalties and get really physical too.

While we are on the subject, how on earth did Kyle Van Noy end up here for a 7th/6th round draft pick swap? With all the things this guy can do, how were the Lions that incompetent to not even maximize one of his skills?

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

While we are on the subject, how on earth did Kyle Van Noy end up here for a 7th/6th round draft pick swap? With all the things this guy can do, how were the Lions that incompetent to not even maximize one of his skills?

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I might be remembering it wrong, but he wasn't exactly a stud when he first came here either, right? Took awhile for him to develop.

We need to appreciate the great linebacking we are getting this season.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

While we are on the subject, how on earth did Kyle Van Noy end up here for a 7th/6th round draft pick swap? With all the things this guy can do, how were the Lions that incompetent to not even maximize one of his skills?

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It took him until 2018 to look like a good NFL football player.