Someone tell me why Mayo and Crable are going to buck the Pats LB trend

Ochmed Jones said:

Gilberry of Alabama led the nation in tackles for Loss last season.

I doubt Mayo makes it through the entire season healthy. I'm guessing his shoulder is the first part of body to get destroyed.

Crable in 2008 is ST material with occasional spot/mop up duty in the base defense.

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I think you were trying to correct Russ Francis' statement that he thought Crable led the nation in tackles for loss last season. I know these things aren't an exact science and different teams credit these things differently but as far as I can tell according to cfbstats.com, he is correct. Crable had 28.5 and Gillberry had 27. Both in 13 games.

http://www.cfbstats.com/2007/player/418/61702/index.html

http://www.cfbstats.com/2007/player/8/73076/index.html

onegameatatime said:

If the Pats liked Crable so much, why were they willing to take a chance of him being snatched by someone else?

As it turns out, if they truly were going to use the 1st 3rd rounder for Crable, that means they got a second rounder next year and Matt Slater for a seventh rounder. Not bad.

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He's a Tweener. Too small to be a 4-3 End and not a 4-3 ILB. Perfect for a 3-4 OLB.

Size, experience, versatility. How often have linebackers with these characteristics fallen to the Pats in the draft. I believe that BB does not believe in spending high value draft picks in a conversion projects. This year, there happened to be some college LBs who fit the system, and who have the combination of raw talent, smarts and versatility to fit the system.

Ochmed Jones said:

Gilberry of Alabama led the nation in tackles for Loss last season.

I doubt Mayo makes it through the entire season healthy. I'm guessing his shoulder is the first part of body to get destroyed.

Crable in 2008 is ST material with occasional spot/mop up duty in the base defense.

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So, why do you believe that Mayo's shoulder is the "first part of his body to get destroyed?" Just the fact that you've posted how vehemently against the pick of Mayo you are?

KontradictioN said:

I might as well post this in here instead of starting a new thread: Am I the only person that thinks that Crable will make a more immediate impact on the defense than Mayo?

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I think you are. Mayo plays a position that can start sooner than most positions can start, especially if Mayo has Bruschi next to him so that Mayo doesn't have to make calls.

stinkypete said:

Size, experience, versatility. How often have linebackers with these characteristics fallen to the Pats in the draft. I believe that BB does not believe in spending high value draft picks in a conversion projects. This year, there happened to be some college LBs who fit the system, and who have the combination of raw talent, smarts and versatility to fit the system.

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I nominate this for the most insightful post of the day. I agree; this year's LB draftees were different from what was available last year and the year before.

after the fact rumor has it they have been interested in top LBs in the past, but they were off the board before we drafted. I remember it coming up a few times, but one name I distinctly remember them having interest in was Vilma

Look how badass Crable is

rusH1023 said:

Belichick DOES draft linebackers -- just never at the top of the draft. This isn't the first time he's done it, just the first time he's done it so high and, plain and simple, you probably heard him say it -- he wants to get younger on the defensive side. Time to get some youth and talent, obviously. This is just the next piece of the puzzle.

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Well, he does draft placekickers too. Did that obvious comment add anything?

1) We were very good on Defense last year
2) These guys are fast and Smart leaders and top performers among thier piers
3) They are young and have the potential to be probowlers
4) Crable may become a Tulla Banta Cain situational guy but potentially could be an elephant like Mcginest with development.
5) Comeon Mayo is very fast. Anyone with 140 tackles last year and 4.5 speed ought to make a significant contribution.
6) Intangibles and Potential in 3 years this may be our best draft ever...
But regardless we need to be optomistic
7) I really believe we improved our team at least 3 maybe 6 spots:
Punter
Backup QB
Starting LB
Backup LB
Backup CB
STer
8) The offense may well play better with a better D and Special teams play.

DaBruinz said:

So, why do you believe that Mayo's shoulder is the "first part of his body to get destroyed?" Just the fact that you've posted how vehemently against the pick of Mayo you are?

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I've heard that Patrick Willis' shoulders are impervious to injury.

stinkypete said:

Size, experience, versatility. How often have linebackers with these characteristics fallen to the Pats in the draft. I believe that BB does not believe in spending high value draft picks in a conversion projects. This year, there happened to be some college LBs who fit the system, and who have the combination of raw talent, smarts and versatility to fit the system.

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I'm just having a tough time convincing myself of the shere coincidence and good luck that after failing to find even ONE worthy LB in the draft over the past several years, and at the time when we have the most intense need, we just so happen to find not one, but two LBs who everyone is convinced has no chance of turning out like BB's handpicked free agent, Monty Biesel.

History indicates that had we not had a high need at LB this season, BB likely would have passed on all the LBs just like he always does. I'm not saying Mayo and Crable aren't the best fit that were out there - I just think its far too early for everyone to assume they are the second coming of Mike Vrable, with no possibility of being Monty Biesel.

I don't think they like drafting LBs high because of the learning curve.

They brought in Dom Capers hoping they could accelerate that process because they have failed to inject youth and speed through the FA process.

That is what I think.

I also don't think BB is going to reveal to us and every team in the league whether he changed plans or it just worked out for LB picks this year.

It could also be a philosophy change to more speed in general. We'll have to wait and see about that.

I really don't think that Bill Belichick has changed one bit.He just views these two linebackers as "The best value" on the board at the time.Even He right now doesn't know if these guys can play but I think Bill knows what He is doing so I give Him the benefit of the doubt. We'll see soon if they can play.

NoCal Patriot said:

I really don't think that Bill Belichick has changed one bit.He just views these two linebackers as "The best value" on the board at the time.Even He right now doesn't know if these guys can play but I think Bill knows what He is doing so I give Him the benefit of the doubt. We'll see soon if they can play.

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Sedrick Ellis wasn't good value?

NoCal Patriot said:

I really don't think that Bill Belichick has changed one bit.He just views these two linebackers as "The best value" on the board at the time.Even He right now doesn't know if these guys can play but I think Bill knows what He is doing so I give Him the benefit of the doubt. We'll see soon if they can play.

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So need didn't factor into it?

Well thank goodness that, unlike every other year, LBs represented value on the board right when we were picking in a year when we had a high need for LBs.

Mayo definitely contributes this year, starting on 3rd downs and playing as many reps as a starter or starting at 1 linebacker position (thank you, versatility.)

Crable plays special teams and listens to people make Crable/Vrabel jokes for a year or two, and develops... unless he surprises everyone.

I don't think Mayo was selected to sit, even given that the Pats have a history of sitting rookies and not just at LB. ("Callin all cahs callin all farkin cahs, be on the lookout for Chad Johnson, last sighted in 2005...") Okay, so Chad had a chance or two... but the puppies are all on short leashes in NE. Still, we picked Mayo at 10, not in the 30s where we got CJ. He's expected to play.

Of course all we can do is argue about it until training camp... and I hope we get Mrs. B info this year, because that's the best prognosticating info we get on this roster (plus it makes it feel like you're there, but without all the shvitzing).

PFnV

JoeSixPat said:

So need didn't factor into it?

Well thank goodness that, unlike every other year, LBs represented value on the board right when we were picking in a year when we had a high need for LBs.

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Thank goodness for those fortunate coincidences.

Junior looks good, but I'm not sure he could have held the fort through another 6 years in which LBs didn't fall right into place as they did this year.

Has there ever been a 45 year old linebacker?

No, I'm not going to bump every thread where I predicted the Patriots would be forced to draft day one linebackers, because I'm not like that.*

* (it was 3 rounds then)

RayClay said:

Sedrick Ellis wasn't good value?

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Ray ,I never said that Sedrick Ellis wasn't great value.I just think that on this occasion need and value happened to match for The Patriots.