Are we set at LB?

[mgteich]

Obviously, Vrabel need to assess roles, but do we need any competition from a new acquisition?

I have White as a lock, and list him as a 7th DL.
=============
OLB
Landry, Jennings, Chaisson, Swinson

ILB
Spillane, Ellis, Tavai, Gibbens, (or Mapu)
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I expect the normal injury in camp in which case one of the above will be gone (my guess in Mapu, but it could be Tavai or Jennings).

 

[p8ryts]

We have potential for decent LB's, don't see any difference makers there, or any thumpers. Some might emerge, Chaisson, Swinson or Mapu, but we don't have any reason to expect them to be above average.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think they can add competition at LB, and should be looking at trade possibilities and releases.

 

[signbabybrady]

No one spectacular but in today's NFL I think it's a pretty good group.

I was a little concerned about depth hearing about Tavai's injury but even then I think I was wrong depth isn't that bad and seemingly we may have dodged a bullet with Tavai reportedly being back for TC.

Would it be nice to have a true top end talent in their prime obviously but I'd rather have the 3 DL that we have then have 2 of those 3 and a similar skilled LB instead.

 

[TommyD4207]

Considering they'll probably only play 2 as opposed to the 3 or 4 at a time from year's past, they're probably fine.

As @captain stone likes to say, and I completely agree with him, there are a handful of guys sitting on their couch right now, as good or better than the LBs at the bottom of the roster here, so bringing one or two in wouldn't be the worst thing. But LB in general is being phased out in the traditional sense. I'd much rather see some EDGE depth, a nose-tackle-type DT or a 4th CB before I'm really worried about who the 5th LB is.

 

[farn]

Who on that list is here to excite and make key plays when it counts ? Seems like a decent enough group, but one of the things NE has lacked in recent seasons : the guy who gets it done at the most crucial spots to make a true difference.

I hope a few of these guys step up.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I think it's the end of the line for one of the most bizarre drafts picks in Mapu. Is he still a S or is he going to try to play LB? The problem is he doesn't even know what he wants to do since the day he was drafted. I've tried looking up what he played in college or what he's projected to play, but can't get a clear answer. It's always different depending on where you look.

It's going to be a battle between Jennings and Chaisson. Swinson is on the outside looking in.

I see an injury settlement for Tavai.

 

[State]

Swinson is on the outside looking in.

I am confused by this statement.

 

[State]

As @captain stone likes to say, and I completely agree with him, there are a handful of guys sitting on their couch right now, as good or better than the LBs at the bottom of the roster here, so bringing one or two in wouldn't be the worst thing.

Or, better yet, draft one. In Captain Stone’s many mocks he went out of his way to draft Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman. Dude fell to the fourth round. A shocker.

I can see him having a highly productive ten year nfl career at middle linebacker.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I think it's the end of the line for one of the most bizarre drafts picks in Mapu. Is he still a S or is he going to try to play LB? The problem is he doesn't even know what he wants to do since the day he was drafted. I've tried looking up what he played in college or what he's projected to play, but can't get a clear answer. It's always different depending on where you look.

It's going to be a battle between Jennings and Chaisson. Swinson is on the outside looking in.

I see an injury settlement for Tavai.

He should be a Fast/Light linebacker IMHO.
I've been saying that for awhile.
He's not a safety Imo.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I am confused by this statement.

He's a 5th round pick competing with Jennings who can show his value by setting the edge and Chiasson who just had a career high in sacks with 5. If White stays at "OLB", then the odds get worse for him.

He should be a Fast/Light linebacker IMHO.
I've been saying that for awhile.
He's not a safety Imo.

That's his best bet. However, the problem is that he's competing with Ellis and Gibbens to get time on the field. Even at his brief time at LB, his reaction to plays have been really poor - like Madden AI bad. No matter what position he tries to play, he's on the outside looking in.

 

[mgteich]

I think it's the end of the line for one of the most bizarre drafts picks in Mapu. Is he still a S or is he going to try to play LB? The problem is he doesn't even know what he wants to do since the day he was drafted. I've tried looking up what he played in college or what he's projected to play, but can't get a clear answer. It's always different depending on where you look.

It's going to be a battle between Jennings and Chaisson. Swinson is on the outside looking in.

I see an injury settlement for Tavai.

Please list your likely linebackers. You seem to have Mapu out as well as Swinson. In addition, you lose one of Chaisson and Jennings.

I count that you lose 3 of Jennings, Chaisson, Mapu and Swinson. I lose one.

Am I missing something?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Please list your likely linebackers. You seem to have Mapu out as well as Swinson. In addition, you lose one of Chaisson and Jennings.

I count that you lose 3 of Jennings, Chaisson, Mapu and Swinson. I lose one.

Am I missing something?

Mapu is in no man's land. He seems to be a position less player.

If White stays at LB, someone could be out between him, Chaisson, Jennings and Swinson. My guess is Swinson.

 

[mgteich]

Mapu is in no man's land. He seems to be a position less player.

If White stays at LB, someone could be out between him, Chaisson, Jennings and Swinson. My guess is Swinson.

I expect that White will get more reps at DE than he will at OLB.

In the end, we are discussing the 15th player up front. You have 14 which can certainly work.
DL 6
EDGE/OLB 4
ILB 4

As I posted earlier, I suspect that an injury among the LB's during camp will make this issue moot.

Of course, some are outraged that you would even consider cutting their binky 5th rounder.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

IMHO?
White lines up up with Barmore and Milton for the most part...and those 3 create HAVOCK up the middle. This front is going to SMASH the middle of the opponent this year.
We'll see.

 

[Wozzy]

The Outside Linebacker group is stacked. The ILB group is bolstered by the Strong Safety group, which is stacked.

DT is a bigger question mark with Barmore’s health, if healthy this defense has very few question marks.

 

[mgteich]

IMHO?
White lines up up with Barmore and Milton for the most part...and those 3 create HAVOCK up the middle. This front is going to SMASH the middle of the opponent this year.
We'll see.

I agree.

However, SOMETIMES a 3-4 team actually plays a 3-4 including a nose tackle. Both Barmore and Milton are undersized for that role.

 

[Raccoonsuit]

I think it's 1 of the top needs for next offseason.

 

[BTTA]

LB, S, OL, WR, TE have a whole lot of average, which may be enough to allow other groups to shine this year. To be a contender, they need to add one excellent player to each of those groups, or at least three of the five That's the 2026 task. If the QB develops as hoped, could be fun to be a Pats fan again.

But I don't see how they add excellence at this point, at LB our anywhere else.

 

[signbabybrady]

LB, S, OL, WR, TE have a whole lot of average, which may be enough to allow other groups to shine this year. To be a contender, they need to add one excellent player to each of those groups, or at least three of the five That's the 2026 task. If the QB develops as hoped, could be fun to be a Pats fan again.

But I don't see how they add excellence at this point, at LB our anywhere else.

Some of that needs to be developed from within.