Are we set at LB?

[Huckleberry1]

As a sub package, Tonga, Williams, Barmore with Landry and White as OLB. and the 3 big safeties in (Spillane/mapu), Peppers and Duggar. And the 3 CBs.

I’m really curious to see what Veabel means by a 3-4 base, I don’t believe it will be anything like the 3-4 Belichick ran. I just think it’s the optimal shape to run all of their sub packages out of, because Barmore, Williams, and White are going to get more DaL snaps than anyone else.

 

[TheRainMaker]

White will primarily be inside. His skill set is that of an interior rusher. Expect the interior rush to be a real emphasis this season. Edge rushers can be neutralized at times, as we've seen..by chip blocks and blocking scheme. The interior rush is hard on OGs and Cs. Brady said it before he hated teams that had dominant interior rushers. Don't forget farmer as well..

It doesn't look like White will be inside as of right now from OTA's. Taylor Kyles only saw him line up on the outside which is where he actually should be. Barmore and Williams are going to be the inside rushers and a combo of Landry, White, Chaisson, Swinson, etc. will be on the outside.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Actually Rainmaker we are allowed to have our own opinions on who will make the team and who won’t. You are welcome to hold us to them when the time comes, but until then I’ll disagree all I want to. I think both Chism and Swinson will be on the final roster, we’ll see who is right?

Of course.

I’m really curious to see what Veabel means by a 3-4 base, I don’t believe it will be anything like the 3-4 Belichick ran. I just think it’s the optimal shape to run all of their sub packages out of, because Barmore, Williams, and White are going to get more DaL snaps than anyone else.

It's not. Vrabel says will look like a 3-4, but it's a 4-3 under. The most important part is that they will be more of an attacking one gap scheme.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Of course.

It's not. Vrabel says will look like a 3-4, but it's a 4-3 under. The most important part is that they will be more of an attacking one gap scheme.

That’s what I was thinking as well, I just hadn’t heard any confirmation of it.

 

[Real fan 02]

It doesn't look like White will be inside as of right now from OTA's. Taylor Kyles only saw him line up on the outside which is where he actually should be. Barmore and Williams are going to be the inside rushers and a combo of Landry, White, Chaisson, Swinson, etc. will be on the outside.

Thank you for the clip rain.. I know that it's just OTAs,so.. I'm curious to see if he will continue to line up there in camp. Very interesting though..

 

[PatMan]

The more I watch some on the tape on Swinson, Jennings, and White the more excited I get about the season. Some version of those three on the field with Barmore and Williams will be really hard for offensive lines to handle.

 

[mgteich]

The more I watch some on the tape on Swinson, Jennings, and White the more excited I get about the season. Some version of those three on the field with Barmore and Williams will be really hard for offensive lines to handle.

and Landry is on the bench?

 

[Real fan 02]

The more I watch some on the tape on Swinson, Jennings, and White the more excited I get about the season. Some version of those three on the field with Barmore and Williams will be really hard for offensive lines to handle.

Agreed and add farmer to that mix too

 

[signbabybrady]

and Landry is on the bench?

 

[Real fan 02]

Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection Before Start Of Mandatory Minicamp

The New England Patriots will take the field on Monday for the start of Mandatory Minicamp, so here is an early 53-man roster projection.

nesn.com

2025 NFL linebacker unit rankings: Eagles, Patriots carry elite units

We're diving into the league's top linebacker corps ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

www.pff.com

 

[Real fan 02]

and Landry is on the bench?

Another thing of note. The bye isn't until week 14, im sure Vrabel and his staff will do everything to manage guys and not push them to the extreme during practices during the season. We need guys healthy as can be especially down the stretch because im confident we will be playing for something this season.

 

[Wozzy]

I’m really curious to see what Veabel means by a 3-4 base, I don’t believe it will be anything like the 3-4 Belichick ran. I just think it’s the optimal shape to run all of their sub packages out of, because Barmore, Williams, and White are going to get more DaL snaps than anyone else.

The modern game changed, not the systems. The bones are still 3/4, you just rarely see that exact alignment because passing has become so prevalent in the NFL.

You mostly see now what would have passed for nickel defenses 10-20 years ago. Teams no longer roster four stud DT’s who can also play nose tackle (Washington, Seymour, Warren, Wilfork) instead teams only roster 1-2 of these guys and maybe keep one big run stuffer on the practice squad.

A guy like Mike Wright who was a situational interior pass rusher for the Pats decades ago is now more common as an every down player. Decades ago Milton Williams would only have played DE in a 4/3 defense, now he’s a higher snap guy because DLinemen have to play more snaps, they have to be able to stuff the run and rush the passer and stay on the field.

The system is still 3/4, but it looks like a four man front because of alignments.

Something like this, starters in bold with a lot of rotating based on down and distance:

DT – Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Jahvaree Ritzie,
DE – Milton Williams, Keion White,
SLB – Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, K'Lavon Chaisson, Bradyn Swinson, Elijah Ponder,
MLB – Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens,
WLB – Christian Elliss,
SS – Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Marcus Epps, Brenden Schooler,
FS – Craig Woodson,
BIG CB – Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Miles Battle,
SLOT CB – Marcus Jones, Marcellas Dial,

 

[Real fan 02]

The modern game changed, not the systems. The bones are still 3/4, you just rarely see that exact alignment because passing has become so prevalent in the NFL.

You mostly see now what would have passed for nickel defenses 10-20 years ago. Teams no longer roster four stud DT’s who can also play nose tackle (Washington, Seymour, Warren, Wilfork) instead teams only roster 1-2 of these guys and maybe keep one big run stuffer on the practice squad.

A guy like Mike Wright who was a situational interior pass rusher for the Pats decades ago is now more common as an every down player. Decades ago Milton Williams would only have played DE in a 4/3 defense, now he’s a higher snap guy because DLinemen have to play more snaps, they have to be able to stuff the run and rush the passer and stay on the field.

The system is still 3/4, but it looks like a four man front because of alignments.

Something like this, starters in bold with a lot of rotating based on down and distance:

DT – Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Jahvaree Ritzie,
DE – Milton Williams, Keion White,
SLB – Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, K'Lavon Chaisson, Bradyn Swinson, Elijah Ponder,
MLB – Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens,
WLB – Christian Elliss,
SS – Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Marcus Epps, Brenden Schooler,
FS – Craig Woodson,
BIG CB – Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Miles Battle,
SLOT CB – Marcus Jones, Marcellas Dial,

Wozzy, the interesting thing is Williams is listed as a DE, but he plays inside?

 

[Wozzy]

Wozzy, the interesting thing is Williams is listed as a DE, but he plays inside?

He’s similar to Trey Flowers only a lot more talented. BB used to move Flowers inside on passing downs. Usually that comes down to strength, both players were strong enough to do it and athletic enough to be a nightmare mismatch.

 

[Real fan 02]

He’s similar to Trey Flowers only a lot more talented. BB used to move Flowers inside on passing downs. Usually that comes down to strength, both players were strong enough to do it and athletic enough to be a nightmare mismatch.

Got it. I remember flowers had a big impact on the interior. That's what a great defense does. Interior rushers can wreck your entire offense. It puts direct pressure on the C who's snapping the ball. Barmore, Williams, farmer and white will be a menace for OLs

 

[Wozzy]

Got it. I remember flowers had a big impact on the interior. That's what a great defense does. Interior rushers can wreck your entire offense. It puts direct pressure on the C who's snapping the ball. Barmore, Williams, farmer and white will be a menace for OLs

Agreed, especially since White is similar to Williams. They have a lot of position flexibility. They need a healthy Barmore to make it all work though.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agreed, especially since White is similar to Williams. They have a lot of position flexibility. They need a healthy Barmore to make it all work though.

Agreed. Barmore looks excellent. He's got a clean bill of health, truthfully he should have never played last season. Something like what he and Andrews dealt with is a season ending situation.

Depth on the DL is paramount. We need to rotate guys in and out to stay fresh.. Jennings is also a guy who can play on the edges at DL/LB as well. Rob ninkovich thrived in that role

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed. Barmore looks excellent. He's got a clean bill of health, truthfully he should have never played last season. Something like what he and Andrews dealt with is a season ending situation.

Sometimes career ending, pray for health.

Depth on the DL is paramount. We need to rotate guys in and out to stay fresh.. Jennings is also a guy who can play on the edges at DL/LB as well. Rob ninkovich thrived in that role

At OLB they are stacked with Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, K'Lavon Chaisson, Bradyn Swinson and Elijah Ponder,

That’s ^ an over abundance of talent. Obviously the young guys have a lot to prove, but they have the talent and some great role models to emulate ahead of them on the depth chart.

Jennings has some Donta Hightower type flexibility where he could come inside and play that thumping Ted Johnson role in spurts. These guys will have to show some of that flexibility, because all their other LB’ers on the roster are smallish weakside LB types.

 

[Real fan 02]

Sometimes career ending, pray for health.

At OLB they are stacked with Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, K'Lavon Chaisson, Bradyn Swinson and Elijah Ponder,

That’s ^ an over abundance of talent. Obviously the young guys have a lot to prove, but they have the talent and some great role models to emulate ahead of them on the depth chart.

Jennings has some Donta Hightower type flexibility where he could come inside and play that thumping Ted Johnson role in spurts. These guys will have to show some of that flexibility, because all their other LB’ers on the roster are smallish weakside LB types.

Correct, Vrabel likes smaller, faster strong LBs that can interchange and move. Jennings is one of the best edge setters in the game. A guy who can thrive under Vrabel. He's part of the culture as well.

 

[patfanken]

IMHO, Mapu is a player who needs to be in a system that fit his particular skill set. I believe they drafted him to be the long (6'3) impact SS with LB flexibility. They took a shot at finding a gem at a small school. If he were drafted in the 5th round instead of the mid-third he wouldn't have been such a polarizing figure. But that's the draft.

However, it will be the scheme and what they want him to be and do that will determine his future success. I see him as a specialty LB. A guy you use against certain offenses and player combinations. He's up to 230 now (from 217) and is big enough to play any of the LB slots where his speed (4.6), coverage experience and quickness will be an advantage in certain schemes. You DON'T play him in schemes that would force him to take on OLmen one on one. In space he can be an effective defender and a solid contributor to a good defense playing 30-40% of the defensive snaps.