Are we set at LB?

[Huckleberry1]

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.

He would make a good spy against guys like Lamar Jackson etc…

 

[Huckleberry1]

I could see Mapu as our 9th LB, if we have one.

I expect 4 of these on the EDGE: Landry, White, Chaisson, Jennings and Swinson
I expect these 4 inside: Spillane, Ellis, Tavai, Gibbens

I think White will fall into the DL box, not the LB box. I agree he will play Edge, I just think they will classify him as a DL.

 

[captain stone]

...I think we'll know very quickly whether he is or not. If he makes plays in the preseason, he's in. If he's one of those players that has "trouble with the playbook", then he's not.

If not Swinson, then someone like him, because I don't think Landry's gonna be enough from the edge without having a tag-team partner on the other side worthy of, if not a double-team, then at least being assigned an Offensive Tackle to block him... And I don't know about the rest of us here, but I'm not expecting much sack production from the Jennings/White/Chaisson "triumvirate" either.

 

[Real fan 02]

Although the Pats are running a completely new defense, Jennings could have an advantage over others because of his ability to set the edge, something that Vrabel took pride in during his time in NE.

I think we'll know very quickly whether he is or not. If he makes plays in the preseason, he's in. If he's one of those players that has "trouble with the playbook", then he's not.

Agreed. Guys that can set the edge will always have a place on an NFL roster. Jennings has been one of the top rated edge setting players in the league and is excellent against the run. His abilities will force teams inside to the hornets nest of Barmore, white, Williams and farmer. This front 7 will have the chance to put fear in offenses this season.

 

[rkarp1]

I think Mapu fits this defensive scheme. he plays well east to west and is a very good tackler.
he has a few very good S's ahead of him in that SS/big nickel role, so he will have to make his mark on ST.

 

[Wozzy]

They were 4-13 last year with maybe the worst roster in the league. I don't think they're stacked anywhere.

Nah, definitely among the worst offensive lines personnel wise… but the rest of their problems last year were coaching.

Basically the same defensive personnel went from 5th in points allowed (PPD) in 2023, to 27th worst last year. Top of the NFL to near dead last.

Coaching matters… no matter what the QB fanboys here say.

 

[Wozzy]

I think Mapu fits this defensive scheme. he plays well east to west and is a very good tackler.
he has a few very good S's ahead of him in that SS/big nickel role, so he will have to make his mark on ST.

And stay healthy, it’s a bad sign they’re in shorts and tees and he’s already dinged up.

 

[Wozzy]

If not Swinson, then someone like him, because I don't think Landry's gonna be enough from the edge without having a tag-team partner on the other side worthy of, if not a double-team, then at least being assigned an Offensive Tackle to block him... And I don't know about the rest of us here, but I'm not expecting much sack production from the Jennings/White/Chaisson "triumvirate" either.

They’ll play OLB Landry on one edge and White will be DE on the other. Vrabel will hopefully use a heavy rotation at OLB to keep them fresh, they certainly have enough talented bodies there. I expect White to breakout with Vrabel at the helm.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think Mapu fits this defensive scheme. he plays well east to west and is a very good tackler.
he has a few very good S's ahead of him in that SS/big nickel role, so he will have to make his mark on ST.

He just needs to remain healthy, I don't believe he's been practicing? Dealing with something from last season.. he's shown flashes that he can make plays.. but you know how it goes availability is the best ability a player can have.

 

[Real fan 02]

They’ll play OLB Landry on one edge and White will be DE on the other. Vrabel will hopefully use a heavy rotation at OLB to keep them fresh, they certainly have enough talented bodies there. I expect White to breakout with Vrabel at the helm.

Even though i thought white is an interior rusher I believe he can be interchangeable. I agree I'm expecting a break out from white as well. He has plenty of help around him now. Landry, White, are 3 down players.

 

[p8ryts]

He just needs to remain healthy, I don't believe he's been practicing? Dealing with something from last season.. he's shown flashes that he can make plays.. but you know how it goes availability is the best ability a player can have.

If he can't sustain health for the preseason, it doesn't seem like he would make the team. Maybe PS.

 

[Real fan 02]

If he can't sustain health for the preseason, it doesn't seem like he would make the team. Maybe PS.

To your point that's what I think may end up happening because teams can now stash players on the PS and call them up ok game days.. it's a nice tool to have to manage a roster. Also the short term IR as well. The train is going to continue to go and not wait for guys.

 

[Real fan 02]

If not Swinson, then someone like him, because I don't think Landry's gonna be enough from the edge without having a tag-team partner on the other side worthy of, if not a double-team, then at least being assigned an Offensive Tackle to block him... And I don't know about the rest of us here, but I'm not expecting much sack production from the Jennings/White/Chaisson "triumvirate" either.

Not that this is surprising... but i would be remiss if I didn't get the Captains take on this..

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nesn.com/2025/06/keion-white-takes-brutal-shot-at-jerod-mayo-former-patriots-staff/amp/

 

[Wozzy]

Even though i thought white is an interior rusher I believe he can be interchangeable. I agree I'm expecting a break out from white as well. He has plenty of help around him now. Landry, White, are 3 down players.

He’s uber athletic and can certainly drop back in coverage, but White has 40 pounds on Landry and the other OLB’s. He’s a true DE.

 

[Real fan 02]

He’s uber athletic and can certainly drop back in coverage, but White has 40 pounds on Landry and the other OLB’s. He’s a true DE.

Yes. Agreed. He's definitely a DL He's a power rush type of player, those guys thrive inside. But white can play inside and out, he also got a motor that's relentless.

 

[n1997y]

Not that this is surprising... but i would be remiss if I didn't get the Captains take on this..

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nesn.com/2025/06/keion-white-takes-brutal-shot-at-jerod-mayo-former-patriots-staff/amp/

If the Cap’n doesn’t completely melt down and explode at the same time over that I’ll be worried about him.

It’s short, and consistent. This is a good distillation:

“I was training myself, I’m not going to lie,” White told reporters at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday. “Now, I feel like I have a coach.”

He goes on to give specific examples of coaching he’s getting now but did not get last year.

Makes it clear last season was an egregious failure by the so called head coach.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Our LBs suck. Spillane is good enough to be an every down guy but one who's very weak in coverage. No starting caliber player next to him. None of our EDGEs/OLB are really good. Jennings is such a lacking pass rusher it almost negates his good run play. Chaisson is so situational that he can't play in non-obvious passing situations. Landry looked washed in TEN last year just accumulating coverage and scheme sacks because he played a lot of snaps. If you count Keion White as an edge anything he does good he gives back because he has **** for brains and can't keep the QB contained.

They added baseline talent to get this from a bunch of non NFL caliber players to an NFL caliber unit but a weak one. Progress, but it's not a good unit and we shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking so.

 

[rkarp1]

Nah, definitely among the worst offensive lines personnel wise… but the rest of their problems last year were coaching.

Basically the same defensive personnel went from 5th in points allowed (PPD) in 2023, to 27th worst last year. Top of the NFL to near dead last.

Coaching matters… no matter what the QB fanboys here say.

the coaching was bad on offense for sure
but Onwenu/Andrews/Strange could have been league average on the interior. J Andrew/Sow/Maffi went 2 years with bad coaching/poor to non existent development
the WR room was worse. Thornton was always a poor fit that was never coached/developed, Boutte, Polk, Baker were all green, also with poor coaching
to say the roster was very poor is 1000% accurate

 

[Wozzy]

the coaching was bad on offense for sure

but Onwenu/Andrews/Strange could have been league average on the interior. J Andrew/Sow/Maffi went 2 years with bad coaching/poor to non existent development
the WR room was worse. Thornton was always a poor fit that was never coached/developed, Boutte, Polk, Baker were all green, also with poor coaching
to say the roster was very poor is 1000% accurate

The coaching was bad on offense and defense, special teams was the only unit that seemed to have their act together.

The biggest offensive problem was Wolf signing three stiffs in free agency and over drafting two rookie linemen. You disagreed when I told you all the free agents and rookies stunk… now you’re dancing. The free agents got cut in-season for sucking and the rookies are on the outside looking in.

Polk and Baker stunk, but even the good receivers couldn’t produce without blocking, no more than the RB’s could. Football is won at the line of scrimmage. Doesn’t change how the defense went from among the league best under Belichick to league worst under Mayo in one season. This is an uncomfortable truth for the BB haters, but the numbers don’t lie.

 

[Wozzy]

Our LBs suck. Spillane is good enough to be an every down guy but one who's very weak in coverage. No starting caliber player next to him. None of our EDGEs/OLB are really good. Jennings is such a lacking pass rusher it almost negates his good run play. Chaisson is so situational that he can't play in non-obvious passing situations. Landry looked washed in TEN last year just accumulating coverage and scheme sacks because he played a lot of snaps. If you count Keion White as an edge anything he does good he gives back because he has **** for brains and can't keep the QB contained.

They added baseline talent to get this from a bunch of non NFL caliber players to an NFL caliber unit but a weak one. Progress, but it's not a good unit and we shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking so.

Terrible take….