Are we set at LB?

[Clonamery]

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.

You're not really a "huge" pats fan, right. More like a Negativenancypatsfan.

 

[DC Patriots]

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.

So being in DC, we see an odd assortment of games. Commanders and Ravens, plus a lot of teams with national fan bases. Anyway, I got to see a lot of Raiders games.

It’s a bit unfair to call Spillane very weak in coverage. He’s very smart, he seems to see plays before they develop, he is almost always in the right place, he is excellent in zone. But he’s not super athletic or fast. He gets exposed against faster players in man coverage.

I was beating the drum for Pratt, but it may be Spilane would do better paired with a faster, more athletic LB rather than Pratt who seems to have the same weaknesses. I think we’re looking at the first year of a very efficient two year rebuild. Wouldn’t surprise me to see an athletic coverage LB taken in the first 3 rounds next year.

But I have to say, of all the signings, crazy as this is to say Spillane was the one I was most excited about. I think he’s going to be a favorite in Foxboro.

 

[signbabybrady]

So being in DC, we see an odd assortment of games. Commanders and Ravens, plus a lot of teams with national fan bases. Anyway, I got to see a lot of Raiders games.

It’s a bit unfair to call Spillane very weak in coverage. He’s very smart, he seems to see plays before they develop, he is almost always in the right place, he is excellent in zone. But he’s not super athletic or fast. He gets exposed against faster players in man coverage.

I was beating the drum for Pratt, but it may be Spilane would do better paired with a faster, more athletic LB rather than Pratt who seems to have the same weaknesses. I think we’re looking at the first year of a very efficient two year rebuild. Wouldn’t surprise me to see an athletic coverage LB taken in the first 3 rounds next year.

But I have to say, of all the signings, crazy as this is to say Spillane was the one I was most excited about. I think he’s going to be a favorite in Foxboro.

Maybe that's why they had Mapu gain weight and lined up with LBs the other day.

 

[Rob0729]

When the Pats drafted Mapu, there was talk that he would be a LB. In the Vrabel system, that is most logical position.

 

[Real fan 02]

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.

Yeah.. I see your points Wozzy. But I'm fully over the blame game. We have competence back in Foxborough and I trust Vrabel and his staff to have guy fully prepared and ready to play. As we all have spoken at nauseum all last season Polk and baker really never had the adequate coaching they needed as rookies.

Wolf even saying he may have put too much pressure on Polk last season. If you remember Polk was having the best training camp out of all the WRs.. with the first team offense.

However when the preseason games were played he wasn't starting. It was just odd messaging being sent. Then having Brissett who can't throw pass the line of scrimmage. Basically last year was just a disaster like the previous 4-13 year.

Those linemen save for chuks, and I think Jacobs and brown? were already here. Wolf's fault was not upgrading the OT position.
Instead he chose to believe in the practice squad guys from the last regime.


However we are here, the direction is clear, and I feel like we will be finally playing for something other than the number 1 pick come December.

 

[Wozzy]

When the Pats drafted Mapu, there was talk that he would be a LB. In the Vrabel system, that is most logical position.

Even last year he was packing on the pounds and they had that role envisioned for him as a rookie. It’s oftentimes hard to tell the difference between a weakside LB and a Strong Safety, their roles intersect and overlap so much.

 

[Wozzy]

Yeah.. I see your points Wozzy. But I'm fully over the blame game. We have competence back in Foxborough and I trust Vrabel and his staff to have guy fully prepared and ready to play.

Agreed, I’m over the blame game as well. I was just responding to the claim that offensive coaching alone was poor, the defensive coaching and coordinating was abysmal as well.

However we are here, the direction is clear, and I feel like we will be finally playing for something other than the number 1 pick come December.

I want to see how the roster shakes out in camp and preseason… but I agree.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agreed, I’m over the blame game as well. I was just responding to the claim that offensive coaching alone was poor, the defensive coaching and coordinating was abysmal as well.

I want to see how the roster shakes out in camp and preseason… but I agree.

Agreed on everything. Preseason can be very vanilla.. with a late bye this season..
Vrabel's likely going to be very smart about managing guys. Especially the veterans.. I expect to see the rookies and young unproven players heavily in pre season games.

 

[n1997y]

Those linemen save for chuks, and I think Jacobs and brown? were already here. Wolf's fault was not upgrading the OT position.
Instead he chose to believe in the practice squad guys from the last regime.

Maybe Wolf made the mistake of believing in the coaching staff?

 

[mgteich]

Maybe that's why they had Mapu gain weight and lined up with LBs the other day.

Perhaps Mapu understands that he has almost no chance (absent 2 injuries or making the 53 as a safety.
PEPPERS
DUGGER
WOODSON
EPPS
HAWKINS
PETTUS
and SCHOOLER makes 7.

 

[signbabybrady]

Perhaps Mapu understands that he has almost no chance (absent 2 injuries or making the 53 as a safety.
PEPPERS
DUGGER
WOODSON
EPPS
HAWKINS
PETTUS
and SCHOOLER makes 7.

Last chance probably at least here

 

[Real fan 02]

Maybe Wolf made the mistake of believing in the coaching staff?

He put the coaching staff together. Everyone save for Mayo and Covington.

 

[Real fan 02]

Last chance probably at least here

I'd say Mapu has about the same chances as polk and baker to remain.

 

[Real fan 02]

Last chance probably at least here

Petus, Schooler, Hawkins contribute on ST. Not sure if Mapu does.

 

[signbabybrady]

Petus, Schooler, Hawkins contribute on ST. Not sure if Mapu does.

Mapu has been a %40 STs which is pretty good. One forced fumble to his credit that wound up a TD.

 

[Real fan 02]

Mapu has been a %40 STs which is pretty good. One forced fumble to his credit that wound up a TD.

True. That will keep a player on the roster. But Mapu seems to be always dealing with something.

 

[signbabybrady]

True. That will keep a player on the roster. But Mapu seems to be always dealing with something.

Active for 27 of 34 games

 

[captain stone]

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/

17 straight runs, without any discernible adjustments while that was happening? Should've told us all we needed to know.

 

[captain stone]

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.

Maybe that's why they had Mapu gain weight and lined up with LBs the other day.

When the Pats drafted Mapu, there was talk that he would be a LB. In the Vrabel system, that is most logical position.

About damn time!

Maybe they started reading this thread...

 

[n1997y]

He put the coaching staff together. Everyone save for Mayo and Covington.

You’re saying the HC did not chose his coaching staff?

SMH.