Re: Tully Banta-Cain signed with the 49ers
I don't dislike him, he's simply a pass rush specialist and special teamer.
If anything, I'm disappointed in the Patriots for not having more linebackers in development. Alexander forced into action in the AFC Championship game? Wow!
Not the F. O.'s finest hour.
Hear, hear.
The patsies' backup LBs, after TBC replaced Seau, were the worst in football last season. The worst. Period. This situation absolutely must not repeat itself this season. AT has replaced TBC, but nobody has replaced the backups - so far. Re-signing Izzo does not help, but that's a story for another thread.
I, too, wish TBC well. He now can play his home games at home, before family and friends. Like T Brady, he probably was a 49ers fan as a boy. He also receives a raise in pay. Not a bad gig if you can get it. Not a real big loss, either, esp. if the contract calls for anything > $2.5M/yr. He was invisible vs. SD, and, because Bruschi can no longer effectively cover RBs/TEs, he lost his start vs. Indy to - gulp - Eric Alexander, who "performed" vs. the dolts as well as TBC "performed" vs. the bolts.
The question now remains: Who will be our backup LBs? Pierre Woods, who should have played more in the AFCC, will vie for one OLB spot. Therefore, a vet (and not a fossil like Chad Brown) could be signed for the other spot. I always thought that Monty Beisel was a better fit at OLB than ILB, but I know that he's not walking through that door. At least one OLB should be drafted, maybe on the second day. An ILB must be drafted on the first day, however. If Willis or Posluszny drop to #24, then I would select the best available DB with #28. There are still some good, young vet ILBs available, some of whom have ST experience, e.g. Kevin Adams, Liam Ezekial, Tony Gilbert, Isaiah Kacyvenski. Junior Seau is also welcome to return. Alexander and Corey Mays are not, however. We can do much, much better. We deserve better.
