Friendly reminder: Tyrone McKenzie

[Sicilian]

He's a free agent and the equivalent of Deltha O'Neal.

I find his value higher than O'Neal's. O'Neal was a liability, while Burgess is just simply unremarkable (though getting better IMO).

 

[RobertWeathers]

Did I mis-understand you, or did you just say that Woods is a 6-8 sack type? The guy has ONE sack in FOUR seasons.

Woods? Hes a STer backup LB. Nothing more..

Not sure where hes going with this either.

 

[pats1]

I find his value higher than O'Neal's. O'Neal was a liability, while Burgess is just simply unremarkable (though getting better IMO).

I'll give you that, but there's no way Burgess is on this team next year. If the Pats make the divisional round, they'll be part of the "final eight plan." If they want to sign an outside free agent, one of their own has to be signed by another team first. Burgess is a prime candidate.

 

[Metaphors]

I was going to add some Terrence Wheatley pictures as well, but then I realized they all included an opposing receiver running with the ball.

People forget he got the start against Indy last year over O'Neal and Wilhite. Lined up against Harrison and did a solid job in the limited time he was in (got injured in the 1st half).

Not sure I would commit Wheatley to the scrap heap just yet. I'd actually like to see him get some snaps this week against a strong passing team.

That being said, not seeing Wheatley on the kickoff return team despite the issues there is troubling.

 

[pats1]

So the last two games do not figure in your calculations? He has been moving much better.

Very little. It's two games against feeble offenses. I don't think Burgess has shown he can be a 3-4 OLB, and he's already on the wrong side of 30. The Pats are going to gut out and rebuild this position in the offseason, a la the WRs in 2007 and DBs in 2009, and I don't see Burgess as part of the equation for 2010.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Nothing much going on here, just wanted to remind everyone of this guy named Tyrone McKenzie who will be around in the spring. Not a name that has been heard too often since this past May, so I figured I would get PatsFans reacquainted.

Tell me again why I am excited about a rookie coming of major knee surgery????????

 

[unoriginal]

Friendly reminder: Guss Scott looked great his first mini-camp and training camp, then had his career derailed by leg injuries.

 

[RobertWeathers]

People forget he got the start against Indy last year over O'Neal and Wilhite. Lined up against Harrison and did a solid job in the limited time he was in (got injured in the 1st half).

Not sure I would commit Wheatley to the scrap heap just yet. I'd actually like to see him get some snaps this week against a strong passing team.

That being said, not seeing Wheatley on the kickoff return team despite the issues there is troubling.

Inquiring minds want to know what Wheatley's deal is. He did play well vs Indy last year but has been completely banished. I'd say he wasn't that great in preseason this year but can't put a whole lot of stock in that.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Very little. It's two games against feeble offenses. I don't think Burgess has shown he can be a 3-4 OLB, and he's already on the wrong side of 30. The Pats are going to gut out and rebuild this position in the offseason, a la the WRs in 2007 and DBs in 2009, and I don't see Burgess as part of the equation for 2010.

I agree, the question is how is BB going to rebuild the position. Trade? Hard to get teams to trade legitimate pass rushers and the price is very high. Free agents? Not a lot of pass rushers make it to the open market. And those that do are very expensive. Draft? BB would need to compromise or lower his standards, there is no pass rusher in this draft that can step in and start from day 1.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

McKenzie: remember, he's simply a rook. How many rookies contribute substantially?
The Crab: looked good in the store window; likely prognosis is injured in camp again, departing here on an injury settlement
Burgess: too old and not enough of a get it done on the field guy for the money
Woods: great ST guy, marginal OLB backup; we've seen his upside...insufficient. Goodbye!
Ninkovich: warm body substandard backup. Kept for 'value'

We really need help restaffing the LB position in 2010

 

[Metaphors]

Inquiring minds want to know what Wheatley's deal is. He did play well vs Indy last year but has been completely banished. I'd say he wasn't that great in preseason this year but can't put a whole lot of stock in that.

I'm with you. I do like the fact that players earn playing time through practice effort and success...but this is one case where his physical skill set needs to be investigated in live game action. Lot of run teams on the schedule this year, but that all changes in the playoffs. Flacco, Rivers, Manning, Brees. That could be the QB lineup between the Pats and the title. Bodden is fine but Wilhite and Springs are best used situationally.

The part that is killing me though is the flotsam returning kicks for the Pats. If the Pats face Indy and their horrible coverage teams again, I really would like to see a guy returning kicks that can go all the way. Seeing Slater run directly into a tackler (or even into the back of a blocker) is getting discouraging. Edelman isn't the answer either.

 

[mgteich]

Sure, two extra picks: like Crable and Wheatley this year.

Funny, I was just thinking about McKenzie. He was supposedly having a good camp before the knee injury. I am curious as to how much he would be playing if healthy.

He and Tate will be like 2 extra draft picks next year. This team is setting itself up to be loaded for the next 5 years or so.

 

[pats1]

I'm with you. I do like the fact that players earn playing time through practice effort and success...but this is one case where his physical skill set needs to be investigated in live game action. Lot of run teams on the schedule this year, but that all changes in the playoffs. Flacco, Rivers, Manning, Brees. That could be the QB lineup between the Pats and the title. Bodden is fine but Wilhite and Springs are best used situationally.

The part that is killing me though is the flotsam returning kicks for the Pats. If the Pats face Indy and their horrible coverage teams again, I really would like to see a guy returning kicks that can go all the way. Seeing Slater run directly into a tackler (or even into the back of a blocker) is getting discouraging. Edelman isn't the answer either.

I'm with you on Slater. He has zero vision.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Seeing Slater run directly into a tackler (or even into the back of a blocker) is getting discouraging. Edelman isn't the answer either.

I think Edelman has some promise. Certainly not the next Josh Cribbs, but he can be effective. Wouldn't be surprised to see Maroney get some looks at KR vs HOU.

 

[pats1]

I think Edelman has some promise. Certainly not the next Josh Cribbs, but he can be effective. Wouldn't be surprised to see Maroney get some looks at KR vs HOU.

Maroney got some against Carolina or Buffalo. He was replaced by Slater and then Edelman. Wheatley, but not Butler, has also been the #2 returner on occasion.

 

[mgteich]

Burgess plays mostly DE. If Green goes as expected, I don't see why Burgess won't be re-signed as veteran depth and camp competition.

Very little. It's two games against feeble offenses. I don't think Burgess has shown he can be a 3-4 OLB, and he's already on the wrong side of 30. The Pats are going to gut out and rebuild this position in the offseason, a la the WRs in 2007 and DBs in 2009, and I don't see Burgess as part of the equation for 2010.

 

[pats1]

Burgess plays mostly DE. If Green goes as expected, I don't see why Burgess won't be re-signed as veteran depth and camp competition.

Burgess does not play DE in the 3-4, except for a few snaps against the Bills when three guys were out. We've gone through this before.

You're using 3-4 OLB and 3-4 DE interchangeably. That's not valid. He's 260 lbs. If you want to talk about camp competition, talk about Darryl Richard or Titus Adams, but not Derrick Burgess.

Burgess plays the same type of DE Banta-Cain does, and that's sub DE. Not 3-4 DE. If Green goes, then he is replaced by Wright or Brace at DE. Saying Burgess can replace Green is like saying Watson can replace Neal.

The problem with Burgess is that, unlike Banta-Cain, he has been mostly unable to play 3-4 OLB so far. He has been relegated to sub DE, and has been largely ineffective at that.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Burgess plays mostly DE. If Green goes as expected, I don't see why Burgess won't be re-signed as veteran depth and camp competition.

Well he may on occasion line up as a pseudo DE in BB's packages but as a DE he has to be among the lightest players in the league. Makes Freeney look big.

 

[BritPat]

I really want us to work Wheatley into the rotation at some point, watching him last year his brain was behind his body, in the sense that he had the right footwork, the right movement in terms of anticipating, but then his brain would stop him from making the cut or making the turn for a split second, and the receiver was gone. Think Jackson's early TD in the Chargers game.

He has amazing physical skills, and he needs playing time to get his brain up to speed with his body.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Maroney got some against Carolina or Buffalo. He was replaced by Slater and then Edelman. Wheatley, but not Butler, has also been the #2 returner on occasion.

He had a few vs Carolina. I forget how many. Didn't blow me away I guess.