ILB - What do they do?

[cstjohn17]

A lot of talk about Safety, CB (if Samuel leaves), WR, etc. but there is no getting around the hole at ILB. Interested in thoughts and scenarios. All my guesses are based on the assumption the Tedy comes back, if he doesn't then this is really at a level of double secret probation.

Guess
- sign a veteran solid veteran FA to start along side Tedy (London-Fletcher, Harris, Mitchell)
- draft an ILB to takeover at WILB when Tedy retires (Day 1)
- draft a LB special teams player to learn system and provide future depth (Day 2)


List of names - I didn't go through and evaluate fit, the list is just a starting point.

Possible veteran FAs ILB
- Donnie Edwards (SD) , London-Fletcher (Bills), Napolean Harris (Vikings), Kawika Mitchell (KC), Cato June (Colts), Junior Seau, Barry Gardner, Randall Godfrey (Chargers), Rob Morris (Colts),
- Adalius Thomas (Ravens) - more of an OLB but shows versatility

Possible OLBs (may mean Vrabel moves inside full time)
- Adalius Thomas (Ravens), Antwan Peek (Houston), Lance Briggs (Bears),

Draft

Outside Linebacker - Paul Posluszny, Penn St., Lawrence Timmons, Florida St., Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma , Earl Everett, Florida , Jon Beason, Miami , Brandon Siler, Florida, Stewart Bradley, Nebraska , Tony Taylor, Georgia , Justin Durant, Hampton, Juwan Simpson, Alabama, Burgess, Michigan

DE/OLB - Defensive End - Gaines Adams, Clemson , Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas , Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame , Quentin Moses, Georgia , LaMarr Woodley, Michigan , Jarvis Moss, Florida , Anthony Spencer, Purdue, Jay Moore, Nebraska

Inside Linebacker - Pat Willis, Ole Miss , H.B. Blades, Pitt , Buster Davis, Florida St. , David Harris, Michigan, Anthony Waters, Clemson , Desmond Bishop, Cal, Jon Abbate, Wake Forest , Dedrick Harrington, Missouri , Zak DeOssie, Brown , Kelvin Smith, Syracuse

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Napolen Harris , would be a nice addition.. also Donnie Edwards would be a good vet.. And I do hope Tedy plays 1 more yr..

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Napolen Harris , would be a nice addition.. also Donnie Edwards would be a good vet.. And I do hope Tedy plays 1 more yr..

Pass on Harris.

Give me any of London, Edwards and Kawika if we had to take one.

 

[The_Dragon]

A lot of talk about Safety, CB (if Samuel leaves), WR, etc. but there is no getting around the hole at ILB. Interested in thoughts and scenarios. All my guesses are based on the assumption the Tedy comes back, if he doesn't then this is really at a level of double secret probation.

Guess
- sign a veteran solid veteran FA to start along side Tedy (London-Fletcher, Harris, Mitchell)
- draft an ILB to takeover at WILB when Tedy retires (Day 1)
- draft a LB special teams player to learn system and provide future depth (Day 2)


List of names - I didn't go through and evaluate fit, the list is just a starting point.

Possible veteran FAs ILB
- Donnie Edwards (SD) , London-Fletcher (Bills), Napolean Harris (Vikings), Kawika Mitchell (KC), Cato June (Colts), Junior Seau, Barry Gardner, Randall Godfrey (Chargers), Rob Morris (Colts),
- Adalius Thomas (Ravens) - more of an OLB but shows versatility

Possible OLBs (may mean Vrabel moves inside full time)
- Adalius Thomas (Ravens), Antwan Peek (Houston), Lance Briggs (Bears),

Draft

Outside Linebacker - Paul Posluszny, Penn St., Lawrence Timmons, Florida St., Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma , Earl Everett, Florida , Jon Beason, Miami , Brandon Siler, Florida, Stewart Bradley, Nebraska , Tony Taylor, Georgia , Justin Durant, Hampton, Juwan Simpson, Alabama, Burgess, Michigan

DE/OLB - Defensive End - Gaines Adams, Clemson , Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas , Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame , Quentin Moses, Georgia , LaMarr Woodley, Michigan , Jarvis Moss, Florida , Anthony Spencer, Purdue, Jay Moore, Nebraska

Inside Linebacker - Pat Willis, Ole Miss , H.B. Blades, Pitt , Buster Davis, Florida St. , David Harris, Michigan, Anthony Waters, Clemson , Desmond Bishop, Cal, Jon Abbate, Wake Forest , Dedrick Harrington, Missouri , Zak DeOssie, Brown , Kelvin Smith, Syracuse

I wouldn't be suprised to see the Pats aggressively pursue both Edwards and London-Fletcher. Would solve their problems at LB in one swoop, add depth and allow them to draft with the longer term view that they employ.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

What is everyones thoughts on Kawika Mitchell??? IMO he is in a breakout point in his career has 4 years of good experience and is really young.

Why hasnt anybody been really passionate for this guy?

 

[ATippett56]

What is everyones thoughts on Kawika Mitchell??? IMO he is in a breakout point in his career has 4 years of good experience and is really young.

Why hasnt anybody been really passionate for this guy?

Two words

Monty Beisel

 

[ATippett56]

I wouldn't be suprised to see the Pats aggressively pursue both Edwards and London-Fletcher.

I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo re-signed London Fletcher since I seriously doubt the Bills will franchise Nate Clements once again.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I expect a much less sexy option. Tedy returns, Seau is re-signed. For 2007, problem solved.

Along with this I would expect a Barry Gardner to be re-signed as a backup along with maybe a young draft pick in the 4th round area.

For 2008 I would expect Tedy and Seau to have retired. Vrabel would move inside with either the youngish guy, or some other signee.

But for next year, re-signing Seau and Gardner could well be it. And a OLB would be drafted/signed (could be TBC) to replace Vrabel when he's inside full time. This could also be Pierre Woods if they like his upside.

 

[iguide]

What is wrong with Napolean Harris? I thought that he was suposed to be a good ILB. I know nothing about him other than he was part of the trade for Moss and at that time it sounded as if he had a good rep.

 

[upstater1]

I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo re-signed London Fletcher since I seriously doubt the Bills will franchise Nate Clements once again.

The Bills have an apparent agreement with Clements. I bet Clements agreed to allow them to match his biggest offer in return for not using the franchise tag.