OT: LB Wong to be released

[Phoenix111]

http://sports.espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/story?id=2872798

Looks like he's going to be released from the Texans today. It sounded as if he was looking for a starting role, but perhaps he could be persuaded to join the rotation here. He seems to have the size necessary, but the injury concerns could be too great I guess.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

He does have the size and Stanford is reportedly an okay school, but the decline in his production since leaving Minnesota makes you wonder.

 

[patpatriot]

He's played in the 3-4 scheme as well. I wonder if he would like a ring to cap off a nice career?

 

[TheSeymonsta]

but perhaps he could be persuaded t... we have plenty of skilled LB's on the bench.

 

[NE39]

Apparently he is going to retire. I wonder if his body is letting him down, given he missed a lot of time the last couple years to injury. He has had back troubles in the past, so that might be why he is retiring.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Hes played in the 3-4 inside LB at 6-2 250#. He has the expereince and is a Team leader. Before he tore up his knee he had rather gaudy pass defense statistics for a ILB of his size.

He would be a fine extra ILB candidate if he can pass a physical, and would filll out teh ideal of the six vet ex-starter depth that i htink they are looking for ...

 

[Phoenix111]

No need we have plenty of skilled LB's on the bench.

^^Do we?? I'm glad you have confidence in that. We know Seau is fully capable of being the run stuffer we need. However, having a sixth lb'er in the roation, much like in 03-04, would be much more comforting.

I'm not necessarily saying we need Wong in particular. What I'd really like is a linebacker with some experience that specializes in pass coverage. I understand that's a little hard to come by at this point in the offseason, but it would be nice none the less.

As far as our current backups (outside of Seau) I just don't have that much confidence. I know some around here like Woods to improve this season. As far as Alexander, despite having upwards of 10 tackles in the AFCCG, his atrocious pass coverage stands out more. We were consistently burned over the middle of that field by Dallas Clark. I'm not putting it all on Alexander because I know he was thrown in the lineup, but it was still hard to watch.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

^^Do we?? I'm glad you have confidence in that.

That was complete sarcasm but people on this site tend to jump down your throat if you question LB depth.



Read here http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55709&page=16

 

[DaBruinz]

That was complete sarcasm but people on this site tend to jump down your throat if you question LB depth.



Read here http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55709&page=16

No people jump down your throat when you make an idiotic comment saying that there isn't any depth and that the Pats haven't done ANYTHING to help the depth in the LB corps, when, in fact, they have.

The Patriots have added talent. Both experienced (Thomas and Seau) and inexperienced talent (Lua, Rogers, Bissinger). Plus they have a young OLB in Woods who showed a lot of promise last year. Just because you chose to ignore it and claim that they haven't added any talent doesn't mean you know what you are talking about.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Picking him up would be a 'Wong' thing to do

I am sorry but I could not resist

Also why should we pick up 'Wong' when we have 'Wright' on defense?

 

[tombonneau]

That was complete sarcasm but people on this site tend to jump down your throat if you question LB depth.



Read here http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55709&page=16

Phew. I thought my Sarcasm-o-Meter was going off.

 

[Born_a_Patriot]

He wong be release or he will be?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

He wong be release or he will be?

Its been a 'Wong' time since we had a LB of his caliber

 

[Phoenix111]

I'm not saying that the Patriots have done nothing in the way of adding linebacker depth. Thomas was certainly a good move as he should bring back some of the aspects of our past championship defenses that have been missing the last couple of years.

Seau, again, is a solid runstuffer that we definitely need. I just think that having a rotation of 6 "more proven" guys would give us better depth along the way.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'm not saying that the Patriots have done nothing in the way of adding linebacker depth. Thomas was certainly a good move as he should bring back some of the aspects of our past championship defenses that have been missing the last couple of years.

Seau, again, is a solid runstuffer that we definitely need. I just think that having a rotation of 6 "more proven" guys would give us better depth along the way.

I'd love to have 6 "PROVEN" guys at LB as well, but how many teams that run the 3-4 have 6 PROVEN LBs.

Also, how do guys get to be PROVEN guys.. You have to develop them. And that is what BB and Pioli are looking to do. Yes, I am sure we all would have preferred that this was done 2 years ago, but it wasn't because that draft was very weak that the ILB position.

The Pats have added Seau and Thomas. They are developing Woods. Alexander may or may not have what it takes to handle the TEs. But that is also a reason why the Pats got Meriweather, so that he can move up into the slot and cover them.

Lua and Rogers are 2 guys who have talent. How much talent remains to be seen. No, they aren't the BIG NAMES, but that doesn' mean they don't have talent. But its hard to get certain people to understand that difference.

 

[Phoenix111]

But its hard to get certain people to understand that difference.

I assume then that you're not talking about me.

I completely understand what you're saying as far as how many teams have the luxury of six well rounded guys. The answer there is slim to none. With "proven" guys, I would call someone that when we've seen them perform well in more than just one game at some time. But as we've said, you can only have so many of those players. I was merely saying if it could be had it would be nice to have a really deep lineup.

With Alexander, Mays and Woods, I agree that BB/Pioli are doing what they can. Obviously they feel there is something to work with or they would have been cut already. So here's to hoping that they progress nicely and contribute this season.

 

[TheSeymonsta]

With Alexander, Mays and Woods, I agree that BB/Pioli are doing what they can.

Wouldnt you think that maybe, just maybe David Harris could have helped this team???

Mangini certainly thought he would work in the 3-4. Mangini worked in BB's defense and is installing it in New York.

We trade a pick #28 for San Franciso's 1st pick next year(which I think will turn out to be a bad deal because San Francisco will improve this year) when we could have got an impact ILB for this team.

I just wish BB/Pioli (not some fan) would explain why they refuse to infuse some talent into the ILB position....

I wish one of the talking heads would ask them that instead of talking about his girlfriend...

 

[Phoenix111]

Wouldnt you think that maybe, just maybe David Harris could have helped this team???

I, like you, was hoping for Harris, or at least some ILB on day one of the draft. Admittedly however, I don't know a ton about the kid, only what I could find to read. However all I found seemed to indicate that eventually harris could refine his tools to fit our system. But at the risk of sounding like a blind follower of "In Belichick/Pioli we trust", if they don't seem to think that he can pick the system up enough to be worth the pick, than so be it.

As far as Mangini, I think that we could expect some of his plans to start having bleak endings. He has done very well so far rehashing a lot of BB strategies and philosophies on drafting and scheming. But since he's no longer around to be a sponge, Mangini is going to have to start producing some of his own material, or at least guess as to what BB would do.

 

[patsox23]

We trade a pick #28 for San Franciso's 1st pick next year(which I think will turn out to be a bad deal because San Francisco will improve this year) when we could have got an impact ILB for this team.

I just wish BB/Pioli (not some fan) would explain why they refuse to infuse some talent into the ILB position....

SF may be good next year, and they may not be. But the DRAFT CLASS next year is very likely to be much better. BB/Pioli clearly didn't like this class AT ALL.

As for your "wish" that they would explain why they "refuse to infuse some talent into the ILB position" - I don't accept the premise of your point (they have tried to bring in young LBs), but if I had to guess, it's probably because they're stupid and bad at their jobs.

 

[patsgo]

Wouldnt you think that maybe, just maybe David Harris could have helped this team???

Mangini certainly thought he would work in the 3-4. Mangini worked in BB's defense and is installing it in New York.

We trade a pick #28 for San Franciso's 1st pick next year(which I think will turn out to be a bad deal because San Francisco will improve this year) when we could have got an impact ILB for this team.

I just wish BB/Pioli (not some fan) would explain why they refuse to infuse some talent into the ILB position....

I wish one of the talking heads would ask them that instead of talking about his girlfriend...

mangini probably fell for the smoke screens coming out of foxboro, because he drafted hin doesnt make him a star, i like our off season much better than the jets