Patriots.com's take on LB's and DB's

[The_Dragon]

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=23977&pcid=41


http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=23934&pcid=41

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Not what I would call a solid report on Hobbs.

Loke I said, I believe that he wont be a starter at corner, but plays with heart, and is a gutsy player....better suited for the nickel position because of his inability to stay with better receivers.

Of course, if you look at the rest of them, aside from Asante, nobody is getting glowing reviews (too old, too little experience, etc.).

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Hobbs just finished his second year, of course he's not a finished product. He's coming along very nicely though.

 

[DarrylS]

At the beginning of this year, Tom Curran, said that Assante was essentially a nickel back in a starting role.... how time changes, I suspect that Ellis will continue to grow in this system.. he made a few impressive plays in the final games.

 

[sieglo]

Did that article seriously speculate we could receive a second round draft choice as compensation for Gay?

 

[tedy hagler]

Corners:

Solid starters include Hobbs + Samuels if the Patriots sign him (which I don't think they will, as they will talk about "regression to the mean" on the interception totals) Thus--we need a new corner. but see: Wilson, Eugene

Safety: Bring us Rodney Harrison back or bring us death. Wilson returns if healthy; could convert back to corner. Sanders showed great improvement during season.

Linebackers:

Upgrades: inside backer. How long can Tedy B. do it? People say he didn't make plays in the Colts game, but that tends to happen when the offensive linemen are doing search & destroy missions on your backers. Seau has not played a full season in 3-4 years, abut may come back as a back-up.

Antidote: unearth Vincent "The Undertaker" Brown and install immediately.

Outside linebackers are solid with Vrabel and Colvin, although Banta-Cain does not inspire on run plays (good pass rusher though)

 

[Brownfan80]

Hobbs just finished his second year, of course he's not a finished product. He's coming along very nicely though.

Exactly. He's been a starter for exactly a season and a half as a player with two years under his belt. If you compare Hobbs at 2 years to Asante at 2 years he's WAY AHEAD. If you compare Hobbs now to Asante now, of course Asante is better, Asante is heading into his fifth year. He SHOULD be.

Hobbs will be a starter next year even if Asante does stick around. Book it.

 

[everlong]

At the beginning of this year, Tom Curran, said that Assante was essentially a nickel back in a starting role.... how time changes, I suspect that Ellis will continue to grow in this system.. he made a few impressive plays in the final games.

Tom Curran hates Assante more than Nem hates McDaniels and Hobbs put together. He has been on EEI and Fox Sports Tonight saying he still believes Samuel is about the 30th-40th best corner in the league and that he wouldn't even start on some teams.

Samuel must have stiffed him on a story or told him to F' off because it's Borges-esque how much he hates him. He cannot even come up with a good argument as to why he thinks he's so average.

 

[Isaac]

Note the author, Kyle Psaty, is not one of the patriots.com regulars. Maybe he's an intern or something, but obviously he's got a lot to learn. E.g. "Defensive backs make up a large percentage of the team right now, so there will likely be some departures from this group."

 

[mgteich]

No, the article indicated we could tender him the amount that would require a team to give us a 2nd to sign him. Of course, no one will.

Did that article seriously speculate we could receive a second round draft choice as compensation for Gay?

 

[mgteich]

We have this discussion every year.

Personally, I will be fine with Bruschi, Seau, Alexander, Gardner and a ST specialist (say Mays) listed at ILB. I learned my lesson. But wait until April! I'm sure I too will have linebackers on my "must have" list.

Are our ILB's too old? Were Johnson, Cox, and Phifer? bb drafted a total of 5 linebackers. The only one left in Banta-Cain, and he is a free agent. Have we had poor linebacker production under bb and pioli? Has our defense suffered? Doesn't bb understand that linebackers have to be young and fast and draftees?

Perhaps it is we posters that do not understand what it takes to be an effective linebacker for the patriots.

Corners:

Solid starters include Hobbs + Samuels if the Patriots sign him (which I don't think they will, as they will talk about "regression to the mean" on the interception totals) Thus--we need a new corner. but see: Wilson, Eugene

Safety: Bring us Rodney Harrison back or bring us death. Wilson returns if healthy; could convert back to corner. Sanders showed great improvement during season.

Linebackers:

Upgrades: inside backer. How long can Tedy B. do it? People say he didn't make plays in the Colts game, but that tends to happen when the offensive linemen are doing search & destroy missions on your backers. Seau has not played a full season in 3-4 years, abut may come back as a back-up.

Antidote: unearth Vincent "The Undertaker" Brown and install immediately.

Outside linebackers are solid with Vrabel and Colvin, although Banta-Cain does not inspire on run plays (good pass rusher though)

 

[Urgent]

We have this discussion every year.

Personally, I will be fine with Bruschi, Seau, Alexander, Gardner and a ST specialist (say Mays) listed at ILB. I learned my lesson. But wait until April! I'm sure I too will have linebackers on my "must have" list.

Are our ILB's too old? Were Johnson, Cox, and Phifer?

I would take Johnson, Cox and Phifer.
If they are playing with a younger Bruschi, Vrabel, and McGinest.

Comparing the ages of Johnson, Cox, and Phifer to the current starters is real apples-and-oranges, because the team was not dependent upon them. During the period they played, the team really had five or six starting-quality linebackers.

Right now, Bruschi is the only ILB on the roster, and he's not getting better. Vrabel and Colvin are good OLB's, but the depth drops off quickly.

If the team starts the season with Bruschi, Seau, Alexander, and Gartner, plus ST, at ILB, the middle will be suspect over the course of the season.

 

[363839]

Were we not getting burned time after time on the AFCCG by guys like
Utec and Dallas Clark. These guys were WIDE FRIKIN OPEN.
tight ends are a linebackers' responsibility. We had to take guys out
because of cramps and maybe I think exhaustion. Eric Alexander was inside
and Vrabel was back outside.

We need inside linebackers. One way or the other.
I know BB will remedy this situation.

 

[spacecrime]

Comparing the ages of Johnson, Cox, and Phifer to the current starters is real apples-and-oranges, because the team was not dependent upon them. During the period they played, the team really had five or six starting-quality linebackers.

Who were the six? I hope you aren't including Johnson, Cox, and Phifer as starting quality

 

[mgteich]

bb will solve what? Getting ILB's that can be on the field for moe than 80 plays a game and play better then Baltimore's defense? The defense was the best in the AFC, perhaps excepting Baltimore. We were one first down away from the SB. That Josh called a run on third and eleven is another thread entirely.

Eric Alexander was inside for the entire game.

I suggest that you make a list of linebackers in the draft that cover the run and pass as well as Bruschi and are at least 250 pounds.

Were we not getting burned time after time on the AFCCG by guys like
Utec and Dallas Clark. These guys were WIDE FRIKIN OPEN.
tight ends are a linebackers' responsibility. We had to take guys out
because of cramps and maybe I think exhaustion. Eric Alexander was inside
and Vrabel was back outside.

We need inside linebackers. One way or the other.
I know BB will remedy this situation.

 

[363839]

bb will solve what? Getting ILB's that can be on the field for moe than 80 plays a game and play better then Baltimore's defense? The defense was the best in the AFC, perhaps excepting Baltimore. We were one first down away from the SB. That Josh called a run on third and eleven is another thread entirely.

Eric Alexander was inside for the entire game.

I suggest that you make a list of linebackers in the draft that cover the run and pass as well as Bruschi and are at least 250 pounds.

mgteich, Tedy Bruschi is probably retiring in 08. So we better start thinking about his replacement now. If not the Draft than FA. Tedy Bruschi wasn't as good as Tedy Bruschi when he came out of college.
As far as making a list of linebackers, I'd do it if they paid me.
I don't know about Alexander. Do you think he can be Tedy's replacement?

 

[spacecrime]

Note the author, Kyle Psaty, is not one of the patriots.com regulars. Maybe he's an intern or something, but obviously he's got a lot to learn. E.g. "Defensive backs make up a large percentage of the team right now, so there will likely be some departures from this group."

In his defense, the group he was talking about were the 16 DBs we had under contract last year (active and IR), so it is fair to say there will be some departures. Can't see us taking 16 DBs on the opening day roster. (Though sadly I can picture us having 16 under contract again next year with our annual DB demolition derby.)

 

[ATippett56]

I suggest that you make a list of linebackers in the draft that cover the run and pass as well as Bruschi and are at least 250 pounds.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense have proven that you don't need 250 lb inside linebackers since neither James Farrior or Larry Foote weigh that amount.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense have proven that you don't need 250 lb inside linebackers since neither James Farrior or Larry Foote weigh that amount.

they run a different scheme than we do. They run (or at least ran, who knows with the new head coach) the zone blitz scheme. It may be 3-4, but its entirely different than BB's 2 gap 3-4 scheme.

Our ILB need to be big enough and have good enough hands to get separation from 300 lb OG to make the tackle. Something Beisel couldn't do.

 

[The_Dragon]

Bump. With updates for the running backs and the tight ends.

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24018&pcid=41


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