Vrabel permanent Inside Linebacker?

[PATRIOTS-80]

Vrabel can play inside in our normal 3-4 base, and then move to OLB or DE on nickel formations.

Plus on run downs, we can put Seau inside and move Vrabel outside.

BTW, I agree on the graduating to ILB thing. It's possible that since playing OLB is so much easier than playing the ILB playcaller, that our "youth development" will be DE converting to OLB.

As far as 2007, I expect BB to get much younger by replacing Seau with a younger ILB FA. In 2007, my guess for a 1st round pick would probably be a CB.

BTW, I think Tully is going to be a solid OLB for us this year ... not necessarily Pro-Bowl or anything like that, but solid.

My depth chart right now for the 3-4 base would be:

Colvin.......Vrabel.......Bruschi.......TBC
Woods.....Gardner......Seau..........Mincey

When we have 4 down lineman, Gardner seems to have a MLB niche.


Also, with a platoon Gardner could play the "Phifer role" at ILB, and Seau could play the "Ted Johnson/Bryan Cox" role.

However you cut it, we got 6 LB who are going to get significant playing time (Bruschi, Vrabel, Colvin, TBC, Seau, Gardner). Very similar to back when we had: (Bruschi, Vrabel, Colvin, McG., Ted Johnson, Phifer).

 

[PatsSteve1]

Vrabel can play inside in our normal 3-4 base, and then move to OLB or DE on nickel formations.

Plus on run downs, we can put Seau inside and move Vrabel outside.

When we have 4 down lineman, Gardner seems to have a MLB niche.

Also, with a platoon Gardner could play the "Phifer role" at ILB, and Seau could play the "Ted Johnson/Bryan Cox" role.

However you cut it, we got 6 LB who are going to get significant playing time (Bruschi, Vrabel, Colvin, TBC, Seau, Gardner). Very similar to back when we had: (Bruschi, Vrabel, Colvin, McG., Ted Johnson, Phifer).

* I agree. * I don't know exactly when Bruschi will be back, but until then, and even after he's back, I won't be surprised to see rotating of LB's. Unless 1 or 2 really step up and take over the job, or two, that are available. Vrable inside and outside, some Seau, some Tully and even some Chad Brown. I don't think, unless some 1 or 2 guys really start standing out, we'll see the same 4 in the 3-4 or same 3 guys in the 4-3 all the time.
How that, or whatever they do, works out only time will tell.
I was hoping the Cards would run more and run at Tully to see how he holds up against the run. They only ran 13 times and 2 were by the QB. Not too much of a test there. But they did well on the few opportunities. You never know what the Cards were trying to accomplish so maybe thier idea going in ws to work on the pass game.