I actually like TBC, and I would love to see him sign for Jarvis Green/Hochstein money. Its very BB like to have 3 OLB, ala Colvin, Vrabel and Willie.
Now Box o Rocks, this is my personal theory concerning Woods. BB wasn't really convinced on the value of a DE project until the 6th round. BB picked the best one on his board at that time, Jeremy Mincey. I think the reason BB didn't pick Woods was because he had an inkling that Woods was going to be a UDFA because of the problems Woods had with his coach. During training camp, there was only one spot for a developmental OLB. Mincey may have been the draft pick, but I think Woods beat him out because Woods was better in space than Mincey.
Thus, my pet theory is that DE projects are a very hard projection in coverage. Its much easier to project a 6'5 250 lb freak OLB in college, but the problem is that there just aren't that many guys that big who play in college. Now assuming for the sake of argument my premise, my academic question I pose to you is, could say Stewart Bradley be a OLB prospect who later down the road have the potentiality of moving in (ala Vrabel)? Bradley intrigues me because he reminds of the versatility of the Warren pick, who was a DE/NT (of course, in training camp he found a home at DE).
For example, you could have say a David Harris for ILB and Bradley for OLB? As opposed to looking to a Jarvis Moss or Anthony Spencer DE/OLB project?
Short answer: I see Bradley as an ILB candidate, I'm not even considering him for OLB. His teammate Jay Moore may be an OLB candidate to consider in the mid-rounds.
Bradley was used as a SLB at Nebraska, he also worked at MLB and DE during his time there. In high school he played some DB. He was injured quite a bit in high school and tore an ACL at NE in 2005. ALK (aka HuskerALK in a former life) expressed concern about his run stopping skills, certainly he needs to work on leverage against blockers based on how easily RB/FB Brian Leonard moved him in the scrimmage I broke down - though Leonard is an excellent blocker.
Bradley looks like he can come in and be a decent third down specialist. He needs to work on his stack and shed skills and his functional strength. He probably needs work on his foot work and his ability to play through trash. He should be a good Special Teams player given his ability to work in space. I've already mentioned that my first analysis shows him playing smart.
Working within the limitation of my own ignorance, I see upside for the Coaches to develop in a player with the size needed for the Pats' 3-4. Where I see Bradley having an advantage over a Spencer or Moses or Moss, they are grading out as 1st or 2nd round talent as 4-3 DEs, and are projections as OLBs. Bradley is a LB with their size, one who has proven himself in coverage. I might justify a round one "reach" based on the fact Bradley "is" a LB and not a projection.
If we go back to the discussion midwest started, Bradley is a sideways move from SLB in a college 4-3 to SILB in the Pats 3-4 on passing downs. Bruschi, Vrabel, and quite likely Seau are mentors. He creates competition for Alexander and Mays, and he is big enough at 6'4" 256 to cross-train at OLB - the reverse to your OLB to ILB approach.
In an ideal world:
The Pats go into 2007 with Bruschi and Seau starting inside, Vrabes and Rosie outside. TBC is part of the OLB rotation, with Woods getting more reps. Alexander and Bradley are part of the rotation at ILB. Mays continues his ILB development on Special Teams with Izzo and Gardner putting the Pats at 11 LBs which harkens back to 2003's depth. You get a Zach DeOssie for the Practice Squad.
The more likely scenerio, BB doesn't draft any LBs and continues developing Alexander, Woods, TBC, and Mays, with maybe one or two Practice Squad prospects. If he does re-sign Seau and TBC and Gardner you wind up at 9 LBs on the roster, plus Izzo.
