What Draftee Is Starting Game One at ILB?

[mgteich]

Is there such a player? Isn't this an important question? How happy are we with Guyton or Bruschi starting? Which players are closest to starting in 2009 and for the next four years with Mayo?

We have seven picks in the top 120. We can have a lot of best player available or best value available. But we do NEED an ILB. It is worth reducing risk a bit and even reducing the talent level a bit, if we reasonably sure that we had a starter. How many of these players are there? When are they projected to be drafted? What do we need to do to get one of the ones we want?

If it's Sintim, I'm fine with drafting him at 23. I have a couple of others in mind, neither of which is very popular on this board. What is your list?

==========
At least at OLB (we need an OLB starter also), we have players who COULD step up: Woods, Crable, Banta-Cain and Redd.

 

[DocE]

Ideal Scenario: Peppers or Taylor is added this offseason, Adalius plays inside on first down giving us Woods/Thomas/Mayo/Peppers or Taylor. In this scenario, Woods comes off the field in the nickel and Adalius moves outside. If we play a 2-4-5 Nickel like we did some last year, Guyton would play inside with Mayo in that package with Thomas and the OLB addition on the outside.

Current Scenario: Woods replaces Vrabel and Bruschi remains at ILB on first down/run downs assuming he holds off Guyton in training camp. Guyton takes Bruschi's spot in the nickel and TBC/Crable compete with Woods for the outside spot opposite Adalius in the Nickel.

I don't think a draftee is likely to start inside with Mayo, especially in game one. That strikes me as too little experience inside, especially for a coach like Belichick who's traditionally had veteran LB's.

I am interested in seeing how this position plays out going in to the '09 season. My own thoght is that if the Patriots didn't envision a significant role for Bruschi, he would have been cut/traded/invited to retire by this point in the offseason. I personally am interested in Jasper Brinkley in the 3rd/4th round as a possible SILB of the future. He looked good at the combine and I feel like it's possible he's just starting to trust his knee now and could be the player from a couple years ago and not the guy who was just so-so as a Senior.

Another guy we don't talk much about is Bo Ruud. He was on IR last year, but has good height for the SILB position. He was light for the position coming out of college, but a year in the Patriots weight room could have changed that. Of course, he could just as easily be Oscar Lua version II...a late round pick that goes on IR only to be released prior to training camp.

 

[patman52]

I don't think Sintim will handle the switch in positions in just one camp. It is going to be Bruschi with Guyton in passing downs, And a rookie being weaned in.

 

[mayoclinic]

Ideal Scenario: Peppers or Taylor is added this offseason, Adalius plays inside on first down giving us Woods/Thomas/Mayo/Peppers or Taylor. In this scenario, Woods comes off the field in the nickel and Adalius moves outside. If we play a 2-4-5 Nickel like we did some last year, Guyton would play inside with Mayo in that package with Thomas and the OLB addition on the outside.

Current Scenario: Woods replaces Vrabel and Bruschi remains at ILB on first down/run downs assuming he holds off Guyton in training camp. Guyton takes Bruschi's spot in the nickel and TBC/Crable compete with Woods for the outside spot opposite Adalius in the Nickel.

I don't think a draftee is likely to start inside with Mayo, especially in game one. That strikes me as too little experience inside, especially for a coach like Belichick who's traditionally had veteran LB's.

I am interested in seeing how this position plays out going in to the '09 season. My own thoght is that if the Patriots didn't envision a significant role for Bruschi, he would have been cut/traded/invited to retire by this point in the offseason. I personally am interested in Jasper Brinkley in the 3rd/4th round as a possible SILB of the future. He looked good at the combine and I feel like it's possible he's just starting to trust his knee now and could be the player from a couple years ago and not the guy who was just so-so as a Senior.

Another guy we don't talk much about is Bo Ruud. He was on IR last year, but has good height for the SILB position. He was light for the position coming out of college, but a year in the Patriots weight room could have changed that. Of course, he could just as easily be Oscar Lua version II...a late round pick that goes on IR only to be released prior to training camp.

Your approach with moving Adalius Thomas around is interesting. I'm not sure how it would work. Thomas has a lot of versatility and moved around a fair amount when he was in Baltimore, but he seemed to do better in his first 2 years when he was left in one position. Perhaps by now he is comfortable enough with the system that he can fluidly morph from SILB to 3-4 OLB, but I'm a little cautious about putting too much reliance on that. I hope you are right.

The only rookie who I can realistically see potentially starting at SILB opposite Mayo is Maualuga. I don't think the learning curve for SILB would be as high as for WILB, and if we basically want a Ted Johnson-style 2 down thumper then I think we could get that, with Guyton playing the Phifer role. I think there would be at least a 1 year learning curve for Ayers, English or Sintim at SILB, though they could probably all get some significant playing time at OLB year one.

A lot really depends on whether we get another vet at OLB, and how Shawn Crable has developed. Moving Adalius Thomas inside is by far our best option for SILB, but based on our 2008 players it leaves us very thin outside.

 

[dryheat44]

I don't believe any rookie in the draft, even Curry, is likely to be better than Bruschi in September 2009. Bruschi's instincts are still good, he's seen it all, and he's willing to get his hands dirty.

 

[14thDragon]

Is there such a player? Isn't this an important question? How happy are we with Guyton or Bruschi starting? Which players are closest to starting in 2009 and for the next four years with Mayo?

I am happy with Bruschi and Guyton rotating through early in the year and bringing along a rookie to take the "2-Down Thumper" role.

If it's Sintim, I'm fine with drafting him at 23. I have a couple of others in mind, neither of which is very popular on this board. What is your list?

I am not really buying into using the 23 pick to get a complimentary ILB to Mayo. Mayo I believe is our 3 down ILB and very effective in that role. IMMHO I want the first pick to be used for a player to help improve the third down, the money down, defense. So if Sintim is projected as a 2 down linebacker, I am not on board bringing him in at 23. I think you can get better value later in the draft for that role. (Brinkley in 4th).

==========
At least at OLB (we need an OLB starter also), we have players who COULD step up: Woods, Crable, Banta-Cain and Redd.

By the same token we could say we have players that could step up at ILB, Alexander, Guyton, Rudd.

 

[JSn]

Guyton will get most of the snaps. Bru might start as sort of a token thing, but I expect Gary to become our next ILB. He was progressing along similar lines as Cassel last year.

 

[mgteich]

1) I expect Bruschi to start.
2) I expect Guyton to get lots of reps.
3) The rookie will gets lot of camp and preseason time with the idea of integrating him this year as we did Mayo.

The two players I think are most likely to be ready are Maualuga and Laurinitis.

 

[mgteich]

1) Are you suggesting that we should wait until the 4th for our ILB and then expect him to be part of the rotation by mid-season (not "early in the year")?

2) I think the answer from everyone is that we will have Bruschi and Guyton "early in the season".

OK, then who would be able to start or be a major contributor by midseason and when should that player be drafted? Your answer is brinkly in the 4th. Others I suspect would say Sintim at 23 or 34. My answer is Maualuga or Laurinitis at 23.

3) I think it is much more likely that the OLB's step up. There we have a player who was just tendered/signed at a reasonable salary and a 3rd round rounder. We also have an UNDA who contributed last year and a player who started in this league for a few years. At ILB, Guyton is already needed as part of the rotation, so for the third we are counting on Ruud or Alexander. I'd rather call Woods part of my rotation and hope that TBC or Crable or Redd steps up.
OLB Thomas, open, Woods HOPE: TBC, Crable, Redd
ILB Mayo, Bruschi early, Guyton HOPE: Alexander, Ruud

4) I think we need a top draftee at both ILB and OLB. Obviously Jason Taylor could fill the OLB role.

I am happy with Bruschi and Guyton rotating through early in the year and bringing along a rookie to take the "2-Down Thumper" role.



I am not really buying into using the 23 pick to get a complimentary ILB to Mayo. Mayo I believe is our 3 down ILB and very effective in that role. IMMHO I want the first pick to be used for a player to help improve the third down, the money down, defense. So if Sintim is projected as a 2 down linebacker, I am not on board bringing him in at 23. I think you can get better value later in the draft for that role. (Brinkley in 4th).



By the same token we could say we have players that could step up at ILB, Alexander, Guyton, Rudd.

 

[14thDragon]

1) Are you suggesting that we should wait until the 4th for our ILB and then expect him to be part of the rotation by mid-season (not "early in the year")?

2) I think the answer from everyone is that we will have Bruschi and Guyton "early in the season".

Yes. and Yes

OK, then who would be able to start or be a major contributor by midseason and when should that player be drafted? Your answer is brinkly in the 4th. Others I suspect would say Sintim at 23 or 34. My answer is Maualuga or Laurinitis at 23.

I would agree, but I think the value of them being in the rotation would be less then the value of the picks used to get them.

3) I think it is much more likely that the OLB's step up. There we have a player who was just tendered/signed at a reasonable salary and a 3rd round rounder. We also have an UNDA who contributed last year and a player who started in this league for a few years. At ILB, Guyton is already needed as part of the rotation, so for the third we are counting on Ruud or Alexander. I'd rather call Woods part of my rotation and hope that TBC or Crable or Redd steps up.
OLB Thomas, open, Woods HOPE: TBC, Crable, Redd
ILB Mayo, Bruschi early, Guyton HOPE: Alexander, Ruud

This is where I disagree. I think on the inside you have 1 guy who is a lock, and two guys that are proven in a rotation with some question marks. I only need a rotation guy to step up.

At OLB I have 1 proven guy, then one rotation guy and a bunch of question marks, and you need two on the field all three downs. That means you need one of the question marks to step all the wat up to the plate. But even there I am willing to wait until round 2 to find starter potential.

4) I think we need a top draftee at both ILB and OLB. Obviously Jason Taylor could fill the OLB role.

I disagree. I think even with Taylor you need to address OLB and that for your 3rd rotational ILB/ Special Teamer, you can look later to fill in.

 

[JSn]

OLB matters because Taylor wouldn't be an every down backer anyway.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

1) I expect Bruschi to start.
2) I expect Guyton to get lots of reps.
3) The rookie will gets lot of camp and preseason time with the idea of integrating him this year as we did Mayo.

The two players I think are most likely to be ready are Maualuga and Laurinitis.

This is the way I see it as of right now. I may but Cushing also on that list with Maualuga and Laurinitis as a possible SILB but he would not be ready until mid season IMO.

Two huge factors are how good of shape Bru comes into camp and how his injurie affects his offseason. I know he was going to come back if we made the playoffs but it stiil could affect his offseason. The other factor is how well Guyton progresses. This guy was UDFA and he was getting tones of reps so I am excited to see his sophmore campaing.

The idea of moving AD inside I think would only happen if there was an injury to either Bru or Guyton. With the loss of Vraible we need to have AD off the edge unless we are able to replace Vraible with a productive player.

To answer the oringinal question I really do not see anyone who would be able to unseat Bru or Guyton as SILB. Then again I thought it would take Mayo a couple of games before he started and how I was sooo wrong.

 

[Synovia]

OLB matters because Taylor wouldn't be an every down backer anyway.

And even if he is, you still need to address the issue. Hes a 2 year solution at most.

You need one in the next year or two to replace him, and then in the next 3 or 4 to replace Thomas as he gets older. Thomas is what, 31 now? We should have someone developed and iching to start by the time thomas is 33 or 34.

 

[CoachK]

Is there such a player? Isn't this an important question? How happy are we with Guyton or Bruschi starting? Which players are closest to starting in 2009 and for the next four years with Mayo?

We have seven picks in the top 120. We can have a lot of best player available or best value available. But we do NEED an ILB. It is worth reducing risk a bit and even reducing the talent level a bit, if we reasonably sure that we had a starter. How many of these players are there? When are they projected to be drafted? What do we need to do to get one of the ones we want?

If it's Sintim, I'm fine with drafting him at 23. I have a couple of others in mind, neither of which is very popular on this board. What is your list?

==========
At least at OLB (we need an OLB starter also), we have players who COULD step up: Woods, Crable, Banta-Cain and Redd.

Trade up for Maualuga !!

I think 23 is too high for Stintim, but I think he could be a good choice at #45 and could move inside nicely.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Let's see, we've tossed out a handful of names, but it might help to define the role and attributes necessary to play within that role...

I believe the consensus here is for a SILB/Mike with the presumption that Mayo stays at the Jack/WILB? Guyton is a comfortable #3 ILB who may be able to win the starting gig in Training Camp? Bruschi is now a two-down situational field-coach who we'd like to see lined up at second string with a rookie to groom?

So...
-- ILBs are expected to primarily play off the LOS, covering the A & B gaps on their side of the formation.
-- They need to be able to stack & shed blockers (OL, FB, H-back, TE, and slot WR) to close the running lane for their gaps and tackle the ball carrier.
-- They need to cover the short and medium zones on passing plays.
-- They should be able to blitz.
-- They should be great in trash.
-- They should be able to get to the outside on their side of the formation against outside runs.
-- They should be wicked football smaht.
-- Workaholic film/gym rats.
-- Instinctive, an absolute nose for the ball.

Prototype "starting" NE ILB in the BB era is 6'1" - 6'4", 242-260 (used to be 245-260 before Mayo, and probably will be again after the offseason program).

Some excerpts from NFL Draft Scout profiles:

Mayo
-- Productive open-field tackler and playmaker who is a strong presence in the huddle, playing with good aggression taking on lead blockers.
-- Shows functional strength at the point of attack, taking on the lineman or fullback with aggression...
---- ...does struggle some vs. double teams.
-- Smart athlete who calls defensive signals...
--- ...doing a nice job of staying on his feet.
-- Knows how to avoid blocks while maintaining balance on the move.
-- Does the extra film work needed to prepare for games and has no problem taking plays from the chalkboard to the playing field.
-- Can adjust on the move and is quick to read and react to keys (sees the big picture and works hard to get to the ball).
-- Can avoid trash on his way to cut off the ballcarrier.
-- Gets good zone drops due to his hip flexibility, showing the quick feet to fluidly turn and stay tight on his man in pass coverage.
-- His ability tracking the ball in flight stands out on film.
---- Not stout enough to stack and control in tight areas, as he does not keep his hands active enough to handle double teams.
-- Showed improved hand usage as a junior...
---- must do a better job of extending his arms to defeat cut blocks.
---- Needs to finish better as a tackler, as he is more finesse than he is a physical hitter.
---- Needs to step up and plug the holes at the line of scrimmage and seems a little slow to scrape downhill.
---- Better suited for a defensive system that will allow him to cover up, read and move, rather than one that requires Mayo step up and plug holes at the line.
---- Must be more aggressive using his hands to get into the blocker's chest, as the opponent can lock on and push him around at times.

Guyton
-- Has adequate strength to take on blocks and fill the rush lanes, flashing the speed to close in a hurry once he locates the ball.
-- Demonstrates functional strength to control blockers and is able to hold his ground at the line of scrimmage to plug run lanes.
-- Exhibits good mental alertness, as he learns well and shows adequate awareness and alertness in his play to diagnose and track the ball.
-- Has adequate instincts, feel and awareness to diagnose run and pass plays when working through trash.
-- Able to break down and bring ballcarriers down effectively on inside and outside run patterns.
-- When playing vs. the inside run, he has the functional strength to stack and fill...
---- ...needs time to diagnose, as he is not always good at reading blocking schemes.
-- Has enough strength to hold off or control linemen and has long arms to create and maintain separation.
-- His long arms, strength and use of hands help him to hold his ground vs. tight ends and control the line of scrimmage.
-- As a blitzer/rusher he possesses some feel and timing, and can make the turn, demonstrating a good burst to close.
-- In zone coverage, he exhibits adequate foot quickness and change of direction to transition and break on routes.
-- Has learned how to use his long reach to fend off blockers and keep the opponent away from his body.
-- Solid wrap-up tackler with the hand strength to secure on his initial contact.
----A bit hesitant reading keys at times...
---- ...is not the most instinctive player when it comes to diagnosing the run/pass plays.
---- Not real active with his hands and he tends to get caught up in traffic when trying to flow to the ball.

Ruud
-- Quick to key and diagnose the play...
-- ...is active vs. the run, showing the functional strength to take on blockers and the hand usage to shed blocks.
-- Instinctive player with good vision...
-- ...shows good tackling form...
-- ...using his hands effectively to take on, shed blocks and make the play.
-- Opens his hips properly and is fluid in his pass drops, staying low in his turn-and-go action.
-- ...he can sift through trash quickly.
---- ...needs to improve his strength to be more effective with his inside gap responsibilities.
-- His vision and awareness let him get a good jump on the ball and he does a decent job breaking down in space.
-- Takes good angles.
---- Will lose leverage on inside run plays when he leads with the wrong shoulder.
---- His lack of bulk causes him to get engulfed by the larger blockers and while he needs to add more weight, it could impact his timed speed.
---- ...needs to play under control more, as he tends to over pursue.

On paper, and with the help of one season, the team of Mayo, Guyton, and Ruud reads like a potentially good fit for NE's ILBs.
- All need to get stronger and add some more muscle mass (in progress).
- The two "drafted" players are described as "instinctive"...must be something BB wants to see in his LBs.
- The undrafted player has "adequate" instincts (Ochmed and I have discussed this in the past, I believe you can develop your instincts with hard work and study, "adequate" earned Guyton a chance and he ran with it).
- The drafted kids showed better ability to get through trash.
- All showed the ability to engage and shed blockers - they didn't just run around them everytime.
- They all make the tackle, but don't always deliver the big hit.
- They all were decent in coverage.

Their flaws are correctible, but the keys here are instinctive, good in trash, and willing to engage and shed blockers.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with your analysis of Mayo, Guyton and Bruschi. My question is with regard to Ruud.

Based on you analysis, should one conclude that from what you've seen of Ruud, you would draft him in the first or second of this draft if he were in this draft? That is, do you view him as approximaely equal as a prospect to those we have been discussing as potential picks for the patriots in the first and second rounds.

If this is the case, then of course we can wait and draft for the future in the 3rd or the 4th.

Let's see, we've tossed out a handful of names, but it might help to define the role and attributes necessary to play within that role...

I believe the consensus here is for a SILB/Mike with the presumption that Mayo stays at the Jack/WILB? Guyton is a comfortable #3 ILB who may be able to win the starting gig in Training Camp? Bruschi is now a two-down situational field-coach who we'd like to see lined up at second string with a rookie to groom?

So...
-- ILBs are expected to primarily play off the LOS, covering the A & B gaps on their side of the formation.
-- They need to be able to stack & shed blockers (OL, FB, H-back, TE, and slot WR) to close the running lane for their gaps and tackle the ball carrier.
-- They need to cover the short and medium zones on passing plays.
-- They should be able to blitz.
-- They should be great in trash.
-- They should be able to get to the outside on their side of the formation against outside runs.
-- They should be wicked football smaht.
-- Workaholic film/gym rats.
-- Instinctive, an absolute nose for the ball.

Prototype "starting" NE ILB in the BB era is 6'1" - 6'4", 242-260 (used to be 245-260 before Mayo, and probably will be again after the offseason program).

Some excerpts from NFL Draft Scout profiles:

Mayo
-- Productive open-field tackler and playmaker who is a strong presence in the huddle, playing with good aggression taking on lead blockers.
-- Shows functional strength at the point of attack, taking on the lineman or fullback with aggression...
---- ...does struggle some vs. double teams.
-- Smart athlete who calls defensive signals...
--- ...doing a nice job of staying on his feet.
-- Knows how to avoid blocks while maintaining balance on the move.
-- Does the extra film work needed to prepare for games and has no problem taking plays from the chalkboard to the playing field.
-- Can adjust on the move and is quick to read and react to keys (sees the big picture and works hard to get to the ball).
-- Can avoid trash on his way to cut off the ballcarrier.
-- Gets good zone drops due to his hip flexibility, showing the quick feet to fluidly turn and stay tight on his man in pass coverage.
-- His ability tracking the ball in flight stands out on film.
---- Not stout enough to stack and control in tight areas, as he does not keep his hands active enough to handle double teams.
-- Showed improved hand usage as a junior...
---- must do a better job of extending his arms to defeat cut blocks.
---- Needs to finish better as a tackler, as he is more finesse than he is a physical hitter.
---- Needs to step up and plug the holes at the line of scrimmage and seems a little slow to scrape downhill.
---- Better suited for a defensive system that will allow him to cover up, read and move, rather than one that requires Mayo step up and plug holes at the line.
---- Must be more aggressive using his hands to get into the blocker's chest, as the opponent can lock on and push him around at times.

Guyton
-- Has adequate strength to take on blocks and fill the rush lanes, flashing the speed to close in a hurry once he locates the ball.
-- Demonstrates functional strength to control blockers and is able to hold his ground at the line of scrimmage to plug run lanes.
-- Exhibits good mental alertness, as he learns well and shows adequate awareness and alertness in his play to diagnose and track the ball.
-- Has adequate instincts, feel and awareness to diagnose run and pass plays when working through trash.
-- Able to break down and bring ballcarriers down effectively on inside and outside run patterns.
-- When playing vs. the inside run, he has the functional strength to stack and fill...
---- ...needs time to diagnose, as he is not always good at reading blocking schemes.
-- Has enough strength to hold off or control linemen and has long arms to create and maintain separation.
-- His long arms, strength and use of hands help him to hold his ground vs. tight ends and control the line of scrimmage.
-- As a blitzer/rusher he possesses some feel and timing, and can make the turn, demonstrating a good burst to close.
-- In zone coverage, he exhibits adequate foot quickness and change of direction to transition and break on routes.
-- Has learned how to use his long reach to fend off blockers and keep the opponent away from his body.
-- Solid wrap-up tackler with the hand strength to secure on his initial contact.
----A bit hesitant reading keys at times...
---- ...is not the most instinctive player when it comes to diagnosing the run/pass plays.
---- Not real active with his hands and he tends to get caught up in traffic when trying to flow to the ball.

Ruud
-- Quick to key and diagnose the play...
-- ...is active vs. the run, showing the functional strength to take on blockers and the hand usage to shed blocks.
-- Instinctive player with good vision...
-- ...shows good tackling form...
-- ...using his hands effectively to take on, shed blocks and make the play.
-- Opens his hips properly and is fluid in his pass drops, staying low in his turn-and-go action.
-- ...he can sift through trash quickly.
---- ...needs to improve his strength to be more effective with his inside gap responsibilities.
-- His vision and awareness let him get a good jump on the ball and he does a decent job breaking down in space.
-- Takes good angles.
---- Will lose leverage on inside run plays when he leads with the wrong shoulder.
---- His lack of bulk causes him to get engulfed by the larger blockers and while he needs to add more weight, it could impact his timed speed.
---- ...needs to play under control more, as he tends to over pursue.

On paper, and with the help of one season, the team of Mayo, Guyton, and Ruud reads like a potentially good fit for NE's ILBs.
- All need to get stronger and add some more muscle mass (in progress).
- The two "drafted" players are described as "instinctive"...must be something BB wants to see in his LBs.
- The undrafted player has "adequate" instincts (Ochmed and I have discussed this in the past, I believe you can develop your instincts with hard work and study, "adequate" earned Guyton a chance and he ran with it).
- The drafted kids showed better ability to get through trash.
- All showed the ability to engage and shed blockers - they didn't just run around them everytime.
- They all make the tackle, but don't always deliver the big hit.
- They all were decent in coverage.

Their flaws are correctible, but the keys here are instinctive, good in trash, and willing to engage and shed blockers.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

My question is with regard to Ruud.

Based on you analysis, should one conclude that from what you've seen of Ruud, you would draft him in the first or second of this draft if he were in this draft? That is, do you view him as approximaely equal as a prospect to those we have been discussing as potential picks for the patriots in the first and second rounds.

None of us have seen anything from Ruud, like Lua, he could be waived at any time. In Ruud's case, he didn't have enough playing time in preseason to assess his status, I don't think he did more than take some Special Teams reps - Lua had enough playing time in the base defense to see his failings.

The plus on Ruud is his profile offers some hope and Robertson was waived before he was...presumably that means he has been working hard on his rehab and conditioning and playbook while on IR and will get another chance in Training Camp.

The exercise above is the preface for a comparison to current ILB prospects...I'm sure it will generate a response or three.

 

[KY Pats Fan]

Can't see any rookie starting OLB in the Patriots scheme. I may be suprised but I expect Woods/Crable - Mayo - Guyton - Thomas as the starting 4. Moving Thomas to the inside may be a good move if Woods and Crable are ready to start.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

NFL Draft Scout's profiles for this year's class isn't as in-depth - lazy buggers.

Maualuga
-- Reads the action quickly.
-- Willing to take on blocks and has the strength and hand technique to shed quickly. (Codswallop from what I've seen on TV, but we'll let it hang.)
-- Gets good depth on his pass drop ...
-- Punishing hitter.
-- Can break down in space to make the secure open-field tackle.
---- Has a tendency to overpursue.
---- Too often relies on his explosive hitting to knock down ballcarriers, rather than wrapping up to make secure tackles.
---- Concerns about his maturity. :attention:
---- Repeated troubles while at USC involving fights and alcohol. :attention:

Laurinaitis
-- Reads the action quickly and gets in position to make the play.
-- Instinctive and rarely out of position.
-- Uses his hands well to meet, greet and discard blockers. (Not on my TV.)
-- Best attribute might be his open-field tackling.
-- Rare instincts and underrated athleticism for coverage.
---- Relies on his athleticism and good technique to defeat blocks and can struggle to disengage.
---- Consistent and reliable, but rarely made the game-changing play over his career. (Damned with faint praise.) :ugh:

Beckwith
-- Highly aggressive and physical.
-- Takes on blockers and uses strong punch to keep himself clean.
-- Understands his role in the defense and is willing to take on blockers to maintain his gap responsibility and trust his teammates to handle theirs and make the play.
-- Works his way through trash.
-- Reliable open-field tackler.
---- A physical battering ram when it comes to taking on blockers, Beckwith struggles to quickly disengage and make tackles in space.
---- Lacks great lateral quickness or the speed to meet the back at the edge or chase down plays outside the box.
---- Struggles maintaining proximity to receivers while in coverage.
---- Lets blockers cut him too easily.
---- Requires a medical check because he has missed games the past three seasons with knee injuries.

McKillop
-- Productive, instinctual player who sorts through the trash to get to the ballcarrier, seems to have an innate sense of how and when to slide through oncoming blockers.
-- ...always seems to know where the ball is.
-- Breaks down well in space and makes secure tackles in the open field.
-- Can get to the outside to meet the back at the edge.
-- Drops quickly and hustles to meet receivers in intermediate routes.
-- Knows where the sticks are.
---- Does not have great speed to chase plays from behind...
-- ...but generally makes up for it by taking good angles.
---- Lacks physicality and runs around blocks instead of taking them on.
---- Unable to get off blocks when engaged.

Brinkley
-- Reliable open-field tackler and can be a punisher inside.
---- Relies on his physical attributes and is still developing his instincts and technique.
---- Too often looks to slip blocks instead of using his size advantage.
---- Struggles with his hand placement and is slow to disengage.
---- Can be fooled by misdirection and lacks the explosiveness to recover.
---- Lacks the instincts and foot speed to be a factor in coverage.

Phillips
-- Avoids blocks from guards in trash to reach the ballcarrier...
-- ...but is also physical enough to punch linemen and maintain his gap.
-- Very tough and won't back down from anyone.
-- Aggressive, instinctual player
-- Adequate drop and good awareness in coverage
-- Secure tackler, has the length to wrap up and strength to bring the man down.
---- He often reads the play correctly but is a step slow to break down or react.
---- His aggressiveness sometimes causes him to leave his gap responsibility.

Joseph
-- Very physical at the line, throws his body into the hole.
-- Will not win any track events, but seems to get to every play with good football speed.
-- Runs through the ballcarrier on tackles -- behind the line or after hustling to the sideline on quick screens.
-- Swarms to the ball downfield, plays through the whistle.
-- Possesses one of the most ferocious punches in the country; slams the pads of linemen when attacking the run.
-- Can also slip through traffic to hit a back in the hole.
-- Rarely gets knocked to the ground on cut blocks.
-- Uses his hands to get off blocks near the line and at the second level from full-grown guards.
---- A two-down player.
---- Not very fast in his drop and comes out of his stance too early...
-- ...but he still manages to cover enough ground to stop middle routes short of the first down.

Mauga
-- Instinctive and more athletic than he looks, Mauga reads the action quickly and is quick to attack the line of scrimmage.
-- He has the lateral quickness to slip by blockers and make tackles near the line of scrimmage.
-- He isn't a bruising tackler, but is a scrapper who always seems to get the ballcarrier on the ground.
-- Reads the action quickly and puts himself in position to make the tackle before blockers have a chance to get to him.
-- Doesn't shy away from contact and has the lower-body strength and good lateral quickness to engage blockers, keep his feet and disengage as the ballcarrier approaches.
-- Good open-field tackler who breaks down well and wraps his arms for the secure stop.
---- Questionable level of competition.
---- Makes a lot of tackles in pursuit...
-- though much of this is based on effort and not elite speed.
---- Will need to be protected by a solid front to keep blockers off of him. (Sounds like Mayo.)
---- Good burst upfield as a blitzer, but doesn't get home often enough.
-- Good awareness in coverage...
---- ...marginal overall athleticism.
---- Medical check necessary.

We're down into NFL Draft Scout's projected 6th round - lets recap:

Maualuga - Do you really want to spend a first round pick on a kid with maturity and off-field flags?
Laurinaitis - We already have three somewhat like him, what does he add to the mix?
Beckwith - Two down LB. Medical issues. Physical, but can't get off the block and is very limited in his range.
McKillop - Sooo close, but he just isn't physical enough.
Brinkley - No instincts, Two down LB.
Phillips - Reads like a decent option for SILB, a bit undersized but has the frame to add another 10-15 lbs.
Joseph - Two down LB, but he can still make plays in coverage if necessary, just a playmaker.
Mauga - They were struggling to find negatives for him, seems like a fine project for Coach Woicik.

These are the kids NFL Draft Scout lists as ILBs, I'll take a look at OLBs and DEs in a bit.

 

[mgteich]

Your knock on Laurinitis is that he seems similar to those we already have. Well, let the competition begin! He seems to be an excellent talent. Belichick has a knack of adapting his schemes to take advantage of the skills of the talents that he has. The limiting factor is talent and good instincts, which Lauritinitis has more of than anyone else at ILB not named Maualuga. As you point out, before we were to draft Maualuga, Belichick would need to understand the extent of remaining character issues, and how trainable he is.

NFL Draft Scout's profiles for this year's class isn't as in-depth - lazy buggers.

Maualuga
-- Reads the action quickly.
-- Willing to take on blocks and has the strength and hand technique to shed quickly. (Codswallop from what I've seen on TV, but we'll let it hang.)
-- Gets good depth on his pass drop ...
-- Punishing hitter.
-- Can break down in space to make the secure open-field tackle.
---- Has a tendency to overpursue.
---- Too often relies on his explosive hitting to knock down ballcarriers, rather than wrapping up to make secure tackles.
---- Concerns about his maturity. :attention:
---- Repeated troubles while at USC involving fights and alcohol. :attention:

Laurinaitis
-- Reads the action quickly and gets in position to make the play.
-- Instinctive and rarely out of position.
-- Uses his hands well to meet, greet and discard blockers. (Not on my TV.)
-- Best attribute might be his open-field tackling.
-- Rare instincts and underrated athleticism for coverage.
---- Relies on his athleticism and good technique to defeat blocks and can struggle to disengage.
---- Consistent and reliable, but rarely made the game-changing play over his career. (Damned with faint praise.) :ugh:

Beckwith
-- Highly aggressive and physical.
-- Takes on blockers and uses strong punch to keep himself clean.
-- Understands his role in the defense and is willing to take on blockers to maintain his gap responsibility and trust his teammates to handle theirs and make the play.
-- Works his way through trash.
-- Reliable open-field tackler.
---- A physical battering ram when it comes to taking on blockers, Beckwith struggles to quickly disengage and make tackles in space.
---- Lacks great lateral quickness or the speed to meet the back at the edge or chase down plays outside the box.
---- Struggles maintaining proximity to receivers while in coverage.
---- Lets blockers cut him too easily.
---- Requires a medical check because he has missed games the past three seasons with knee injuries.

McKillop
-- Productive, instinctual player who sorts through the trash to get to the ballcarrier, seems to have an innate sense of how and when to slide through oncoming blockers.
-- ...always seems to know where the ball is.
-- Breaks down well in space and makes secure tackles in the open field.
-- Can get to the outside to meet the back at the edge.
-- Drops quickly and hustles to meet receivers in intermediate routes.
-- Knows where the sticks are.
---- Does not have great speed to chase plays from behind...
-- ...but generally makes up for it by taking good angles.
---- Lacks physicality and runs around blocks instead of taking them on.
---- Unable to get off blocks when engaged.

Brinkley
-- Reliable open-field tackler and can be a punisher inside.
---- Relies on his physical attributes and is still developing his instincts and technique.
---- Too often looks to slip blocks instead of using his size advantage.
---- Struggles with his hand placement and is slow to disengage.
---- Can be fooled by misdirection and lacks the explosiveness to recover.
---- Lacks the instincts and foot speed to be a factor in coverage.

Phillips
-- Avoids blocks from guards in trash to reach the ballcarrier...
-- ...but is also physical enough to punch linemen and maintain his gap.
-- Very tough and won't back down from anyone.
-- Aggressive, instinctual player
-- Adequate drop and good awareness in coverage
-- Secure tackler, has the length to wrap up and strength to bring the man down.
---- He often reads the play correctly but is a step slow to break down or react.
---- His aggressiveness sometimes causes him to leave his gap responsibility.

Joseph
-- Very physical at the line, throws his body into the hole.
-- Will not win any track events, but seems to get to every play with good football speed.
-- Runs through the ballcarrier on tackles -- behind the line or after hustling to the sideline on quick screens.
-- Swarms to the ball downfield, plays through the whistle.
-- Possesses one of the most ferocious punches in the country; slams the pads of linemen when attacking the run.
-- Can also slip through traffic to hit a back in the hole.
-- Rarely gets knocked to the ground on cut blocks.
-- Uses his hands to get off blocks near the line and at the second level from full-grown guards.
---- A two-down player.
---- Not very fast in his drop and comes out of his stance too early...
-- ...but he still manages to cover enough ground to stop middle routes short of the first down.

Mauga
-- Instinctive and more athletic than he looks, Mauga reads the action quickly and is quick to attack the line of scrimmage.
-- He has the lateral quickness to slip by blockers and make tackles near the line of scrimmage.
-- He isn't a bruising tackler, but is a scrapper who always seems to get the ballcarrier on the ground.
-- Reads the action quickly and puts himself in position to make the tackle before blockers have a chance to get to him.
-- Doesn't shy away from contact and has the lower-body strength and good lateral quickness to engage blockers, keep his feet and disengage as the ballcarrier approaches.
-- Good open-field tackler who breaks down well and wraps his arms for the secure stop.
---- Questionable level of competition.
---- Makes a lot of tackles in pursuit...
-- though much of this is based on effort and not elite speed.
---- Will need to be protected by a solid front to keep blockers off of him. (Sounds like Mayo.)
---- Good burst upfield as a blitzer, but doesn't get home often enough.
-- Good awareness in coverage...
---- ...marginal overall athleticism.
---- Medical check necessary.

We're down into NFL Draft Scout's projected 6th round - lets recap:

Maualuga - Do you really want to spend a first round pick on a kid with maturity and off-field flags?
Laurinaitis - We already have three somewhat like him, what does he add to the mix?
Beckwith - Two down LB. Medical issues. Physical, but can't get off the block and is very limited in his range.
McKillop - Sooo close, but he just isn't physical enough.
Brinkley - No instincts, Two down LB.
Phillips - Reads like a decent option for SILB, a bit undersized but has the frame to add another 10-15 lbs.
Joseph - Two down LB, but he can still make plays in coverage if necessary, just a playmaker.
Mauga - They were struggling to find negatives for him, seems like a fine project for Coach Woicik.

These are the kids NFL Draft Scout lists as ILBs, I'll take a look at OLBs and DEs in a bit.