What is our plan for ILB?

[Wozzy]

Who is the 4th? You have Obiazor, Jacobs, Hutchins and WHO??

Xavier Holmes

 

[Wozzy]

How am I asking you to guess? FFS. YOU made the statement that there were 4 rookies along with MUMA vying for the Back-up LB spots. Yes. It does f'in matter when you keep spewing BS that there are 4 rookie LBs when there aren't. There are 3 and that is only if Hutchins is moved to ILB from Edge.

I think Muma and Obiazor will make the team, but Declan Williams or Khalil Jacobs might stick on the practice squad.

I know what they've done so far. You're the one who is having issues counting. Not me.

Then why do you keep saying they've brought in 4 talented rookies for ILB?

If my miscounting is what your entire argument is hanging on, maybe go out and get some fresh air.

The Pats have brought in the following for Edge and ILB.
Edge Gabe Jacas
Edge Xavier Holmes
LB Namdi Obiazor
LB Khalil Jacobs
LB Quintayvious Hutchins.

3 for ILB and 2 for Edge.

You forgot Korey Foreman at OLB.

Xavier Holmes is kind of a tweener, doubt he makes it at all, but I wouldn’t call him exclusively an edge player.

No matter how you slice it, you don't get 4 talented LBs to vie for ILB spots.

Chad Muma, Namdi Obiazor Declan Williams and Khalil Jacobs… you can’t count.

 

[Wozzy]

Gibbens is gone because the Cardinals overpaid him. Much like when the Pats cut Cardona. Both are good players who the Pats thought were overpriced. Tavai is simply too slow - I think he is done.

The Pats had all the money in the world. If they thought Gibbens was the future behind Spillane or Ellis they would have singed him long term. The Cards didn’t pay that much.

Muma is athletic and cheap. Historically Muma has been a disappointment. Can the Pats find a spot that Muma can grasp and play freely and use his athleticism? I doubt it but he is cheap so the Pats will try.

Disappointment? When the Jaguars drafted Muma in the third round they drafted an ILB (Devin Lloyd, Pro Bowl/All Pro) in the first round a day earlier. They also had a vet (Foysade Olukun) who led the entire NFL in tackles.

Both of those guys stayed relatively healthy for Muma’s entire Jags career before a new regime took over and cleaned house. Maybe Jags fans were disappointed their front office didn’t spend that draft pick elsewhere, but not because Muma played poorly. They had one of the best ILB tandems in the NFL. Chad Muma was also considered one of their best special teams players.

Context is important.

I assume Obiazor will make the roster much like Prunty will and Bryant did last year. The Pats signed two new rookie OTs so it is likely Bryant is gone this year. Hopefully Obiazor and Prunty stick long term. Both seem to have plus athleticism and football smarts which I think is a smart way to draft.

The Pats cut Swinson and kept Ponder, they have no problem exposing a draft pick to waivers if the UDFA is better. I’m not convinced Bryant is going anywhere, I’ll wait for camp competition to determine if he worked hard this offseason to improve. Everyone likes their shiny new toys more than last year’s.

 

[p8ryts]

You have zero clue this is true. Was it true of Mike
Vrabel or Rob Nincovich entering year 5? You have no clue.

Baloney. If you bring in four rookies odds say a smart team could find at least one good player, potentially two.

The Patriots got a good look at Muma last year, they liked what they saw… that’s why Gibbens and Tavai are gone.

I have said this before but I will repeat it. In a couple of the last regular season games, he got some play and nothing spectacular took place. However, on several plays, I observed him playing the defense correctly. Didn't get caught inside, protected the flat. He wasn't making great plays but the opposition play was taken away because, he was where he was supposed to be. There is something to be said for that.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

FWIW, Bobby Wagner is still unsigned.

 

[Wozzy]

I have said this before but I will repeat it. In a couple of the last regular season games, he got some play and nothing spectacular took place. However, on several plays, I observed him playing the defense correctly. Didn't get caught inside, protected the flat. He wasn't making great plays but the opposition play was taken away because, he was where he was supposed to be. There is something to be said for that.

I think it's also important to note, the Patriots acquired Muma immediately after the Bill's loss in December where the defense completely let off the gas.

Why this is relevant? Spillane got hurt the game prior and Gibbens played the most defensive snaps on the team that loss. James Cook torched them for 22 carries, 107 yards rushing and 2 TD's... he also caught another short pass for another TD. The Bill's TE's also killed us in that game.

The Patriots obviously saw the weakness in Gibbens that day and moved quickly to fix the problem.

I also think it's important for fans to know Muma was considered a special teams ace in Jacksonville. He may have been buried on the depth chart but being great at special teams and waiting for your opportunity of defense is all a young player can do.

Jaguars rookie Chad Muma has been 'unbelievable' on special teams

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Chad Muma hasn't played much on defense through two games with Foye Oluokun and Devin Lloyd ahead of him on the depth chart, but special teams coordinator Heath Farwell hasn't minded. “Chad played unbelievable," Farwell said Thursday…

jaguarswire.usatoday.com