What is our plan for ILB?

[mgteich]

A lot of posters do not think it is a pretty good group.

.

I think it is all about Elliss. Vrabel thinks that he is a good starter. Many posters would prefer that he be restricted to ST play.

Also, many posters seem not to trust Vrable's ability to evaluate ILBs, an interesting idea.

 

[Ring 6]

I think it is all about Elliss. Vrabel thinks that he is a good starter. Many posters would prefer that he be restricted to ST play.

Also, many posters seem not to trust Vrable's ability to evaluate ILBs, an interesting idea.

All 32 teams evaluate players and all make some bad evaluations. I dint know why you think Vrabel is infallible.
Last year he wanted Elliss on the field along with guys other than Spillane that he changed his mind on and sent packing. That doesn’t sound like a good track record to me.
Are you saying he isn’t allowed to be questioned?

 

[DaBruinz]

Just an FYI. I've not been able to confirm this signing. The Pats don't have it on their web site (though they don't have any of the UDFA listed as being signed) nor do they have the 3 draft picks listed.

EDIT: It's confirmed.

 

[Uptown]

Jacas was listed as a LB when drafted. That may be his role in the base defense, with him rotating to the edge on passing downs.

A base defense made up of our best 11 looks like this:
Landry - Barmore - Williams - Jones
Spillane - Jacas
Gonzalez - Woodson - Byard - Jones - Davis

I wonder if LB will be de-emphasized in the base defense, with Jacas used in a hybrid role much like Vrabel was.

Jacas is an edge. Too heavy/inexperienced to play inside. He isn’t Hightower. He’s more of a Judon/Hali type..He may never be a “star” but I guarantee he won’t fail/bust.

 

[rkarp1]

I used the term "thin"
that does not mean bad nor does it mean can't be good.
A players former track record also does not necessarily hold water, because he would be brought in, specifically to playing the Patriots scheme.

I thought last year Spillane and Ellis played well enough. Not pro bowl level, but tackled well, were in the right spots most of the time.
I also thought Gibbons, for a back up type player, stepped in and the team continued to win.
Same with Jennings. I thought Jennings earned the right to be back here this summer, with a good chance to earn a spot on the 53.
I like Tavai, but he seemingly was not a good fit for this scheme.
Mapu as well. I did like him on ST. I thought he ran well and tackled well. At least see how he looks over the summer.

Maybe the new guys will come in and play well.
Muma could not earn snaps last year. Did he get better? Is he strictly ST?
otherwise everyone is either new, or a rookie.
The LB group could be a strength
Today, with out seeing players on the field, it looks "thin"
Adding another vet would be wise imo

 

[Wozzy]

A lot of posters do not think it is a pretty good group.

A lot of Patriots fans told us we had no talent from 2014-2018. Patriots fans suffer from a lack of perspective.

Saying "no team has 2 or 3 Pro Bowl backups" to create a false analogy does not make the Patriots ILBers "a pretty good group".

Spillane is good, not great, Elliss is weak, and after that everyone has been released by multiple teams or is a rookie. That does not add up to "pretty good". The ILBers is the Pats weakest talent group at this point. Let's hope the need is addressed before September with someone other than castoffs or rookies.

Top level defense = good

Draft position doesn’t equate to good or bad. Vrabel only wants weakside LB’ers, so they have a good group of them.