What is our plan for ILB?

[rkarp1]

For me.. I actually like Ellis.. he's a physical thumper and a guy that's still getting better.. he's not perfect but he plays well in the defense.. I'm actually thinking we should be looking at Devin White a free agent... Obiazor I like his skill set and he can cover sideline to sideline play the ball and do it all.. he should be able to carve out a role.. muma and Brit are likely Depth and STs guys..

We should be adding a Free agent (Devin White) , and coaching up Obiazor to factor in the LBs corps.. also Spillane is 30 so allowing him to be fresher down the stretch would be beneficial to him..

I like Ellis as well. I also like Spillane. both are very smart, physical. good tacklers. not good in coverage imo, and depth behind then is thin.
I was surprised with letting both Gibbons and Mapu go before the summer.

 

[Real fan 02]

I like Ellis as well. I also like Spillane. both are very smart, physical. good tacklers. not good in coverage imo, and depth behind then is thin.
I was surprised with letting both Gibbons and Mapu go before the summer.

We haven't had a coverage LB since jaime Collins.. Obiazor fits the coverage LB prototype wouldn't be the east bit suprised to see him have a big role this season.. Spillane is the general and Ellis is LB2.. they play well together and both are excellent tackles and rub stuffers..

With kurh putting more emphasis on being even more aggressive with the addition of byard at Safety the LBs as a whole will greatly benefit.. yeah I believe Gibbens wanted a bigger role and Mapu likely wasn't going to be a long-term solution.

 

[Grogan14]

Declan Williams is the son of ex Phillies relief pitcher Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams

Eagles also invited him to their mini camp tryout

 

[RxJock1120]

Hill is touted because he was at Texas. But he wasn't that good. Rodriguez and Louis are better than Hill.

The Pats will clearly be focusing on LB going into next year's draft because the cupboard is bare.


Ellis is below average. He's a liability against the run because he's 50/50 to go to the right gap. And he's horrible against the pass.

Anthony Hill Jr is a heat sinking missile that has incredible sideline to sideline speed and bring the hammer to all RB. 4.5 forty, 125 inch broad jump and it shows on the field. He was perfect for Vrabel's defense. But oh well...

 

[PatsFan2]

What's the plan??

 

[Wozzy]

Judging from comments here people are really really concerned about a defense that for 3/4"s of the regular season ranked #1 in run defense and yards per carry and it's a real concern. When Spillane and all the defensive front players were healthy, this was the best run defense in the NFL.

And people here keep suggesting Ellis and Spillane weren't good in coverage. Be more specific... when Ellis was in man coverage on TE's, he was great at it. But team zone coverages were crap because they were often out of spot or in the wrong zone entirely. This was true in the backfield also, where we had arguably the best CB trio in the league.

Kevin Byard was brought in to QB the backend of the defense, he will set people up in the right place and make sure they're running the correct zone.

Spillane is your SAM middle LB, Ellis is your WILL LB'er behind him playing in space. This when healthy is a really good duo. Of course they need the DL in front of them to stay healthy and play well. That's a scheme dependent thing, but true of all LB'ers. Vrabel just happens to run a system where all his LB'er are small mobile LB'ers and he allows his front to do the heavy lifting.

Chad Muma, Namdi Obiazor and Declan Williams are the depth. Muma at least is a great athlete, Namdi Obiazor and Declan Williams good athletes. As Spillane and others have proven, ILB is one of those positions where great athleticism isn't as important as instincts, timing and a willingness to get dirty. The least athletic among them could end up being the best player.

This is a pretty good group, plus they have some OLB's with some flexibility now. I don't understand the concern assuming health.

 

[mgteich]

For me.. I actually like Ellis.. he's a physical thumper and a guy that's still getting better.. he's not perfect but he plays well in the defense.. I'm actually thinking we should be looking at Devin White a free agent... Obiazor I like his skill set and he can cover sideline to sideline play the ball and do it all.. he should be able to carve out a role.. muma and Brit are likely Depth and STs guys..

We should be adding a Free agent (Devin White) , and coaching up Obiazor to factor in the LBs corps.. also Spillane is 30 so allowing him to be fresher down the stretch would be beneficial to him..

I'm sure that staff has looked at White and found him wanting, even as inexpensive competition for
Hill, Obiazor and Muma. I'm not sure whether we'll carry 4 or 5, but this group seems Ok compared to White.
Plus, of course, at least one of the 7 OLB's is likely to be able to play inside if needed.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm sure that staff has looked at White and found him wanting, even as inexpensive competition for
Hill, Obiazor and Muma. I'm not sure whether we'll carry 4 or 5, but this group seems Ok compared to White.
Plus, of course, at least one of the 7 OLB's is likely to be able to play inside if needed.

White would be another veteran with championship pedigree for the front 7 that could come in. As we saw missing Spillane an Williams impacted the run defense last season. Depth was an issue. So he would be a good pick up IMO. Bit again this all hinges on Obiazor and his development this season.. ask me why I haven't even mentioned Swinson...

 

[Real fan 02]

Judging from comments here people are really really concerned about a defense that for 3/4"s of the regular season ranked #1 in run defense and yards per carry and it's a real concern. When Spillane and all the defensive front players were healthy, this was the best run defense in the NFL.

And people here keep suggesting Ellis and Spillane weren't good in coverage. Be more specific... when Ellis was in man coverage on TE's, he was great at it. But team zone coverages were crap because they were often out of spot or in the wrong zone entirely. This was true in the backfield also, where we had arguably the best CB trio in the league.

Kevin Byard was brought in to QB the backend of the defense, he will set people up in the right place and make sure they're running the correct zone.

Spillane is your SAM middle LB, Ellis is your WILL LB'er behind him playing in space. This when healthy is a really good duo. Of course they need the DL in front of them to stay healthy and play well. That's a scheme dependent thing, but true of all LB'ers. Vrabel just happens to run a system where all his LB'er are small mobile LB'ers and he allows his front to do the heavy lifting.

Chad Muma, Namdi Obiazor and Declan Williams are the depth. Muma at least is a great athlete, Namdi Obiazor and Declan Williams good athletes. As Spillane and others have proven, ILB is one of those positions where great athleticism isn't as important as instincts, timing and a willingness to get dirty. The least athletic among them could end up being the best player.

This is a pretty good group, plus they have some OLB's with some flexibility now. I don't understand the concern assuming health.

Correct! Additionally we were in alot of zone last season due to the safety play (Hawkins). So that left the LBs to have to over pursue and make up alot of ground to cover rather than down hill wich all LBs love to do! We have a solid group! We do! Everyone by virtue of experience and getting a taste of the superbowl will be better mentally and physically on the feild. I believe Elliss is a player that does alot of dirty work and plays with a physical edge and attitude. Obiazor will provide some athletic ability, coverage and ball skills to the group.

 

[mgteich]

White would be another veteran with championship pedigree for the front 7 that could come in. As we saw missing Spillane an Williams impacted the run defense last season. Depth was an issue. So he would be a good pick up IMO. Bit again this all hinges on Obiazor and his development this season.. ask me why I haven't even mentioned Swinson...

because Swinson has no chance of getting any reps inside?

Signing White is something that should be done now or during the week of the cuts. He would be inexpensive comprtition.

But this isn't Vrabel's style. No one who made the 53 was signed last year between the draft and the week of the cut to 53. He's made his decisions.

 

[Real fan 02]

because Swinson has no chance of getting any reps inside?

Signing White is something that should be done now or during the week of the cuts. He would be inexpensive comprtition.

But this isn't Vrabel's style. No one who made the 53 was signed last year between the draft and the week of the cut to 53. He's made his decisions.

Swinson projects as an edge player.. Haven't really committed to much time on if he's played elsewhere for him to show something would be welcomed. But yes last season was to get the culture created coming off the 4-13 stenches.. that was year 1 so Vrabel acknowledged all season of the depth. He will habe much better depth heading into this season of course..

We just need drafted guys to pan out.. it allows us to do so much more when thst happens.. the last great LB we drafted was Hightower.. the last great edge we drafted was Jones... 2012..

 

[mgteich]

Swinson projects as an edge player.. Haven't really committed to much time on if he's played elsewhere for him to show something would be welcomed. But yes last season was to get the culture created coming off the 4-13 stenches.. that was year 1 so Vrabel acknowledged all season of the depth. He will habe much better depth heading into this season of course..

We just need drafted guys to pan out.. it allows us to do so much more when thst happens.. the last great LB we drafted was Hightower.. the last great edge we drafted was Jones... 2012..

Jacas could be the first of the new era, even if he isn't a starter as a rookie.

 

[Real fan 02]

Jacas could be the first of the new era, even if he isn't a starter as a rookie.

Jacas body type is that of clowny. They both are clones as far a body type. I believe we got a dawg in Jacas. He's the starting edge opposite Jones...