Who are you hoping for in Training Camp?

[n1997y]

Ninkovich has minimal play elsewhere for his first 3 years in the NFL and then was a given a chance by the patriots. This was hugely successful.

Holmes in a rookie UDFA. There is zero chance that he is Ninkovich in 2026.

Muma is much more in the pattern of Ninkoovich.

Reiss isn’t the only one suggesting Holmes could be another find like Ninkovich. This may be a better explanation:

Patriots 'Shocked' by Free Agent Gabe Jacas Alternative

The New England Patriots are "shocked" by an unheralded free agent who's an alternative to still unsigned second-round draft pick Gabe Jacas.

heavy.com

From that article:

“Ninkovich won over the Pats by beating starting offensive linemen in pass-rush reps during the summer of 2009, per Reiss. Holmes has been using similar hustle to impress coaches this year.”

Or, there’s another comp in that same article if you prefer to use it over Nink:

“Ninkovich is the benchmark for a player like Holmes, who, as Reiss put it, ‘would be a Malcolm Butler-type emergence.’”

If X can perform at the level of either Butler or Nink I’ll be happy to have him on the roster.

I’d love to see him use the head start he’s been given by the jackass contract situation to usurp Jacas’ role as top rookie OLB in camp. I think Jacas is good enough to compete for the role once he gets going, and having him forced to compete with X will make them both better.

It would be so cool to have the Pats end up with two rookie studs at a position we’ve been seeing as a great need.

 

[jdlboot14]

I remember some buzz about Muma in his draft class. His measurables are similar to Gibbens - who also is much better on paper than on the field. But we certainly need a solid #3 in that position, and it'd be great if he could pan out with some more opportunity.

 

[Uptown]

Lawrence Taylor

 

[Wozzy]

I remember some buzz about Muma in his draft class. His measurables are similar to Gibbens - who also is much better on paper than on the field. But we certainly need a solid #3 in that position, and it'd be great if he could pan out with some more opportunity.

Muma is a much better and stronger athlete than Gibbens. Gibbens was too weak and didn't have the instincts against the run to be an inside LB'er to replace Spillane. He didn't have the raw athleticism or speed to replace Elliss on the backend. He was kind of a tweener, better suited as a pure special teams player. Not sure Muma has the ability to do it, but he at least possesses the tools to replace Spillane.