Who do you think will line up next to Mayo? To be honest last year I thought Mckenzie was going to be the starter before tearing his ACL - when he was drafted in 09 Belichick raved about how instinctive he can be. He played for 3 Division I schools and made all conference teams.

However, we got a new hummer in our garage called Brandon Spikes. He was a bonafide star at Florida and in college. Id love to see him square someone up every Sunday.

No matter who starts next to Mayo I think we are in for a treat. Who do you guys think will start?

and then there is this:

FOXBORO -- On the day Tom Brady was mobbed by the media about his future with the Patriots and whether his contract talks would be a distraction for the quarterback, it was an unheralded linebacker who made the biggest noise - literally.

Head coach Bill Belichick yelled at his offensive and defensive units to run a goal line play "full speed." Apparently, Tyrone McKenzie heard the coach loud and clear.

After missing all of his rookie 2009 season with a torn ACL in his right knee just weeks after getting drafted, McKenzie, an inside linebacker, made quite the impact on Friday at Patriots training camp when he stuffed Laurence Maroney on a goal line situation, knocking the veteran running back squarely back at the goal line and keeping him out of the end zone.

The loud bang made such a sound that it drew oohs and ahhs from the over 7,000 in attendance on the practice field just outside the south end of Gillette Stadium.

"My body is getting used to hitting again," McKenzie said. "I think it's just natural. I've been playing football since I was nine."

He, however, was humble in talking about it after practice.

"I have no idea," McKenzie said. "I'm just going to come out here everyday and try to work hard. You sit there and try to get a big hit and then mess up on something else. That was just one play. You have to be consistent on what you do every day and that's all I'm trying to do right now."

Asked if it felt good, one year after blowing out his right knee in a collision with a running back in camp, McKenzie was again modest.

"It feels good just to be out here," McKenzie said. "That was just one play, that's all."

Though an inside linebacker, McKenzie might be getting an extra look-see this summer with the uncertainty and possible retirement of Derrick Burgess.

"I don't even know anything about it," McKenzie added. "I just try to work hard with the guys I'm out here. All that other stuff, we're all going to have to go through it sooner or later. That's not my concern."

Guyton

Regardless of whether it's Spikes, McKenzie or Guyton who starts, the Pats have definitely got some depth and flexibility on the inside.  The piece on McKenzie is very good to see. (Thanks for pasting and posting, Russ).

Too bad one of them couldn't play (well) OLB too.  Wonder if they'll experiment there.

That's what I like about competition, they will compete for the job and the best man will win.

I still believe a veteran ILB will be brought in at some point.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they slid McKenzie to the outside. He is athletic and has more speed than Spikes. Any way you look at it, our linebacker unit is a lot younger and quicker. That goes for the whole defense.

In Response to Re: Spikes or McKenzie?:


Really? I don';t see that at all. Guyton, Spikes and McKenzie are competing for one spot and for some reason Eric Alexander is still on this roster.

I'd be surprised if they brought in a vet ILB unless (shhhhh) someone gets hurt.

I'd love seeing an ILB named Spikes hurting people, so I'm going for him.

 "McKenzie, an inside linebacker, made quite the impact on Friday at Patriots training camp when he stuffed Laurence Maroney on a goal line situation, knocking the veteran running back squarely back at the goal line and keeping him out of the end zone. "

Let's not judge his performance on stuffing Laura Maroney.  The league has been doing just that for 4 years.

We have ourselves a very good situation on the inside.  However, with all the draft picks that we have had the past 2 seasons - we have not addressed the need for speed off the edge.  A bonefide pass rush specialist.

The Pack will continue to enjoy the sacks by Matthews.

Watching Hughes go elsewhere was a mistake as well.  Hughes brought pass rush capabilities, and fluid movement in his drop back into coverage.  he would have been a gem in the PAtriots Scheme.  The Colts made an even bigger mistake by drafting him into a 4-3 scheme. 

Nobody complained about passing on Matthews until he produced some sacks late last year.  It was passing on Mauluga that got everyone up in arms after the draft.  Personally, I was surprised we passed on Oher who dropped and now starts for the Ravens.  Who knows what goes on in Bills head?

I found Hughes to be a question mark of sorts.  He was a 1st rounder before the combine and then dropped a full round afterwards.  I never found out why.  Size?  He was taken probably in the right area of the draft, a tweener.  The Pats had McCourty eyeballed early which means he was high on their draft board.  Due to other teams needs Bill took the gamble to slide down collecting draft picks on the way.  So I can see why we missed on Hughes if you want to call it a miss. 

In Response to Re: Spikes or McKenzie?:


Point taken, but the key to that is the attitude and physical nature of the description of that story.

Give me a D with an attitude.

In Response to Re: Spikes or McKenzie?:


THIS....Absolutely and No Doubt imho.  Tyrone McKenzie has been to seemingly every college in Division 1 Football, and he's played all over as a Linebacker not simply as an ILB as where he was at his Senior Season @ where?- South Florida?  McKenzie being a hair under 6'2 and just over 240lbs and having a 4.7 something 40 and a Combine 4.8 40, Is pretty high in all...  But LIKE Brandon Spikes, McKenzie has simply a GREAT nose for the football, good instincts and a well-above average sideline to sideline range.  
    
UNLIKE Spikes, McKenzie is an inch and a half smaller and @ 20lbs lighter.  McKenzie IS very willing to take on a blocker, BUT Spikes is utterly FEROCIOUS here AND coupled with his Bigger size, YET less speed than McKenzie=NE WILL deploy Spikes at the Strong Inside Linebacker (although somewhat unsure at the very beginning of Spikes Rookie year #1).  Regardless, McKenzie is even smaller and even slower than Gary Guyton and Guyton got mauled playing The Mike (SILB) the past year (but I gotta say again, McKenzie has Guyton beat on far better instincts, and far more "killer" instincts, so to say)...

ALL this said, The key to McKenzie IS his versatility...  More than not, Look for the following:  Spikes WILL be your first 2 down SILB, of this I'm prett d#mn sure.  Now McKenzie's pretty cool here, because BB LOVES mixing up his looks.  THUS, McKenzie can give Mayo a rest on ANY down and fill in adequately as a Weakside Inside Linebacker (JACK?).  ALSO, McKenzie CAN fill in for Spikes on a 3rd down passing situation as the SILB, and even 2nd and long if need be at SILB.  AND, although in the past Belichick trully wanted 6'3, 6'4 and even 6'5 Outside Linebackers, Within the past few years with Burgess and AD, those guys I'm pretty sure were only 6'2-maybe 6'3- And although they WERE heavier than McKenzie, It canNOT have escaped Belichick that many other 3-4 Teams have been using guys who in the past would have been "miniscule" OLBs (see-Denver's 5'11 Weakside OLB terror this past year).  SO, this IS to say that IMHO, McKenzie could very well BE a 3-down Weakside OLB...  He's imo, MUCH better at shedding blocks thrown his way on the shorter side of the field than Tully BC, and TBC DOES have that backfield prescence rushing the passing pocket, BUT TBC is VERY weak when team's run to his side (which oppossing O's can & DO exploit vs TBC).  With McKenzie who had 15 TFL's in his Senior Year, ya ain't giving up much in terms of getting to the backfield, BUT you're adding a guy much better against the run as a Weakside OLB (rather than TBC), AND McKenzie IS pretty decent at pass-coverage too (IF he needs to cover a TE/RB gooing into the flat).

Yea, summin up:
Spikes-Smashmouth ILB for At LEAST 2, but hopefully 3 downs as the SILB we desperately needed and need.
McKenzie-3 down WILB (for Mayo getting a breather); 3rd and long- maybe 2nd and long down SILB (passing down and/or a breather for Spikes); ULTIMATELY- 3 down WOLB (in place of, OR as a TBC breather); and EVEN a 3rd & long- maybe 2nd and long SOLB too...  

A mixture of all of them.

Bill B will be playing a 2-6-3  this year, using OFFENSIVE guys on defense, and the punter as safety.  On offense, he will use Cheerleaders on the line, Tom will cheerlead, and at QB he will use Torry Holt.  Just because he makes it a point of NEVER EVER doing what everyone says he will do.  

according to pfwonline Spikes has been slow to read and cover and McK is hitting everything in sight. Spikes will get quicker in reading the run the line on him that he is slow in pass coverage, is true

Not trying to read too much into this , but I have never seen McKenzie play, only some random clips on You Tube, but after seeing him straight on up close on some local Pats feeds last night, he's pretty beastly looking.

I can't remember the last time BB had two LARGE MLBS in here. I guess it would have been Ted Johnson and Bryan Cox.

Also, Sports Night had these clips and they were making it seem like McKenzie is really in it to get the job from Spikes.  Nice.

Love it. 

This is all good stuff. Compete at high levels and let the chips fall, because all of these players will be needed.

It's good to have three starters for two positions.

Spikes is an ace at sniffing out offensive plays and then barking out orders to the offense.  He's going to make 10 other guys a tenth of a second faster to the ball.  Spikes is clearly in on running downs.  I'm concerned that Spikes can't cover very well but someone has to provide a bit of run support on third and five. 

McKenzie can't cover either.  However, McKenzie can easily play strongside OLB, that's what he played in college, he's a tweener and so I see McKenzie alternating with Cunningham, with Tully Banta-Cain or with a nickel back such as McCourty on third and ten.  McKenzie will be a "UFO" ILB/OLB linebacker for Belichick, often sliding inside or outside before the snap.

McKenzie played OLB in a 4-3 or a 3-4?

In Response to Re: Spikes or McKenzie?:
Don't be to concerned about Spikes coverage skills. He had several interceptions in college and returned a few for TouchDowns. He also is a Great not Good Blitzing LB from the Inside or Outside. This guy is going to be Special in BB's Defense. You can bank on it.

Spikes's pass coverage ability continues to be a disaster holding him down.  Stick a yellow flag permanently to Spikes's helmet. 

I'd put McKenzie in as a starter on first and 10 and save Spikes for obvious running plays.

I read in one practice report today that Spikes had to hold Crumpler to avoid getting burned. If he can't cover him, how will he stay with someone like Ray Rice coming out of the backfield? He won't. Haven't read much about McKenzie in coverage. Mayo seemingly remains the only inside guy with all of the tools.