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Pees, Part I
FOXBOROUGH -- Here is the first part of the press conference with defensive coordinator Dean Pees:
With Adalius Thomas, he played all different positions with the Ravens. But here he’s been locked in at inside linebacker to this point. What have you seen from this transition into that role?
“I think whatever he did at Baltimore, obviously we saw that and know that about the qualities of the guy. The first thing that Adalius has to do in our system, and is working hard to do it, is to learn a position -- how that fits into our defense, and how that works, and basics of our defense, before we can try to do multiple things and all kind of things with him. We made a decision where we wanted him to play, just like we do with all the personnel, and they have to learn the basics and fundamentals of that position before we can go on to the next step.”
What was it about that position that made it the logical place to start?
“I think it was a combination of all the qualities we thought he had. But you also take into account the qualities of the other players you have and where they may fit in best. It’s not always just about one person when he may be good at this position, or whatever. Like Mike Vrabel, he has been very flexible for us, but we do feel that Mike Vrabel is a pretty good outside linebacker and that’s his home maybe more than inside. When you take into account all the linebackers, you try to get the best guys on the field. Sometimes you make a decision based on a lot of guys, not just necessarily one guy’s personality.”
Did you feel it was a good place for him to learn because he’s off the line, setting up the linemen somewhat, and has a view of everything around him as it happens rather than being on the edge?
“Not as much that. When you play MIKE linebacker in this system, you get to know the whole defense because you’re the guy calling it and you really learn the ins and outs of the defense. But again, I wouldn’t even say that was the reason we stuck him at MIKE, so he could learn the whole defense. It was really that we felt like – looking at his talents, and the other guys’ talents – that it would be the best fit for our defense.”
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