Today's Q&A with Mike Reiss

Mike, Who do you think will emerge as the Pats starting LBs and DBs ? Is there a chance that any of the rookies (Chung and Butler) see signifcant playing time by the start of the season or will they see time in nickel and dime situations ? I can see Brace giving Wilfork a rest or being part of a 4-3 alignment (with Warren and Seymour as the DEs). Appreciate the response and regular updates, Mike.

Mike, are you disappointed the Nick Caserio didn't mention your binky Vince Redd last night, as a potential replacement for Vrable?

You have been telling us that we should watch out for him, even though he barely made the practice squad last year.

Can we all agree that the Pats have some serious problems with the LB's for the 2009 season?

Mike, you are my source for Pats information- thank you. Seems to me that the Pats D is a little short on the pass rush, any word on whether there is another potential FA out there, or is this something schemes might help address (with better coverage?) Thank you

Mike, Is there any new information as to how Tom Bradys rehab is comming along.?Obviously the Team feels he will be ready to go.

This upcoming passing camp should tell us a lot about exactly where our offense stands, wouldn't you agree? I'm psyched about it.

Hi Michael. I think, right now, it would Adalius Thomas and Pierre Woods starting at OLB. The DBs, I'll say it will be Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs, but I'm anxious to see if Terrence Wheatley or Darius Butler challenge. At safety, I think it's Meriweather and Sanders, with Chung a third option. ... Ed, what's happening? Redd my binky? What's up with that? It did catch my eye (and ears for that matter) that Redd wasn't mentioned. I'm going to assume it was an oversight. I still think Redd is someone to watch out for. Big, powerful player who can run. I think they still need some more options at LB, but I wouldn't say it's big problems right now. Febatty, good point on the coverage possibly helping with the rush. I don't see any sure-fire answers on the free-agent market now that Taylor signed in Miami. Kim, Brady is participating in the offseason program. I think that's major progress.
--Mike

I just want to say... now that the taylor/peppers saga is behind us.

Can we please bring back Willie Mcginest . He showed that he could still be counted on last year. He is a solid veteran leader that could help our younger players to develop and make a contribution on the field.

Come on Bill.... bring back will.

Mike , Whats your pre season pick on who gos to the Super Bowl this year?

4-3, 3-4, 90210, six two and even, 6-4-3, m-o-u-s-e...Football Players play. This fitting the system stuff is a smoke screen to hedge bets, make coaches more relevent, and minimalize percieved failure. Why are predictions so prevelent? OMG, what a bore. Play the game.

No, Ed, we cannot agree on that. Especially considering that its May, some four months before the first game. Also considering that your statement is based entirely on how you feel as opposed to anything else.

By their actions, the Patriots have clearly said they believe Woods, TBC, Crable, Redd can line up outside, opposite Thomas, and play at such a level that will enable the team to compete for a championship this season. This is considered outlandish by some who apparently have already decided that unless you replace a name with a name, you have no chance. If its so important to declare winners and losers in May, I'll put my chips on the guys with the.700 winning percentage and not the amateur GM's and their dog eared copies of Madden 09.

Mike - Pats made a few OL picks in the draft that were not that high on other draft boards. BB and the Pats got only high grades... is that because no one wants to challenge BB, or do these young lineman have a big upside? Thanks

Hi Mike,
Just wondering about what happened with that LB from the Panthers, Adam Seward, that the Pats tried to sign as a Restricted FA last year, but the Panthers matched the offer. But this year, I believe that Seward was an Unrestricted FA this year and the Pats didn't pursue him and I believe he signed with the Colts possibly? So I'm just wondering why they would've had so much interest in him last year but then soured on him this year even though it appears that they still have needs at LB.

Hi Mike,
Just wondering about what happened with that LB from the Panthers, Adam Seward, that the Pats tried to sign as a Restricted FA last year, but the Panthers matched the offer. But this year, I believe that Seward was an Unrestricted FA this year and the Pats didn't pursue him and I believe he signed with the Colts possibly? So I'm just wondering why they would've had so much interest in him last year but then soured on him this year even though it appears that they still have needs at LB.

Mike,
in retrospect, with jason taylor gone and peppers most likely staying put, how do you feel about the pats quick trigger finger with vrabel? i realize his skills may have been declining a bit, however he was the D leader with Teddy and added a lot of intangibles. i assumed when the got rid of vrabel, they definitely had a trade up their sleeve. having seen the way this has all played out, i'm pretty surprised.

4-3, 3-4, 90210, six two and even, 6-4-3, m-o-u-s-e...Football Players play. This fitting the system stuff is a smoke screen to hedge bets, make coaches more relevent, and minimalize percieved failure. Why are predictions so prevelent? OMG, what a bore. Play the game.

Posted by dingoatemybaby May 14, 09 12:17 PM

________________________

dingo, you don't honestly believe that, do you? Look back to the Superbowl in '07. Do you really think the team with the better football players won that game?? No way. The Giants win was because they came in with a good gameplan and the Pats coaching staff (read: McDaniels) was unable to react and adapt. Coaches play a bigger role in football than any other sport. Also, if systems didn't matter, and "players play", then why do so many guys experience different levels of success when they go to a new team? Did they suddenly forget or remember how to play?

Have you heard? Shawn Crable is this year's 13th draft pick!!!! zzzzzzzzz

And no, we're not excited.. because a) he looked lost half the time in pre-season last year, and b) he now has had a serious knee injury he didnt have when he was drafted a year ago.

One of these days the Globe writers will stop making excuses for Belichick's bad drafting - like when he trades picks ahead even though the team has a huge hole at outside linebacker NOW.

bobsled, Crable's injury was listed as a shin injury, not a knee injury. I'm not a doctor, but I believe those two body parts are different. Also, I thought he looked alright in the preseason. He looked like a rookie, but...he WAS a rookie. He had that nice pick and showed some quickness. Also, how did Matt Cassel look in preseason last year?

mike i just want to thank u. i live in socal and u help get thru the offseason.

thanks

bobsled - you must be a huge fan to know that Crable had a serious knee injury when everyone else has been under the impression that he had a shin injury.

I suspect it's because bobsled did a google search for "Crable injury" and didn't bother to read the details of the first few stories that popped up, reflecting former Jets linebacker Bob Crable and his knee injury in the mid 80s.

Nice work bobsled. Please continue with your valued opinions and analysis.

Well, we have three starters down at linebacker but need one more. Thomas,Mayo and Guyton will all start. Look into Guyton all of you Belichick loves him and says he can play any linebacker position and looks forward to the progression he makes.

Glad to see others have already jumped on "bobsled21" - the more useless, uninformed commenters we can expose and weed out, the better.

Mike, has there ever been a trade where a player is traded for nothing, just to clear their numbers from the salary cap? As a hypothetical example, what if Maroney and his contract are deemed by other teams to have no value? Could the Patriots "trade" him for nothing at all, or even trade him plus a late round pick for nothing?

A lot of these questions were answered in the chat. A few that weren't...Smitty, preseason SB prediction would be Patriots-Eagles at this point. ... Febatty, I think the Patriots get the benefit of the doubt for their draft moves. At the same time, the olinemen who weren't rated highly are a good study in the power of perception; just because they weren't invited to the combine doesn't mean they aren't good players. ... Jarod, I think Seward was probably being pushed more by Pioli and now that he's gone, it wasn't revisited. ... Big E, even though I thought Vrabel still had a lot to offer -- his early-down play against the run remains top notch -- I felt he really slowed down in the pass rush. So even if he was here, I think we'd be talking about the same issue. ... Tom, a player could be traded for an undisclosed or conditional draft pick or something like that to clear cap space.

Mike, in retrospect should FHS '93 have instilled the wildcat formation with such talents as Mark Freeman and Mark Anderson in the backfield? Do you believe such exotic shemes would have propelled us to the top of the Bay State League or did coach do the right thing sticking with the strong armed Jason Phillipo to connect the deep ball with Paul "Flapper" Flaherty?

I'd have preferred Vrabel + Hobbs over A.Smith + Bodden. The two options have roughly the same cap charge and all four players have only one year left on their deals. As far as draft picks go, I really doubt that Vrabel added all that much value to the Cassel trade. I'm sure they could have worked something with KC without having to include Vrabel.

I really have to wonder if they were counting on a deal for another OLB that fell through, and that they're now left with their pants down.

Hay classmate, you could have had Brady on that team and you still would have stunk. Period.

1:02 [Comment From Nate]
What do you think of Antonio Appleby?
1:04 Mike Reiss: At this point, you want to look at him and say 'he has a chance to emerge here.' And based on the players in front of him at ILB, from a pure depth standpoint, that is true. But based on my previous experience at this time of year looking at young ILBs (Freddie Roach comes to mind), I think the best thing to do is wait and see how he looks in pads on a consistent basis over training camp. It's just too early.

Hi Mike, you mentioned Freddie Roach in the live chat earlier? I believe he is Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Is there a Freddie Roach NFL player?I am Filipino obviously a Pacman Fan so i know him, i don't know if you are in Boxing also..

Mike,

Please tell me what you think about this..
Kevin Faulk is due 2.9 Mil in Salary and 500k Bonus 1st Game.
Total of 3.4 Mil any chance he is cut, renogiated ?
He has been a huge part of the Patriot Success over the years but
at his age and the number of RB on the Roster I don't know if he is still
worth 3.4 Mil. Especially with Warrik Dunn out there probablly willing to come
in for 1mil and in my opinion I think I take Dunn over Faulk.
Saving 2.5 Mil on the Cap could be huge in extending resigning someone or
just finding that last FA we need... like another LB...
What do

To all those who jumped on me for misidentifying Crables' injury - yeah, in my haste I forgot that Crable had a SEASON ENDING shin injury. So sue me. You haven't responded to the point of my post. The guy isn't MORE valuable after suffering a season ending injury, and to suggest that he is now the "13th draft pick" we should get excited about, and the answer at outside linebacker, is absurd. Hey, be non-stop Belichick apologists (like the Globe) if you want, but trading picks into next year when you have a HUGE hole this year deserves skepticism. I'm guessing that most of you thought Belichick's defensive backfield moves before last year were brilliant too. How'd that work out for you?