Identifying a weak spot

Last year it was the secondary, this year it will be the linebackers.

They have AD and Mayo for solid starters and then two spots that will be a linebacker-by-committee approach.

But that's their only real weakness, so hopefully it doesn't ruin them.

Thomas played out of position his first year then really played well the second year until he broke his arm. That 2-1 sack in the first Jets game last year was a thing of beauty. I have no issues with him. I do agree that Vrabel is on the decline and his stats in 2007 were from his team being ahead in every game. He peaked in 2004 at OLB.

Still, they didn't address the position.

You know, has anybody really considered that the Pats won't be running the same vanilla 3-4 defense they routinely employed in past years? A long time ago, the 3-4 came into vogue because teams had no, or very few, big guys. Remember the Pats under Fairbanks? When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

The Pats' personnel is quite a bit different now, and needs to be especially in light of the rules changes that favor the down-field game. Thus, we'll see lots more nickel and dime packages where DBs (safties or rovers like Chung in college or the hybrid Tank Williams) flood the defensive backfield or plug mid-range while the "big uglies" put on what pressure they can, albeit with a blitz or two mixed in periodically. Thus, IMHO, the outside linebacker position really becomes a diminished need especially in light of the present personnel that the Pats have who are more than adequate to contain the edge, drop into mild low-zone coverage with good physical length, fast enough to one-on-one with a TE, etc. So, the fact we don't have the big name stud on the outside in a true 3-4 doesn't bother me. The game's changed and the Pats have, and are, adapting. It's just a much more situational game now and the Pats have sufficient versatility and smarts to anticipate and match-up with opponents (e.g., Springs and T.O.) in a one-play-at-a-time mentality and philosophy (keeps everybody healthy, too). We'll be fine.

There has been alot of chatter about the Patriots being weak at outside linebacker, and even inside linebacker for that matter. That is all well and good, but lets look at the reality of the NFL in 2009. Similar to FB, parts of the LB core are a dying/dead position. NFL defenses, depending on scheme, are comprised of 4 or 5 or 6 "big uglys" at the line of scrimmage. You can call them DLs or LBs or DTs or ILBs or whatever. They are responsible for stopping the run and the pass rush. Behind them is 5 or 6 or 7 fast guys covering backs, tight ends and receivers down field. You can call them ILBs, LBs, DBs, CBs, S, SSs, FSs, whatever. Don't worry about it. They will the right have 11 guys on the field based on the situation.

Caserio said they liked the OLBs that they have.

One guy that never gets mentioned is Banta-Cain. He had 15 starts (not including a pair of post-season starts) between 2006 and 2007. His final year as a Patriot (2006) was his best year, with nearly 50 tackles and 5.5 sacks (five starts). While I think Woods has the best shot at winning the starting OLB job opposite Thomas--he was looking alright before his jaw injury--and Crable could surprise a lot of pople, Banta-Cain might see significant playing time, especially if he can return to his 2006 form.

I think we'll see Woods as the primary edge-setter on early downs, assuming he's made some progression (which he appeared to be starting to do before he went down last season), and then the better of the two, Crable/Banta-Cain will be rushing on third/long or other passing situations, with the other spelling occasionally, or even possibly filling in for Thomas on passing situations sometimes if they want to keep him fresher and get solid production from both Crable and Banta-Cain. I think it's a situation similar to the RB spot. They may not have that one superstar back, but they have a variety of complementary players (well....by "variety" I mean 3) who will mix and match their way into one extremely solid player and a little rest for Thomas. That's actually a bigger area of concern for me. It's one thing to say "Oh well Mayo and Thomas' spots are covered. Those guys are great"....but we can't expect them to play like superheros for 80%+ of the snaps this season. Mayo was superman last year, but we shouldn't expect it again, and Thomas is coming back from an injury (sure, it's a broken arm, so that's alot different than, say, a torn ACL, but it's still an injury and he isn't getting any younger).

I'd like to see them sign a late cut, or possibly make a moderately sized trade (3rd rounder) to get a solid backup at the OLB spot. I think they can find a starter, or use the guys they have now in combination to solidify the position, but I'd like to see Mayo and Thomas at least be ABLE to come off the field, even if they choose not to take them out. I'd be very nervous if either of those guys went down for any type of extended period.

I think Too many people sleep on Gary Guyton- he played more inside linebacker next to Mayo then Bruschi or Seau. He played alittle OLB. He played alot in the nickel and. I believe behind the scenes Mayo is a star in the making an obvious. Thomas is a starter. Then the behind the scenes I believe Belichick loves his young linebackers. I think he sees big, fast athletic LB'ers oppose to older, slower veterans. He has Guyton a lightning fast young LB. I think he feels real good about Crable who has alot of talent. There is also Redd. I like these guys. Four LB's picked up last year.2 drafted -Mayo and Crable-undrafted Guyton and Redd-Guyton runs like a cornerback 4.47 forty. Mayo and Redd 4.55 and Redd is 6'6 263. Crable 4.61. They will be alright.

I'm not a Pats fan. Guest posting, I guess.

But I went to Michigan with both Pierre Woods AND Shawn Crable. They are both freakish athletes. Crable was very good in college. Woods was in the coaches dog house, but was the best defensive player on the field when he played. I think that in the context of the Patriots defensive schemes, one of those to guys will step up and be EXCELLENT. I think either one of those, or both, can play a James Harrison/Joey Porter type role in the 3-4.

Can you say "4-3 defense in '09"?

They now have a surplus of DE/DT even NT.