Patriots LB Corps - time to worry?

by MaPatsFan on May 14, 2009 9:39 PM EDT in Opinion Comment 7 comments

Now that Jason Taylor has decided to become a Dolphin once again, the "analysis" starts. You know, what will the Patriots do next? Are we weak at linebacker? Were we desperate, as Providence Journal's Jim Donaldson claims, to go after Taylor:

And what does it say about the status of the Pats’ linebacking corps that so many people were placing so much hope that the soon-to-be-35-year-old sack specialist would sign with New England?

Nothing good.

No. Donaldson's article reads a lot like a Dan Shaughnessy piece. That is, "I'll appear smarter than the other guy in the room by pointing out the negative stuff." I think that's where he's coming from, but it's hard to say. I, for one, believe a move for Taylor would've been business as usual for Belichick. He respects Taylor and is known for going after players who have given him fits when playing against them (Wes Welker, anyone?). In addition, picking up Taylor would've been a very shrewd move: we wouldn't have to face him twice a year.

Donaldson's reasoning for the negativity? Guys like Adalius Thomas were out with a broken arm and Shawn Crable was eventually IR'd. Oh, and Gary Guyton and Eric Alexander weren't drafted out of college. Here's what I think. I think we should listen to the smart people, like Nick Caserio:

One of the more direct questions came when Caserio was asked why the team didn’t draft an outside linebacker to address the team's struggles on third down last season [26th out of 32 teams] and fill the void left by Mike Vrabel's departure.

"I think we’ve got players on our team that we feel good about, between A.D. [Adalius Thomas], Pierre [Woods], we signed Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable didn’t have an opportunity to play last year ... " he said, before noting that things could always change because the team doesn't play a game until September.

I'm choosing to take a "wait and see" approach with a "cautiously optimistic" overtone. If that isn't confusing enough for ya... Basically, I think there's talent on this team, but untested. I believe we'll be ok and, as Caserio says, there's a lot of time between now and September; you never know who might hit the wire.

Agree with Donaldson? Disagree? Wait and see?

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Comments

Actually, LB isn’t the Pats’ biggest problem. They’re going into the season with a starter at the most position on the field who nobody thought enough of to draft earlier than the sixth round!

And if I was Dan Shaughnessy or Jim Donaldson, I’d be running around screeching about exactly that.

by RSNexile on May 14, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jim Donaldson jumped over to the dark side

He went from normal to nay-sayer over the last year.

I’m not too worried at LB as it stands now. Maybe I’m just being “cautiously optimistic”, but I think the core group we have now will play better than expected. Of course, injuries will dictate how long this group will stay on the field and I guess that’s where my biggest concern is – as usual, something that can’t be controlled. CB was the big concern last year, and that never got resolved before the start of the season. We’ll just have to see.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on May 15, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crable

I remember some discussion during last year’s draft and training camp that Crable may be top-heavy, i.e. his legs weren’t strong enough to play at the NFL level immediately. Wonder if during his IR, given that he had shin injuries, if he was able to develop.

by Pie McKenzie on May 15, 2009 8:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Right

I’d heard the same thing as well as folks saying he wasn’t bulky enough for an OLB in the NFL. That might be true, but do you recall the preseason? Crable batting down passes? Gotta love a tall guy with long arms.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on May 15, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fear of the unknown

Right now we are experiencing fear of the unknown, just like last year when Cassel had to step up. Oh crap, this guy hasn’t started since high school. Belichick and company see these guys alot more than we do. They were comfortable with Cassel and that worked out; they’re good with the OLB’s – we’ll wait and see.

Injuries could always be a problem, but the way I see it – you don’t get injured if you’re not trying.

by SlotMachinePlayer on May 15, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

FO confidence

The steelers have the same problem but with our Oline. We were second in the NFL in sacks. That was really an offensive statistic if you know what I mean. Our rush was 23’rd. What in H? Steelers at 23’rd rushing. I can tell you I & most fans are not happy.

We didn’t sign any FA and no high round picks to solve the need left us even more unhappy.

Most of the fans are willing to give the FO and coaches a pass based on demonstrated results as it seems you do here on the pulpit.

IMO your LB’s and my Oline mightbe a casulty of the salary cap. The thought goes like this. These units are not actually bad but are midling. They only look bad when compared to the elite level of the rest of our respective teams. And with a salary cap you end up having relatively average talent some where on the roster. Statistics will tell you the average guys will cluster to one unit or another.

Good luck to you until we meet in the PO. I like to think we have a rivalry that equals Steeler-Raiders back in the day. You heard it here first.

by steelerstyle on May 16, 2009 6:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Respect the Steelers

I grew up watching Walter Payton (love the Sweetness) and Barry Sanders running for lousy teams in the NFC north. Talent of a few players doesn’t bring you greatness.

I like the Patriots because they don’t just rely on great players (they have them and they help win championships), they make the most of the players they have. They can keep plugging guys in and moving forward – that is a good system and good coaching and I never saw that in the NFC North (or most of the NFL for that matter).

There are some teams that have it and you respect them: Steelers (my wife favorite team – who I root for when they aren’t going against the Pats), Colts (though they may be declining without Dungy). Past that, it is tough to find a team that isn’t carried on the backs of a few players.

I live in MN now, the Vikings are good, but the coaching and system suck. Poor Peterson is going to get run to death. The Pats are a breath of fresh air.

by SlotMachinePlayer on May 18, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs