How is New England Patriots ILB Tyrone McKenzie doing?

by Richard Hill on Jun 5, 2010 11:00 AM EDT in New England Patriots News

This off-season, we've all heard about how great 2nd round draft pick ILB Brandon Spikes has been doing with the New England Patriots. We all know and love defensive captain and ILB Jerod Mayo. We've heard fellow ILB Gary Guyton has been working alongside Mayo with the first team defense.

So what about last year's 3rd round pick Tyrone McKenzie?

McKenzie was a 2009 3rd round draft pick, who spent last season on the injured reserve after tearing the ACL in his right knee in rookie training camp.

I had a chance to snag Patriots beat writer Mike Reiss, via Twitter, who answered my question.

RH: Hey Mike, you talked about how Spikes "led" some defensive drills, with Dane Fletcher next to him- where's Tyrone McKenzie?

MR: Next to Eric Alexander, if I recall.

RH: Does that mean Fletcher passed McKenzie? Or does McKenzie have a similar skill set to Spikes?

MR: [I] wouldn't read too much into it at this point. [It's] probably based on experience in the system.

RH: [Oh, so] McKenzie and Alexander were with the more experienced defense?

MR: [Correct, right] after Jerod Mayo and Guyton. [Standard operating procedure].

So there you have it. For all we've heard about Spikes, he's still working with the young players. He's learning quickly, but not so fast that the team has put him with the 2nd team defense. McKenzie is running the 2nd team defense with Eric Alexander.

As the summer progresses and as Spikes has more time in the Patriots defensive system, look for him to replace Alexander with the 2nd team defense. In the mean time, let's not forget about Tyrone McKenzie, who is working steadily with the 2nd team.

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Comments

thanks for the update...

i was curious as to what Mckenzie was doing.

by furiousd on Jun 5, 2010 1:29 PM EDT reply actions

Thank you Richard...

..another stuff I learned here first. :)

by frogfromthemud on Jun 5, 2010 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

Nice update

I suspect that we’ll see a steady rotation at ILB through the first few games as McKenzie and Spikes learn their position. One of these two might eventually win the position, but it would not surprise me to see them share the job for most of the season. In my view, the best case scenario would allow Mayo to sit out some downs while both McKenzie and Spikes play side by side. Guyton, as well, could figure into this rotation. If so, all the better given the long season these guys face. If all four of these ILB [Mayo being the least substituted] factored into a regular rotation, I think the “D” would be at its best. Having the opportunity to talk on the sidelines with coaches, examine game photos, and then return to the field within a normal rotation would be a fabulous way to accelerate each player’s learning curve while also putting fresh, determined, schooled ILB’s on the field for every single play.

by couchpotato on Jun 5, 2010 4:56 PM EDT reply actions