Why I Love the Patriots Linebackers this Year
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 9, 2010 5:00 PM EDT
in Opinion/Analysis
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PrintI received an e-mail from Matty I over at the Phinsider asking for a couple paragraphs explaining why the Patriots linebackers were better than the Dolphins linebackers. I was happy to oblige except that I didn't know the current Phin line-up very well. Taylor and Porter are gone, and I've been spending much more time focusing on our draft picks than theirs. Still, I sent him what amounts to "Why I love the Patriots Linebackers this Year". As I went through the list, I became even more pumped about the season. Here is what I sent him:
Jerod Mayo heads the Patriots linebacker squad. With Tedy Bruschi gone, and Tyrone McKenzie on IR, Mayo slid over to the strong side last year and called the defensive plays. It was a new role for him. Add in his three game injury, and he wasn't as effective as his DROY year: only 103 tackles (70 solo) vs 128 (100 solo). Tyrone McKenzie spent his year on IR studying the playbook and bulking up. With the addition of tackling machine Brandon Spikes from Florida, Jerod should be able to slide back over to his home ground of read and react on the weak side. Gary Guyton is back, and has the speed to drop into coverage against the best Tight Ends in the business as well as pressure from the OLB position.
Tully Banta-Cain is back after getting 9.5 sacks from the right side last year. Past him, the OLB position is a little more uncertain. Derrick Burgess was a little slow to pick up the system, but came along nicely at the end, picking up 3 of his 5 sacks in the last three games. He was a situational DE most of the year, but has been practicing dropping into coverage this preseason and it looks like he has some proficiency there. Look for him to be more of a three down OLB. Shawn Crable is lightning fast, and if he can stay healthy, he will be tough to contain. I look for a lot of offensive penalties as linemen jump before the snap to try to grab him. Hoodie had a chance to grab Carlos Dunlap, but drafted his teammate, Jermaine Cunningham from Florida, instead. Looking at some film, Cunningham was the guy drawing double teams, while Dunlap was left one on one, so I think Belichick knew what he was doing there. Of course, Pierre Woods is still on the squad if someone needs a break.
A lot of people talk about the OLB's in a 3-4 as the pass rushers, and quite often they are, but the pass rush can come from inside just as easily. It's been a few years since the Pats could successfully disguise their pass rush scheme, but with the personnel they have in place, pressure can come from anywhere. Personally, I prefer inside pressure because the QB can't just cozy up into the pocket and complete the pass. With a linebacker in his face, the pocket collapses, throwing lanes shrink, and the QB finds himself scrambling - hopefully into the waiting arms of the OLB. The season can't possibly come soon enough.
I hope you agree.
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Oops, I forgot Rob Ninkovich.
Against Indy, Banta-Cain got injured, Ninkovich filled in and then got injured. After he left, there was no pass rush. Zip. Nada. Zilch. That Peyton Manning character had a field day after that. Rob’s one and ond sack came against Denver, though and he disappeared in most games.
He’s a backup long snapper and ST guy, so he might compete with Pierre Woods for a job.
We have a bunch of other LB’s trying to crack the squad, but I mostly listed the ones that gave me a warm and fuzzy.
I hope that Crable makes it to the regular season this year (actually, I hope he makes it to the post season – truth be told). I’m not holding my breath. If I’d been holding my breath since he was drafted in 2008, I’d be dead now.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 9, 2010 5:29 PM EDT reply actions
I love the combination of Mayo - Spikes
I think TBC can go a long way towards making or braking the group, though. He doesn’t have to replicate last year, but he can’t go back to being a non-issue like he was in San Fran.
USG
To get a good pash rush, we're going to need solid play from the front three.
Wilfork is no worries. Warren isn’t dominant in the face of a double team, but is solid in one on one. The leaves the other side, and I think we’ll see someone step up there. There’s enough bodies for a very solid competition.
The other thing we’ll need is a book end to TBC. Outside pressure usually only works in tandem. You can always toss a TE in to help, or chip block one pass rusher. If you add a second that demands as much attention, then your QB is in trouble. The Ravens have a solid guy in Suggs (who is doubled often), but their book-end is missing. We have a bunch of bodies and a wide variety of abilities. Here’s hoping we find the magic combination that makes it all work.
If we have two solid OLB’s, we can alternate outside pressure, inside pressure, outside/inside pressure. Guyton will be great for that. He can line up to rush, then drop back into coverage as a safety pops in on the other side which is overloaded.
Man, I’m getting antsy for the season!
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 9, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Inside rush
The inside rush is the best approach. I think the additions of G. Warren and inside rush specialist D. Lewis points to a stronger commitment to the inside rush. It might also explain why BB opted for a youthful Cunninghan vs a veteran free agent or a higher draft selection. He opted for interior veterans allowing the younger OLB’s to benefit from their presence and the inside scheme.
Until 7/15 passes, I’ll keep placing my vote that Unga [FB] replaces Wood, Alexander, or Ninkovitch on the 53 man roster.
I agree the LB core is awesome. I see no need for all three of those LB’s listed above when a FB could easily replace any of them on special teams AND bring a much needed dimension to the offense.
I think McKenzie will start ahead of Spikes. That year of playbook learning should be a huge advantage. Plus, Spikes can be used in a rotation: like Cunningham at OLB as well as Hernandez and the TE’s.
I see us carrying eight LBs.
In 2008, the corps was decimated with 8, and we had to bring back Colvin and Seau. Those guys do a lot of hitting, and get pretty beat up by season’s end.
I get it. You want a fullback. If we get one, he’s coming from our RB allotment. You can really siphon the depth from elsewhere to grab a blocking back. I’d rather have a guy that is a hard hitting runner, than the traditional FB position. Run, catch, blitz pickup as well as lead block. If that’s what you are looking for, then I’m with you.
The way the roster usually goes is double the offensive eleven 2 x (5 Line, 1 TE, 1 QB, 1 RB, 3 WR), double the defensive eleven 2 x (3 Line, 2 ILB, 2 OLB, 2 S, 2 CB), add in the ST guys (1 P, 1 K, 1 LS, 1 ST Captain), then fill in the remaining five as needed (I think last year it was 3 RB, 1 CB, 1 S as I remember).
Plenty of room in the Stable without pulling depth from the LB corps. With all of the guys that can pull double duty as both Guard and Center, Belichick still carries 10 O-line year to year. Every year I guess it will be only 9.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 9, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think we can just say...
…“Player X has to do well.” No team that relies on a player X ever does well. The Patriots need Players A, B, C, M, N, P, Q, R, X, Y and Z to step up.
A: Myron Pryor…
B: Gerard Warren…
C: Ron Brace…or whatever defensive lineman makes the cut needs to emerge as a player who can reach the quarterback. They can stop the run, but they also need to reach the quarterback coming at the quarterback’s blind side.
N: Vince Wilfork does a great job on the line, but I think that he can get into the backfield and cause more disruptions.
M: Ty Warren can handle double teams, but he, like Wilfork, needs to push the pocket more. I’m not counting on Warren or Wilfork to break into the double digits for sacks, but I would like to see them get into the double digits for QB pressures. That means they’re stepping up and allowing A, B and C get into the backfield against single coverage.
P: Brandon Spikes/Tyrone McKenzie need to emerge as a player capable of standing next to Mayo.
Q: Gary Guyton needs to become an all around linebacker who can pressure the QB while dropping into coverage.
R: Jermaine Cunningham/Shawn Crable/Pierre Woods need to become a viable pass rusher.
X: Tully Banta-Cain needs to do a better job pressuring against teams not from Buffalo.
Y: Jerod Mayo needs to re-emerge as the dominant rookie that he was.
Z: Derrick Burgess needs to continue his hot streak that he finished in 2009.
Every player needs to step up. We need more than TBC in opposing backfields next season if we are to succeed.
Agreed.
I think Wilfork is ready to lead by example.
Ty Warren’s job isn’t even safe with all the guys looking to make the roster. There are some rookies that will be looking to impress in the preseason games.
Mayo should do much better from the weak side. Spikes is a film freak like Mayo. I could easily see them becoming study buddies. The kind of guys that look at each other with a “did you see that?” expression and know that the other guy did.
I’m not counting on TBC or Burgess. I think there are enough bodies there to push each other. If it ends up as Crable and Cunningham as starters, then they won. If it’s TBC and Burgess, I’m fine with that, too. What I’m hoping is that we don’t have our #1, #2, #3, etc. player. I hope it’s much closer to #1a, #1b, #1c, etc., so you don’t care whose on the field and whose injured (unlike the Indy game last year). The pressure is on all the time. I’m even good with going with the guy with the hot hand. If Burgess is eating them alive this week, keep him in there. If next week Burgess is stopped, but Cunningham is unstoppable, let him play. Each guy has his own bag of moves, and if it’s working, go for it.
We also need good coverage on the back end this year. There were several games last year where they were one step away from the QB when he make the throw. A completion is a completion, hurried or not. We need to either hit them off the line, or shadow them every step of the way, or both. If it takes three seconds to hit the QB, the secondary needs to cover at least that long.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 9, 2010 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Pats have always done best with a rotation at LB
What I’m hoping is that we don’t have our #1, #2, #3, etc. player. I hope it’s much closer to #1a, #1b, #1c, etc
Superbowl-winning OLB-rotations of McGinest, Vrabel, Colvin, Tully Banta-Cain as a #1a, #1b, #1c, #2.
Superbowl-winning ILBs-rotations of Bruschi, Phifer, Johnson as #1a, #1b, #1c.
You can’t ever have too many good LBs.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Jul 9, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Too many is almost enough.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 9, 2010 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Willie McGinest would've been fun as a special teamer...
Clocking some little punt returner and then doing a sack celebration? Fun times.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Depth #'ing
Mayo is your #1 ILB.
McKenzie, [maybe Guyton], and Spikes would likely be #2A, #2B, #2C, and hopefully none fall to the #3 spot.
Banta and Burgess I guess are your #1 A and #1B OLB.
[maybe Guyton], Crable, Cunningham, and Woods would likely be #2A, #2B, #2C, #2D, and hopefully none fall to the #3 spot.
That’s nine total [Guyton listed twice]. Ninkovitch and Alexander make eleven. If we imagine 8 LB’s, I guess Nink, Woods, and Alexander exit.
OK. Give me Unga for Morris and Taylor. If we are sticking to RB by committee for another season, I’d prefer Faulk [veteran presence and reliable starter], Maroney [hopefully the #1 HB], BJGE [a terrific back-up], and Unga [a new, young, powerful, versatile FB and special teams player].
If all goes well, next year the PATS will return to a superb tandem [Maroney and Unga] with BJGE and someone else backing them up.
I think Ninkonvich might surprise.
I liked how he looked in the pre-season last year.
I'm also a Raider Fan dammit!!! RAIDER NATION!!!!
Down with Big Brother!
This unit is going to way overperform
mayo-Mckenzie/spikes is way solid
TBC-Burgess-Crable-McKenzie is just solid, but underrated
Cunningham is a wild card
1 more take your pick, they won’t make an impression
The great thing is they are all young and fast. Colts have been doing that for years, no name LBs who just cover well.
The front line does what it is supposed to, hold the line, that allows playmaking in the backfield, and that is what you will see. This team will be way upgraded this year…
can’t wait
I'm pretty high on this group too
and started to second-guess my optimism when others (around me) were being very critical – especially when asserting the Patriots have done nothing to improve the pass rush.
I’m sticking to my original impressions, and am looking for this group to favorably impress the cynics.
Training Camp can’t come soon enough!
Keep the faith!
jerod mayo
i thankyou for having faith in my son even through he and i dont communicate he is still my child and i watch every game.He is a force to all by himself and also a team player but most of all he is a mayo i wish him great sucess in 2010 and through out his career
your username.....isn't that the name of Jerod's brother?
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
Yes, his oldest brother.
There are articles about Mayo’s grandfather, Walter Johnson, and his step-father, Wilson Hinds. I’ve found none that talk about his birth father. This man is claiming that title. He may be. Who knows?
The zip he gave was from VA, but the IP is from KS. For what it’s worth.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jul 13, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
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