Patriot Pass-Rush Possibilities Pondered

[Mr. Scot]

So here's who the Pats are checking out for their pass-rushing OLB role (from KFFL).

Patriots | Competition on the outside

Karen Guregian, of The Boston Herald, reports New England Patriots LBs Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Vincent Redd and Tully Banta-Cain are all options to fill the pass-rushing void created with the loss of LB Mike Vrabel.

If you scratched your head and said "who?" to everyone but Tully Banta-Cain, you're probably not alone.

A quick run down of items found on them in KFFL shows the following:

Woods (6 year vet, originally undrafted, primarily a special teamer) was hurt throughout the month of December and was eventually placed on IR.

Crable (3rd round pick in 2008) beat Woods to the IR list, getting a start on his injuries in late October and finally hitting IR in November. Prior to that, he was on the inactive list for every single game, something a mite unusual for a 3rd round pick.

Redd (undrafted 2008, signed to the practice squad) was added to the active roster about the time Crable went down. His stats are also primarily on special teams.

Banta-Cain is the best known name of the bunch. He was originally a 7th round pick by the Pats in 2003 but left for the 49ers in 2007. As a starter he was decent, but nothing special and eventually found his way to the inactive list a few times in 2008. The 49ers released him this offseason and the Pats picked him back up for a low cost one-year deal.

These are the candidates to replace former standout Mike Vrabel :sosp:

Not much to get excited about among unsigned vets. Arguably the best names are Morlon Greenwood - released by the Texans - and Pisa Tinoisamoa who was released because he didn't fit the Rams system and probably doesn't fit the Pats system (as an OLB anyway).

Granted, June 1st could see a decent vet or two cut, but June 1st cuts tend to be a tempest in a teapot.

Honestly, if I were the Pats, I might give a long, hard look to trading something of decent value for Julius Peppers (if he signs his tender).

Whether or not that happens, who can say?

[dimbee]

To be fair, Vrabel didn't do a damn thing his first 4 seasons in the league, so it's not unheard of to think any of these 3 players could blossom into the perfect replacement... I don't put it past Belichek to get the best out of his guys

[Mr. Scot]

To be fair, Vrabel didn't do a damn thing his first 4 seasons in the league, so it's not unheard of to think any of these 3 players could blossom into the perfect replacement... I don't put it past Belichek to get the best out of his guys

Possible. Of course it's also possible that Frank Omiyale is the best left tackle ever and should start immediately.

The question is are you willing to count on it?

[dimbee]

Sometimes you've just got to have faith in your coaches and players... I think it's more fun to, at least. I'd rather be a simple fan than an ESPN analyst everytime.

[Fireball77]

Their not doing much in the draft to shore that up is part of why I was a bit surprised they didn't push harder for Taylor. They have some kids in the pipeline, but JT could have been an immediate and temporary patch while they grew into the system. It hurts them a bit with McKenzie out for the year as well. They've never replaced Ted Johnson which is a big deal IMO. I think Mc Kenzie would have had a shot to do that.

TBC was one of those guys where I wondered every year how did HE make the team again? I guess they see something I don't.

For an OLB in that system, I don't think it was unusual Crable wasn't active. He has the perfect frame for it, but the LB position is tough to learn in that defense.

[Jase]

You want my opinion?

I think belichick's hubris is showing.

[Mr. Scot]

Sometimes you've just got to have faith in your coaches and players... I think it's more fun to, at least. I'd rather be a simple fan than an ESPN analyst everytime.

Understood, but coaches make mistakes.

Belichick is a good coach, but far from infallible. Over the past few seasons, he had counted too much on some defensive guys that had gotten long in the tooth. And then there's Adalius Thomas who, while decent, hasn't really been the force of nature they thought he'd be when they got him.

The Pats defense used to be suffocating, but of late their profile has become that of the old Rams, i.e. strong offense but suspect defense (you could argue that's the current Panthers too, honestly). Maybe that'll work this season, but it remains to be seen.

Bottom Line: If these are their prime choices at OLB, I think you'd have to say they're taking a gamble.

[Fireball77]

The Pats defense used to be suffocating, but of late their profile has become that of the old Rams, i.e. strong offense but suspect defense (you could argue that's the current Panthers too, honestly). Maybe that'll work this season, but it remains to be seen.

It won't. They themselves couldn't make it work with the best QB in the game. It doesn't work. Ever.

By the moves they made draft wise, it would appear that they thought their DBs were a bigger problem in their defense than their LBs. They have absolutely positively no two ways about it sucked big big big time in the RZ and third down on defense the past two years. Bottom of the NFL type suckage. We shall see how it shakes out.