NE Linebackers

[Southieinnc]

Clearly we need help at linebacker.

Dont'a Hightower I was going to list each LB's situation separately but it's redundant. As a team, we are slow old or slow and old.
I'm just going to give a plus+ or a minus- depending on whether they are part of the problem or can be part of the solution.

please provide your thoughts

Ja'Whaun Bentley Jamie Collins - Matthew Judon + Brandon King NA Jahlani Tavai + Josh Uche + Kyle Van Noy - Chase Winovich + Ronnie Perkins + Cameron McGrone + McGrone, Uche, Perkins, Winovich, Tavai - do we really know what we have in these guys yet? Bentley will eed a new contract. He is slow but do you sign him because you can't get rid of everybody?

Ja'Whaun Bentley	LB/LILB	6' 2"	255 lbs	25	4		Purdue
58	Jamie Collins Sr.	LB/LOLB	6' 3"	255 lbs	32	9	McCall Creek, Mississippi	Southern Miss
54	Dont'a Hightower	LB/LILB	6' 3"	260 lbs	31	9	Lewisburg, Tennessee	Alabama
9	Matthew Judon	LB/LOLB	6' 3"	261 lbs	29	6	West Bloomfield, Michigan	Grand Valley State
36	Brandon King	LB/LILB	6' 2"	220 lbs	28	7	Alabaster, Alabama	Auburn
48	Jahlani Tavai	LB/ROLB	6' 2"	246 lbs	25	3	Inglewood, California	Hawaii
55	Josh Uche	LB/RILB	6' 3"	226 lbs	23	2		Michigan
53	Kyle Van Noy

 

[YankeeRebel]

We don't really know how well Perkins and McGrone will play but there is hope. That being said it does seem like slim pickins to me I have no zero issues drafting two LBs vs a DE and LB.

 

[BigKen]

please provide your thoughts

Ja'Whaun Bentley - Will cost too much for the service provided. NO Jamie Collins - May be a cheap alternative after not doing well with teams other than the Patriots. ? Matthew Judon + Should wear the green dot. - YES Brandon King - NO Jahlani Tavai - YES Josh Uche - YES Kyle Van Noy - At what price. ? Chase Winovich - YES Ronnie Perkins - YES Cameron McGrone - YES This leaves two question marks and six young LBs. Chase can play when given the opportunity, as can Uche. Tavai did very well in a limited role. Two rookies coming off IR with a lot of promise. Only 8 spots available. Draft two and break them in on Special Teams and give them limited exposure during games.

 

[sharkymcwrath]

Van Noy has to go. Let him take his boogeyman act somewhere else.

 

[molsaniceman]

Chiefs released LB Anthony Hitchens.​

Hitchens' release creates $8.4 million in cap space for Kansas City. He signed a four-year, $45 million contract with the Chiefs in 2018. The 29-year-old linebacker started all 15 games he appeared in during the 2021 season. He racked up 80 combined tackles and four TFLs in his final season with the team. Hitchens will likely find a new home on a one-year deal.

 

[Southieinnc]

A 26 year old former #1 pick is available.Very fast linebacker visiting Jax tomorrow.
Hey Bill, give him a call?

Rashaan Evans

 

[BigKen]

As with any player, Bill already has an idea of what he will cost or what he's looking to get. Rashaan Evans appears to have a huge upside potential and could probably easily fit into BB's defensive scheme. All signs point to him being a bit outside of the Patriots' financial framework.

Patriots Linebackers on official roster:
Ja'Whaun Bentley
Terez Hall
Anfernee Jennings**
Matthew Judon
Harvey Langi
Camerone McGrone**
Raekwon McMillan**
Ronnie Perkins**
Josh Uche

** Indicates that player was on IR during rookie season

 

[Southieinnc]

As with any player, Bill already has an idea of what he will cost or what he's looking to get. Rashaan Evans appears to have a huge upside potential and could probably easily fit into BB's defensive scheme. All signs point to him being a bit outside of the Patriots' financial framework.

Patriots Linebackers on official roster:
Ja'Whaun Bentley
Terez Hall
Anfernee Jennings**
Matthew Judon
Harvey Langi
Camerone McGrone**
Raekwon McMillan**
Ronnie Perkins**
Josh Uche

** Indicates that player was on IR during rookie season

We have more money than readily recognizable

 

[BigKen]

We have more money than readily recognizable

Would Evans be worth the expenditure? Or could BB spend it better elsewhere? The belief is that he has $13M readily available. If he's playing the FA game as he has in the past, he'll sign 3 middle range Veterans and be able to blend them at minimal cost. That's the BB who's made me feel confident in past, that he had a plan and executed it.

 

[Southieinnc]

Would Evans be worth the expenditure? Or could BB spend it better elsewhere? The belief is that he has $13M readily available. If he's playing the FA game as he has in the past, he'll sign 3 middle range Veterans and be able to blend them at minimal cost. That's the BB who's made me feel confident in past, that he had a plan and executed it.

Evans was not signed to 5th year option. He might be cheaper than expected. Visits Jax today but Jax already spent a boatload of money.

 

[Southieinnc]

Must read

NFL Exec: Patriots' Team Speed Has to Be Cause for Concern

Have the Patriots done enough to address their lack of speed on defense? Our Phil Perry caught up with an NFL executive who believes New England’s speed deficiency is a cause for concern.

www.nbcboston.com

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Must read

NFL Exec: Patriots' Team Speed Has to Be Cause for Concern

Have the Patriots done enough to address their lack of speed on defense? Our Phil Perry caught up with an NFL executive who believes New England’s speed deficiency is a cause for concern.

www.nbcboston.com

And no mention of Jonathan Jones returning.

 

[BigKen]

And no mention of Jonathan Jones returning.

And the NFL exec begged them not to use his real name.

Funny isn't it? Pats beat the Bills and Titans. Lost in the last minute by a point to TB and took the Cowboys to overtime. They had a terrible game against the Bills in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Can someone explain to me this? If the Patriots were that bad, just how bad were the 24 other teams that didn't make it to the "ELITE EIGHT"?

 

[nefansince75]

And the NFL exec begged them not to use his real name.

Funny isn't it? Pats beat the Bills and Titans. Lost in the last minute by a point to TB and took the Cowboys to overtime. They had a terrible game against the Bills in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Can someone explain to me this? If the Patriots were that bad, just how bad were the 24 other teams that didn't make it to the "ELITE EIGHT"?

Pats didn't lose to the Bills in the playoffs. They didn't even play each other. It was the Bills' practice squad that put on the Pats unis and played that exhibition game.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Pats didn't lose to the Bills in the playoffs. They didn't even play each other. It was the Bills' practice squad that put on the Pats unis and played that exhibition game.

Pretty much. Should have run the ball all damn game

 

[nefansince75]

Pretty much. Should have run the ball all damn game

The defense never stopped the Bills once. That was the story of the game.

 

[Southieinnc]

And the NFL exec begged them not to use his real name.

Funny isn't it? Pats beat the Bills and Titans. Lost in the last minute by a point to TB and took the Cowboys to overtime. They had a terrible game against the Bills in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Can someone explain to me this? If the Patriots were that bad, just how bad were the 24 other teams that didn't make it to the "ELITE EIGHT"?

Patriots were good when they started their win streak. Hell, you could even say they were good when they were 2-3.
Problem was, teams figured them out.
We did not have a good game plan against teams that knew what we were going to do. Ran out of ingenuity

 

[BigKen]

Interesting read regarding BB's take on Mack Wilson

Bill Belichick discusses addition of linebacker Mack Wilson to Patriots

Bill Belichick offers his insight on the trade for Mack Wilson.

patriotswire.usatoday.com

 

[Southieinnc]

Elite pass rusher claims young teammate is even better

Josh Uche is the best pass rusher for the New England Patriots according to Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon.

thecomeback.com

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Elite pass rusher claims young teammate is even better

Josh Uche is the best pass rusher for the New England Patriots according to Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon.

thecomeback.com

That's what makes a team.