Younger Depth at Linebacker

This goes back to when I was hoping the Patriots would draft at least two linebackers in April. I was so relieved they came away with three and added two more as rookie free agents. But  Bo Ruud doesn't make the active roster. Then Shawn Crable goes on IR. Next up was Adalius Thomas apparently breaking his arm. Pierre Woods takes his place. The word is Woods broke his jaw tackling Pittsburgh's tight end on Sunday.

Next the light house from Gillette Stadium falls on Tedy Bruschi and it's lights out for the unit's leader. After that a piano being hoisted up to the owner's box crashes on top of Mike Vrabel. Both Vrabel and the piano lose several teeth in the accident. By now we're into the bridge of the song "Yakety Sax," the song played to close "The Benny Hill Show."

To say the depth at the LB position is completely drained would be an understatement. They had to get extra resourceful by reeling in Rosie Colvin and Junior Seau back from Mr. Mom duties and hangin' 10.

It doesn't completely bother me that the Pats excavated these two former players and put them back on the field. They were good in previous stints with New England. But I've been waiting for Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli to overhaul the position like they did the offensive line, defensive line, and secondary.

Is this because Belichick has a fondness for linebackers that he holds on for too long? Because he didn't hesitate with SS Lawyer Milloy when he found a player he liked better. Nor did he waste time telling Bruce Armstrong that his days were done. But it's been a different story with linebackers.

I give Belichick a little credit. He quickly said good-bye to Chris Slade. And when he felt he got all he could out of Willie McGinest, they parted ways.

They even drafted LBs in the past, but they never used a first day draft pick on one until Jerod Mayo. Only one day two LB, seventh-rounder Tully Banta-Cain, ever got beyond training camp. Banta-Cain later signed a free agent deal with San Francisco.

But late day two selections doesn't show urgency to build depth for the long run. New England got burned this year because of the lack of qualified fill-ins because the young guys just joined the team and haven't been in the system long enough to execute their role capably. They got lucky with Gary Guyton as a rookie free agent. He's learning and performing quickly. But the same can't be said for Vince Redd. He'll play special teams until he shows to the coaches he's ready for defensive snaps, if he has the ability that is.

And that goes for Darrell Robertson and Angelo Craig. Maybe they turn out to be gems like Guyton is. But there's a possibility they'll turn out to be square pegs trying to fit in round holes since they played DE in college.

For now, you play with the players you have. But they could had done a better job of building depth years ago in case a rash of injuries strikes like it has this year.