Shawn Crable

Jerod Mayo and Gary Guyton will be third year players in 2010. If blessed with good health, Shawn Crable and Tyrone McKenzie will contribute after a season on injured reserve. If more youngsters are added through free agency and the draft, it will be a very impressionable unit. 

Continue reading "A New Coach"

I’m jaded by Shawn Crable because I had high hopes for him, but he never made the field in 2008 and will miss all of ’09 as well. Maybe it’s because his legs are too skinny to endure the stress from pro football. 

Continue reading "Another Burgess"

as the return of OLB Tully Banta-Cain, he of half a sack with San Francisco last year, or a healthy Shawn Crable, last year’s third round draft pick. 

But that plan blew up as Crable suffered another injury that lands him on IR for the second year in a row. He won’t be the lone young ‘backer spending the year as a spectator. Tyrone McKenzie was a 2009 third round selection expected to be ILB Tedy Bruschi’s understudy. That plan fell apart when McKenzie tore his ACL during rookie minicamp. 

Continue reading "Out of Reach"

Love, TE Alex Smith, and WR Ray Ventrone. 

Three players were placed on injured reserve: LB Shawn Crable (again), RB Chris Taylor, and OL George Bussey. 

The surprise was a pair of trades. TE David Thomas was sent to New Orleans for an undisclosed draft pick. Because Thomas played the roll of fullback during the preseason, I figured his chances of staying were very good. But the Pats took a measure to improve on the role Thomas played. 

Continue reading "Cut Down Day"

The coaching staff doesn’t trust Shawn Crable or Rob Ninkovich to start. And while the coaches believe in Pierre Woods, he is not a good pass rusher. 

Maybe the answer is Paris Lenon. The free agent from the Detroit Lions has experience playing inside and outside. The problem with Lenon is we don’t know if he can handle the job. Paris spent a lot of time hurt during training camp and only got on the field for the first time last week. 

Continue reading "Linebacker Fall-back Plan"

ove are more accomplished than the list of true linebackers: Jerod Mayo, Tedy Bruschi, Gary Guyton, Shawn Crable, Pierre Woods, Erick Alexander, Vinny Ciurciu, Paris Lenon, and sometimes Tank Williams. 

Continue reading "4-3, or Not 4-3? That Is the Question"

Not Pierre Woods or Shawn Crable. Burgess has done it before and done so at a decent rate. Head coach Bill Belichick and the coaching staff often gets the most out of their players. 

If Burgess can be half of what Randy Moss became after being traded from Oakland to New England, the Patriots got a heck of a player and another steal of a disgruntled Raider. 

Continue reading "A Burgess Believer"

iots placed five players on the physically unable to perform list, PUP for short: DE Ty Warren, OLB Shawn Crable, OT Mark LeVoir, and rookies OG Rich Ohrnberger and DT Darryl Richard. Joining them on the sideline is rookie receiver Brandon Tate on the active/non-football injury list. 

Continue reading "PUP-ies"

Instead they streamlined the competition down to the favorites: Banta-Cain, Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable. 

But Belichick always keeps his eyes open for a player that could help the team. Last week they showed interest in DE Stryker Sulak. Ultimately the Patriots signed Rob Ninkovich. 

Continue reading "Ninkovich in the Cards"

Instead the holdovers from last year (Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Vince Redd), plus the return of Tully Banta-Cain, will conduct a battle royal until someone emerges. 

There’s still the possibility of a move to add another contestant to the competition. Besides a late veteran arrival, rookie DE Stryker Sulak, a sixth round draft pick waived by Oakland, is visiting with the Patriots. Whatever the case, steps must be taken to improve a pass defense that had just 31 sacks and allowed 27 passing touchdowns. 

Continue reading "Camp Countdown"

"great", Patriots fans will still be looking for him to really emerge.

The wild card is Shawn Crable. The second-year player from Michigan showed some promise in the 2008 preseason but didn't play a down in the regular season after going down with a shin injury. No player will be watched closer that Crable in training camp, but it might be a lot to ask for him to take the starting spot from Woods. More likely he will contribute on special teams and spot pass rush duty.

Continue reading "Top 5 New England Patriots Training Camp Battles"

B Angelo Craig. 

That leaves Eric Alexander, Tedy Bruschi, Tully Banta-Cain, Vinny Ciurciu, Shawn Crable, Gary Guyton, Jerod Mayo, Pierre Woods, Vince Redd, Paris Lenon, and Adalius Thomas as the roster LBs (rookie Tyrone McKenzie is on injured reserve for the year). 

Continue reading "Deep Thoughts"

That leaves Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain, Vince Redd, and Shawn Crable the remaining contestants for the job. For now. 

Trade talks for Oakland DE Derrick Burgess is nothing new. But the recent release of Dallas’ Greg Ellis is another veteran that potentially could be signed. Craig’s release creates room for a veteran signing. I have a feeling something will happen. 

Continue reading "Closing Speed"

Either someone on the roster steps up (among Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable, Vince Redd, or Angelo Craig), New England completes a trade (with Oakland’s Derrick Burgess a current possibility), or the Patriots wait for teams to make cuts (Dallas’ Greg Ellis will be available if the Cowboys are unable to trade the 11-year veteran). 

Continue reading "Brady Back, but Patriots Still Not Complete"

Just take a quick look back: 

2008 – In the third round, Shawn Crable is drafted out of Michigan. He’s inactive for two games before Shawn’s shin lands him on injured reserve. 

Continue reading "Future Draft Strategy"

Of the candidates between Pierre Woods, Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable, Vince Redd, and Angelo Craig, Crable is the favorite by default. Woods doesn't pass rush well, Banta-Cain is a liability in pass coverage, Redd and Craig are unknowns, and Crable never saw the field before going on injured reserve.

Continue reading "Finding Bargains"

nebacker.

Unless the projected starter is on the roster (who would you pick between Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Darrell Robertson, Vince Redd, Angelo Craig, and Tully Banta-Cain?), the Pats seem likely to draft an OLB with their first pick.

Continue reading "The Unexpected, As Usual"

the Patriots roster there are seven outside linebackers: Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Vince Redd, Darrell Robertson, and Angleo Craig. After Vrabel and Thomas, is th

Continue reading "A Difficult Search for Patriots-type Players"

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.

Continue reading "Younger Depth at Linebacker"

Pierre Woods was already on the roster, Shawn Crable was drafted in the third round, and Vince Redd was added as a rookie free agent. 

Colvin didn’t take the Patriots decision personally. He understands football is a business. And like many businessmen, he looked and found himself a new job with the Houston Texans. 

Continue reading "A Patriots-Colvin Reunion"

Meet the Patri-ouchs!

So let's see here, That makes Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Rodney Harrison, Shawn Crable, and now Thomas on injured reserve. Among those five there might be more Pro Bowl selections missing the season than active players with the honor, and Crable hasn't even reached the playing field, let alone Hawaii.

Continue reading "Patriots Mounting Injuries Aren't Funny"

t, he out-waited the coverage before making a play.

Not too long ago I made a case that adding LB Shawn Crable won't solve the anemic pass rush. Now I want him in because the current group is unproductive. It doesn't show up in the stat sheet, but the defense had zero hits on Rivers. That means they didn't even knock him down! That's pathetic by the defense.

Continue reading "Change We Need Is Coming"

LB Shawn Crable was listed as a dud for not making the active roster against San Francisco. Is that fair?

Maybe this is some misdirected disappointment at the players getting regular playing time but not producing sacks. After four games, the Patriots have just seven sacks. That's less than two per game.

Continue reading "Short on Sacks"

 That's how I feel on the inside. I can't wait until I race home from work, turn on the tv, and catch the opening kickoff.

As time ticks down to pre-season game five for the Patriots (I know it's week one, but it's the Chiefs for goodness sake!), there's a few things I'll be looking for:

Continue reading "Hours Until Kickoff: Week 1"

And while you're at it, LB Shawn Crable could try some new pass rush moves as Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas give him veteran insight from the sideline. Skip Cassel and play Kevin O'Connell, use Matt Slater on both sides of the ball and as a returner. Empty the bench.

Continue reading "Eye to the future"

Your younger replacements are here to stay (Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable). You, my friend, can stay away.

Elsewhere, I did a national preview of the Patriots and New York Giants and the cha

Continue reading "Reruns?"

It's possible Shawn Crable could make Pierre Woods expendable.

Others hope to hold on: LBs Bo Ruud, Gary Guyton, Vince Redd, and RB BenJarvis Green-Ellis (man I love that name) might onl

Continue reading "Less Competition, More Intensity"

ckle performance, but I think it's been a while since I've seen that kind of speed at the position. Shawn Crable came away with an interception and a half a sack. I always thought he was good in coverage but he surprised me with consistent pressure and did well shedding blockers. Pierre Woods was OK with pressure in the first half but was nearly unblockable in the fourth quarter when he got a sack and batted a pass.

Continue reading "Go to the tape"

But it comes down the plays made. The story will be the same for Shawn Crable and Bo Ruud. There's a purpose to their being on the field. I'll keep a close eye on the pass rush as well. Pierre Woods should create consistent pressure against first teamers, dominant if facing the second string.

Continue reading "Near and Favre"

They started with Jerod Mayo, drafted Shawn Crable in the third, and added Bo Ruud in the sixth round. All three were clocked between 4.5-4.6 in the 40-yard dash. Even the addition of Victor Hobson helps since he's seven years younger than Bruschi.

Continue reading "Room for improvement"

I hope to see Woods do things to make me forget that missed opportunity. If not, Shawn Crable might be breathing down his neck real soon.

Other developments is the rookie CBs quickly moving up the depth chart. Second round pick Terrance Wheatley played with the first unit while Jonathan Wilhite got a lot of snaps as the third corner. It's too early to read into it and believe they will remain with the first group.

Continue reading "Sigh of relief"

A day after the Pats signed two more draft picks (LB Shawn Crable and QB Kevin O'Connell), they also added 10-year veteran RT Anthony Clement.

Call it house cleaning. New England didn't hesitate to dispose of DB Willie Andrews following his arrest for putting a gun to the head of his fiancee. Like Andrews, Kaczur could be shown the door because of his potential legal troubles.

Continue reading ""

Jerod Mayo, Shawn Crable, and Bo Ruud could bury their nose into their playbooks, but it's not the same as putting what they are trying to learn into practice as they try to pick up adjustments on the fly.

Continue reading "Say When"

He would fit right in with 6-4 Mike Vrabel and Bo Ruud, and 6-5 Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable.

Continue reading "Taylor Made"

e can have and equal effect for New England's defense as well as groom the like of Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable.

Based on how badly the Dolpins got burned by their former players with the Pa

Continue reading "Taylor Trash"