Patriots Increase Linebacker Depth, Sign Dane Fletcher to 1-Year Deal
Pats Bring Back Another LB Familiar With the System
The Patriots began Phase III of OTAs on Tuesday and had another familiar face back in the lineup. Linebacker Dane Fletcher signed a one-year deal to return to the team and was present and on the field for the first of three workouts this week.
Fletcher spent four seasons as a Patriots backup linebacker and special teams contributor after being signed as an undrafted free agent from Montana in 2010. Last week the team brought back Brandon Spikes, also on a one-year deal. The two were part of the 2010 Patriots rookie class.
Fletcher spent last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, signing as a free agent.
The depth of the Pats linebacker position has been bolstered by recent signings and the draft in 2015. With Jerod Mayo and Dont’a Hightower recovering from injuries and surgery, questions were naturally asked to who would step up if neither were ready to start the season. But the team re-signed STs ace Chris White, and also brought in Dekoda Watson from the Buccaneers. Last week, the team brought back Spikes who spent 2014 with the Buffalo Bills.
In the 2015 NFL Draft, the team drafted end of the line players Geneo Grissom and Trey Flowers who could play DE or OLB as well as the undersized but speedy Matthew Wells. Competition will be intense as the now crowded field at linebacker will also include last season’s promising addition James Morris who was hurt during OTAs and again during training camp and never took the field. Morris wore the green dot communication device in the final preseason game last season, a sign of his potential.
Fletcher played in 38 career games with the Patriots with six starts totaling 81 tackles with four sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. The 6’2, 245 Fletcher was a popular player in his time here, playing in sub-packages and asked mainly to cover backs out in the flat and tight ends.
Both he and Spikes bring familiarity and veteran presence to the team. Neither will need any time to acclimate to the Patriots system, both having spent four seasons here and can step in seamlessly into the OTAs this week.
With the increased depth at the position, the competition will be fierce for snaps both during the spring and once training camp starts this summer. With Mayo and Hightower on the mend, guys like Spikes and Fletcher, who have been in the system, will have a leg up on the competition.
Fletcher won’t be a starter unless in the case of an injury but has proven to be a good piece of the puzzle and will be very good in sub-packages and in the kicking game. He, Watson, Morris and Wells will be looking to nail down some reps in the sub-packages where the Patriots spent about 65 percent of the time.
The linebackers will be intriguing to watch as this should be a deep, talented group in 2015. The projected starters of Hightower, Mayo and Jamie Collins are among the most talented group anywhere. Now they have the depth to plug and play a number of other players into the mix. Bill Belichick loves camp competition and this deep group now gives him plenty of options and flexibility to mix and match.
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