How Will the Patriots Fill the Hole in LB Depth With Spikes Release?
 With the Brandon Spikes release, Dane Fletcher would possibly be the best choice to fill inside at LB until Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower are ready to return. (USA TODAY Images) |
The reunion of the Patriots and linebacker Brandon Spikes didn’t last very long. Now the Pats face the task of replacing the big, physical Spikes in the lineup while both Jerod Mayo and Dont’a Hightower recover from injuries.
The team released Spikes just a day after a story broke of a vehicle belonging to Spikes was found abandoned and damaged on Rt.495.
An automatic call went out to the Mass State Police thru the vehicle’s On-Star system after the car sustained massive front end damage. The driver of the car reported to On-Star that he had struck a deer on the highway.
The State Police investigated but could find no evidence of a deer, however an SUV driven by a Billerica family was reported to have been rear-ended in the area and all three occupants were driven to the hospital. Charges against Spikes are still pending. It isn’t known if Spikes was even driving the car, but judging by how swift the Patriots acted on this incident, logic would seem to suggest that he was.
Spikes Value Clear on Early Downs: During Spikes time here in the past, he was clearly a valuable member of the defense, especially on early downs as he excelled in the down-hill, physical, run stuffer linebacker.
He wasn’t particularly strong in coverage and the team often took him out in passing situations. With Mayo, Hightower and Jamie Collins locked into starting roles; Spikes’ return wasn’t going to change any of that.
With both Mayo and Hightower on the shelf still recovering from injuries, Spikes stepped seamlessly back into a starting role…albeit during OTAs. His familiarity with the Patriots system allowed him to get a significant amount of snaps.
Now with mini-camp and training camp looming, the question remains, who will provide that run-stuffing role in the middle of the defense? The timing of Spikes’ release allows the Patriots plenty of time to come up with a plan as we are still only in early June. But if Mayo and Hightower aren’t ready to go during the pre-season and/or the start of the regular season, who steps into that role?
Fletcher’s Ability To Step Up a Plus: When the Patriots signed Dane Fletcher to bring him back to New England, he was viewed as a depth guy, someone who can fill in as needed anywhere and play well. Fletcher isn’t the down-hill, physical presence that Spikes is, but has filled in as a stop gap measure in the past with the Pats.
His familiarity with the Patriots system is also a plus, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Fletcher get a lion’s share of the snaps for the remainder of OTAs and mini-camp. But he’s not the intimidating presence that Spikes is and would be a temporary fix. Fletcher’s value is as a sub-package guy who can cover running backs in the flat and tight ends. So what other options are available for the team that are currently on the roster?
James Morris was signed by the team as an UDFA last season and had two stints with the team in the spring/summer before an injury derailed his 2014 season. Morris is a 6’2 240 linebacker that can play a variety of roles. Speaking with ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Monday night, he likened Morris to former Patriots LB Jeff Tarpinian, a smart, instinctive player well liked by coaches and teammates for his ability to diagnose plays quickly.
It should be noted that in the last pre-season game in 2014, Morris wore the “green dot” communication device for the defense. It illustrates that Morris already had a good grasp of the Patriots defense and could already relay the assignments on the field. It also demonstrates that the coaches have some faith in his abilities.
Jonathan Freeny who was signed as a free agent from the Dolphins is known primarily as a special teams performer but can play a reserve role on defense as he did in Miami.
The 6’2, 254 Freeny has good size and physicality and had 15 tackles on defense for the Fins as well as 10 more on STs in 2014. He’s another Rutgers guy so he’ll get a long look this summer.
Darius Fleming split last season between the Patriots practice squad and the active roster appearing in eight games (5 regular season and all 3 playoff games).
The 6’2, 255 linebacker had eight tackles and a fumble recovery on the season. He too is viewed as primarily a special teams’ player but could play himself into some reps.
Eric Martin was signed by the Patriots in December after playing the past two seasons for the Cleveland Browns. The 6’2, 250 Martin played in all 16 games for the Browns, primarily as a STs presence and had eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
While other linebackers are on the roster, notably STs core player Chris White, Matt Wells, Dekoda Watson and some of the edge rushers added during the off-season, these players listed above seem to be the best fit for that inside linebacker role until Mayo and Hightower are able to return.
Another possible scenario that Reiss mentioned was to move the valuable and versatile Rob Ninkovich to linebacker where he could fill in and still give the team a smart, physical player who like Mike Vrabel did on occasion. That would be an interesting development, but probably not the best case scenario.
So while Spikes’ release hurts the overall Patriots’ depth at the linebacker position, the team has a lot of options to try and the time to work out the kinks before the games begin for real in September. Of course, having both Mayo and Hightower on the field against the Steelers for the opener would be the best case scenario.
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