Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Adam_Schefter

Filed to ESPN: Patriots released LB Adalius Thomas. Only question was when. And the when is now. Thomas now free to sign elsewhere.


Could this be a fit for the Saints?

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Wouldn't hurt to bring him in for a visit

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

He's 33...and was release by lack of production. If Bilichick can't get you to produce, then I don't know.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Was he the one who was a problem last year.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

I'm wondering about Clint Ingram. We need to take a look at him.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Gregg Willams can get production out of Adalius Thomas

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

I think Thomas' problems were more related to the scheme. He was a beast with the Ravens in the 4-3 but never fit well into the Patriots 3-4. Much like Vilma not fitting the Jets 3-4, but excelling in our 4-3.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

The Ravens run a hybrid defense that includes some 3-4. I think Thomas' issue is that he was great on the Ravens when he had Ray Lewis, Suggs, Ed Reed, etc around him, but when he was supposed to be the guy in NE, he didn't really meet the expectations. Not saying he isn't a good player, just that I think he got overhyped in Baltimore. In my mind, he's a tweener who wouldn't be a good fit as a linebacker in our scheme, but that's just my opinion.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Agreed. Its hard for a player to produce for BB when said played isnt being asked to do what he excels at. AT has publicly complained up here about his lack of blitzing opportunities, so found himself in the doghouse. His days were numbered, ala Seymour. Id like to see him in a more aggressive scheme.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

SIGN HIM!!!!!!

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

We might have A.T on the roster already in Junior Galette

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

I remember he and a few others including Moss were sent home for being a little late for practice during a snowstorm. I just think somethings afoul with BB and vets up here. Now Moss says he wants out after this year?

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

adalius thomas wasnt as good without a big body in front of him playin in the 3-4

same thing vilma was complaining about

if there isnt a big body, then the LBs in the 3-4 are asked to take on blockers

thomas could be a SLB on a 4-3 team although he lacks ideal speed to play the position

hes old too but age is just a number if you can continue to produce

NE is where old LBs and WRs go to die

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Pass.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

would he be an upgrade over dunbar/castillas?

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

If he produced like he did in Baltimore, definitely. His complaint with the Patriots is that the defense was too structured and he was too confined and unable to play his game. He would fit much better in a much more aggressive Gregg Williams scheme.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

No harm bringing him in. If we do sign him, worst case scenario is that he becomes a good mentor to our LBs, even if he doens't produce monster numbers. I'll take those chances.

Adalius Thomas & a little more.
 

So the pats released adalius thomas.. do you think sp and gw will have an interest? or is he too old and beat up to play in GW's aggresive defensive scheme. or do you think Arnoux will get his chance and quite possibly replace scott fujita? maybe im in over my head but sounds like we didn't really need lb's after all.. the crop of lb's we have is outstanding.. im just dumbfounded that we drafted robinson although i sorta like the pick.. but we had taylor mays on the board.. im quite confused.

Re: Adalius Thomas & a little more.
 

Mays looks to me like he will be like Tebucky Jones. Athletic with no instincts. We had enough of that with Bullocks. We lose a corner this year and we won't need to find Ty Law if you cath my drift.

Adalius is still a good OLB. He's not a long term answer, but he would definitely add to our depth and open up more mad-man scheming for Williams (which Robinson just helped out as well BTW).

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

For the right price, I would love Thomas in the LB rotation as a situational pass rusher. I wouldnt pay him starter money because I think it's time to find out what we have in Casillas, Dunbar, and Arnoux.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

I am all for giving anyone a try, look at Sharper more than one GM thought he was washed up, which is why they let him walk. Look how well he played last year.

Worst case scenario if he is horrible, GW will show this is how you DO NOT PLAY LB FOR THE SAINTS!

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Ray Lewis didn't do so well in the 3-4 either. Vilma, Lewis, and Thomas are very good LB's. Sign the guy Mickey! :bng:

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

ray lewis has played his entire career in a 3-4

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Ravens' 4-3 Superbowl front 7:

LDE: Rob Burnett
RDE: Micheal McCray
DT: Siragusa and Adams
OLB: Boulware, Sharper
MLB: Ray Lewis

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

i thought the ravens played in a 46 d?

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

the ravens have ran multiple schemes....some consider them to not have a base defense since they switch up so much

however, the base defense has been a 3-4

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

It is still a four man front with three backers, just like a 4-3.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._green.svg.png

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

In 2000 and 2006 the Ravens ran a 4-3 ...

Baltimore Ravens: Should They Run a 3-4 or 4-3 Defense?

No blitzing doesn't mean this D won't dominate. Surprisingly enough, the sack leader of the Ravens 2000 unit, Rob Burnett, barely surpassed ten sacks. Really, the Ravens only had three all out pass rushers on that team, in Burnett, Michael McCrary, and Peter Boulware.

It was the duo of Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa at defensive tackle and the group of talented linebackers that made the defense so great. It didn't hurt that they had two good corners in Chris McAlister and Duane Starks, and a Hall of Famer in Rod Woodson at free safety. With the two defensive tackles, Burnett and McCrary at defensive end, and Jamie Sharper, Ray Lewis, and Boulware at linebacker, the team ran a 4-3 defensive scheme, using four defensive lineman and three linebackers in their front seven.

The question this year is, what scheme will Mattison run?

In 2006, under Ryan, the Ravens ran a 4-3, and the defense was actually comparable to the 2000 squad. The defensive tackles this time were Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata, both physical beasts of nature. On the edge, they used Trevor Pryce and Terrell Suggs as the defensive ends, and had Adalius Thomas, Ray Lewis, and Bart Scott play linebacker. Of that front seven, the Ravens return five players, as Scott (Jets) and Thomas (Patriots) signed free agent deals. Let's just imagine the scenarios.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan likes to switch between the 3-4, 4-3, 4-4-3 and 46 fronts. He will use defenders in various positions, because a number of starters can line up in multiple positions. While the 2000 Ravens led by coordinator Marvin Lewis was quite vanilla, the 2006 Ravens are Ben & Jerry's Rocky Road.

Baltimore Ravens News - 2000 v. 2006: A COMPARISON OF DEFENSIVE GREATNESS

now the defense is in a 3-4 pretty much exclusively
http://espn.go.com/nfl/teams/depth?team=bal&formationId=15

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Yeah, the set up is there but my understanding is the weakside DE who lines up way outside the tackle is sometimes subbed for a LB who can rush the passer and only has "stay home" responsibilities in the run. The SLB is actually like a Jack in a 3-4 and becomes primarily a run stopper, up the middle blitzer and the WLB is responsible for the TE. I always figured it a hybrid of the two and what Rex Ryan ran since Buddy Ryan was an advocate. I thought the Ravens that year would pull in Cornell Brown to play the Jack LB. Phew--that was 10 years ago.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

True, but the point is that Thomas' production dropped in the Pats' 3-4. He was very productive with the Ravens and their four man fronts in whichever formation.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

hes managing over 120 tackles per season....im not sure thats a decrease in production......its a drop in production from his defensive MVP years when he was in his prime tho

im sure age has something to do with it

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Where are you getting 120 tackles? He has totaled under 35 each of the past two seasons.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

cuz i was talking about ray ray.....you were talking about adalius thomas i guess

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Yes. We were talking about Thomas and his possible value to the Saints. The was much more productive behind a four man front in Baltimore than he was in the much more conservative 3-4 of the Patriots.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

Most run and gun LBs favor the 4 man D line to eat up blockers. Ray said something to the effect that it was like, "being let out of jail" when the team went back to a 4 man line a few seasons back.

I wasn't talking about the past season, sorry for any confusion. Just making the point that unless you are a member of the Dome Patrol your numbers will likely drop in a 3-4 due to more blocks to shed. Adalius is 32 so he still has a couple of years I'm sure.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

What would it hurt to sign any of these guys to maybe one year deals? Take them to camp, and if they don't work out, let them walk. Just an idea.

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

No adalius thomas, See the new orleans game he's slow looked like a defensive tackle running up field out there, I'd pass for youth, john henderson is another story that dude is nuts!

Re: Adalius Thomas released by the Patriots
 

How about Henderson AND Thomas?