Derrick Brooks says "I would play another year in Tampa"

[SunnyD]

Doesn't fit the system

[O.S. Buc76]

No way any of the outside LB's on our roster right now will play better than Brooks or June right away.

Then this team is sunk. If the young guys can't play better than the 2008 version of Brooks and June, then we might as well write this season off right here and now.

I understand the love for Brooks but don't understand how anyone hates the move to cut Brooks. It should have been done before last year.

The Patriots cut players a year early rather than a year late, that's a good motto to have in this league.

I am all for Brooks getting cut but for WHO is what I am wondering; because the players they have mentioned so far sound like they have alot to prove and it may take them half the season to get it right, and let's just hope we don't get totally pounded & run over by opposing teams in the mean time.

[umguy1999]

So DB and June don't fit the mold for this system, yet 225 pound Geno Hayes does fit into it?

If Morris thinks the problem with the defense is the LB Play then we are in more trouble than I thought, I saw a line that could not rush the QB or stop the run. Maybe the lack of a D-line has more to do with Brooks play in the last 2 seasons than his age, the guy is smart and knows where he needs to be and has good instincts and experiance all those things can be passed down and taught, like Nickerson passed them down to him, Ruud has 4 years and 36 starts under his belt and he is the replacement leader, as opposed to an 11 time pro bowl HOF LB.

As far as DB being a distraction.. that is grasping at straws even assuming that Hayes or whoever they get to play in place of Brooks is 100 times better than Brooks in every way shape and form, is his back up also better than Brooks? We are one injury away from having some smuck off the street play WLB.

Who wants to bet a Berns 25oz Porterhouse that we don't make it into the top 20 in defense next season?

[Biggs3535]

So DB and June don't fit the mold for this system, yet 225 pound Geno Hayes does fit into it?

You realize that just because someone is similar in weight doesn't mean their skill set is similar.  There were plenty of DT's who were the same weight as Sapp, but the couldn't do the things Sapp could do.  Brooks and June weren't blitzers, couldn't shed blocks, etc..  They excelled in space.  The new scheme wants it's LB's to be more physical, Brooks and June aren't physical.

[docbravo]

....the guy is smart (in the Tampa 2)
....and knows where he needs to be (in the Tampa 2)
.... and has good instincts (in the Tampa 2)
.... and experience all those things can be passed down and taught (if we STILL RAN the Tampa 2)

Square Peg, Round Hole.

[DanTurksGhost]

So DB and June don't fit the mold for this system, yet 225 pound Geno Hayes does fit into it?

Any LB who can actually get off a block fits better than Brooks at this point.

[Feel Real Good]

So DB and June don't fit the mold for this system, yet 225 pound Geno Hayes does fit into it?

At this point we have no idea how much Hayes fits into their plan. They may be just keeping him for special teams.

[umguy1999]

....the guy is smart (in the Tampa 2)
....and knows where he needs to be (in the Tampa 2)
.... and has good instincts (in the Tampa 2)
.... and experience all those things can be passed down and taught (if we STILL RAN the Tampa 2)

Square Peg, Round Hole.

Get off the Brooks would only have been good in the Tampa 2, that is a bunch of crap. A smart LB is a smart LB, being smart has more to do with the oponent than the defense, if you can't see that then you don't know squat about football, fast, agile good tackling LBs would be great in any system.

[GhostRider]

....the guy is smart (in the Tampa 2)
....and knows where he needs to be (in the Tampa 2)
.... and has good instincts (in the Tampa 2)
.... and experience all those things can be passed down and taught (if we STILL RAN the Tampa 2)

Square Peg, Round Hole.

Get off the Brooks would only have been good in the Tampa 2, that is a bunch of crap. A smart LB is a smart LB, being smart has more to do with the oponent than the defense, if you can't see that then you don't know squat about football, fast, agile good tackling LBs would be great in any system.

As evidenced by how well he played the run.  The guy has great instincts and a knowledge of the game that allowed him to diagnose plays with a quickness.  What he began to lack in physical speed, he was making up for in recognition.

[docbravo]

....the guy is smart (in the Tampa 2)
....and knows where he needs to be (in the Tampa 2)
.... and has good instincts (in the Tampa 2)
.... and experience all those things can be passed down and taught (if we STILL RAN the Tampa 2)

Square Peg, Round Hole.

Get off the Brooks would only have been good in the Tampa 2, that is a bunch of crap. A smart LB is a smart LB, being smart has more to do with the oponent than the defense, if you can't see that then you don't know squat about football, fast, agile good tackling LBs would be great in any system.

Fast? If you still think Derrick Brooks is fast, you haven't been watching football.
Agile? There isn't much agility left after all the pulled hamstings (easy to see as well, if you are watching)
Good Tackling? Please, tell me you are kidding. This is not the DB of 5 years ago. Derrick missed his share of tackles (and then some!) The Linebacker you described as "Fast, Agile, and Good tackling" is T. Suggs..... Not Derrick Brooks.

As evidenced by how well he played the run. The guy has great instincts and a knowledge of the game that allowed him to diagnose plays with a quickness. What he began to lack in physical speed, he was making up for in recognition.

How well he played the run? Wow, you guys have such a "revisionist history."  My point is this: What he was lacking in speed he could make up for in recognition......(wait for it)....IN THE TAMPA 2! He didn't have to think in that Defense, He knew it, so he could just react. That's why Rookies say they are a step slower in their first year, because they have to think about where they should be, and what they should be doing. By year 2 and 3, they can just react because they know what's going on. Even Simeon Rice said the same thing! Derrick would lose that edge by knowing where to be in this NEW Defense. Thus making him just a "Slow, Undersized, Aging Outside Linebacker, that can't shed blocks at the point of attack.... A.K.A. "NOT A GOOD FIT!"

[O.S. Buc76]

All I can say is unless we sign any decent defensive players still left and then draft about 90% defense, that side of the ball for '09 is going to look verrrrrry similar to what we saw against Carolina, San Diego, and Oakland down the stretch last season.