Patriots: Shawn Crable
Outside linebacker Shawn Crable, a 2008 third-round draft choice who arrived with high expectations but never appeared in a regular-season game for the Patriots, was released by the team Wednesday.
Crable had been placed on the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday, which might have been an indication that he did not pass his conditioning test. Given that this was considered a make-or-break year for him, it's possible the Patriots viewed that as the final straw in his injury-filled tenure with the team.
As a rookie in 2008, Crable was listed among the inactive players for the first eight games before landing on season-ending injured reserve (shin). Last season, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve at the start of the season (groin).
At 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, Crable certainly looked the part, but that never translated to the field in New England.
In May, Crable touched on his mindset entering this season.
“I’ve had two years off,” he said at Kevin Faulk's charity softball game. “Hopefully this time it works out. ... [It's] another opportunity. We'll see if we can do it better this time."
This time didn't last very long.
Crable had been placed on the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday, which might have been an indication that he did not pass his conditioning test. Given that this was considered a make-or-break year for him, it's possible the Patriots viewed that as the final straw in his injury-filled tenure with the team.
As a rookie in 2008, Crable was listed among the inactive players for the first eight games before landing on season-ending injured reserve (shin). Last season, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve at the start of the season (groin).
At 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, Crable certainly looked the part, but that never translated to the field in New England.
In May, Crable touched on his mindset entering this season.
“I’ve had two years off,” he said at Kevin Faulk's charity softball game. “Hopefully this time it works out. ... [It's] another opportunity. We'll see if we can do it better this time."
This time didn't last very long.
The Patriots’ first public training camp practice is Thursday, July 29, and with 82 players on the roster, there is plenty to analyze. ESPNBoston.com has picked what it feels are the top eight aspects to monitor. As part of the “Countdown to Camp”, they will be counted down with one each day leading up to the first practice.
No. 7: Young linebackers and their development
Why it’s a top issue: One of the Patriots' main weaknesses in 2009 was a lack of a pass rush: The team blitzed more than 40 percent of the time, ranking them seventh in the NFL, which was a sign that there wasn't enough pressure out of the standard four-man rush. The fourth rusher most often comes from the outside linebacker spot. Furthermore, the heart of the defense is the inside linebacker spot and former undrafted free agent Gary Guyton played 84 percent of the snaps there in 2009, the second highest total of any defender.
Why it might change: From a personnel standpoint, the selection of second-round draft choices Jermaine Cunningham (outside linebacker) and Brandon Spikes (inside linebacker), the return to health of 2009 third-round draft choice Tyrone McKenzie (inside linebacker), and, to a lesser degree, 2008 third-round draft choice Shawn Crable (third round).
Historical perspective: The inside linebackers are the youngest in Bill Belichick's 11-year tenure. No longer can Belichick count on veterans like Tedy Bruschi, Roman Phifer, Ted Johnson and Junior Seau, which highlights the importance of development. Cunningham is the highest outside linebacker (53rd overall) the Patriots have drafted in Belichick's tenure.
Xs and Os thought: When the Patriots set their initial 53-man roster in 2009, they kept 3 inside linebackers (Jerod Mayo, Guyton, Eric Alexander) and 5 outside linebackers (Tully Banta-Cain, Derrick Burgess, Rob Ninkovich, Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods). Special teams contributions are often a factor in that decision-making process.
Looking to the future: How realistic is it to expect immediate pass-rush contributions from Cunningham at outside linebacker? Pat Kirwan of NFL.com examined the topic earlier this year, pointing out that teams relying on rookie pass-rushers should be careful in doing so.
Fun fact: Mayo lives five minutes from Gillette Stadium. "I feel I can get so much better as a football player living near work," he explained.
Camp Countdown:
No. 8 -- Tight ends & the red zone
No. 7: Young linebackers and their development
Why it’s a top issue: One of the Patriots' main weaknesses in 2009 was a lack of a pass rush: The team blitzed more than 40 percent of the time, ranking them seventh in the NFL, which was a sign that there wasn't enough pressure out of the standard four-man rush. The fourth rusher most often comes from the outside linebacker spot. Furthermore, the heart of the defense is the inside linebacker spot and former undrafted free agent Gary Guyton played 84 percent of the snaps there in 2009, the second highest total of any defender.
Why it might change: From a personnel standpoint, the selection of second-round draft choices Jermaine Cunningham (outside linebacker) and Brandon Spikes (inside linebacker), the return to health of 2009 third-round draft choice Tyrone McKenzie (inside linebacker), and, to a lesser degree, 2008 third-round draft choice Shawn Crable (third round).
Historical perspective: The inside linebackers are the youngest in Bill Belichick's 11-year tenure. No longer can Belichick count on veterans like Tedy Bruschi, Roman Phifer, Ted Johnson and Junior Seau, which highlights the importance of development. Cunningham is the highest outside linebacker (53rd overall) the Patriots have drafted in Belichick's tenure.
Xs and Os thought: When the Patriots set their initial 53-man roster in 2009, they kept 3 inside linebackers (Jerod Mayo, Guyton, Eric Alexander) and 5 outside linebackers (Tully Banta-Cain, Derrick Burgess, Rob Ninkovich, Adalius Thomas, Pierre Woods). Special teams contributions are often a factor in that decision-making process.
Looking to the future: How realistic is it to expect immediate pass-rush contributions from Cunningham at outside linebacker? Pat Kirwan of NFL.com examined the topic earlier this year, pointing out that teams relying on rookie pass-rushers should be careful in doing so.
Fun fact: Mayo lives five minutes from Gillette Stadium. "I feel I can get so much better as a football player living near work," he explained.
Camp Countdown:
No. 8 -- Tight ends & the red zone
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Mike Reiss
Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter here.
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