As you probably know by now, the New England Patriots have released run-stopping linebacker Brandon Spikes. Adam Schefter first reported the news:
Patriots released LB Brandon Spikes, per source. Wasted no time....
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2015
This news should be taken with a grain of salt. Spikes wasn’t going to be starting for the Patriots in 2015 because of the outstanding trio of Dont’a Hightower, Jerod Mayo and Jamie Collins. So the release of Spikes does not directly impact the starting lineup; more so, it affects the Patriots’ depth at linebacker.
After the massive turnover in the secondary, the Patriots are committing to the front seven in 2015. Really, they have to—the undermanned cornerback group will get torched without a strong front seven that stops the run and rushes the passer.
There aren’t any question marks surrounding Hightower, Mayo and Collins. But those guys aren’t invincible; they won’t play every snap of the season. Without Spikes in the picture, the Patriots had better hope that their depth at linebacker is sufficient.
Let’s take a closer look at the top linebacker depth after Hightower, May and Collins. Note that not every linebacker on the roster is listed in this article, but only the top four guys as of right now.
Next: Dekoda Watson
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Dekoda Watson
Picked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 155 selections after Spikes in the 2010 NFL Draft, Watson is a veteran of five NFL seasons.
Watson showed flashes of promise in 2013 when he racked up 42 combined tackles, two sacks and an interception with the Buccaneers. For the most part, however, Watson has been a role player, and as of late, a journeyman.
In the 2014 offseason, the Bucs cut ties with Watson and he ended up in Jacksonville. He played his last game with the Jaguars in early November against the Cowboys, from which point he was released, and later signed by the Cowboys, oddly enough. He recorded a tackle in the Wild Card playoffs against the Lions.
According to a scouting report by Bryan Broaddus after the Cowboys signed him, Watson has the ability to play both Sam and Will linebacker. He brings energy to the field, running all over the place and rarely missing tackles.
Now, Watson is a very different type of linebacker than Spikes. He isn’t going to take Spikes’ role on the depth chart. Rather, he will provide good depth behind Jamie Collins, the starter Watson resembles the most.
Next: Jonathan Freeny
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Jonathan Freeny
The Patriots pillaged Freeny from divisional rival Miami in free agency, adding a fifth Rutgers product to the roster after Devin McCourty, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon and Tim Wright. Gotta love those Rutgers players.
After playing defensive end in college, Freeny has shifted to linebacker in the pros. He’s played special teams and not much else in his three NFL seasons, recording 44 tackles and a sack in three seasons with the Dolphins.
A bit undersized for a traditional pass rusher at 6-foot-2, 254 pounds, Freeny will probably be relegated to special teams duty with the Patriots, at least to start. He’s not the most tantalizing depth option behind the starting linebackers, but his Rutgers background that Bill Belichick certainly loves gives one hope that he could crack the lineup at some point.
Brought in on a one-year deal worth $850,000, Freeny isn’t going to be the most anticipated newcomer of the season by any means. But the depth he provides is nice to have, especially after the release of Spikes.
Next: Darius Fleming
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Darius Fleming
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Fleming has had a tough go of it on the injury front. An ACL tear in rookie minicamp wiped out his first year, and then he tore the same ACL the following summer. The 49ers released him in the 2014 offseason, and then the Patriots swooped in and signed him.
After spending the first half of the season on the practice squad, Fleming was promoted to the active roster in November. He recorded six combined tackles en route to earning a Super Bowl ring.
Fleming is an extremely talented player. He was one of the top linebackers in the country when he declared for Notre Dame out of high school, and he was a highly anticipated addition to the 49ers defense when he entered the NFL a few years ago. However, those two devastating ACL tears have changed the course of his professional career.
More so than Watson and Freeny, Fleming resembles Spikes with his run-stopping capability and deficiencies in pass coverage. Expect to see Fleming used in non-passing situations as the Patriots try to carve out a role for him.
You can bet that Fleming is chomping at the bit for a full NFL season on an active roster.
Next: Dane Fletcher
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Dane Fletcher
You’ve probably heard that Fletcher came back to the Patriots this offseason on a one-year deal. His stint in Tampa Bay was disappointing, as he only recorded half of a sack.
What his rough 2014 season as a Buccaneer tells us is that Fletcher is best suited in New England. After all, Bill Belichick is the guy who converted Fletcher from a college defensive lineman to an NFL linebacker.
Many Patriots fans, including Yours Truly, didn’t like seeing Fletcher depart after a 2013 season in which he really established himself as a valuable commodity. In that unforgettable 24-0 comeback against the Denver Broncos, it was Fletcher who forced the fumble that gave the Patriots the ball back late in the fourth quarter so the offense could tie the game.
In the wake of Spikes’ release, Fletcher ought to find himself as one of the top depth options at linebacker. He is experienced in the Patriots’ defensive system, an established veteran and hungry to repair his reputation after the 2014 season in Tampa.
The Patriots are looking pretty smart right now for signing both Spikes and Fletcher back in May. With Spikes gone, it’s that much more of a relief to have Fletcher on the roster.