LB Shea McClellin

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Good move we need more LB depth . It showed big time when hightower or collins got injuried .
 
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He is a little light as ILBs go Height: 6-3 Weight: 245 but he has been productive. If you keep in mind the constant changes of the coaching staff in Chicago it is not a big shock that he was slow to develop.
 
I thought the Pats were going to draft this guy a few years ago. He has the talent to really shine if he buys-in to the program. I'm excited to see how this transpires.
 
Pneumonic said:
I thought the Pats were going to draft this guy a few years ago. He has the talent to really shine if he buys-in to the program. I'm excited to see how this transpires.
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2012...the SUCK FOR LUCK year!

You and me both. For me that year it was a choice of who was left over between Luke Kuechly, McClellin and Dont'a H'tower. I thought McClellin was the next Clay Matthews with his speed and rushing ability (Maybe with roids he would have been). I don't know why Chicago moved him from OLB/DE to ILB.

That year Kuechly went early to the Panthers, McClellin went 19th to Chi and BB took Hightower with the 25th pick. Now we have 2 of the 3. :dbanana:

edit: IIRC, Hawg wanted Kuechly, I wanted McClellin and Lisa wanted H'tower.
 
Patriots-Lifer said:
He is a little light as ILBs go Height: 6-3 Weight: 245 but he has been productive. If you keep in mind the constant changes of the coaching staff in Chicago it is not a big shock that he was slow to develop.
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I've read he's more like 260 lbs now which makes sense bc he needed to gain strength for the NFL. I like his versatility to play ILB/DE/OLB. If he's motivated to learn our D I think he could be a very good pickup.
 
I too thought the Pats would like this guy coming out of the draft.
Exciting offseason so far!
 
The first 2-3 days of FA were very boring for us Pats fans but the last 2 have become pretty exciting. I like were BB is going with this team on both sides of the ball. If the O line can protect TB this could be another one of those big offensive years and with their defense being much improved, they have to be considered favorites to make it to SB 51.
 
AkPatsFan said:
The first 2-3 days of FA were very boring for us Pats fans but the last 2 have become pretty exciting. I like were BB is going with this team on both sides of the ball. If the O line can protect TB this could be another one of those big offensive years and with their defense being much improved, they have to be considered favorites to make it to SB 51.
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Think of Bill as the NFL's answer to the World Champion Dumpster Diver.

Cheers
 
Is Bostic gone, or has he stuck around too?
 
Personally I think we will see the Patriots use more 4-3 Defence and see Shea McClellin playing ILB.

Shea McClellin's fit with Patriots could have Akeem Ayers-type feel to it
3:31 PM ET
Mike Reiss
ESPN New England Patriots reporter

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has often cited how fortunate he's been to play in one offensive system over his NFL career, which aided in his initial growth from long-shot 2000 sixth-round draft pick to what he is today.

Others aren't as fortunate, and one timely example is new Patriots linebacker Shea McClellin, who agreed to a three-year deal with the club earlier this week that is in the process of being finalized.

I spent part of the past two days watching some of McClellin's tape from the first four years of his career, with the hope of gaining a better understanding of what his best fit with the Patriots might be. Here's the key snapshot since he was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2012 draft (19th overall).


Shea McClellin's pass-rushing background makes him different than a pure off-the-line linebacker.
2012

Defensive coordinator: Rod Marinelli

Scheme: 4-3

Role: Sub-rushing defensive end -14 tackles 2.5 sacks

2013

Defensive coordinator: Mel Tucker

Scheme: 4-3

Role: Starting defensive end - 30 tackles 4 sacks

2014

Defensive coordinator: Tucker

Scheme: 4-3

Role: Linebacker - 36 tackles 1 sack

2015

Defensive coordinator: Vic Fangio

Scheme: 3-4

Role: Inside linebacker - 81 tackles 0 sacks

Every time a player has to learn a new scheme, and in the case of McClellin a new position two years into his career, it can stunt development. In his rookie year, McClellin was used mostly on third down as a designated pass-rusher. The first regular-season snap he played, for example, he aligned with a wide split and then twisted inside on Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo. Later in that game, he executed an effective spin move on Castonzo.

But first-round draft picks usually aren't selected to be designated pass-rushers, and in McClellin's second season, he was elevated to a starting defensive end role under Mel Tucker, the new coordinator. McClellin struggled in the tape I watched, a bit undersized and under-powered to play that role on a consistent basis.

In the third year, McClellin switched his jersey number from 99 to 50, signifying a position change from end to linebacker in the 4-3. In the tape I watched, he was on the field for early downs before coming off in obvious passing situations. McClellin dropped some weight with that transition, and showed he could open his hips and fluidly drop into coverage, which is usually the biggest challenge for defensive ends moving to linebacker. Occasionally, he would play on the end of the line of scrimmage in a two-point stance and rush.

Finally, the 2015 season saw more change, with McClellin playing full-time at one of the inside linebacker spots in new coordinator Vic Fangio's 3-4. This required him to play more sideline-to-sideline and also downhill in the running game, where he didn't shy away from contact (e.g. taking on Packers fullback John Kuhn and shedding his block) and was a willing tackler. He also appeared to be a point person for the overall communication within the front seven; several times, I watched him re-position defenders, which seemed to indicate his command of the overall scheme in not just knowing his role but also the roles of other players.

Overall, I didn't see too many impact plays.

Where he fits in New England: Projecting where McClellin fits in New England, his situation reminded me a little bit of Akeem Ayers' from 2014. Ayers, who got caught in a scheme change in Tennessee, was a bit undersized to be a full-time defensive end in the Patriots' scheme, so in the base defense, he was more likely to be an off-the-line linebacker. But in the various sub packages the Patriots ran, Ayers could also find himself in a pass-rushing/niche role, depending on the game plan that week. I think McClellin could do something similar as his pass-rushing background makes him different than a pure off-the-line linebacker (e.g. Jerod Mayo). One key will be what weight McClellin plays, as his current weight (245) is undersized to do that. If he stays at 245, that would indicate he's more of a pure backup option to Jamie Collins as an off-the-line linebacker. If he adds some weight to get closer to the 260-pound mark he was at when entering the NFL, that could push him closer to an Ayers-type role. He's a versatile piece in that regard, as noted by ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick. McClellin also should factor into the special-teams mix in New England (e.g. he played on the punt rush and kickoff coverage teams in the tape I watched).
 
Patriots-Lifer said:
Personally I think we will see the Patriots use more 4-3 Defence and see Shea McClellin playing ILB.

Shea McClellin's fit with Patriots could have Akeem Ayers-type feel to it
3:31 PM ET
Mike Reiss
ESPN New England Patriots reporter

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has often cited how fortunate he's been to play in one offensive system over his NFL career, which aided in his initial growth from long-shot 2000 sixth-round draft pick to what he is today.

Others aren't as fortunate, and one timely example is new Patriots linebacker Shea McClellin, who agreed to a three-year deal with the club earlier this week that is in the process of being finalized.

I spent part of the past two days watching some of McClellin's tape from the first four years of his career, with the hope of gaining a better understanding of what his best fit with the Patriots might be. Here's the key snapshot since he was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2012 draft (19th overall).


Shea McClellin's pass-rushing background makes him different than a pure off-the-line linebacker.
2012

Defensive coordinator: Rod Marinelli

Scheme: 4-3

Role: Sub-rushing defensive end -14 tackles 2.5 sacks

2013

Defensive coordinator: Mel Tucker

Scheme: 4-3

Role: Starting defensive end - 30 tackles 4 sacks

2014

Defensive coordinator: Tucker

Scheme: 4-3

Role: Linebacker - 36 tackles 1 sack

2015

Defensive coordinator: Vic Fangio

Scheme: 3-4

Role: Inside linebacker - 81 tackles 0 sacks

Every time a player has to learn a new scheme, and in the case of McClellin a new position two years into his career, it can stunt development. In his rookie year, McClellin was used mostly on third down as a designated pass-rusher. The first regular-season snap he played, for example, he aligned with a wide split and then twisted inside on Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo. Later in that game, he executed an effective spin move on Castonzo.

But first-round draft picks usually aren't selected to be designated pass-rushers, and in McClellin's second season, he was elevated to a starting defensive end role under Mel Tucker, the new coordinator. McClellin struggled in the tape I watched, a bit undersized and under-powered to play that role on a consistent basis.

In the third year, McClellin switched his jersey number from 99 to 50, signifying a position change from end to linebacker in the 4-3. In the tape I watched, he was on the field for early downs before coming off in obvious passing situations. McClellin dropped some weight with that transition, and showed he could open his hips and fluidly drop into coverage, which is usually the biggest challenge for defensive ends moving to linebacker. Occasionally, he would play on the end of the line of scrimmage in a two-point stance and rush.

Finally, the 2015 season saw more change, with McClellin playing full-time at one of the inside linebacker spots in new coordinator Vic Fangio's 3-4. This required him to play more sideline-to-sideline and also downhill in the running game, where he didn't shy away from contact (e.g. taking on Packers fullback John Kuhn and shedding his block) and was a willing tackler. He also appeared to be a point person for the overall communication within the front seven; several times, I watched him re-position defenders, which seemed to indicate his command of the overall scheme in not just knowing his role but also the roles of other players.

Overall, I didn't see too many impact plays.

Where he fits in New England: Projecting where McClellin fits in New England, his situation reminded me a little bit of Akeem Ayers' from 2014. Ayers, who got caught in a scheme change in Tennessee, was a bit undersized to be a full-time defensive end in the Patriots' scheme, so in the base defense, he was more likely to be an off-the-line linebacker. But in the various sub packages the Patriots ran, Ayers could also find himself in a pass-rushing/niche role, depending on the game plan that week. I think McClellin could do something similar as his pass-rushing background makes him different than a pure off-the-line linebacker (e.g. Jerod Mayo). One key will be what weight McClellin plays, as his current weight (245) is undersized to do that. If he stays at 245, that would indicate he's more of a pure backup option to Jamie Collins as an off-the-line linebacker. If he adds some weight to get closer to the 260-pound mark he was at when entering the NFL, that could push him closer to an Ayers-type role. He's a versatile piece in that regard, as noted by ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick. McClellin also should factor into the special-teams mix in New England (e.g. he played on the punt rush and kickoff coverage teams in the tape I watched).
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Weren't they in a 4-2-5 scheme for more than 50% of the snaps last year?
 
Reiss talks about McClellin's scheme change in Chicago which left McClellin playing out of position at ILB. Quick-hit thoughts

The Patriots’ track record of identifying players who might have been caught in a scheme change or fallen out of favor with their teams is pretty strong under Belichick, and that’s the essence of the team’s three-year deal with former Bears linebacker Shea McClellin. Some might be surprised at the terms, which ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan reported as $12 million with $3.5 million guaranteed. But that tells me Belichick thinks McClellan – who made few impact plays in Chicago while playing under three different coordinators and switching from end-of-the-line player to off-the-line linebacker in his third season – was misused in Chicago and has valuable traits (such as athleticism, versatility, intelligence) that can be tapped in the Patriots’ system. Based on the team’s history in reviving the careers of players (Mark Anderson in 2011, Akeem Ayers in 2014, Hicks in 2015), it would be foolish to bet against McClellin, who might have been a Patriots first-round pick in 2012 had the Bears not selected him at No. 19, two spots before the Patriots’ initial selection. McClellin visited the Seahawks before signing with the Patriots.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england...icks-taking-steps-forward-in-football-careers
 
His position progression sort of reminds me of Tedy Bruschi. Initially he was an end rush specialist who moved into a linebacker role. Not saying he is Tedy or had the coaching early in his career but undersized always makes me think Tedy was 6-1 245-250, Shea is 6-3 245
 
mikiemo83 said:
His position progression sort of reminds me of Tedy Bruschi. Initially he was an end rush specialist who moved into a linebacker role. Not saying he is Tedy or had the coaching early in his career but undersized always makes me think Tedy was 6-1 245-250, Shea is 6-3 245
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Now you are seeing what I was seeing.
 
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