DMN Blog: Wade Phillips on Zach Thomas... Thomas to visit Pats

[WoodysGirl]

9:27 PM Sun, Feb 17, 2008 | Permalink
Todd Archer E-mail News tips

I seemed to remember Wade Phillips gushing about Zach Thomas before the Cowboys played the Dolphins in 2007 and went back to Phillips' Sept. 12 press conference. Now that the Cowboys want to look at the veteran linebacker with him being cut by Miami, I thought recalling Phillips' words might offer some insight.

"Oh yeah, he's one of my favorites," Phillips said. "He's a guy I try to say hello to or talk to after we play them. A lot of players, that's part of being the fan in you. To be able to talk to or see, the other guys on other teams. I enjoy that, playing against great players or seeing him play. I like to watch him when we see him on tape, in other games we watch Miami's defense a lot because they play 3-4 and other teams we play. I like to watch him. He plays the way it ought to be played."

Do the Dolphins have to cover him up to protect the 228-pounder?

"They play a 3-4, 4-3 combination," Phillips said. "You don't have to protect him as much. He gets to the football. He's got a real knack. He's a great player, and fun to watch on tape. He goes 100 miles per hour."


Thomas to visit Patriots
10:12 PM Sun, Feb 17, 2008 | Permalink
Albert Breer E-mail News tips

The Patriots will host free-agent linebacker Zach Thomas today, according to a source.

Thomas is also slated to visit the Saints and Cowboys. Thomas played for Nick Saban, a close friend of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and Belichick's been known for poaching players with experience under Saban, both from LSU and the Dolphins.

Todd's post below will illustrate Wade Phillips' fondness for his fellow Texan Thomas. So now, the 34-year-old seems to have a bit of a market for himself.

 

[festus]

Theres no question about zachs' heart and desire to play the game and his leadership qualities are second to none, me personally, I'm not sure that I'd tie up a roster space with Thomas. I'm not sure what kind of contract he is looking for but I hope the cowboys stay clear of him.

Signing Zach would probablly mean the end of carpenter in Dallas and I'm ok with that too, but let's add youth and someone who'll be able to contribute all season. there is just too many risk with Thomas imo.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

the fact that Wade will want Zach to be a Cowboy, means he won't

Jerry's ruinning, I mean, running everything

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Theres no question about zachs' heart and desire to play the game and his leadership qualities are second to none, me personally, I'm not sure that I'd tie up a roster space with Thomas. I'm not sure what kind of contract he is looking for but I hope the cowboys stay clear of him.

Signing Zach would probablly mean the end of carpenter in Dallas and I'm ok with that too, but let's add youth and someone who'll be able to contribute all season. there is just too many risk with Thomas imo.

not necessarily

we still don't have too much depth at OLB, and Carp has experience there

LOLB: Ware, Carp, Rodgers
LILB: Bradie, Akin
RILB: Zach, Burnett
ROLB: Ellis, Spencer

 

[Hostile]

The question is, will he want to be guaranteed a starting spot? I so, he might have that in New England because I think Seau is going to hang 'em up this time.

I know Bruschi wants to return from what his in-laws here say.

Vrabel is getting up there too.

Plus he can stick it to the Dolphins twice a season.

I'd love to have a veteran like him, and he is a Texas boy, but I won't be at all shocked if he doesn't land in New England.

 

[khiladi]

The question is, will he want to be guaranteed a starting spot? I so, he might have that in New England because I think Seau is going to hang 'em up this time.

I know Bruschi wants to return from what his in-laws here say.

Vrabel is getting up there too.

Plus he can stick it to the Dolphins twice a season.

I'd love to have a veteran like him, and he is a Texas boy, but I won't be at all shocked if he doesn't land in New England.

My opinion is that New England is already way too old at linebacker. As the season went on, they got exposed more and more from that position. It is going to get worse if Bruschi and Seau come back again. They can't just keep plugging in old players, and expect to win. You can't beat father time.

They don't really need experience and leadership that a player like Zach would bring.

 

[StarMan2112]

I'm not sure how much tread is left on Thomas' tires, but I would love to see him in Dallas for his leadership alone. I think that's something that's sorely lacking in the Cowboys' locker room and a big reason why we were one and done in the playoffs......again.:bang2:

 

[Chocolate Lab]

My opinion is that New England is already way too old at linebacker. As the season went on, they got exposed more and more from that position. It is going to get worse if Bruschi and Seau come back again. They can't just keep plugging in old players, and expect to win. You can't beat father time.

They don't really need experience and leadership that a player like Zach would bring.

Exactly. Plus, if Bruschi comes back, where do they play him? If you play them both at the same time, that would make two undersized linebackers in the middle, and I seriously doubt they want that. Belichick isn't nearly as rigid as Parcells when it comes to scheme, but it's still mainly a two-gap system where the ILBs have to be pretty big and strong -- at least one of them. I just don't think it's a very good fit for them.

Great comments from Wade, though -- I hadn't remembered him saying that.

I bet Thomas is a Cowboy... Unless maybe we can't guarantee him the playing time that a New Orleans can.

 

[khiladi]

I bet Thomas is a Cowboy... Unless maybe we can't guarantee him the playing time that a New Orleans can.

Considering the passion and love for the game, Zach probably wants to go out a Super Bowl champion after all these years of playing. He isn't going to get that in New Orleans, especially considering their secondary just blows.

Wade's words seem to indicate that Zach would get plenty of playing time.
The only thing that really limited his effectiveness was his concussions, not his 'loss of step'. And he is still faster to the ball than an Akin or Bradie even after his age.

The concussions should be the only real concern, because a few more of them, could be potentially devastating for him the long-run.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Just say "NO" to old players.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Just say "NO" to old players.

not if you have one of the youngest rosters in the league

why do you think Romo is the player he is today? it was studying Vinny Testeverde and learning how to prepare, productive vets always give you that influence for younger players, esp. if they are still playing well enough to last 10+ years in the league

 

[Rack]

I have no doubt Thomas can still play the game at a high level. I just don't think he can stay healthy. He's an undersized LB that's going to turn 35 early next season. I don't see him lasting much longer.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Injuries piling up, at his age, are what has to be worried about. He's a smaller guy so he's more likely to take up injuries from the pounding of an ILB position. Plus with the concussion problem I'm very leary of him.

I think he's more likely to land in New England cause Bill is big on the 10+ year linebackers and this gives him one to replace Seau with whose still got loads of experience but 4 years younger than Seau.

 

[TheCount]

Well that's that then, he's a Patriot.

 

[DCfaninDC]

I'd love to have a veteran like him, and he is a Texas boy, but I won't be at all shocked if he doesn't land in New England.

Are you trying to say that you won't be shocked if he ends up playing for the Patriots?

I personally don't think NE will give him a starting spot. I think it was one of their major weaknesses last year, the somewhat older and slower LBs.

 

[TheCount]

Are you trying to say that you won't be shocked if he ends up playing for the Patriots?

I personally don't think NE will give him a starting spot. I think it was one of their major weaknesses last year, the somewhat older and slower LBs.

It won't stop them from drafting a guy, and like Seau, he's probably rotate in and out.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I still say NO....

 

[trueblue1687]

not necessarily

we still don't have too much depth at OLB, and Carp has experience there

LOLB: Ware, Carp, Rodgers
LILB: Bradie, Akin
RILB: Zach, Burnett
ROLB: Ellis, Spencer

I don't know if I'd go that far....maybe to say "he played the position in college", but he hasn't played much of anything in the NFL and has really been only mediocre on special teams.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I don't know if I'd go that far....maybe to say "he played the position in college", but he hasn't played much of anything in the NFL and has really been only mediocre on special teams.

do you remember his rookie year? he was an OLB for us, and started the last 5 games, including the playoff one

again, he has experience at OLB

 

[tomson75]

I don't know if I'd go that far....maybe to say "he played the position in college", but he hasn't played much of anything in the NFL and has really been only mediocre on special teams.

do you remember his rookie year? he was an OLB for us, and started the last 5 games, including the playoff one

again, he has experience at OLB

Not to mention that he played three of those five games very well.

"Mediocre" isn't the word I would use for him on special teams either. IIRC, he was second on the team in special teams tackles. That at least warrants a "solid" IMO.

He gets another year IMO. If he can't do it this year, its time to make room for a different young LB.