Shawn

Crable

The 78th overall pick in the 2008 draft, Crable is just one of several recent early-round busts in New England. (They haven’t been drafting well lately.) Per The Sideline View’s Adam Caplan, Crable was simply too tall and stiff to make it as a big-league pass rusher. Crable turned 27 last December.

Crable was a third-round pick in 2008 that has yet to play in a single game. He was a big (6'5/243) pass rusher at Michigan that will be given an outside shot at camp to compete for an OLB job.

Pierre Woods will play on early downs as a run-stopper, with either Tully Banta-Cain or last year’s third-rounder Shawn Crable entering in passing situations. The team remains in the market for a veteran pass rusher such as Oakland’s Derrick Burgess.

They’re eligible to be activated at any time in camp. Warren had two surgeries on his groin and an arthroscopic knee operation over the winter. He’s fully expected back by Week 1. Crable was at OTAs, so it’s unclear why he’s out.

Crable, battling Vince Redd, Tully Banta-Cain, and Pierre Woods for the starting job, was the highest draft pick among them but didn’t play last year. The Pats figure to end up rotating at the position, limiting any IDP upside.

Crable will compete for this position with fellow Michigan alum Pierre Woods. New England has discussed bringing in free agent Greg Ellis, but Ellis wants to play in a 4-3 defense. The winner here could generate 5-7 sacks.

His chances of winning the weak outside ‘backer job were crushed when Derrick Burgess was acquired. Crable will have to show special teams value to stick. He’s behind Burgess, Adalius Thomas, and Pierre Woods at OLB.

This will mark the second straight year Crable’s spent on I.R. The 2008 third-round pick is swiftly falling out of the Patriots’ future plans.

Crable, a versatile pass rusher from Michigan, is currently in direct competition with Pierre Woods for the Pats’ third OLB job behind Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas. Crable could see spot duty on defense as a rookie.

The Patriots picked up a second-rounder in 2009 by trading away their first third-round pick to San Diego. Crable is known as a relentlessly competitive pass rusher that should be a OLB in a 3-4 defense. He was second in college football with 28.5 tackles for a loss last year. After rarely taking linebackers in the past, Bill Belichick has drafted two already.