Thomas will be a ROLB but not the ROLB. We will have at least two players listed as ROLB and more than that actually playing it.
Of all the players on the D side, Thomas is probable the most versatile. I see Mangini and Sutton using a lot of rotation, and a lot of mixing between the 3-4 and the 4-3. Thomas can play in both schemes. He can line up in a stance, and stand up. He can line up like an OLB, and go to a stance. This is exactly the sort of unpredictability I see the new D scheme trying to establish.... and I think that means Thomas will be on the field a lot.
While we are missing the tradition rush backer(come on BT - Develop for the love of god!). Mangini has to be very thrilled with the depth/flexibility of the LB's that we do have. We can have some really interesting fronts thrown out there. I feel really bad for any rookie QB's we might happen to face in the coming years.
Thomas and Vilma on the outside, Barton and Schlegel on the inside. To me, that's the best lineup in the 3-4. Barton is a tackling machine when healthy, Schlegel could help free him up. Thomas and Vilma would be our best pass rushers of the backers and should be used in that capacity. Thomas/Chatham Barton/Kassell Schlegel/Hobson Vilma/McClover
