Do you think it is possible that Dane Fletcher becomes starter at Mike linebacker sometime this season? I like Spikes, but Fletcher is showing a lot this preseason. I’ve wondered if Fletcher was being groomed as a possible replacement last year until the injury.

It’s a great question and one that I wrestle with. I really see two options:

1. Hightower, Spikes, Mayo are the base three linebackers, with Spikes then Hightower subbing off in base for Collins and/or Fletcher.
2. Spikes gets reduced to gameplan-specific starting duties, with Fletcher (MLB) or Collins (SLB, Hightower to MLB) starting against the pass-happy teams.

So that makes the question whether or not they like a Collins-Hightower-Mayo trio or a Hightower-Fletcher-Mayo trio. Fletcher has certainly looked good this preseason and I’ve always been a fan of his. He really showed up against the Dolphins in 2011 playing MLB in his most extensive game action of the season.

Still, I must say I love the attitude and presence that Spikes brings. No one else can, but at what point do they decide they need better pass defense over that run-destroying presence. It’s not an easy decision, and one that I’ll think about until the 2013 campaign begins and we start getting answers.