cstjohn17

I agree, going from 180 to 240 scares be a bit, plus he looks lean. I see him as a 4-3 OLB or a pure pass rushing end. He does seem to have a good burst as a rusher but I think Barwin brings more to the table.

DaBruinz

Let's review the 1st round picks the Pats have made. Seymour, Graham, Warren, Wilfork, Watson, Mankins, Maroney, Meriweather, Mayo.

Graham wasn't a full time starter during his 1st season. Neither were Warren, Wilfork, Meriweather, or Maroney. But they did contribute. And that is something that someone as athletic as Barwin can do. Contribute. Both on special teams and I believe as a 3rd down pass rusher. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Barwin starting at OLB during his 2nd season. Here is a guy who played TE when he entered college and then switched to DE and still put up more sacks than a lot of other players. Barwin is a football player. And it would be silly to sell him short.

CanadianPat'sFan

Mike Mayock was on Total Access tonight talking about Pat White and Barwin being able to play multiple positions in the NFL. He said while most of the NFL is looking at Barwin as a DE or OLB if he were to draft him he would plug him in right away at TE. He thinks his toughness playing on the DLine will help him and with his size and speed would be able to get deep and fight SS and FS for the ball and be more athleatic then LB's who would have to cover him.

I think that if we get Barwin we get him to focus on OLB as I think he has the intangibles to be great there. Maybe have some goal line TE reps but mostly get him to focus on OLB and let him grow.

Box_O_Rocks

Well, let's look at the roster situation first:

- What is NE's greatest "need?"
---- With Shawn Springs signed they have a veteran CB to push the youngsters on the roster.
---- With James Sanders signed they have their starting Safeties returning.
---- The starting OL are back.
---- The RB depth is good.
---- #3 WR is still up for grabs, but the competition has gotten a little better.
---- RB seems pretty deep.
---- TE depth is looking good.
---- The starting foursome for LB is still up in the air, but does anyone expect to draft a starting LB at #23?
---- Long Snapper is still unsettled.
---- There's room for some depth at S.
---- There's room for some competition behind the OL, CB, & WR starters.

Based on that assessment, there's no 'critical' need that has to be addressed at #23. That leads to 'Best Patriot Value.'

- Is Connor Barwin a Patriot Value?
---- He's got prototypical size for OLB and TE.
---- He's got the athletic ability for either position.
---- He's a Special Teams' demon.
---- He seems to have the intelligence and football IQ necessary for a Patriot.
- Is he the "best" value?
---- He seems to have a high ceiling.
---- He can contribute immediately on Special Teams.
---- He can contribute as a reserve TE.
---- He'll need time to develop at OLB, but that's mostly a matter of learning technique for pass rushing and setting the edge (he has the size and spirit for the job), he has an understanding of routes to speed along his coverage training.

I'm open to anyone offering another option (PATSNUTMe's Matthews lust is for an undersized option who like Crable would have to bulk up before he could handle the job, it would also help if he hadn't been trained as a block avoiding wimp by ol' Petey), as long as they don't mind me "discussing" their choices.

Frankly, BB has four picks where he can take the players who have the highest upside as 'Best Patriot Values.' I consider Barwin to be the option with the highest upside, take it from there.

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billdog3484

haha because you never know

JoeShmoe

Im not entirely up to speed on all the class but is Barwin better than say English or Cushing? What if Sean Smith is there at #23 and one of Barwin, Sintim, English etc is still there at #34

aaron spacemuseum

Sintim.

He's started in what essentially is BB's defensive system for the last three years and thrived. That doesn't include two years spent learning and absorbing it. Barwin might turn into a better player down the road, but Sintim has the smallest learning curve of any OLB prospect in the draft and that makes him an immediate asset.

DocE

I agree that Barwin has a ton of qualities that the Patriots tend to look for in a draft pick. I would say that Clay Mathews has many of the same qualities as Barwin. Mathews is a "special teams demon" and appears to be an ascending player just like Barwin. Mathews would seem to have just as much of a football IQ as Barwin does. The combine results for these players were remarkably similar with the biggest difference being Barwin weighing 16 lbs more than Mathews.

What both players lack (and the Patriots tend to love in draft picks) is a history of production. Barwin and Mathews both came on strong as Seniors (Barwin moreso than Mathews in the stats department), but neither even started on defense prior to their Senior years.

I like both guys, but I am not sure I like either at no.23. Ideally, I'd like to solve the OLB need through FA/trade and look elsewhere at no.23. I'd consider both Barwin and Mathews in the 2nd round (and be happy with either) under that scenario.

slash83

I can't wait till the draft. I think the pats are gonna come out with some real players.

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JSn

I'm not feeling the love for Barwin, personally. I think Kraft should throw some coin at a negative PR capaign on Aaron Curry so we can get him at #23.

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