carolinatony

I hope we grab one of these 3 in the first two rounds, Anyone have a favorite
and are they all worth a pick early?
thanks


Per Boston Globe

According to league sources, the Patriots have plans to bring in three highly touted safety prospects: Patrick Chung (Oregon), William Moore (Missouri), and Louis Delmas (Western Michigan).

All three project as first- or second-round picks. The Patriots have six picks in the first three rounds and could easily use one on a safety with Rodney Harrison being an unrestricted free agent.
Source: Boston Globe

BritPat

Chung's my binky.

You draft him and straight away you've got a Special Teams stud, and in time a player capable of playing both S spots, but specifically our long term SS because he's got the all round game. You also get a leader.

What's not to love?

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Creator of the Pats must draft Jason Verrett in 2014 no matter the cost fanclub.

mayoclinic

I would personally add Sean Smith to the list. I like all 4 a lot.

The big question to me is how much you prioritize one over the others if you love one of them but really like all 4? Thats the dilemma I'm in right now.

My order of priority:

1. Delmas. My clear favorite. I think his floor his Michael Griffen and his ceiling is Troy Polamalu. A bit on the small side at 5'1"" 203#. Needs 5-10# of muscle, but is a terrific hitter and intimidating presence with FS coverage ability. Sometimes gets overly agressive. Good leadership, was a clear leader at the Senior Bowl. Scored a 12 on his Wonderlic, but seems to have goot football smarts.

2a. Smith. I can't decide between Smith and Moore for #2. Smith is 6' 3 1/2" and 214# with CB cover skills and range and excellent ball skills. He is clearly the best FS prospect of the bunch (with Delmas 2nd). He's not especially physical, though he doesn't shy from contact. Hasn't played much S yet as he was used as CB, and he has upside there as well.

2b. Moore. The 2007 version of William Moore was possibly the best college safety I've seen in a decade. The 2008 version was terrible. The big question is how much was due to a combination of injury, weight gain, and poor use by the Mizzou coaching staff. He had a lousy Senior Bowl but looked much better at the combine, and showed a lot of his 2007 form at his pro day. At 6'1" and 215-220# he has terrific size, with good hands and coverage ability for his size.

4. Chung. This is not to diminish Chung. I like him a lot, and had my eye on him all last year as a possible 2nd round pick for the Pats. He's around 5'11" 210# (or about the size I would hope Delmas to play at). Was a late starter at football, and is still learning. High character kid, great football smarts, big hitter. Decent coverage and ball skills, but a SS first. Not as much athleticism as the other 3, but still well above average. Very high floor kid.

I would be thrilled with any of these 4 in the 2nd round. The 2 big questions to my mind are:

1. Is the one the Pats prefer worth taking at #34 when one of the others will almost certainly be available at #47, or even possibly at 58? Delmas and Smith are the most likely to go early right now. Moore could go first or last out of the group. Atlanta at 24, Baltimore at 26, Miami at 43, the Giants at 45, Houston at 46 and Denver at 48 are all possible safety destinations. All 4 seem more likely to go 2nd round than 1st, though late 1st is not out of the question.

2. What role do the Pats prefer, given their other personnel? In particular, do they prefer to use Meriweather at FS or SS? I understand that there is not the classic distinction between the 2 positions. But Chung and Moore are pretty much pure SS types, whereas Delmas and Smith have both FS and SS potential. I probably put Delmas and Smith slightly ahead because of their superior coverage skills, with Delmas 1st because of his higher floor than Smith (better hitter, more experience at the position).

Finally, some people think Rashad Johnson from Alabama should be added to the list. I like Johnson, but think that he's a pure FS and that he's got a low ceiling, having made the most of his physical abilities due to his ball skills and football smarts. Nice player, but I prefer the 4 listed here by far.

Don't know if that helps.

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Chung: amazing tackler, hard hitter, versatile, good quickness
Moore: Iffy tackler, big playmaker, aggresive, versatile
Delmas: solid tackler, great instincts, lacks bulk

All three of these safeties are very good. Chung and Moore are more of strong safeties, while Delmas is more of a free safety. However, all three can play both safety positions.

However, if the Pats are looking for that traditional safety/linebacker hard-hitting big bodied player, I think that they should take a look at Nic Harris from Oklahoma.

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Box_O_Rocks

They have looked at Nic Harris, but his 4.8 speed in shorts isn't encouraging. If you want a S/LB hybrid, there's a number of them in this class, there's also some big, physical CBs who look to offer the athleticism and hard hitting potential...though I'm not confident Sean Smith is one of them.

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mayoclinic

I don't think Nic Harris has a role on the Pats. At best, he's an in the box guy and a Tank Williams kind of SS/LB hybrid. At worst, he's a Tampa 2 OLB. He's slow as molasses for a safety, but has a great backpedal. One of the draft gurus was quoted as saying that he runs the 40 as fast on his backpedal as he does going forward.

Looking at my prior post, it's unfair to list Chung as #4. I think it's more like Delmas #1, and then 2a/2b/2c for the other guys. Chung is the safest of the 3, but probably has the lowest ceiling. Again, all are terrific prospects.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

BelichickFan

If we really like a guy #34 might be the place to get him because the Browns lost Sean Jones and are looking at pretty much the same group and they pick #36. They seem particularly interested in Delmas with whom they have already had a private workout and are bringing back again for a visit.

mayoclinic - not to kiss your butt but I just feel like saying you are by far the best draft poster we've ever had.

mayoclinic

I think you're probably right. Much as I would love to see Barwin/Beatty/Delmas at #23/34/47, I doubt Delmas will last that long.

By the old draft value charts, combining #47 and #89 gets us to around #34-35. If the Rams (or even Cleveland, who has no 3rd round pick) would be interested and Beatty and Delmas were both available at 34, I would be quite interested in trading #47 and 89 to move up to #35/36 and take both of those guys. Then see who falls to #58, or more likely trade it into 2010.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

everlong

The Eagles lost Dawkins and have two picks in the 20's. I'd be surprised if they don't use one on a safety and Delmas fits their profile.

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mayoclinic

That could be the case, though I certainly hope not. The eagles have plenty of other areas of need - OL, TE, and RB. Plus they always seem to love DEs.

Worst case scenario, if we believed that to be the case and Phill would take Delmas at 28, would packaging #89 and 34 to move up to around 26/27 be worth it, particularly with the other prospects on the board? I'm not sure. I've kind of reconciled myself to going up to the top of the 2nd round to get Delmas, but I'm not sure I'd go further.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi