Urgent

Makes some sense, but it sure seems like Vollmer is more of a project than, say, Barwin or Everette Brown, and Vollmer went in the second.

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mgteich

I'm not sure I understand you point.

The patriots picked Chung (34), Brace (40) and Butler (41) early in the second. Clearly, Belichick valued these players higher than the rest mentioned, and likely considered them more ready to provide value to the team. I agree.

A previous poster indicated that Barwin might have been chosen by the patriots late in the second. Perhaps the patriots would have considered Barwin and Brown when they picked at 58. Perhaps the two had more value than Vollmer and were more ready. In any case, they were drafted at 46 and 43 and were long gone at 58 when we drafted Vollmer.

PatsChowder

To me, it seemed as if the entire draft shifted when they dealt away pick #26 (I believe) to Green Bay allowing the Packers to take Clay Matthews. Whether Matthews was the fit for the team or not it symbolized the idea that Belichick was much happier with the linebacking core than I thought he was.

Watching Matthews, Maualuga, and Sintim slip through the fingers was tough to watch, but apparently Belichick has a lot of faith in guys like Pierre Woods and the returning Tully Banta-Cain.

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Box_O_Rocks

Mayock said this was a weak draft, and he waited until the day of the draft to make that pronouncement. BB said this was a "deep" draft through the middle rounds on several occasions - it was so bad he drafted 12 players, four in the early rounds (1-2), four in the middle rounds (3-5), and four in the later rounds (6-7).

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Ochmed Jones

I am not so sure Vollmer is a project. One of the scouting reports says that Vollmer could start from day one for a zone blocking team.

Ochmed Jones

Does anybody have any stats on Hughes of TCU. Does he have the size and weight. He has an awesome first step off the edge.

AzPatsFan

No one here distinguishes between Strongside OLB and Weakside OLB. Yet in BB's system, they are two completely different sets of prime talents needed.

Everyone seems to think JT and AD would be a great,complete pair of OLBs. But in fact they are two players who can only share the same position, weakside OLB. BB wanted and had from McG and Vrabes, a different talent set for strongside OLB. He wanted the ability first and foremost, to set the edge, against the run. If the SOLB had any pass rush talent so much the better, but it was gravy. The Pass rush was the responsibility of the weakside OLB, in particular, and everyone in general, including the ILBs.

That setting the edge first, is not JT's style at all, and his opposition to doing it, got him shipped out of Miami.

AD MIGHT be able to do that SOLB job, with his bulk, but he is not the right dimensions to excel in doing so. He also has not seen that position in his entire time here with the Patriots. It also takes away his pass rush talents.

Who do the Pats have as their SOLB? Surprise! It is the guy who graduated from the DE-OLB transition school; and was ready to play the position, and it allowed the Pats to shift Vrabel to the weakside as a Pass rusher. It is 6-5 250+ pound, the size BB talks of for his OLBs and SOLBs, Pierre Woods.

Pierre held his own on promotion to starter at that position, was talked up by the Coaches, until he went down in his third start. If he had played the balance of the season, there would be only a discussion about augmenting the WOLB position, now. He had only one sack in 2.5 games but over the season that translates to 6 sacks/season, about the average over the past decade from that SOLB position.

Posters should recognize that the OLB starters are Woods at SOLB and AD/TBC at WOLB. If they add Taylor, it remains Woods at SOLB and AD/Taylor/TBC at WOLB. Little difference.

sg14

Doesn't look like too many people are going to argue with you, AzPatsFan, you may be on to something.

I think most people are expecting some sort of upgrade because last years defense was so poor on certain pass plays. Suppose JT were only used on obvious pass plays, I would think that would work.

I'm too lazy to check the stats for what is expected out of the SOLB position so I'll trust you on that,,

Agreed, I have heard nothing but praise for Wood from the coaching staff.

Funny, it just dawned on me that alot of us have said that BB picks up DE's later in the draft and converts them to OLB's, looks like he is doing right now in front of our eyes and don't see it.

mgteich

I agree that if JT is signed, Thomas would very likely move inside. I too think that Belichick is satisfied with Woods as a starter.

patsfan-1982

the fins did not draft any OLB and they passed on Barwin to the tuna is even better at drafting LB then BB willy mac teddy b ted johnson lawrence taylor demarcus ware all drafted by the tuna so that says one thing all of the LB in the draft dont fit the 3-4 or just not any good