mayoclinic

Interesting article from the Globe today on NO DE Will Smith, who went #18 to the Saints in the 2004 draft out of Ohio State:

Pats were high on Smith in '04 draft - Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Some interesting tidbits: " 'He was certainly a guy we had a lot of interest in,' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. 'He's a big guy who can run, rush the passer, pursue well, strong player at the point of attack, athletic, plays on his feet. He's got a group of skills, plays hard, been productive. I think he's been the player people thought he would be.' ... Thinking back to 2004, when Smith was coming out of Ohio State, Belichick didn't view him as an outside linebacker/defensive end type hybrid for the Patriots. Belichick compared the situation to Julius Peppers, saying that while he could probably play outside linebacker, a team wouldn't want to drop him into coverage because it would take him away from doing what he does best -- rushing the passer. Belichick was asked if it would be accurate that Smith was one of the few players he had in mind as a possibility for the Patriots in the first round of that 2004 draft. 'Yeah, sure,' he said. 'Any team I'm coaching, if you can get a good defensive lineman, you'd consider it. I don't care where it was, what the situation was, how many of them you might think you'd have. You really can't have too many of those guys if they're good.' "

Thinking about the 2010 draft, there are a ton of defensive linemen potentially coming out who have those kind of size and skills: big guys who can run, rush the passer, pursue well, strong player at the point of attack, are athletic, and play on their feet. These include:

- Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech. 6'4" 268#. Unstoppable rushing the passer, plays the run just as well. Can probably drop back into space too.
- Carlos Dunlap, Florida. 6'6", 270-290# athletic freak. Upside is another Peppers.
- Greg Hardy, Mississippi. 6'6" 265#. A force when healthy, somewhat reminiscent of Jared Allen.
- Jason Pierre-Paul, USF. 6'6" 265#, 81" wingspan. Reminiscent of Jevon Kearse with his freakish athletic ability.
- Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh. 6'5" 265#. Incredible strong, like Morgan a force both rushing the passer and playing the run.
- Everson Griffen, USC. 6'3" 280# bull who runs like a deer, with very long arms.
- Austen Lane, Murray State. 6'6" 260#, has drawn comparisons to Jason Taylor.
- Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma. 6'3" 260#. Former linebacker. Has produced 58 tackles, 8 sacks and 1 INT this season.

I really see BB focusing on these kind of guys much more than DE/OLB "hybrids" like Sergio Kindle or Jerry Hughes, Eric Norwood or Ricky Sapp. They aren't guys who you would drop into coverage a lot, because it would take away from their skills up front, but they certainly have the athleticism to do it from time to time.

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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

BritPat

I'd love us to go D-line/OLB heavy. I think it would show our true intentions and set us up for another 5 years at least.

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

mayoclinic

I really want 2 of those guys I listed above, plus 2 OLs. And possibly trade to get back into the draft and pick up a 3-4 DE.

A dream draft:

1(32) Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State. A young Seymour. Derrick Morgan would also be too good to pass up if he somehow fell.
2(42) Best available pass rusher - Jason Pierre-Paul, Greg Hardy, Everson Griffen, Greg Romeus or Carlos Dunlap (unlikely).
2(48) An interior lineman like Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey.
2(64) A RT like Joseph Barksdale or Gabe Carimi
3(70)(Trade) Another pass rusher, but with a little more coverage and mobility, such as Jeremy Beal or Austen Lane. If Derrick Morgan was the #1 pick instead of Heyward, then a 3-4 DE like Corey Wootton or Adrian Clayborn.

Then maybe pickup a scat back like Noel Devine or Dexter McCluster.

We would be set on both sides of the line for years.

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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

Ochmed Jones

Watched the Georgia-Ga. Tech game last night and Morgan and the rest of the Tech D line got mauled. They were terrible, I think Georgia ran for over 300 yards against them. Those big SEC O lineman for Georgia blew up the Ga Tech D Line all night long.

BB values run stoppers highly in his defense and it is hard to see him drafting any of those kids after watching the tape of this game.

Ga Tech and Morgan however have a chance to redeem themselves as they play Clemson next week and Clemson rarely runs up the middle, they prefer to work the edges and if Morgan can set his edge with authority against a dynamic, but injured, back like Spiller, then that should go along ways toward redeeming himself.

mayoclinic

Didn't see the game. I knew Georgia run for something like 366 yards, but wasn't sure whether Morgan got mauled with the rest of them. He's supposedly been very strong against the run all season.

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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

glm

How far does anyone see Hardy slipping in the draft because of his injury?

HarkDawg

Texas has some stud O-line guys....... but w/ the Vollmer hit we could do something creative and TRADE Light for a 1st Round Pick


Two- Number 1's 2009 (could happen)

Two Number 1's 2010 (is currently)

Would be a GREAT thing!!!!!!!

go after a stud DE and Stud T...... then we r in business.... for 2009



just a though

NePatriots

I think you are a bit off on your years...

the Patriots currently have 1 1st rounder in 2010, and 2 1st Rounders in 2011. The 2009 NFL Draft has already passed. See attached link:

2010 Patriots Draft Picks
2011 Patriots Draft Picks

Also, I don't think that Matt Light would command a 1st round pick... a 3rd rounder would be more likely in my opinion.

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reamer

I watched the game, too, and I was worried about the same thing. I've never seen a defense so consistently blown off the ball on every play. It was a nightmare--fitting revenge for Georgia after last year's 400+ rushing yards against. Morgan played hard all game, and had some decent pressure on passing downs, but all the same, he looked very average against the run. Disappointing.

Also, I can't believe Thomas dropped that pass on 4th and 10. He ran off the corner beautifully, set up to catch the ball, and dropped a perfect pass. He looked so dejected on that play, I really felt sorry for him. I like his style, though, and he's definitely in the mix for a future #1 receiver when we need to replace Moss. I'm a big fan of his game.

HarkDawg

Texas has some stud O-line guys....... but w/ the Vollmer hit we could do something creative and TRADE Light for a 1st Round Pick


Two- Number 1's 2010 (could happen)

Two Number 1's 2011 (is currently)

Would be a GREAT thing!!!!!!!

go after a stud DE and Stud T...... then we r in business.... for 20010







just a though

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Forgot about the YEAR change come January (fixed it.)