midwestpatsfan

The one thing I noticed last year was the lack of a consistent pass rusher. TBC and Colvin were okay, but it seems like the times the defense really struggles is when they can't put any pressure on the QB. In last years draft, I really wanted the Patriots to take Mark Anderson(I have a Bears fan who can vouch for my man crush for him during last years draft) because I thought he had the size and speed required to fit the system. I thought he could come in and do exactly what he did for the Bears and that was to come in on Passing downs and get pressure on the QB and get some sacks. I never thought Anderson would be as successful as he was, but I think the team needs someone like that, a guy who has speed and raw talent to play situationally until he can develop into an everydown player.

My question to all you people who know alot more than me is
1. Do you agree that a player like that is in fact needed, or does the Patriots system not require such a player and...

2. Do you know of anyone in this draft that could be that type of player.

DaBruinz

I thought that Anderson could be a real force for the Pats as well and thought he was better value than Lawson.

People seem to be leaning towards Anthony Spencer as the type of player who will be able to step in and help. I think that the Pats would do very well if they got him after signing a Fletcher-Baker or Carlos Polk.

Seymour93

It all depends how BB and staff evaluate TBC. His evaluation will determine where exactly they'll go with a pass rusher in the draft. IMO, especially during the playoffs, TBC looked tired and wasn't the pass rushing force that he showed at times earlier in the season. Does Vrabel move permanently inside? If so, OLB becomes an extremely high priority. I think it's easier to come into this system and produce as an OLB than it is to be a new ILB. This is why we haven't seen many ILB's drafted during BB's reign. I think it's likely we see a OLB choosen early in the draft, a ILB in the mid rounds and a FA ILB signed to boot.

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MrBigglesWorth

I definitely think the Pats need some kind of rush specialist. Maybe in 3rd or 4th for a players that does this solely but does it well and maybe eventually develop this down the road.

but yes they need immediate pass rush help.

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AzPatsFan

No Ii don't think they need a pass rusher in particular. The Pats ended up with 44 sacks playing a read and react and then pass rush Defense. That was the fourth ranked sack total; far behind the 60 and 61 sacks by the All out pass rushers, the Bolts, Ravens and Bears. By the end of the Playoffs they had compiled 53 sacks.

Considering the style they could have gotten up near 60 if they had turned them loose, but that's not the Belichick's style.

There are many Pats fans complaining about the consequence of all out pass rushing. TBC has averaged a sack a game since he started to play full time for the past six or seven games, and the coaches turned him loose. That's what those clubs look like, vulnerable. Did the Colts put away the Bears on draw plays to their RBs to the outside? Yes.

How did we run on the Bolts? Same way.

Mark Anderson was a classic, small 4-3 DE with not very good lateral agility according to the combine reports I saw. So he wasn't a great 3-4 OLB conversion candidate.

2. They don't need such a player as much as a heady intelligent ILB star or two to learn before Bruschi and Vrabel pack it in about 2008.

jczxohn1

Good analysis. BB is much more interested in QB pressure than sacks, force the short pass, etc. Also, totally agree on point #2.

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NEPatriot

While I am like most fans in that I would like to see more pressure on the QB, I don't think we want some type of one dimentional pass rusher. We need someone who can play both the run and pass, giving us the flexibility that is the corner stone of our defense.

Seneschal2

Absolutely. May even lean toward someone who's strong vs the run now, knowing pass rush techniques can be learned over time.

None of our current OLBs are fast yet still have the ability to create pressure. They have other responsibilities as well -- which is exactly what a rookie will have to learn, or already knows...

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patsfan55

i agreed with a lot in here as well and wanted mark anderson
one of the big reasons was cuz i felt like he was a second rd talent
and would be there in rd three or four maybe (he was there in rd 5!!)

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spacecrime

I llike Fletcher also. I think he would fit in nicely.