PushnPencils

I'll keep soap-boxing for this guy until he gets taken by someone on draft day. Hopefully us.

I'm glad I ain't the only one who feels that way:

PATRIOT FIT: If you can find a better 3-4 ILB prospect in this draft, we’d like to see him. Willis is strong and smart enough to contribute quickly in the Patriots’ system, and players like that are hard to come by. Unfortunately, for the team, his outstanding workout numbers may have put him out of reach. He’s projected to go anywhere from just outside the Top 10 to the mid-20s.

OLE MISS LINEBACKERS COACH DAVID CARRAO: “I think anybody that drafts Patrick Willis will get a middle linebacker that will lead their defense for a long time. He’s as dependable a kid and player as I’ve ever been around. … I think (what stands out) is just his overall size and speed. He was running sub-4.4 at 235, he’s got that truly rare combination of size and speed. … I thought he was a great leader. He was a young man that led by teaching. When other kids watched film, he’d teach younger guys how to watch film. All the guys watch film, but if you don’t know how to do it, then it’s not as useful. And because I was breaking down a lot of the film (as a grad assistant the last two years), he and I would talk a lot and, ask `Did you see that?’ or `Did you see this?’ and he’d tell younger guys what we came up with. … He’s got the natural ability to contribute in any system. (Patriots LB coach) Matt Patricia and I were GAs together at Syracuse and I told him, ‘I don’t know where exactly he’d play, but he’ll be a great part of whatever team he goes to.’ … More than just looking up to him, (his teammates) all liked him. He was a genuinely nice guy to everybody. Everybody liked to be around him, he was friendly to everyone, no one has anything negative to say about him, and that’s part of leadership.'’

LATER-ROUND LIKENESS: Anthony Waters, Clemson

Box_O_Rocks

Sounds like a solid Special Teams addition. Izzo better watch his step...

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Clonamery

I don't think it's a major issue....oh, I'm sorry, I thought the thread was 'BEER on Willis' and it was another pre-Draft mea culpa. Sorry.....

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PATSNUTme

We need to get a pro-type and convert him from DE. Hell it will only take 3 years or so , then we will have a solid player until he leaves via FA in year 4-5.

Box_O_Rocks

The nice thing, there are actually a couple with exposure to a 3-4 in this draft...I hear that speeds up the transition process.

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PushnPencils

Absolutely! Let's invest in some obscure DE with limited skills in a weak draft.

It's more fun finding "hidden gems" rather than investing a little bit of time and effort in a sure thing like Willis. Guys like him come a dime a dozen.

Look......we invested a season and a half in Beisel....!

Where did that get us?

PATRIOT64

Unless we MOVE upward in a trade during the draft,How the F*** do you think Willis will be there at #24?.

I can guarantee if Willis is on the board when Buffalo is up,he is gone.....Definately if somehow they don't take him Pittsburgh will if Carriker is not there for them,The Steelers always covet good LBs no matter how much they need them.

This draft is lame to begin with,Even lamer on LBs - Willis is in a class by himself as far as 'on paper' goes and is a HUGE commodity at that position which is far and few - He is NOT gonna be around at 24...

Thats the bottom line...

Hope for David Harris at 28 or maybe we reach for him at 24,Thats your likely hope for now.

Box_O_Rocks

Soapboxing for a kid who is the same size and also plays to avoid head-to-head confrontations. You can preach all day about how wonderful this kid is, and I'll agree, but only within the context of the 4-3 Tampa-2-style defense he came from. He's a side-to-side pursuit LB who has yet to show me the skill set I see on Sunday watching Bruschi and Co. He may be a good fit for Wade Phillips and his one-gap 3-4, I don't see him as a good fit for BB's clog the run lanes two-gap defense.

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PATSNUTme

Actually, I think that Willis will be gone at #8 to the Falcons.

It's time to move on and grab Harris at #24.

But, if Willis should drop below Buffalo at #12, then we do a trade up.

PushnPencils

Really! Good Gravy, I thought he'd be available at 24. Actually I was hoping he'd fall to 28 since he's so one-dimensional.

Man, you're smart. Thanks for the insight. The only reason I brought any of this up is because I heard that in the draft, teams can do that "move up" thing you said.

Thanks man!