2012 Draft FS - New England Patriots Forums

everlong · 12-17-2011, 09:01 AM

Grid I looked to see if you have started one of these and I couldn't find it so apologies if I missed it and mods feel free to merge.

TJ McDonald USC 6'2" 205 4.54 (junior)

Good speed and range, good hands, good ball skills. Aggressive in run support and a good hitter. A good tackler when he takes the right angle but often misjudges and puts himself out of position. Bites on playaction much too often and too hard.

Markelle Martin 6'1 198 198 4.47

Good closing speed, hard hitter, could play free or strong safety. Reminds me too much of the Meriweather. He's always around the play but rarely makes it. You can see the potential but he seems to lack the instincts and wants to make the big play too much. I'm not sure why he's ranked as highly as he is.

Robert Lester 6'2" 210 4.54 (junior)

By far my favorite prospect at the position. Good range, instincts, hands, play maker, active in run support, understands gap responsibilities in run support, good blitzer against the run and pass, diagnoses the play and doesn't just move to a spot and sit. If he comes out he's the guy I want.

manxman2601 · 12-17-2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everlong

Grid I looked to see if you have started one of these and I couldn't find it so apologies if I missed it and mods feel free to merge.

TJ McDonald USC 6'2" 205 4.54 (junior)

Good speed and range, good hands, good ball skills. Aggressive in run support and a good hitter. A good tackler when he takes the right angle but often misjudges and puts himself out of position. Bites on playaction much too often and too hard.

Markelle Martin 6'1 198 198 4.47

Good closing speed, hard hitter, could play free or strong safety. Reminds me too much of the Meriweather. He's always around the play but rarely makes it. You can see the potential but he seems to lack the instincts and wants to make the big play too much. I'm not sure why he's ranked as highly as he is.

Robert Lester 6'2" 210 4.54 (junior)

By far my favorite prospect at the position. Good range, instincts, hands, play maker, active in run support, understands gap responsibilities in run support, good blitzer against the run and pass, diagnoses the play and doesn't just move to a spot and sit. If he comes out he's the guy I want.

Nice list, however I'm not convinced any of the three add much to the Patriots' defense (although with our safeties, a scarecrow might be a step up).

Wilfork #75, in another thread, made the point that the Patriots defense doesn't scare anyone anymore. That's why I'm on the Mark Barron bandwagon. I know he's a SS in old terminology but I think that distinction is less important for the Pats. His hitting is immense but that doesn't distract from his pass defense skills. He doesn't have the skills to be a man cover safety but by all accounts he's very active in the film room and is very instinctual in reading what the QB does. I watched him against Arkansas and he was regularly breaking up plays on the sideline.

Looking at this draft, I'm looking for that defensive player who can make the biggest immediate improvement to this defense and I really do believe it will be Mark Barron, although Courtney Upshaw has a good case to make.

Off The Grid · 12-17-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everlong

Grid I looked to see if you have started one of these and I couldn't find it so apologies if I missed it and mods feel free to merge.

TJ McDonald USC 6'2" 205 4.54 (junior)

Good speed and range, good hands, good ball skills. Aggressive in run support and a good hitter. A good tackler when he takes the right angle but often misjudges and puts himself out of position. Bites on playaction much too often and too hard.

Markelle Martin 6'1 198 198 4.47

Good closing speed, hard hitter, could play free or strong safety. Reminds me too much of the Meriweather. He's always around the play but rarely makes it. You can see the potential but he seems to lack the instincts and wants to make the big play too much. I'm not sure why he's ranked as highly as he is.

Robert Lester 6'2" 210 4.54 (junior)

By far my favorite prospect at the position. Good range, instincts, hands, play maker, active in run support, understands gap responsibilities in run support, good blitzer against the run and pass, diagnoses the play and doesn't just move to a spot and sit. If he comes out he's the guy I want.

Great presentation, Brother.

Very kind of you to think of my Threads, Bro, though of course I am but your humble servant, presenting these for the good of the community.

As coincidence has it, I'm actually skipping MidFielders and all Safeties for now, simply because I like to have input from Draft Scout and National FootBall Post, both, before commenting, and so many top Picks at all 3 Positions are Juniors ~ which get low priority at those and most Sites ~ that not much substantial has been written about them.

I'll be cycling back through each Thread over the course of the Winter and early Spring, adding Reports and waxing poetic.

I'll be rolling out the Corners tomorrow morning, or possibly as early as this Evening.

everlong · 12-17-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manxman2601

That's why I'm on the Mark Barron bandwagon. I know he's a SS in old terminology but I think that distinction is less important for the Pats. His hitting is immense but that doesn't distract from his pass defense skills. He doesn't have the skills to be a man cover safety but by all accounts he's very active in the film room and is very instinctual in reading what the QB does. I watched him against Arkansas and he was regularly breaking up plays on the sideline.

I like Barron a lot but Chung and Barron are very similar although I think Barron is more instinctual. To be honest given the Patriots like to play three safeties a lot so if they drafted both Barron and Lester I wouldn't be disappointed. I just feel they need a cover safety more. Rodney was very instinctual and become a decent cover safety but it took years.

Frick · 12-17-2011, 03:43 PM

I'm not the least bit concerned about whether players are worried about some big hit in the middle of the field as I am about a coverage saftety that can deflect or intercept a ball intended for a receiver in the back corner of the endzone. ( Santonio Holmes,Plaxico Burress, etc. etc.)

***Peachhead*** · 12-17-2011, 03:59 PM

I totally agree about Lester. He would look phenominal in a Pats uniform.

But IMO the write-ups for McDonald and Martin should be reversed*. Another two guys I like are Rashard Hall, Clemson (6'1",210#) and David Rowe, Rutgers (5'11", 195#).

(*no offense meant, Everlong)

everlong · 12-17-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peachhead

I totally agree about Lester. He would look phenominal in a Pats uniform.

But IMO the write-ups for McDonald and Martin should be reversed*. Another two guys I like are Rashard Hall, Clemson (6'1",210#) and David Rowe, Rutgers (5'11", 195#).

(*no offense meant, Everlong)

It's all just opinions and maybe we watched different games.

Martin I saw Texas and half of Iowa St.

McDonald I saw Oregon and most of Stanford.

I didn't catch any of Rutgers. Clemson I only caught half of the BC game but don't really recall Hall good or bad. Do a write up!

Defsoul · 12-17-2011, 05:20 PM

Hall was hampered by injuries all season long and could use another season to bolster his draft stock. I would be surprised if he comes out this year.

***DaBruinz*** · 12-18-2011, 08:18 AM

There is quite and extensive thread on safeties here:

Safeties to watch (merged)

Ochmed Jones · 12-18-2011, 08:33 AM

There is no reason BB can't draft a Barron in the second and then comeback and draft whoever is left of McDonald, Lester and Martin in the third.

Of course BB also has free agents he can pursue as well as an option.