Young players affect patriots top pick?

[mesoslo]

If the play of gafney and meriweather stays consistent and excellent, not to mention lomo, do you think pioli most likely trade down?

It only makes sense that if these young guys cant get the job done then BB will draft new ones. The patriots are so dominant right now that they dont have need, they just have issues they need to address.

Even if they traded down they would trade down to grab spots that the young guys cant perform well enough.

[mesoslo]

Gafney against the Ravens and the Eagles made two beautiful endzone catches. I think that is why Brady mentioned that the catch against the ravens was the best of his career because the previous week he made a beautiful endzone catch while falling on his knees and staying in bounds.

[mesoslo]

If Wilson keeps being healthy scratch then the vkings might bait the pats in taking one of their safeties and their 1st round pick for a chance to grab Matt Ryan.

Asante will go to FA, so they need to grab someone, and the draft doesnt have good DBs till later. BB lost Ty law once to FA he will be wiser this time.

And this time he has trade leverage.

[mesoslo]

other than the vikings what other teams do you think might trade up and grab matt ryan. The falcon will probally take him if he is available.

eagles?

[Jimke]

Originally Posted by mesoslo

If the play of gafney and meriweather stays consistent and excellent, not to mention lomo, do you think pioli most likely trade down?

It only makes sense that if these young guys cant get the job done then BB will draft new ones. The patriots are so dominant right now that they dont have need, they just have issues they need to address.

Even if they traded down they would trade down to grab spots that the young guys cant perform well enough.

How do you figure that we don't have needs in 2008? If the Pats don't pay Stallworth and Washington their bonuses, only Chad Jackson and Wes Welker are under contract. If Chad Scott, Randall Gay, and Asante Samuels leave, we have Ellis Hobbs and Mike Richardson as our cornerbacks. At
linebacker, we may lose Seau and Bruschi leaving Alexander, Lua, and
Thomas as our inside linebackers. I'd say we have several spots to fill.

[carolinatony]

We need more speed and some YOUNG LB's next year on defense!

[mesoslo]

If BB can coach a bunch of old farts on new england to a undefeated streak than that means we dont need young lbs we can just go and grab them through FA signing.

we are 13-0, so its not like we need a make over on lbs. BB has shown he can coach no name DBs.

[FreeTedWilliams]

Before we write off Brandon Merriweather (who has yet to make ANY PLAYS, not even one this year), lets remember that we were all ready to throw James Sanders out with the bath water a few years ago. The Pats system is very complicated and nobody (not even AD), picks it up right away. Look for both AD and Merriwather to have a much better year next year.

[Ochmed Jones]

Good point.

Also the PAts defense requires discipline and that appears very difficult for new LBers to grasp. Only Gardner seemed to understand that concept from day 1.

[cstjohn17]

Originally Posted by Ochmed Jones

Good point.

Also the PAts defense requires discipline and that appears very difficult for new LBers to grasp. Only Gardner seemed to understand that concept from day 1.

And Seau, and Thomas, Vrabel picked it up pretty fast, and Colvin before he broke his hip.

In the past 5-6 years there have not been that many open LB spots, the old Dogs - Bruschi, Vrabel, Big Willie, Big Ted, Phifer add Colvin and now Thomas and there aren't many open spots.

2005 was the Beisel / Brown experience, good players can learn and thrive bad players can't. As dire as we make the LB position to be we are one good player and a credible backup away from having things shored up. My guess is Izzo returns as special teamer (his contract MUST state that under no circumstances is he allowed to play in the regular defense)

2008
OLB - Colvin, Woods
ILB - Thomas, Alexander, Lua
ILB - VETERAN , <<DRAFT PICK>>, Izzo
OLB - Vrabel, <<DRAFT PICK>>

As an optimist I think if an ILB and OLB are both drafted in the first 4 rounds they both should add some immediate speed and youth to the unit. Some names, assuming the Pats trade back in the first round to about 10. The more I see of the 07 defense the more important an OLB becomes, look at the impact Vrabel has on a game, someone who can set the edge and more importantly pressure the pocket. Sure there are holes at ILB but this is not a premium position, pass rushers are.

OLB - Harvey or Gholston
ILB - Moffitt, South Florida at end of round 3

2008
OLB - Colvin, Woods
ILB - Thomas, Alexander, Lua
ILB - VETERAN , MOFFITT, Izzo
OLB - Vrabel, GHOLSTON

On paper this would be a far more athetic unit, light on experience but much faster and deeper.