Defense only -this draft please

[carolinatony]

After watching the game against the g-men last night it looks like our defense needs to be addressed nexrt draft. We have great experience but need to bring in more speed. A pass rusher would be nice too.

[Crazyeechrispats1]

Only positions I see needed being filled on offense is, Offensive tackles, I prefer fourth round at the earliest.
Wide receiver fifth or later rounds, Hey we don't know what's gonna happen with Gaffney, Stalworth, or Moss for that matter.
One of these guys will more than likely leave.
I want at least 3 linebackers out this draft.
I think it was dryheat who was so high on Stewart bradley man man he looks good.
I don't mean to nitpick but imagine if the Patriots would of drafted both Jon Beason and David Harris we certainly had the chance to do so.

[carolinatony]

Our defense is older and I do believe they can tired and can't always have that effort for the whole game. I love Tedy and Junior but time is catching up to them.
Please BB, draft a LB or two.

[dryheat44]

Originally Posted by carolinatony

After watching the game against the g-men last night it looks like our defense needs to be addressed nexrt draft. We have great experience but need to bring in more speed. A pass rusher would be nice too.

After watching Light get abused so often, I double my call for Jake Long if he's on the board. Don't give me that 2-time Pro Bowler garbage...Brady's been making him look good for years. Get Long on the left side, and move Light to the right.

[ayjackson]

Originally Posted by dryheat44

After watching Light get abused so often, I double my call for Jake Long if he's on the board. Don't give me that 2-time Pro Bowler garbage...Brady's been making him look good for years. Get Long on the left side, and move Light to the right.

Matt's struggled against speed rushers this year from Indy, Philly, and NYG. I've read in places that this is Long's weakness as well and might be better off on the other side of the line. How do you rate some of the others that may be available like Clady, Otah, Oher, Loadholt and Cherilus (sp?)?

I think a trade down to the middle of the round and take whomever falls out of a group of Clady, Gholston, Laurinaitis, Otah and Jenkins (SFU) might be the way to go. A bit early for me to say though.

[VJCPatriot]

Originally Posted by dryheat44

After watching Light get abused so often, I double my call for Jake Long if he's on the board. Don't give me that 2-time Pro Bowler garbage...Brady's been making him look good for years. Get Long on the left side, and move Light to the right.

Problem is that Jake Long will probably be a top 3 pick. Franchise LTs tend to go early nowadays. If he lasts to #8, I have no problem with the Pats scooping him up.

[ayjackson]

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

Problem is that Jake Long will probably be a top 3 pick. Franchise LTs tend to go early nowadays. If he lasts to #8, I have no problem with the Pats scooping him up.

A guy like Long could slide because teams at the top of the draft will look at the depth of LT's available and deduce that they could get a good one at the beginning of the second round (Williams from Vandy, Cherilus from BC). These teams have a lot of holes and could decide to try to fill a different one with their first pick - like DL or LB. For this reason, I could also see guys like Ellis, Gholston, Campbell, Laurinaitis and Rivers going a bit earlier than expected. But again, it's early for me to committ to such an argument.

[carolinatony]

quote"Problem is that Jake Long will probably be a top 3 pick. Franchise LTs tend to go early nowadays. If he lasts to #8, I have no problem with the Pats scooping him up."

When the 9ers won those last 2 games and moved us back I think we lost out on picking Long.

[Silverquick]

Look for BB and Pioli to trade down into the first round and grab a second round pick in return. Then who knows what will happen. My bet is that we will go for an offensive lineman with that later draft pick, the most likely candidates being Jeff Otah or Roy Schuening (a reach, but he is another Logan Mankins in the making).

Then we can pick a couple of linebacks in the mid rounds. As for guys who could shift positions in our system and seem to have good size and good athleticism, we probably should think about DE Jason Jones (270 pounds, 4.7 40 time) who just had a very solid senior season and is moving up boards quickly. If we can nab him in the 3rd round, we could have a very serious and versatile weapon on defense.

[Jimke]

Originally Posted by Silverquick

Look for BB and Pioli to trade down into the first round and grab a second round pick in return. Then who knows what will happen. My bet is that we will go for an offensive lineman with that later draft pick, the most likely candidates being Jeff Otah or Roy Schuening (a reach, but he is another Logan Mankins in the making).

Then we can pick a couple of linebacks in the mid rounds. As for guys who could shift positions in our system and seem to have good size and good athleticism, we probably should think about DE Jason Jones (270 pounds, 4.7 40 time) who just had a very solid senior season and is moving up boards quickly. If we can nab him in the 3rd round, we could have a very serious and versatile weapon on defense.

If the Pats do not draft a linebacker with one of their first few picks,

the player will suffer the same fate as Justin Rodgers. The Pats need

to spend one of their first three picks on a linebacker. Then, they have

to expend a lot of effort coaching and developing the player.