Drafting a Safety to replace Rodney?

[Box_O_Rocks]

Draft Daddy has this kid on their big school surprise list at ILB (it means he's not on their top ten ILBs list, but what the heh). Draft Daddy: Big School Surprises

Player Bio: Michael Brown :: Football

Michael Brown
Class: Senior
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 229
Position: LB

2007: Played in 12 games ... Ranked second on the team with 85 tackles, including 44 solo tackles and 6 behind the line of scrimmage for a total of 20 yards...Recorded two interceptions returning the ball a total of 24 yards ... Had 1.5 sacks and a pass break-up... Tallied a career-high 11 tackles against Temple, including eight solo tackles (Nov. 2) ... Recorded a career high for assisted tackles with seven against Wyoming (Sept. 22)

2006: Moved to linebacker from safety during spring practice ... Missed the Bobcats' first nine games after suffering a broken leg during preseason preparation ... Had 11 tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass break-up in five games ... Made his season debut in the win at Eastern Michigan with three solo tackles, including one for a loss ... Had a season-high four stops against Akron.

2005: Played in 10 games, including five starts ... Recorded his first career start and had a career-high five tackles against Northwestern ... Intercepted the first pass of his career against Kent State and returned it for seven yards ... Finished the season with 18 tackles (11 solo), one interception, and two pass break-ups.

2004: Redshirted while working with the scout team defense.

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterman for coach Doug Ramsey at Elder High School ... Earned First Team All-Greater Catholic League and special mention all-district ... Recorded 120 tackles and five sacks as a senior ... Credited with 16 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, two blocked punts and an interception ... Missed most of junior season due to injury ... Helped the Panthers to the Division I Ohio State Championships in 2002 and 2003 ... They finished sixth in the nation his senior year ... Named the team's best linebacker ... A first-team All-GCL selection in track ... Voted the team's best sprinter, running the 100, 200 and 400 meters.

PERSONAL: A finance major ... Son of Rick and Nancy Brown ... Brother, Ricky, was a four-year letterwinner (2002-05) at linebacker for Boston College

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think he's done as a productive player in the NFL also. Honestly, I don't see any difference between he and John Lynch at this point....Williams still has better speed, but it's negated by his poor recognition skills.

To quote Football Outsiders. . . .

Our numbers, in this case, back up what the naked eye sees; Roy Williams has a target on his back, and it's there for a reason. Williams was targeted with 59 passes last year, the second-most of any safety in the league. Those passes "succeeded" (our measure for tracking whether the pass did enough to contribute towards earning a first down) 63% of the time; therefore, Williams had a 37% success rate, which was 72nd amongst all safeties. Remember that there's only 64 starting safeties in the league and, well, it wasn't a pretty year for Roy.

As one wag pointed out, "I always thought it was a neon sign that flashed, 'throw my way for free first downs.'"

In other words . . . DO NOT WANT.

 

[PatsfanTN]

Eric Berry - UT Knoxville. If he goes pro after this year...

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Eric Berry - UT Knoxville. If he goes pro after this year...

A very good player that has also played some receiver this year. I have seen him a couple of times now and he is the glue on that defense. His coverage skills are not great, but he is better now than Merriweather was as a senior at Miami.

 

[Brandon]

Didn't we draft Merriweather?

 

[Seneschal2]

The Pats could use a ballhawk in the secondary.

We don't need to match Rodney's size (220+), just solid tackling skills with the ability to play the ball. A playmaker can be a difference maker that IMO, this secondary needs. We already have some solid talent back there, but if there's an opportunity to upgrade in the 'ball skills' area, this would be my chosen route.

Rather than strictly focusing on the Safety class, we might also consider the CB/S types available in every draft. Look for some of the CBs who are perhaps a bit too slow for corner, but possess impressive ball skills while offering solid coverage ability for the Safety position.

 

[Seneschal2]

Somehow I think they sign a veteran, maybe Mike Brown from the Bears or the kid from St. Louis Oshiomogho Atogwe, he is more of a FS but has great ball skills. In the Pats system I think they play more sides than FS versus SS.

Yes on the more sides. Also of note, Atogwe was one of the official pre-draft visits of the Pats. I haven't followed his pro career, but was very high on him while he was at Stanford.

 

[captain stone]

A really good safety would improve the middle of this D from being exposed by tight ends/slot receivers/RB's out of the backfield. That's been a problem over the past 2 seasons and I'm not sure yet it has been addressed. It is particularly important if none of our LBs develop into the coverage LB type. Mayo/Guyton are rookies and Bruschi has lost a step.

Imagine how good this D would look with Weddle in the mix, and he was only a second round pick. I'm just not sure if Sanders will be anymore than a JAG at the safety position. The only thing I've been worried about is lately the Pats have whiffed on their 2nd round picks.

I agree with every single word in VJC's post. The Pats absolutely need a SS with Rodney's size and with the speed of a younger man, in order to cover Dallas Clark. We needed one 2 years ago, and we needed one 2 weeks ago. Forget about Tank Williams - anything he gives us will be a bonus. The FO must make finding Rodney's replacement (and no, that replacement is not Lil' Jimmy Sanders) a high off-season priority.

 

[cstjohn17]

The Pats could use a ballhawk in the secondary.

We don't need to match Rodney's size (220+), just solid tackling skills with the ability to play the ball. A playmaker can be a difference maker that IMO, this secondary needs. We already have some solid talent back there, but if there's an opportunity to upgrade in the 'ball skills' area, this would be my chosen route.

Rather than strictly focusing on the Safety class, we might also consider the CB/S types available in every draft. Look for some of the CBs who are perhaps a bit too slow for corner, but possess impressive ball skills while offering solid coverage ability for the Safety position.

I am thinking the opposite, Merriweather will never be an Ed Reed clone but he is pretty good in coverage. He is just too small to play near the line of scrimmage or blitz the way Harrison did.

Some possible names:
Kevin Ellison, USC, 6'1, 228, 4.64est
- he is injured but is a true SS type
- big concerns about his speed and injury

Corey Boudreaux, S, San Diego State
- listed on Pauline's Risers & Sliders
Tony Pauline: Iowa's Shonn Greene sees draft stock rise - NFL - SI.com
6'1, 220 , 4.62est
- don't know much about him, seems like a real project

 

[VJCPatriot]

Is it TOO much to ask for a safety that can cover a tight end? The achilles heel against tight ends has cost us time and time again. Last night in particular against the Jets their TE Keller killed us. A strong safety that can TACKLE and cover Tight Ends would be an immense upgrade for our secondary. Give me a Bob Sanders type of player, please!

 

[mgteich]

I would note that we have exactly one safety signed for 2009: Meriweather. In the last few years, we've carried as many as six safeties. I would expect at least four new safeties in camp, a combination of a couple of draftees and at least a couple of free agents.

One key to drafting safeties for the patriots is that they should be solid special teamers.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

justin woodall if he comes out