A "patriots type player" master list for the 2009 draft

[midwestpatsfan]

Hi guys,
I was hoping we could all work together to come up with a master list of players in this years draft that we feel would be good fits in the Patriots system. After we got a good list, it would be good if we could split them up or take who you know the best and do write ups for each of them. I usually get to this a little earlier, but health issues and a move have put me back a few months and I missed quite a bit of the college games. I do plan on hitting it hard now and would love to see what others think. Any interest in this?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'd suggest you simplfy it, just request people submit profiles on players whom"they" think would be a good fit for NE...and allow the rest of us to abuse their thinking with great vigor. Actually, that's not too different from what we do now. Perhaps if we told peopl why we believe they were a good fit for NE? I'm so confused, I need to lie down.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

lets start with conner barwin

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

First you have to look at the BB coaches:

Al Groh- Virginia
Wiess- Notre Dame
Saban- Alabama
Ferenz-Iowa
I forget his name-Fresno St.

BB has doen well with drafting players from the Saban led LSU teams, so I'm sure he will look towards the Alabama guys. Fresno St. has given us Mankins and Sanders. I'm suprised that BB has not gone for more Virginia players, but look for it this year with Clint Sintim OLB.

"Patriots Players" are smart, tough players that "football is important to them" (that is something that they really look for).

 

[Lampshade]

I'll add in BC nose tackle, Ron Brace.

 

[Boston Boxer]

First you have to look at the BB coaches:

Al Groh- Virginia
Wiess- Notre Dame
Saban- Alabama
Ferenz-Iowa
I forget his name-Fresno St.

BB has doen well with drafting players from the Saban led LSU teams, so I'm sure he will look towards the Alabama guys. Fresno St. has given us Mankins and Sanders. I'm suprised that BB has not gone for more Virginia players, but look for it this year with Clint Sintim OLB.

"Patriots Players" are smart, tough players that "football is important to them" (that is something that they really look for).

Fresno St - Pat Hill

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'm suprised that BB has not gone for more Virginia players, but look for it this year with Clint Sintim OLB.

Chad Jackson notwithstanding, I'm surprised he hasn't drafted more Florida players.

But as far as Virginia goes, don't forget Vince Redd originally played for Virginia, and I'm guessing Al Groh didn't badmouth him to BB.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Chad Jackson notwithstanding, I'm surprised he hasn't drafted more Florida players.

But as far as Virginia goes, don't forget Vince Redd originally played for Virginia, and I'm guessing Al Groh didn't badmouth him to BB.

Jackson was pre-Urban, I bet BB would take Branden Spikes if he could.

 

[scout]

What did you guys think about that Major Wright for Florida, S, 6', 200 lb. and hits hard. Is this guy a second round pick?

 

[mayoclinic]

lets start with conner barwin

Amen to that.

 

[mayoclinic]

First you have to look at the BB coaches:

Al Groh- Virginia
Wiess- Notre Dame
Saban- Alabama
Ferenz-Iowa
I forget his name-Fresno St.

BB has doen well with drafting players from the Saban led LSU teams, so I'm sure he will look towards the Alabama guys. Fresno St. has given us Mankins and Sanders. I'm suprised that BB has not gone for more Virginia players, but look for it this year with Clint Sintim OLB.

"Patriots Players" are smart, tough players that "football is important to them" (that is something that they really look for).

I think the "BB pipeline" thing is a bit overrated. Sure, it seems like BB has history with some specific coaches and may get some inside info, but every year a lot of draftniks make wild predictions based simply on players coming out of a purported BB "pipeline". The pats have passed up on some very good players out of these schools (Richard Marshall CB Fresno St. in 2006, who would have been a great pick; Reggie Nelson S Florida in 2007, though he went a few picks ahead of us; Brandon Albert OT/G Virginia in 2008), and we've taken most of our high picks from other schools (Mayo - Tennessee; Wheatley - Colorado; Meriweather - Miami; Maroney - Minnesota). We haven't taken any Notre Dame or Iowa players that I can recall in the past 4 years (I think Hobbs was Iowa St., but correct me if I'm wrong).

These schools have a lot of talent and we could obviously end up with some of their players - in which case people will cite the "pipeline" effect - but in a lot of cases it is a crapshoot based on who else is taken in the draft, and whose skill set Belioli prefers.

I could see Clint Sintim DE/OLB from Virginia being a BB type guy; but personally, I'd prefer Connor Barwin from Cincinnati. I could see Rashad Johnson S from Alabama being a BB type guy; but personally, I'd prefer Sean Smith from Utah (if he declares) or Patrick Chung from Oregon. I could see Eugene Monroe OT from Virginia being a great pick if he somehow fell to us at 24, but no more so than Jason Smith from Baylor.

 

[DaBruinz]

What did you guys think about that Major Wright for Florida, S, 6', 200 lb. and hits hard. Is this guy a second round pick?

Wright is a true sophmore from what I can find. He's not eligible to enter the draft.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think the "BB pipeline" thing is a bit overrated. Sure, it seems like BB has history with some specific coaches and may get some inside info, but every year a lot of draftniks make wild predictions based simply on players coming out of a purported BB "pipeline". The pats have passed up on some very good players out of these schools (Richard Marshall CB Fresno St. in 2006, who would have been a great pick; Reggie Nelson S Florida in 2007, though he went a few picks ahead of us; Brandon Albert OT/G Virginia in 2008), and we've taken most of our high picks from other schools (Mayo - Tennessee; Wheatley - Colorado; Meriweather - Miami; Maroney - Minnesota). We haven't taken any Notre Dame or Iowa players that I can recall in the past 4 years (I think Hobbs was Iowa St., but correct me if I'm wrong).

These schools have a lot of talent and we could obviously end up with some of their players - in which case people will cite the "pipeline" effect - but in a lot of cases it is a crapshoot based on who else is taken in the draft, and whose skill set Belioli prefers.

I could see Clint Sintim DE/OLB from Virginia being a BB type guy; but personally, I'd prefer Connor Barwin from Cincinnati. I could see Rashad Johnson S from Alabama being a BB type guy; but personally, I'd prefer Sean Smith from Utah (if he declares) or Patrick Chung from Oregon. I could see Eugene Monroe OT from Virginia being a great pick if he somehow fell to us at 24, but no more so than Jason Smith from Baylor.

I did a write up on the "BB Pipeline" and found that there were more players that those coaches might have given BB and CO information on than players that they actually coached.

 

[mayoclinic]

I did a write up on the "BB Pipeline" and found that there were more players that those coaches might have given BB and CO information on than players that they actually coached.

I saw our write up after I posted my thread ... good points, and props to you. It's a very good insight that BB's college coaching connections probably give him a lot of info on opposing players as well.

 

[WhiZa]

What also is important is what colleges and programs does BB not draft from?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Name: Connor Barwin
Compares to: Mike Vrabel
College: Cincinnati
Height: 6-4 Weight: 255
Position: DE Pos2: TE/H-back/LB
40 Time: 4.64
Projected Round: 2
Rated number 4 out of 203 DE's

Playing in the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl.

Barwin, a converted tight end playing his first season on defense averaged almost a sack per game (0.9), leading UC and the BIG EAST, while ranking 16th nationally. His 11 sacks were two off the school record of 13, set a year ago. He finished with 53 tackles, 16 which went for a loss. He blocked three punts, broke up eight passes, and had seven quarterback hurries. He also had a 1-yard touchdown reception in UC's win over USF on Oct. 30.

2007 Season: A standout on special teams, as well as a key player in the tight end rotation...played in 12 games...31 receptions for 399 yards, including two touchdowns...named UC's Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a punt and recovering a fumbled punt return at USF...collected seven grabs for 86 yards, including a 26-yard catch and run, in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

2006 Season: Saw action in all 13 games as a regular on special teams and alternate at the tight end position...played in 23 games as a walk-on for the basketball team...Bearcat Academic Honor Roll (Winter 2007).

2005 Season: One of two first-year freshmen to see action on offense...played in all 11 games as a backup tight end...joined the basketball team in early January...saw action in each of the final 16 games as a backup to the forward positions.

NE Fit: Barwin demonstrated great ball awareness at DE and showed good athleticism to cover RBs out of the backfield and play up on his feet along the LOS to disrupt the blocking assignments. As a rookie he can immediately contribute as a reserve TE and on Special Teams while he learns to play LB. As a TE he's a willing blocker in line and did a good job blocking in a goal line series against Pittsburgh. He projects well as an OLB and like Vrabel may also crosstrain as an ILB. He certainly looked the part of Vrabel on his TD reception and his goal line blocking.

He will need to get stronger, improve his hand use and his coverage skills, but there may be an advantage to his lack of experience on defense - fewer bad habits to correct. Virginia Tech was able to neutralize him in the Orange Bowl, though UC's defense was playing with a handicap after their QB threw 4 interceptions. He may not be a star in the NFL, but he's the kind of blue collar player to carry on the standards set by Vrabel, Brown, Faulk, Bruschi, Harrison...

 

[TheKraftyOne]

Wright is a true sophmore from what I can find. He's not eligible to enter the draft.

He's the first player I checked after the BCS championship. NFL caliber hitter but from what I read he isn't eligible.

 

[JDSal45]

Jackson was pre-Urban, I bet BB would take Branden Spikes if he could.

No he wasn't. Meyer's first season with Florida was 2005. Jackson's last year with Florida was 2005 and then he came out as a junior. So he played one year for Meyer and he was All-SEC that year.

J D Sal

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Name: Connor Barwin
Compares to: Mike Vrabel
College: Cincinnati
Height: 6-4 Weight: 255
Position: DE Pos2: TE/H-back/LB
40 Time: 4.64
Projected Round: 2
Rated number 4 out of 203 DE's

Playing in the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl.

Barwin, a converted tight end playing his first season on defense averaged almost a sack per game (0.9), leading UC and the BIG EAST, while ranking 16th nationally. His 11 sacks were two off the school record of 13, set a year ago. He finished with 53 tackles, 16 which went for a loss. He blocked three punts, broke up eight passes, and had seven quarterback hurries. He also had a 1-yard touchdown reception in UC's win over USF on Oct. 30.

2007 Season: A standout on special teams, as well as a key player in the tight end rotation...played in 12 games...31 receptions for 399 yards, including two touchdowns...named UC's Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a punt and recovering a fumbled punt return at USF...collected seven grabs for 86 yards, including a 26-yard catch and run, in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

2006 Season: Saw action in all 13 games as a regular on special teams and alternate at the tight end position...played in 23 games as a walk-on for the basketball team...Bearcat Academic Honor Roll (Winter 2007).

2005 Season: One of two first-year freshmen to see action on offense...played in all 11 games as a backup tight end...joined the basketball team in early January...saw action in each of the final 16 games as a backup to the forward positions.

NE Fit: Barwin demonstrated great ball awareness at DE and showed good athleticism to cover RBs out of the backfield and play up on his feet along the LOS to disrupt the blocking assignments. As a rookie he can immediately contribute as a reserve TE and on Special Teams while he learns to play LB. As a TE he's a willing blocker in line and did a good job blocking in a goal line series against Pittsburgh. He projects well as an OLB and like Vrabel may also crosstrain as an ILB. He certainly looked the part of Vrabel on his TD reception and his goal line blocking.

He will need to get stronger, improve his hand use and his coverage skills, but there may be an advantage to his lack of experience on defense - fewer bad habits to correct. Virginia Tech was able to neutralize him in the Orange Bowl, though UC's defense was playing with a handicap after their QB threw 4 interceptions. He may not be a star in the NFL, but he's the kind of blue collar player to carry on the standards set by Vrabel, Brown, Faulk, Bruschi, Harrison...

Can he beat out Woods or Redd if Thomas stays outside in 2009? If he is a better ST player than Redd, then I am all for this guy.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Barwin has made a lot of binky lists lately but my question is simple, are we drafting him to be an OLB or a Tight End? The BB defense is pretty complex to pick up, I kind of doubt that a rookie can absorb both sides of the system and be a 2 way player. If we're talking a tight end he probably drops down to 3rd or 4th round value. If he can compete at OLB, we can talk higher. I'm just kind of mystified if this guy has a clear identity. I'd hate to spend a high draft choice on a garrett mills or klecko conversion experiment.

I'm looking forward to seeing what he can show in the Senior Bowl against top competition and also to see what position he trys out under at the NFL combine.