Brandon Spikes

[KevinFaulk-33]

I read a lot of topic on Maualuga or Lauranitis, and I realized that the first can't be a fit for our defense, and for the second there are many different thoughts.

But i read only a bit about the linebacker from Florida, Brandon Spikes.
I read that he can play for our SILB position, and there are many enthusiastic comments. I'm interested about his positions, and if he can be a fit in BB's schemes.


About the draft: Would you draft him if he is available at #24 pick?

 

[mayoclinic]

I'd be thrilled with Spikes at 24. Same response as with the thread on William Moore - I'm happy with him at 24 (and think that right now it's about 50-50 as to whether he will last that long) but wouldn't trade up for him given how much talent there is in the draft.

Spikes is around 6'3" 245# and could probably put on 5-10 more lbs. without loss of speed. He has shown good ability to drop in to coverage, but more than the other ILBs in this draft he has shown an ability to take on and shed blockers which would make him a good complement to Mayo at SILB. The combination of Mayo-Spikes-Guyton would make us set at ILB for potentially the next decade.

If Spikes is not available I do think that some of the DE/LB prospects could move inside and play SILB, particularly both Connor Barwin (my binky) and Clint Sintim.

I'm not sure who I would take if both Moore and Spikes were available at 24. In my dreams we franchise Cassel, trade him to Detroit at 20 or Minnesota at 23, and get both of them.

 

[TheKraftyOne]

I read a lot of topic on Maualuga or Lauranitis, and I realized that the first can't be a fit for our defense, and for the second there are many different thoughts.

But i read only a bit about the linebacker from Florida, Brandon Spikes.
I read that he can play for our SILB position, and there are many enthusiastic comments. I'm interested about his positions, and if he can be a fit in BB's schemes.


About the draft: Would you draft him if he is available at #24 pick?

I wouldn't use #24 on Spikes. He was mediocre IMO in the BCS game although he did make a couple of good plays. I think one was the first play from scrimmage when he stopped a run behind the line then he disappeared for a couple of qtrs until he made a nice play along the sidelines fighting through a block to make the tackle. Gresham made him look like a weak DB when he blocked him one on one and he was taken off the field in the red zone. He looked like he wasn't in top condition or he's just overrated. Either way I wouldn't use the 24th pick on him.

 

[mayoclinic]

The Orlando Sentinel is now reporting that with Tim Tebow's decision to return to Florida next year, Spikes is also leaning towards staying. The link is on draftdaddy.com.

 

[billdog3484]

he may be a really good player. but to me, he comes off as such a punk. i dont know though, i didnt watch florida all that much, but the games i did, he acted like a punk

 

[ALP]

I read a lot of topic on Maualuga or Lauranitis, and I realized that the first can't be a fit for our defense, and for the second there are many different thoughts.

But i read only a bit about the linebacker from Florida, Brandon Spikes.
I read that he can play for our SILB position, and there are many enthusiastic comments. I'm interested about his positions, and if he can be a fit in BB's schemes.


About the draft: Would you draft him if he is available at #24 pick?

how come u say he would be the SILB? why not move mayo and have him at WILB....arnt their sizes similar?

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I'll go along with krafty on this one and simply say he no longer has 1st round value to the pats........

 

[LeBronJordan23]

Spikes had a solid game, he is the leader and arguably best player on the Florida defense, Oklahoma knew that and stayed away from him as much as possible. He is bigger than Mayo, and would be a nice compliment. What some call being a "punk" others would call "passion" and playing with emotion. Is Ray Lewis a punk too? if so that is one punk i want on my team.

 

[mayoclinic]

how come u say he would be the SILB? why not move mayo and have him at WILB....arnt their sizes similar?

Spikes is a bit taller and probably a bit heavier than Mayo, and certainly has the ability to put more weight on his frame. He also has shown good ability to take on and shed blockers. Mayo has more pure speed and range. This would suggest that Mayo would be more suited to WILB and Spikes to SILB. I think they would complement each other well.

Spikes reminds me of Karlos Dansby, who plays at 6'3" 250#, both in terms of his build and his game. I'd be happy to bring Dansby in as a FA to complement Mayo at SILB, but doubt we could afford him and think we will resign long term with Arizona anyway. I'd be happy with Spikes as our own home-grown version. I don't see him as "punk". Meyer charged him with becoming the leader of the Florida defense this year, and the results speak for themselves.

 

[TheKraftyOne]

Spikes had a solid game, he is the leader and arguably best player on the Florida defense, Oklahoma knew that and stayed away from him as much as possible. He is bigger than Mayo, and would be a nice compliment. What some call being a "punk" others would call "passion" and playing with emotion. Is Ray Lewis a punk too? if so that is one punk i want on my team.

Pats opponents didn't target Mayo as the year progressed and yet he managed to finish with 139 tackles, including 23 against the Jesters with 17 solo. I'm not saying Spikes is chopped liver but there were questions raised in the BCS game. IMO, the best player on the Gators D is Major Wright.

Guyton surprised this year and should improve next year so he looks like a decent choice down the road to pair with Mayo but it remains to be seen. At least they know what they already have instead of just potential from a drafted player. I think they'll be using the pick to fill another need.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Pats opponents didn't target Mayo as the year progressed and yet he managed to finish with 139 tackles, including 23 against the Jesters with 17 solo. I'm not saying Spikes is chopped liver but there were questions raised in the BCS game. IMO, the best player on the Gators D is Major Wright.

Guyton surprised this year and should improve next year so he looks like a decent choice down the road to pair with Mayo but it remains to be seen. At least they know what they already have instead of just potential from a drafted player. I think they'll be using the pick to fill another need.

correct......if spikes showed can't miss ability then it would be different, but he hesitates to get into the pile, and was not any kind of factor in plays that developed outside.......

 

[BradyManny]

I was high on Spikes, but seeing him have trouble taking on the big guards of Oklahoma made me think twice about him being a strongside inside linebacker in our system, who would have to deal w the big bodies on every play. Like Mayo, he'd probably succeed at WILB where he's more likely to have some freedom to use his speed and agility to make a tackle.

 

[TheKraftyOne]

correct......if spikes showed can't miss ability then it would be different, but he hesitates to get into the pile, and was not any kind of factor in plays that developed outside.......

He could benefit from another year in college but it could be another Maualuga story. Rey should have declared last year and probably lost a lot of cash by staying. He seemed to take a step backwards this year. I guess from a Pats fan perspective it's better to have more potential 1st rounders in the mix to keep the pool of talent high when their pick comes around. I doubt Spikes would be their choice but it could help another player slide down to them.

 

[KevinFaulk-33]

He could benefit from another year in college but it could be another Maualuga story. Rey should have declared last year and probably lost a lot of cash by staying. He seemed to take a step backwards this year. I guess from a Pats fan perspective it's better to have more potential 1st rounders in the mix to keep the pool of talent high when their pick comes around. I doubt Spikes would be their choice but it could help another player slide down to them.

Who do you think can be a better choice than Spikes?

I don't know anything about college player...

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Who do you think can be a better choice than Spikes?

I don't know anything about college player...

at this point, I doubt ILB is the postion they will be pursuing in round 1.......I would think now that eithe CB,S, or an everette brown or george selvie (OLB) if they are there

 

[VJCPatriot]

Looks like Spikes might slip to round 2 at this point. I've always felt ILB was a later draft need than S/CB/OLB though.

 

[TheKraftyOne]

at this point, I doubt ILB is the postion they will be pursuing in round 1.......I would think now that eithe CB,S, or an everette brown or george selvie (OLB) if they are there

One draft site with a value chart lists the following positions as the strongest in round one and late round one to early round two:

Sure picks in Round 1: OT four players, ILB/OLB three, DE three, CB two, WR two.

Round 1-2 grades: OT one player, ILB/OLB four, DE one, CB three, WR two

So as of this date, the pool of the strongest positions above:

OT: five players
ILB/OLB: seven
DE: four
CB: five
WR: four


Linebacker, OT and cornerback have the largest talent pool of potential picks. Is this the year BB takes the plunge for an OT? It could be with Light turning 31 this year. I think plenty of us have said Light would make a great ROT/OG so it would logically make the line better overall. It's still a muddy picture until the actual talent levels get put through the combine etc. and we'll know more when all the underclassmen declare. It could end up being an OT if they take the highest rated player on their board regardless of position. Overall so far it looks like a good year to grab another LB but the fit for those players in the Pats system will be an issue as always.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

One draft site with a value chart lists the following positions as the strongest in round one and late round one to early round two:

Sure picks in Round 1: OT four players, ILB/OLB three, DE three, CB two, WR two.

Round 1-2 grades: OT one player, ILB/OLB four, DE one, CB three, WR two

So as of this date, the pool of the strongest positions above:

OT: five players
ILB/OLB: seven
DE: four
CB: five
WR: four


Linebacker, OT and cornerback have the largest talent pool of potential picks. Is this the year BB takes the plunge for an OT? It could be with Light turning 31 this year. I think plenty of us have said Light would make a great ROT/OG so it would logically make the line better overall. It's still a muddy picture until the actual talent levels get put through the combine etc. and we'll know more when all the underclassmen declare. It could end up being an OT if they take the highest rated player on their board regardless of position. Overall so far it looks like a good year to grab another LB but the fit for those players in the Pats system will be an issue as always.

could be........in another thread I listed jason smith as a possibility.....especially if the pats finagle a first rounder in this years draft for cassel........I would not be suprised that if the pats have 4 day 1 picks that 2 of them would be OL's (I like C/OG jonathan luigs in round 2......big, mobile, a technician)

I also like NT boo robinson in round 3

 

[TheKraftyOne]

could be........in another thread I listed jason smith as a possibility.....especially if the pats finagle a first rounder in this years draft for cassel........I would not be suprised that if the pats have 4 day 1 picks that 2 of them would be OL's (I like C/OG jonathan luigs in round 2......big, mobile, a technician)

I also like NT boo robinson in round 3

Cassell escaped a lot of trouble with his feet this year and that ain't happening with Brady so protecting your most valuable cog in the offensive wheel makes a lot of sense. Especially with him coming off knee surgery. I suppose it all depends on the Pats grading system and if they think an OT with excellent value will be available in round two where they got Light. They should have some chips to play with as you point out.

 

[Gator Mike]

IMO, the best player on the Gators D is Major Wright.

Major Wright isn't even the best safety on the UF roster. And there are those around the program who claim he isn't one of the two best safeties on the UF roster.

While I agree that for whatever reason Spikes was particularly active against Oklahoma, I disagree that he can't take on big offensive linemen. I thought he was terrific against Alabama, whose OL is probably just as good as Oklahoma's.

Doesn't matter, because the word is that Spikes will be back at UF next year.