Is it a strong year for DE/OLB?

[RayClay]

Just wondering. I think a great pass rusher could be a boost. Nothing against Crable, but we will have need for a few young LBs.

I don't have the Personnel knowledge but here's a long list in this article.

Draft Buzz: Everette Brown and Brian Orakpo among top five pass-rushers - ESPN

*Fairly old. Includes underclassmen that might not have come out.*

 

[jsull87]

liked what i saw with larry english

 

[dryheat44]

It seems to me to be a deep group, but I don't know how much top-flight talent there is outside of Orakpo, Brown, and Curry, as far as getting heat on the QB.

 

[bakes781]

A LaMar Woodley type would look great on this team.

 

[PatsFan2]

With so many Teams switching to the vaunted 3-4 Defense those guys are going to go like hot cakes. I think some Teams are going to Reach for some guys at that position too.

 

[RayClay]

With so many Teams switching to the vaunted 3-4 Defense those guys are going to go like hot cakes. I think some Teams are going to Reach for some guys at that position too.

Maybe. Where are all those teams getting decent nose tackles, I wonder? That's the hangup in switching to a 3-4.

 

[dryheat44]

Maybe. Where are all those teams getting decent nose tackles, I wonder? That's the hangup in switching to a 3-4.

If you're going to run the Bum Phillips version, you can get away with a lighter NT.

 

[mmasterkillah]

I don't see this to be that deep of a draft in the Patriots style OLB position.

There are plenty of very good undersized and fast linebackers who could be very versatile for us, though. I am very intrigued to see if BB will value these athletic kids when he doesn't have many options.

I like the chance of getting a 4th rounder who can contribute at ILB, but I'm not so sure that we can get the immediate pass rushing help that we certainly need unless we take an OLB really high.

 

[PatsFan2]

I don't see this to be that deep of a draft in the Patriots style OLB position.

Yep those go in the 6-14 Range not @ 23.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

I don't see this to be that deep of a draft in the Patriots style OLB position.

There are plenty of very good undersized and fast linebackers who could be very versatile for us, though. I am very intrigued to see if BB will value these athletic kids when he doesn't have many options.

I like the chance of getting a 4th rounder who can contribute at ILB, but I'm not so sure that we can get the immediate pass rushing help that we certainly need unless we take an OLB really high.

Three inside LB I have had my eye on at the end of the third or in the fourth are:

Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh - Has a ton of good stats and seems like a playmaker

Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan - The best LB in the MAC

Worrell Williams, California - I think would fit in our system perfectly as a SILB

 

[dryheat44]

Three inside LB I have had my eye on at the end of the third or in the fourth are:

Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh - Has a ton of good stats and seems like a playmaker

Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan - The best LB in the MAC

Worrell Williams, California - I think would fit in our system perfectly as a SILB

I think the first two on production...but Williams might not measure 6 feet...not at all perfect for the Mike.

 

[mmasterkillah]

Just for anybody wondering, Worrell is the less athletic brother of Broncos LB DJ Williams.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think this draft is lacking a true OLB/DE pass rushing demon, that can also play the run.

I almost think we would be better off with a Barwin type in the third round, that can spend a year with Woicik getting stronger and quicker, while playing excellent special teams and mastering technique from BB.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

I think the first two on production...but Williams might not measure 6 feet...not at all perfect for the Mike.

I really though he was 6'1 but now that I have looked at a few places I think he is just under 6 feet. Some had him as tall as 6' 2" but I knew that was a stretch (no pun intended) but I think you are right.....more of a WILB in a 4-3 scheme the more that I look at this kid. It was Zach Follett who originally got me watching the Bear LB's and his production speaks but I do not think he fits inside for us.

What about trying to do with Victor Butler from Oregon State what we did with Teddy B. and trying him as a SILB in our system. He could be a second day prospect with great production in college worth the risk.

 

[Taxed in Maine]

It seems to me that there are far more 3-4 olb types in this draft than usual. I really don't think it is a 1st round type need, simply because of the development needed at the position. I would much rather grab a guy in the third round and see him develop for a couple years. If a first rounder were drafted at that position, he would still get limited time because of the guys in front of him.

As far as ILB goes, Josh Mauga at 6'2 245, and has some experience in the 3-4, as does Antonio Appleby at 6'3 250, both are probably 4th or 5th round guys.

One kid that noone has talked much about, that has experience playing in the middle is Tyrone McKenzie. He came into the Senior bowl at 6'2 244

 

[dryheat44]

It seems to me that there are far more 3-4 olb types in this draft than usual. I really don't think it is a 1st round type need, simply because of the development needed at the position. I would much rather grab a guy in the third round and see him develop for a couple years. If a first rounder were drafted at that position, he would still get limited time because of the guys in front of him.

As far as ILB goes, Josh Mauga at 6'2 245, and has some experience in the 3-4, as does Antonio Appleby at 6'3 250, both are probably 4th or 5th round guys.

One kid that noone has talked much about, that has experience playing in the middle is Tyrone McKenzie. He came into the Senior bowl at 6'2 244

My favorite ILB candidate in the draft is Matt Shaughnessy. I just don't know how much of a value to put on a conversion project.

 

[DaBruinz]

Just wondering. I think a great pass rusher could be a boost. Nothing against Crable, but we will have need for a few young LBs.

I don't have the Personnel knowledge but here's a long list in this article.

Draft Buzz: Everette Brown and Brian Orakpo among top five pass-rushers - ESPN

*Fairly old. Includes underclassmen that might not have come out.*

Actually, no. This isn't a good year for DE/OLB conversions. There is much more depth at ILB than at OLB. And its really someone who can play the SILB position that the Pats need right now. Particularly if they can spell Bruschi.

 

[DaBruinz]

Three inside LB I have had my eye on at the end of the third or in the fourth are:

Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh - Has a ton of good stats and seems like a playmaker

Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan - The best LB in the MAC

Worrell Williams, California - I think would fit in our system perfectly as a SILB

Holtzclaw is rated as a UDFA currently.

Williams - is rated as a 5th rounder currently. Not sure how productive he was at the Shrine game.

McKillop - currently rated as a 3rd rounder. However, some key items of concern are the fact that he doesn't like to take on blocks and that he's not a hitter when it comes to tackling.

That being said, all 3 seem like they could be SILB prospect.

 

[DaBruinz]

My favorite ILB candidate in the draft is Matt Shaughnessy. I just don't know how much of a value to put on a conversion project.

You project Shaughnessy as an ILB? At 6'5? Hmmm.. Most see him as a potential OLB conversion. And he could be there for the Pats late in the 4th or the 5th round.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

Holtzclaw is rated as a UDFA currently.

Williams - is rated as a 5th rounder currently. Not sure how productive he was at the Shrine game.

McKillop - currently rated as a 3rd rounder. However, some key items of concern are the fact that he doesn't like to take on blocks and that he's not a hitter when it comes to tackling.

That being said, all 3 seem like they could be SILB prospect.

I really think that SILB would be a good spot to target in the 4th round with the depth at the position and team needs. Last season we needed to call on Senor Seau for depth at ILB because Izzo was the other one. Guyton was able to play in passing downs but was awful against the run. I think a good young thumper in the middle would serve us well in the future.