Pats looking for a pass rusher?

[Seneschal2]

According to Walterfootball.com's mock:

23. New England Patriots: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
I haven't put much tape of Aaron Maybin in yet, but from what I have heard he is a phenomenal athlete. A source close to the New England Patriots told me they are going to be looking for a pass rusher in this draft, and it wouldn't surprise me if they fell in love with Maybin.

---

This is strictly a FWIW bit of info, and by no means meant to be a scoop. The Pats could be looking at most positions -- pass rushers included.

I remember years ago BB saying that the elite pass rushers tend to go earlier (top 20), so if you want one...

Unnamed sources are irritating to those who want to KNOW.

Those who want to package picks and trade up can now start the salivating process...

 

[mayoclinic]

According to Walterfootball.com's mock:

---

This is strictly a FWIW bit of info, and by no means meant to be a scoop. The Pats could be looking at most positions -- pass rushers included.

I remember years ago BB saying that the elite pass rushers tend to go earlier (top 20), so if you want one...

Unnamed sources are irritating to those who want to KNOW.

Those who want to package picks and trade up can now start the salivating process...

I have a suspicion Maybin will end up rising fast and going quite a bit higher than 23, but he does have a lot of upside. Even though he's a "conversion" rather than a "sure thing", whatever that may be, I find him more appealing at #23 than someone like Clint Sintim, but I doubt he'll last. He and Everett Brown seem like the 2 best DE -> 3/4 OLB conversion prospects by far. I could see SF going for him at #10 or SD at #16. While he is somewhat reminsicent of Crable in terms of his lanky frame and needing to add bulk and strength, I think he has much more upside.

I wouldn't trade up for him (as discussed in a separate thread), but I'd seriously consider him at 23. If we manage to franchise Cassel and trade him for somewhere around 18-22 then I'd be happy with Maybin at 18-22 and a CB or S at 23 (DJ Moore or Sean Smith are my preferences).

 

[Clonamery]

It would surprise me.

 

[BelichickFan]

Larry English would seem to fit the bill but Belichick has never taken a small school guy in the first round before.

 

[BelichickFan]

I guess it would be a situational guy as our pass rush comes from the DE and OLB and Warren, Seymour, Vrabel and Thomas seem locked in. I would like to think Crabel could fill some of this role though.

 

[Seneschal2]

Larry English would seem to fit the bill but Belichick has never taken a small school guy in the first round before.

I he's on the Pats list, he could be a target later in round one, or better yet, maybe early round two.

I guess it would be a situational guy as our pass rush comes from the DE and OLB and Warren, Seymour, Vrabel and Thomas seem locked in. I would like to think Crabel could fill some of this role though.

I have high hopes for Crable as well. Makes sense to always upgrade the position whenever able though, so if there's one prospect who exceeds the skills of Woods, Crable, etc., then BB will have no problem with creating competition for the position.

My belief is that Vrabel remains outside, AD will still offer his versatility to play both in and out, and the Pats will be looking to add another ILB as well as another DE/OLB to the mix -- if the VALUE is there.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

According to Walterfootball.com's mock:

23. New England Patriots: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
I haven't put much tape of Aaron Maybin in yet, but from what I have heard he is a phenomenal athlete. A source close to the New England Patriots told me they are going to be looking for a pass rusher in this draft, and it wouldn't surprise me if they fell in love with Maybin.

---

This is strictly a FWIW bit of info, and by no means meant to be a scoop. The Pats could be looking at most positions -- pass rushers included.

I remember years ago BB saying that the elite pass rushers tend to go earlier (top 20), so if you want one...

Unnamed sources are irritating to those who want to KNOW.

Those who want to package picks and trade up can now start the salivating process...

23. New England Patriots: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State

Let's parse this out a bit:

"I haven't put much tape of Aaron Maybin in yet, but from what I have heard he is a phenomenal athlete. "

BOR Translation: "I'm using information from fellow web-based draftniks and a couple chats with scouts and have no clue why this kid is projected in the first round."

"A source close to the New England Patriots told me they are going to be looking for a pass rusher in this draft..."

BOR Translation: I was in the donut shop talking with a beat reporter from the Herald and he predicted the Patriots would be drafting a pass rusher since their pass rush was so poor last season."

Maybin has a lot to like: 12 sacks, 20 TFL, 3 FF...and all that as a rSO; however, one year wonderkind are a cautionary tale when trying to assess how well teams are blocking them. In his last four games, Maybin had 1 sack, 1 pass defended, and 4 TFL, teams were adapting to him - oddly enough this started with the Iowa game that broke PSU's undefeated streak and included three bowl teams. I'd want to spend some more time with tape before predicting NE's undying love.

 

[dryheat44]

Something about Maybin just doesn't sit right with me. I really can't explain it...it's my sixth, or possibly even seventh, sense.

I think Sintim is a much safer pick with just as much upside. He has a much greater body of work to judge him by.

 

[patchick]

Something about Maybin just doesn't sit right with me. I really can't explain it...it's my sixth, or possibly even seventh, sense

Same here. I'd really like to be more enthusiastic, he seems to have a world of talent, but it seems like he's not just a "projection" to a new position...he's a "projection" to a dedicated, skilled football player. The kid is 20 years old with 2 years of eligibility remaining. For all his natural ability, his body and skills aren't necessarily NFL-ready. That's a huge risk to take on with a high draft pick.

 

[Seneschal2]

...Maybin...

...Maybin...

...Maybin...

To respond to the clan for a moment , twas the author who guessed Maybin -- not the source. I was more interested in "a source close to the New England Patriots told me" part which may or may not be reliable. If we're going to all speculate (tis what we do here), then I'd prefer to direct my energy in the right direction. Personally, I thought the Pats would go with the current developmental candidates at DE/OLB for this season. But if this rumor has any wings...then maybe it wouldn't hurt to start focusing on some of the prospects who have the best edge rushing skills, perhaps the round 1-2 projections. Just a thought.

 

[patchick]

To respond to the clan for a moment , twas the author who guessed Maybin -- not the source. I was more interested in "a source close to the New England Patriots told me" part which may or may not be reliable. If we're going to all speculate (tis what we do here), then I'd prefer to direct my energy in the right direction. Personally, I thought the Pats would go with the current developmental candidates at DE/OLB for this season. But if this rumor has any wings...then maybe it wouldn't hurt to start focusing on some of the prospects who have the best edge rushing skills, perhaps the round 1-2 projections. Just a thought.

Seneschal, if you weren't obsessing about edge rushers already, you're one of the few.

It's a particularly interesting group this year, with a lot more fitting the profile than recent drafts. (Anybody think Derrick Harvey would go #8 in this draft?) But it feels a lot like walking up to a store shelf crowded with dozens of different products of the kind you're looking for. Your eyes light up, you can't believe the selection, then the closer you look the more every single one seems like not quite what you need. Except maybe one or two that are way out of your price range.

 

[The_Riddler]

Something about Maybin just doesn't sit right with me. I really can't explain it...it's my sixth, or possibly even seventh, sense.

I agree, and I truly believe that the school itself and it's "lack of" defensive pedigree courtesy of the Jimmy Kennedy's and Courtney Brown's of the world might have something to do with that fear. As far as I'm concerned, stay as far away from Penn State players as possible. If we're looking edge-man, let's focus on and stand up Michael Johnson...........

 

[mayoclinic]

I agree, and I truly believe that the school itself and it's "lack of" defensive pedigree courtesy of the Jimmy Kennedy's and Courtney Brown's of the world might have something to do with that fear. As far as I'm concerned, stay as far away from Penn State players as possible. If we're looking edge-man, let's focus on and stand up Michael Johnson...........

Penn St. also makes me nervous, but nearly so much as Michael Johnson. He's a great physical specimen, but his doesn't seem very consistent and I think it is much less certain that he can convert to 3-4 OLB than Maybin.

 

[upstater1]

I agree, and I truly believe that the school itself and it's "lack of" defensive pedigree courtesy of the Jimmy Kennedy's and Courtney Brown's of the world might have something to do with that fear. As far as I'm concerned, stay as far away from Penn State players as possible. If we're looking edge-man, let's focus on and stand up Michael Johnson...........

But, how many counter examples can you find from Penn State? I mean, come'on, Tamba Hali, Jay Alford, even Ed Johnson for the Colts, have all played well (though Johnson is a mini-Pacman). Even Lavar Arrington played well before injuries. You can't simply go by two busts.

PSU is KNOWN for its defensive pedigree through the years. That and running backs. Offensive lineman to a lesser degree, but certainly their forte is producing solid pros on defense.

That being said, Maybin is not yet strong enough to take on Rosie Colvin's role. Maybin would not play immediately. Should have stayed in school.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Penn St. also makes me nervous, but nearly so much as Michael Johnson. He's a great physical specimen, but his doesn't seem very consistent and I think it is much less certain that he can convert to 3-4 OLB than Maybin.

Think of Michael Johnson as a clone of Crable, only Johnson only wants to tplay the pass and is not interested in playing the run.

I have never seen Maybin play without a hand on the ground, so I have a hard time projecting him in BB's 3-4 defense. However since my knowledge base is not nearly that of BB's, I can't rule out BB taking the kid, no matter how unlikely it seems.

I do not see any kid in this draft that is a 3-4 OLB pass rushing demon. I see a large group of second tier guys, Cushings, Mathews, Sintim, etc. but none of the elite status.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I concur.

Since there are no sure things, they all are of the Crabel/Vrabel level. Draft them in the "late second or third and groom them a couple of years" value mode.

 

[The_Riddler]

But, how many counter examples can you find from Penn State? I mean, come'on, Tamba Hali, Jay Alford, even Ed Johnson for the Colts, have all played well (though Johnson is a mini-Pacman). Even Lavar Arrington played well before injuries. You can't simply go by two busts.

PSU is KNOWN for its defensive pedigree through the years. That and running backs. Offensive lineman to a lesser degree, but certainly their forte is producing solid pros on defense.

That being said, Maybin is not yet strong enough to take on Rosie Colvin's role. Maybin would not play immediately. Should have stayed in school.

Have you heard of a guy named Michael Haynes from Penn State?, speaking of pass rushing DE's. This guy was the 14th overall pick by the Bears in 2003, a complete, and I mean a complete bust. Kennedy (#12) and Courtney Brown(#1) were, high, high expensive draft picks that completely busted out. Arrington as you know was (#2 overall), I mean #2, are you kidding me? for the kind of production you got out of that guy, that is brutal from the investment made in the #2 overall pick, you need much more than that. Penn State is a very, very risky school to look at. Blair Thomas, Kijana Carter, Curtis Enis, DJ Dozier, Kenny Jackson(#4 overall) I mean it's endless. They have to lead the lead in high end R1 busts.

OSU is the safest Big 10 school, always has been, they are a football factory up in Columbus.

 

[dryheat44]

Have you heard of a guy named Michael Haynes from Penn State?, speaking of pass rushing DE's. This guy was the 14th overall pick by the Bears in 2003, a complete, and I mean a complete bust. Kennedy (#12) and Courtney Brown(#1) were, high, high expensive draft picks that completely busted out. Arrington as you know was (#2 overall), I mean #2, are you kidding me? for the kind of production you got out of that guy, that is brutal from the investment made in the #2 overall pick, you need much more than that. Penn State is a very, very risky school to look at. Blair Thomas, Kijana Carter, Curtis Enis, DJ Dozier, Kenny Jackson(#4 overall) I mean it's endless. They have to lead the lead in high end R1 busts.

OSU is the safest Big 10 school, always has been, they are a football factory up in Columbus.

Come on. There are as many busts from OSU as Penn St, if you care to look for them. How's that Clarett fella doing? Doss? Ginn? Carpenter? Pittman? There are teams that dominate the college football scene that don't have players go on to dominate the NFL. Speed can dominate in the NCAA (USC, Cal, Florida), and likewise, a good system can succeed despite a lack of speed (historically speaking, Penn St, Wisconsin, Nebraska). But in the NFL, a modicum of speed is needed at just about every position but OL, DL, and QB to succeed in the pros. Likewise, you have to have more to offer besides speed in the NFL, where the linebackers tend to be as fast as NCAA defensive backs. Vince Young is the best recent example of this. Bethel Johnson is another one.

I guess that's a rambling and long-winded way of saying that I disagree with your premise.

 

[The_Riddler]

Come on. There are as many busts from OSU as Penn St, if you care to look for them. How's that Clarett fella doing? Doss? Ginn? Carpenter? Pittman? There are teams that dominate the college football scene that don't have players go on to dominate the NFL. Speed can dominate in the NCAA (USC, Cal, Florida), and likewise, a good system can succeed despite a lack of speed (historically speaking, Penn St, Wisconsin, Nebraska). But in the NFL, a modicum of speed is needed at just about every position but OL, DL, and QB to succeed in the pros. Likewise, you have to have more to offer besides speed in the NFL, where the linebackers tend to be as fast as NCAA defensive backs. Vince Young is the best recent example of this. Bethel Johnson is another one.

I guess that's a rambling and long-winded way of saying that I disagree with your premise.

Heat, for starters, Mike Doss was a 2cond round draft pick, Antonio Pittman was a 4th round draft pick, you will need to dig a little bit deeper to find the OSU busts. That school has put more high-end R1 talent in this league compared to PSU, it's no content. I listed R1 busts not R2 and R4 busts. Look, yes every school has had their share of busts, but on average, if you compare all of the PSU Round 1 draft choices to the OSU Round 1 draft choices, you see that the percentages of success/bust ratio weigh much heavier with OSU. I mean Todd Blackledge, even Poz right now for Buffalo, for all the hype and I understand he was hurt, but what has he done ?

Katzenmoyer, Carpenter are the only RECENT R1 busts from that school that I can think of. When you weigh that against the R1 talent they have put in this league (Eddie George, Terry Glenn, Santonio Holmes, Orlando Pace, Chris Carter etc. on and on and on, just look at this list:


1996 Eddie George (RB) Houston Oilers
1996 Terry Glenn (WR) New England Patriots
1997 Orlando Pace (T) St. Louis Rams
1997 Shawn Springs (CB) Seattle Seshawks
1999 David Boston (SE) Arizona Cardinals
1999 Antoine Winfield (CB) Buffalo Bills
1999 Andy Katzenmoyer (LB) New England Patriots
2000 Ahmed Plummer (CB) San Francisco 49ers
2001 Nate Clements (CB) Buffalo Bills
2001 Ryan Pickett (DT) St. Louis Rams
2004 Will Smith (DT) New Orleans Saints
2004 Chris Gamble (DB) Carolina Panthers
2004 Michael Jenkins (WR) Atlanta Falcons
2006 Nick Mangold New York Jets
2006 Donte Whitner Buffalo Bills
2006 Santonio Holmes Pittsburgh Steelers
2006 Bobby Carpenter Dallas Cowboys (BUST)
2006 A.J. Hawk Green Bay Packers
2007 Ted Ginn Miami Dolphins
2007 Anthony Gonzalez Indianapolis Colts

 

[dryheat44]

Heat, for starters, Mike Doss was a 2cond round draft pick, Antonio Pittman was a 4th round draft pick, you will need to dig a little bit deeper to find the OSU busts. That school has put more high-end R1 talent in this league compared to PSU, it's no content. I listed R1 busts not R2 and R4 busts. Look, yes every school has had their share of busts, but on average, if you compare all of the PSU Round 1 draft choices to the OSU Round 1 draft choices, you see that the percentages of success/bust ratio weigh much heavier with OSU. I mean Todd Blackledge, even Poz right now for Buffalo, for all the hype and I understand he was hurt, but what has he done ?

Katzenmoyer, Carpenter are the only RECENT R1 busts from that school that I can think of. When you weigh that against the R1 talent they have put in this league (Eddie George, Terry Glenn, Santonio Holmes, Orlando Pace, Chris Carter etc. on and on and on, just look at this list:


1996 Eddie George (RB) Houston Oilers
1996 Terry Glenn (WR) New England Patriots
1997 Orlando Pace (T) St. Louis Rams
1997 Shawn Springs (CB) Seattle Seshawks
1999 David Boston (SE) Arizona Cardinals
1999 Antoine Winfield (CB) Buffalo Bills
1999 Andy Katzenmoyer (LB) New England Patriots
2000 Ahmed Plummer (CB) San Francisco 49ers
2001 Nate Clements (CB) Buffalo Bills
2001 Ryan Pickett (DT) St. Louis Rams
2004 Will Smith (DT) New Orleans Saints
2004 Chris Gamble (DB) Carolina Panthers
2004 Michael Jenkins (WR) Atlanta Falcons
2006 Nick Mangold New York Jets
2006 Donte Whitner Buffalo Bills
2006 Santonio Holmes Pittsburgh Steelers
2006 Bobby Carpenter Dallas Cowboys (BUST)
2006 A.J. Hawk Green Bay Packers
2007 Ted Ginn Miami Dolphins
2007 Anthony Gonzalez Indianapolis Colts

Listen, I don't have a dog in the fight, but after you knock guys like Arrington for not living up to draft slot, you cite Ryan Picket, Mike Jenkins, and Ted Ginn?

Anyway, yes, it's a fact that OSU has sent better players to the NFL this decade. They recruit much better. Really, it's been OSU, Michigan, and probably Wisconsin for the Big 10 in the last 10 years or so. Joe Pa, I think, really hurts recruiting athletes from out of Pennsylvania.