LB Sean Weatherspoon

[p8ryts]

I really like this player and at 6′0 7/8" 241 lbs, he's too small to play the edge or inside. Seems perfectly tailored as a 4-3 OLB. Which makes me think...would Belichick pair him w/ Mayo as outside LBs in his 4-3 scheme, while obviously having a big thumper inside? Both of them are sideline to sideline players, and moving Mayo may be better suited to his strengths. Not suggesting he scrap the 3-4 he's had since his Giants days, as he'll probably employ both. Just wondering if BB may focus on the DE position first (Sey/Green), add Weatherspoon, then an edge rusher who may take time to develop.

Sean has quite a few intangibles that I think the D needs -- and BB covets.

Would you pair him up with Mayo?

Tedy was about the same size, maybe 10 lbs heavier. I liked his vocal leadership and he looked like a football player. I don't know if he's a first rounder but if he's around in the second, jump on him.

 

[p8ryts]

Well, I started this thread for a reason -- I think he's a BB-type player. And because none of us know how BB will upgrade the roster, and whether or not BB will play more 4-3 or 3-4, certain players ought to be at least considered. I think Spoon would upgrade the LB corps -- and not duplicate what already exists -- but add qualities that are missing (both physically and emotionally). It's too easy to get hung up on a player fitting a scheme (or not), as BB will find a way to use talented football players and put them in a position to succeed. The fact that the Pats are a gameplan team, and play situational football, allows room to add role players who can make an impact. And yes, BB will spend a second round pick on these types of players.

After McClain, Weatherspoon is my highest ranked defensive prospect for the Pats. And unlike McClain, no trade up will be required as he'd be one of the three second-rounders.

My pre-Combine Pats considerations:

#22
DE/DT Jared Odrick
DE Everson Griffen

Round two
CB Kyle Wilson
LB Sean Weatherspoon
OG Mike Johnson
DE Alex Carrington
DT Terrence Cody

I'd prefer Dan Manning from Tennessee at 22, Wilson, weatherspoon and Cody would be good round 2 guys. I didn't see much from Carrington yesterday and wasn't overly impressed by the offensiv linemen. I think Brandon Graham might be a good round 2 guy. Looks like he can rush the passer like TBC but maybe could stop the run unlike TBC.
Give me
Manning
Cody
Witherspon
Graham
Wilson
in that order. Could that be possible? Don't see how.
Mardy Gilyard is another one I really liked.

Don't even mention Tebow.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'd prefer Dan Manning from Tennessee at 22, Wilson, weatherspoon and Cody would be good round 2 guys. I didn't see much from Carrington yesterday and wasn't overly impressed by the offensiv linemen. I think Brandon Graham might be a good round 2 guy. Looks like he can rush the passer like TBC but maybe could stop the run unlike TBC.
Give me
Manning
Cody
Witherspon
Graham
Wilson
in that order. Could that be possible? Don't see how.
Mardy Gilyard is another one I really liked.

Don't even mention Tebow.

I assume you mean Dan Williams when you say "Dan Manning from Tennessee".

Right now there are 6 guys who I rate clearly worth taking at 22: Rolando McClain (will go top 12), Joe Haden (will go top 12), CJ Spiller, Carlos Dunlap, Dan Williams and Brian Bulaga. There are 2 other guys who might be worth taking at 22, or with a small trade down: Jason Pierre-Paul and Everson Griffen.

Then there are a bunch of guys who I would consider if they fell to us in the 42-53 range. Some of these guys are at positions of need, others might just be too good to pass up. These include:

- Brandon Graham, DE/LB
- Sean Weatherspoon, LB
- Chad Jones, S - at 6'3" 230# BB could use him as a hybrid LB like he was planning to do with Tank Williams 2 years ago
- Terrance Cody, DT
- Mike Iupati, OG - maybe
- Jared Odrick, DE - maybe
- Corey Wootten, DE - maybe
- Jermaine Gresham, TE - maybe
- Jonathan Dwyer, RB - maybe

Otherwise there are a bunch of guys who are borderline late 2nd/3rd round guys who I like, including Austen Lane DE/OLB, Alex Carrington DE, Koa Misi LB, AJ Edds LB, Eric Norwood LB, Vlad Ducasse OG/OT, Mike Johnson OG, Jared Veldheer OT, and Dexter McCluster RB/WR.

 

[MaineMan]

I assume you mean Dan Williams when you say "Dan Manning from Tennessee".

Right now there are 6 guys who I rate clearly worth taking at 22: Rolando McClain (will go top 12), Joe Haden (will go top 12), CJ Spiller, Carlos Dunlap, Dan Williams and Brian Bulaga. There are 2 other guys who might be worth taking at 22, or with a small trade down: Jason Pierre-Paul and Everson Griffen.

Then there are a bunch of guys who I would consider if they fell to us in the 42-53 range. Some of these guys are at positions of need, others might just be too good to pass up. These include:

- Brandon Graham, DE/LB
- Sean Weatherspoon, LB
- Chad Jones, S - at 6'3" 230# BB could use him as a hybrid LB like he was planning to do with Tank Williams 2 years ago
- Terrance Cody, DT
- Mike Iupati, OG - maybe
- Jared Odrick, DE - maybe
- Corey Wootten, DE - maybe
- Jermaine Gresham, TE - maybe
- Jonathan Dwyer, RB - maybe

Otherwise there are a bunch of guys who are borderline late 2nd/3rd round guys who I like, including Austen Lane DE/OLB, Alex Carrington DE, Koa Misi LB, AJ Edds LB, Eric Norwood LB, Vlad Ducasse OG/OT, Mike Johnson OG, Jared Veldheer OT, and Dexter McCluster RB/WR.

You bring up an interesting point with this. I'm thinking that the SS/LB Tweener era (Milloy, Harrison) may be over. At the start of the 08-09 off-season, I was pretty convinced the Pats would be drafting a Harrison-template replacement (in addition to Tank "Mr. IR" Williams) - maybe somebody like Nic Harris (6'2", 225# coming out of Oklahoma; picked up in RD-5 by the Bills who are trying to convert him to LB).

But then I heard both Dimitroff (GM of the Falcons by that point) and Belichick independently discuss a philosophical shift toward fielding two, or even three, safeties who'd be more interchangeable - each able to cover well and contribute in run defense (and blitz on occasion). And now it seems like that's the way things are going. Even the guys in the booth at the Senior Bowl mentioned it (and they're usually behind the curve on stuff like this).

So, instead of seeking the SS/LB Tweener, we might be better off looking for the CB/FS Tweener - larger, more physical corners who tackle well and are best in coverage when they can keep everything in front of them.