Prospects that are "good fits" for the Patriots

[PATSNUTme]

In the ProFW draft magazine they list prospects that would be "good fits" for each team.

For example on offense they list WR's Riley Cooper,Fla and Danario Alexander,MO among others. On defense they list OLB's Koa Misi. UT and Thaddeus Gibson, OSU with others.

So in no order of where they should be drafted maybe we can start listing players that we think could be good fits for the Patriots and why.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Brandon Spikes would be a good fit and maybe a guy that can protect Mayo and let him flow to the ball.

 

[T-cat]

Nah i see brandon spikes as a flow to the ball kind of LB. So i dont see it working with 2 identical ILB's we need a good stout run stuffer. But a player i like who i think will fit is Jason Worilds. He's a bit short but he is very explosive and can get to the passer

 

[patsfan-1982]

arthur jones, i call him baby seymour. he gets double teamed he stops the run and can get to the QB he does everthing you want from a 3-4 DE and he is only a 2th round pick.

 

[CGH TX PATS]

I would be very interested in Riley Cooper, or Jordan Shipley... but if I had my choice of second round wr's it would be Marty Ginyard. I don't get PFW, was he mentioned in the paper?

 

[PATSNUTme]

I would be very interested in Riley Cooper, or Jordan Shipley... but if I had my choice of second round wr's it would be Marty Ginyard. I don't get PFW, was he mentioned in the paper?

Pro Football Weekly's draft magazine.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Not that NE needs much at Safety, but I found the NE references interesting and I've liked Leonhard since he was with the Bills, his gangrenous team may be scum of some big cesspool, but he's not made me dislike him personally yet.

The Badger Herald: Sports: Maragos learning NFL prep from Leonhard

 

[BritPat]

Any thoughts on this kid?

Worth a shot for camp at least?

 

[MaineMan]

Any thoughts on this kid?

Worth a shot for camp at least?

I wouldn't want to spend any more than a compensatory 7th rounder on him, if that. But bring him into camp as a UDFA just to have the coaches see what he's got, sure.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Any thoughts on this kid?

Worth a shot for camp at least?

PSquad all the way if his off-field issues get a pass. He's not getting drafted, we'll see if someone wants to test drive him in rookie camp and give him a chance on the Squad - if the Pats would do it for a wrestler and other teams for a basketball player the kid has a fighting chance.

 

[MaineMan]

First off, Riley Cooper/Danario Alexander - ugh.

Second, what "fits best" for the Pats defense (including safeties) depends entirely on what defensive scheme BB will be running for 2010 and maybe beyond. If it's going to remain primarily the past decade's "classic" base 3-4 with an elephant guy and enough versatility to present some effective 4-3 sub-packages - that's one set of guys who'll "fit." If BB is heading toward something more 4-3ish/one-gap-ish as a base, perhaps with more emphasis on pass-rushing ends, and with still effective 3-4 sub-packages, that might be a whole different set of guys who would "fit" and also perhaps exclude many from the first set (and vice versa).

We may - or may not - get some directional indicators from what the Pats do about Wilfork and Jarvis Green and who they reach out to in free agency. But, we may not really know until we see who BB takes at #22 (if he doesn't trade down, or up). If he takes a Seymour-size guy or a Wilfork-type NT early, than it's probably the first (no change) scenario and subsequent picks will likely fit BB's "traditional" requirements. However, if he takes a pass-rushing DE/OLB "tweener" like Brandon Graham . . . .

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

First off, Riley Cooper/Danario Alexander - ugh.

Second, what "fits best" for the Pats defense (including safeties) depends entirely on what defensive scheme BB will be running for 2010 and maybe beyond. If it's going to remain primarily the past decade's "classic" base 3-4 with an elephant guy and enough versatility to present some effective 4-3 sub-packages - that's one set of guys who'll "fit." If BB is heading toward something more 4-3ish/one-gap-ish as a base, perhaps with more emphasis on pass-rushing ends, and with still effective 3-4 sub-packages, that might be a whole different set of guys who would "fit" and also perhaps exclude many from the first set (and vice versa).

We may - or may not - get some directional indicators from what the Pats do about Wilfork and Jarvis Green and who they reach out to in free agency. But, we may not really know until we see who BB takes at #22 (if he doesn't trade down, or up). If he takes a Seymour-size guy or a Wilfork-type NT early, than it's probably the first (no change) scenario and subsequent picks will likely fit BB's "traditional" requirements. However, if he takes a pass-rushing DE/OLB "tweener" like Brandon Graham . . . .

I got dibs on a "classic" NE 3-4.

 

[MaineMan]

I got dibs on a "classic" NE 3-4.

I'd say odds are 60/40 or better that you're correct. But, even a 30%-40% chance that BB's headed in a different direction is a sufficiently significant "what if" to make it worth my while to consider that second set of players.

Besides, it's more exciting that way.

 

[StraightCashHomey81]

arthur jones, i call him baby seymour. he gets double teamed he stops the run and can get to the QB he does everthing you want from a 3-4 DE and he is only a 2th round pick.

I like Jones, but he is not Seymour-like. I know he is listed at 6'4 but I've stood next to him before while I was at Syracuse and he is 6'2 at best. More of 4-3 one gap guy but he has the work ethic and hands to be at least a contributor with any team.

For WRs, look for guys with good 20-yd shuttle times. Branch, Jackson, and Edelman were all the top of their class at this drill in their draft year. BB has also been complimentary of Florida WRs (despite the Chad Jackson experience
), saying how that in that offense WRs are more Patriots ready because they make sight adjustments pre and post-snap and have to play outside and the slot. So Cooper seems he like he could be a good fit. Alexander seems too stiff to me.

Best Fits at some need positions are:

OLB: Sergio Kindle, Texas and Ricky Sapp, Clemson. Both have experience at DE and OLB and fit the 6'4 4.6 40 mold.

DL: Dan Williams, Tennesee and Vince Oghobaase, Duke. Williams could play 3-4 NT or DE. Oghobaase has Ty Warren like size and will be a mid-round pick

WR: Golden Tate, Notre Dame, Jordan Shipley, Texas, and Cooper. Tate Played in a similiar offense. All played outside and the slot. All will probably run a good shuttle time.

RB: Jahvid Best, Cal. Has the big-play ability that many BB picks have had (Maroney, Cobbs) and has experience running out of the shotgun.

TE: Haven't found anyone who fits their 6'3 250 lbs. mode with good downfield speed and the ability to block. They could like Aaron Hernadez as a "move" TE, as he has all the credentials besides blocking (along with the Meyer connection) and Baker can fill the role of the in-line blocking TE.

 

[furley]

Ideally, Dan Williams can step right in for New England and allow Mayo to make more plays.

I'm reading that some scouts see Earl Thomas' skills translating more as a corner back than a safety. The Patriots need someone who's young and talented at corner back that they can groom into their next best play-maker.

What intrigues me about Rob Gronkowski is when I read that he's a good blocker. I know that Belichick likes tight ends who can bloack and Gronkowski reads like he has the skills to be a legitimate receiving threat to boot.

Admittedly, I don't know a lot about John Skelton but I want to believe that he's more interesting than Tim Tebow. My thinking is that he can be coached up by Belichick and company like with Matt Cassel.

 

[Defsoul]

RB: Jahvid Best, Cal. Has the big-play ability that many BB picks have had (Maroney, Cobbs) and has experience running out of the shotgun.

I don't think Best is a good fit. Belichick seems to prefer big running backs. Smith, Dillon, Maroney, Morris, the teams leading rushers since 2001, they all were listed at 220 pounds and more. Don't get me wrong, I really like Best. He is a home run threat and a good receiver in the mould of Chris Johnson. I just don't think that he is the kind of back they're looking for. The same goes for C.J. Spiller.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Ideally, Dan Williams can step right in for New England and allow Mayo to make more plays.

Dan Williams plays on skates and is a less than ideal fit as a 3-4 NT. His size says 3-4 NT, but his play says 4-3 DT.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I don't think Best is a good fit. Belichick seems to prefer big running backs. Smith, Dillon, Maroney, Morris, the teams leading rushers since 2001, they all were listed at 220 pounds and more. Don't get me wrong, I really like Best. He is a home run threat and a good receiver in the mould of Chris Johnson. I just don't think that he is the kind of back they're looking for. The same goes for C.J. Spiller.

I agree, BB could get a Gerhart or the kid from Miss State in the fourth (depending on how they run) and have a power back that is more than capable of picking up blitzers.

 

[StraightCashHomey81]

I don't think Best is a good fit. Belichick seems to prefer big running backs. Smith, Dillon, Maroney, Morris, the teams leading rushers since 2001, they all were listed at 220 pounds and more. Don't get me wrong, I really like Best. He is a home run threat and a good receiver in the mould of Chris Johnson. I just don't think that he is the kind of back they're looking for. The same goes for C.J. Spiller.

Four things that make me think Best is a good fit.

1. If you look at the RBs BB has drafted, they have been guys with big-play potential (Womack, Cobbs, Maroney) which Best has more than any other RB outside of Spiller.

2. The Pats haven't drafted a RB since they went to a more spread, shotgun-based attack (unless you count Justise Hairston in 07), which leads me to believe that experience and success running out of that formation may now be more prevalent in their evaluations.

3. According to Reiss, Kevin Faulk played more than any other RB on the Pats over the last two years. Most of these snaps were out of the shotgun and on 3rd down. Best's ability in the open field, both on handoffs, screens, and as a pass-catcher translate well to this role. I haven't seen him pass block too much, but his strong upper-body leads me to believe he could hold up in this regard.

4. On the subject of getting a bigger, more powerful back, such a player (like Gerhart and Dixon) would be redundant with Morris, Taylor, and Maroney. Best provides the big-play, open field threat that the Pats lack right now (Faulk doesn't have the speed to take it the distance).

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Four things that make me think Best is a good fit.

1. If you look at the RBs BB has drafted, they have been guys with big-play potential (Womack, Cobbs, Maroney) which Best has more than any other RB outside of Spiller.

2. The Pats haven't drafted a RB since they went to a more spread, shotgun-based attack (unless you count Justise Hairston in 07), which leads me to believe that experience and success running out of that formation may now be more prevalent in their evaluations.

3. According to Reiss, Kevin Faulk played more than any other RB on the Pats over the last two years. Most of these snaps were out of the shotgun and on 3rd down. Best's ability in the open field, both on handoffs, screens, and as a pass-catcher translate well to this role. I haven't seen him pass block too much, but his strong upper-body leads me to believe he could hold up in this regard.

4. On the subject of getting a bigger, more powerful back, such a player (like Gerhart and Dixon) would be redundant with Morris, Taylor, and Maroney. Best provides the big-play, open field threat that the Pats lack right now (Faulk doesn't have the speed to take it the distance).

BB has enough "power" now with Maroney, the Taylor twins, Morris, and BJeepers, which is why my "mock" targeted Paschall from North Dakota State, though I'd be very pleased if BB were to invest in Manase Tonga who is a decent triple threat RB/FB who can pound for tough yards, receive out of the backfield, and looked to be a good pass & lead blocker. There are several kids in that 200-215 range projected as late round/UDFA prospects who have the potential to be developed on the PSquad and have some potential to fill Faulk's role:
-- Curtis Steele
-- Keith Toston
-- Deji Karim
-- Roy Upchurch
-- Dominique Lindsay
-- James Mallory
-- Jacob Ramsey (I love this kid's style)

I also think Javier Arenas would make an ideal 3rd down back, he's got Nickelback/PR value now, but his blitzing skills may help him develop his eye for picking up the blitz, he's Faulk size and Faulk strong (maybe stronger), and as a PR he's used to making people miss in a phone booth when carrying the ball.

NE really doesn't need to draft a RB, they've got five on the roster and I expect Faulk to be re-signed. Edelman was taking RB reps last Spring and Stanback may be asked to take some reps during OTAs too (depending on what BB wants to do with him: QB? WR? Wildkitty? Asst. QB Coach?).