I am conviced it will be either a Florida or Penn St. player in the 1st.

[midwestpatsfan]

and no, the Florida player is not Tim Teabow


Looking back at past drafts, when the PAtriots were at their prime it was because of their drafting of lineman early.
2001: Richard Seymour
2003: Ty Warren
2004: Vince Wilfork
2005: Logan Mankins

Those high picks of guys in the trenches led to the Patriots winning superbowls and having great success. I think they will go back to that.
So, I am conviced that the Patriots will either draft:
Jared Odrick, DE Penn State
Maurkice Pouncey, C/G Florida.

Thoughts?

 

[Charles Barwin]

Add Dunlap to the possibilities.

 

[Bunk1124]

The way kiper and mcshay talk about him pouncey would be the best choice even though we need an edge pass rusher bad.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Holy crap, talk about not getting it. I'm tired of people referring back to when the Pats drafted lineman and were successful. That was then this is now. The Pats drafted Seymour because they needed an impact lineman in 2001. By 2003, since their LB's and DB's were pretty good, they took Warren because Hamilton was getting up their in age. In 2004, they took a NT because they basically didn't have any other than Keith Traylor and he was almost 40 years old. In 2004, their line was complete. But for some reason, they continued to use high picks on lineman when they had enormous holes at other positions.

Times have changed, the Pats don't have the luxury of taking lineman or the best available player because they have so many needs on this team. If a guy like Kindle or Morgan falls to them at #22, the Pats will take an edge rusher. As much as I hated the Pats trading down last year, I think they will do it again this year if all the 1st round edge rushers are taken. However, don't be shocked if they take a WR with their 1st pick.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Penn? Ick. I hope not.

"With the 22'd pick of the first round the New England Patriots select Clemson Defensive End Ricky Sapp"

 

[jefmblrd]

I think if Pouncey is still there at 22, the Patriots have to strongly consider drafting him. This guy is legit and could also play guard. Mayock called him a "plug and play" guy on "Path to the Draft" meaning he starts immediately and plays for the next ten years.

Odrick needs strong consideration there as well. He's the top DL after McCoy and Suh.

While I agree we need impact OLBs who can set the edge and pressure the passer, BB has to at least consider these two strongly-Pouncey in particular.

 

[Kontradiction]

Penn? Ick. I hope not.

"With the 22'd pick of the first round the New England Patriots select Clemson Defensive End Ricky Sapp"

This is what I'd like to see though, to be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing Pouncey is Sapp were off the board. The O-Line is definitely something that should be addressed with one of the first four picks.

 

[alvinnf]

This is what I'd like to see though, to be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing Pouncey is Sapp were off the board. The O-Line is definitely something that should be addressed with one of the first four picks.

When Sapp is reading and reacting and is engaged. He turns and spins to disengage, it's terrible. Watch him on youtube, bad technique. He's pretty much turning his back to his man and the ball carrier, yuck!

YouTube - Universal Draft presents - OLB Ricky Sapp - Clemson.avi

 

[midwestpatsfan]

Holy crap, talk about not getting it. I'm tired of people referring back to when the Pats drafted lineman and were successful. That was then this is now. The Pats drafted Seymour because they needed an impact lineman in 2001. By 2003, since their LB's and DB's were pretty good, they took Warren because Hamilton was getting up their in age. In 2004, they took a NT because they basically didn't have any other than Keith Traylor and he was almost 40 years old. In 2004, their line was complete. But for some reason, they continued to use high picks on lineman when they had enormous holes at other positions.

Times have changed, the Pats don't have the luxury of taking lineman or the best available player because they have so many needs on this team. If a guy like Kindle or Morgan falls to them at #22, the Pats will take an edge rusher. As much as I hated the Pats trading down last year, I think they will do it again this year if all the 1st round edge rushers are taken. However, don't be shocked if they take a WR with their 1st pick.

Where your logic falls apart though is that you forget to acknowledge that both the offensive and defensive line are part of those needs that the Patriots need to fill, and in the case of Pouncey and Odrick, they would be playing positions they played in college, whereas Kindle and Morgan are convert projects. Pouncey and Odrick are more of the safer bet type of draft picks. BB has always said 2nd round is where you can start to take chances on players, and OLB conversions are projects I do not think he wants to gamble with in the 1st.

 

[Marqui]

This is what I'd like to see though, to be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing Pouncey is Sapp were off the board. The O-Line is definitely something that should be addressed with one of the first four picks.

What makes you believe Sapp is a 1st round talent?

 

[BradyBranch39]

I am going to be disgusted if we Take Sapp in the first.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Where your logic falls apart though is that you forget to acknowledge that both the offensive and defensive line are part of those needs that the Patriots need to fill, and in the case of Pouncey and Odrick, they would be playing positions they played in college, whereas Kindle and Morgan are convert projects. Pouncey and Odrick are more of the safer bet type of draft picks. BB has always said 2nd round is where you can start to take chances on players, and OLB conversions are projects I do not think he wants to gamble with in the 1st.

I understand where you're coming from but I find it funny that most people on this board agree that the NFL is becoming a "passing league" and the Pats need to do a better job at "stopping the pass", yet they want to draft a DE with their 1st round pick that won't do much getting after the QB. Seymour was a rare player and the closest thing to him is Jay Ratliff who will probably end up being better than Seymour (statistically). The point is, you don't have to continue to spend high pick after high pick on a DE that is probably only going to be one dimensional. It's rare to find a 3-4 DE like Seymour and Ratliff.

I will agree with you that if a good prospect falls to them on the O-line, the Pats should take him.

I will also agree with you that it could be a huge risk taking a DE in college and converting him to OLB. As much as I want the Pats to improve their pass rush, I don't think anyone will be there at #22 to help them.

Because this draft is so deep, I think the Pats should trade out of the 1st round and acquire as many picks as they can.

 

[Marqui]

I am going to be disgusted if we Take Sapp in the first.

You're not alone.

 

[jefmblrd]

I am going to be disgusted if we Take Sapp in the first.

I wouldn't worry; there's no way BB takes Sapp at 22. If he really wanted Sapp, which I doubt, he knows he could trade out of 22 and most likely pick him up in the second round.

 

[WhiZa]

Sapp is a late second rounder value-wise, but if that Pats like him they probably would take them with their early 2nd round picks.

 

[CoachK]

Sapp is pretty one-dimensional. I don't think he can set the edge well enough to suit BB.

If he can, I doubt we look at him much before # 53.

 

[WesWelker83]

Anyone see Sportscenter today when Mcshay and Kiper debated? Kiper said that Pouncey is the highest riser in the draft and will be considered all the way up to 18 at the Steelers pick. He says he has Pouncey rated higher than Alex Mack last year and Nick Mangold when he came out. That is very high praise considering Mangold is a probowler starter for the AFC.

I love Pouncey but I was hopeing he would be there early 2nd. It looks like hes a lock to go in the first rd now. I think Pouncey or Rodger Saffold from Indiana could really help us shore up the interior of our OL which was abused all year (I am looking at you Dan Koppen and you Dan Connelly!). I think OG/C is a need with Neal being old and Koppen having a really bad year. We need to get nastier up the middle so we can run more effectively on 3-4 teams up the middle. Last year it seemed we could only run out of the shotgun because we weren't physical enough. Anyways, I really hope we address OG.

 

[jsull87]

if we do end up going pouncy then i think the trade back to that 28-30 mark wouldn't be a bad option if we thnk he will last till then. that will also leave us with some ammo for maybe 3rd or 4th

 

[bucky]

When Sapp is reading and reacting and is engaged. He turns and spins to disengage, it's terrible. Watch him on youtube, bad technique. He's pretty much turning his back to his man and the ball carrier, yuck!

YouTube - Universal Draft presents - OLB Ricky Sapp - Clemson.avi

Wow. Based on this video, Ricky Sapp looks awful. I'll say this though - he looks better playing in a 2pt stance than in a 3 point stance. So there's some possibility there, but there's just no way in hell he's a 1st round prospect.

 

[bucky]

Anyone see Sportscenter today when Mcshay and Kiper debated? Kiper said that Pouncey is the highest riser in the draft and will be considered all the way up to 18 at the Steelers pick. He says he has Pouncey rated higher than Alex Mack last year and Nick Mangold when he came out. That is very high praise considering Mangold is a probowler starter for the AFC.

I love Pouncey but I was hopeing he would be there early 2nd. It looks like hes a lock to go in the first rd now. I think Pouncey or Rodger Saffold from Indiana could really help us shore up the interior of our OL which was abused all year (I am looking at you Dan Koppen and you Dan Connelly!). I think OG/C is a need with Neal being old and Koppen having a really bad year. We need to get nastier up the middle so we can run more effectively on 3-4 teams up the middle. Last year it seemed we could only run out of the shotgun because we weren't physical enough. Anyways, I really hope we address OG.

Well if Kiper says it, it must be true! We're returning all 5 starters from last year on the OL and we drafted 3 guys last year - two in the first 4 rounds. Spending a 1st round pick on a C would just be bad bad value, even if he turns into a pro bowler.