Scouting the Patriots - Scouts Inc.

[PATSNUTme]

Here is an interesting article regarding the Patriots. Agree or disagree he does have some good thoughts. I do disagree about Tate. I think that he is a legit #2 WR, if he can stay healthy.

Scout.com: NFL Draft: Scouting The Patriots

 

[Spiral]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

The Pats should be able to upgrade over Ben Watson in the 2nd or 3rd round

Ouch. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a former #1 pick who should be in the prime of his career.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

Here is an interesting article regarding the Patriots. Agree or disagree he does have some good thoughts. I do disagree about Tate. I think that he is a legit #2 WR, if he can stay healthy.

Scout.com: NFL Draft: Scouting The Patriots

Good article. I enjoyed it. I find it interesting that the Patriots Insider interviewer spent a lot of time asking about WR & RB.

These are two very glaring areas of need on this team, IMO.

I do not agree that Darren Sproles is the every down answer, although he is a dynamic player and I wuold love to have him in a Pats uniform. He could be the REAL replacement of Kevin Faulk.

Michael Bush, I can take or leave.

Pierre Thomas is a RFA, but he could be worth a shot. Not sure what we would have to give up for him as an RFA.

Of the rest of the running backs out there right now in FA, I do not see a long-term solution. But there are some interesting names that the Pats could get a year or two out of, including:

-Jamal Lewis

-Ahman Green (He is still showing on ESPN's free agent RB list, but I thought he signed somewhere)

-Willie Parker

 

[resdubwhite]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

Parker went to Redskins I thought?

 

[supafly]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

Parker went to Redskins I thought?

Yep, he sure did.

 

[farn]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

RB is a "need", but I'd think many other needs should be addressed before RB. I can live with Faulk, Maroney, Taylor, Morris. They can do a decent job (one of the 4 always has at least a decent week)...

But WR, OLB, and defense in general is of much more concern.

BB will no doubt go TE again with #1... because it's cheap and he has a thing for 1st round TEs... We'll see.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

Here is an interesting article regarding the Patriots. Agree or disagree he does have some good thoughts. I do disagree about Tate. I think that he is a legit #2 WR, if he can stay healthy.

Scout.com: NFL Draft: Scouting The Patriots

I think he could be a number three but I doubt he's a number two for us next season.

 

[supafly]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

I think he could be a number three but I doubt he's a number two for us next season.

I believe PatsNutMe is saying he could line up opposite Moss, or as a split end, which many of us believe to be the WR2.

Although our slot receiver puts up #2 numbers in Welker/Edelman, he really is considered by most to be a traditional WR3--it just so happens that our offense uses him as a go-to guy on underneath routes.

We need a #1 in Moss, a #2 split end opposite Moss (possibly Tate), and a #4 Gaffney/Stallworth type--this is under the assumption that the #3 is a traditional slot guy, who of course will be a combo of Edelman/Welker.

(not saying there's a right/wrong--just explaining the thinking)

 

[PATSNUTme]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

I believe PatsNutMe is saying he could line up opposite Moss, or as a split end, which many of us believe to be the WR2.

Although our slot receiver puts up #2 numbers in Welker/Edelman, he really is considered by most to be a traditional WR3--it just so happens that our offense uses him as a go-to guy on underneath routes.

We need a #1 in Moss, a #2 split end opposite Moss (possibly Tate), and a #4 Gaffney/Stallworth type--this is under the assumption that the #3 is a traditional slot guy, who of course will be a combo of Edelman/Welker.

(not saying there's a right/wrong--just explaining the thinking)

Bingo! Tate on the opposite side of Moss will have to get attention.No one thinks he will be a slot.

Although this is not the best draft class for WR's in the 1st round there are some good ones that will be there in the mid to late rounds.Actually I have had my eye on Roberts for awhile and he was mentioned in the article. I was hoping he would go unnoticed.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Re: Scouting the Patriots- Scouts Inc

Which player that may be available in round one that would be the best fit in the Patriots system as a pass rusher should the Patriots select?

Jeremiah: Michigan DE Brandon Graham would be an ideal fit for the Patriots at OLB but his stock is quickly soaring ahead of when NE selects in the 1st round. USC DE Everson Griffen is more likely to be available and would fit in very nicely as an OLB in the Pats 3-4. Texas OLB Sergio Kindle isn't as polished a pass rusher as Griffen but offers less risk.

I always enjoy when people breakdown the Pats personnel (which people rarely do). With that said, I think Everson Griffen could be a surprise pick for the Pats. Remember when people thought the Pats would take Robert Ayers last year? Griffen is in the same mold as Ayers, yet way more athletic and stronger. In fact, Griffen put up 32 reps of 225 pounds at the combine! However, transitioning him to OLB is a huge risk. If Kindle and Graham are gone, I wouldn't be shocked if they took a chance on Griffen.

 

[captain stone]

I would be very afraid to draft Griffen with the 22nd pick. His committment & maturity have been questioned throughout his college career; added to the fact that he would be converting from 4-3 DE for "player's coach" Petey Carroll to a 3-4 OLB for Bill, and what you have might be a recipe for disaster. If he's still avail. at 53, then I'll think about it.

I do agree with his take on Brandon Tate, however. There has been nothing in his college career to indicate that Tate could be anything more than a decent returner & a #4 WR. I too like Andre Roberts as a late 3rd/4th-round value, provided that Bill can somehow re-acquire another 3rd & 5th. Damn the Burgess & Alex Smith trades (again).

 

[BradyFTW!]

IMO you can pretty much always address RB with replacement-level players. Mid-round draft pick, June roster casualty, whatever. If the Pats get through the draft without upgrading the position, I won't care at all.

 

[T-cat]

i also wouldnt be at all upset if they pick up jerry hughes at #22 i think hes a great player and it seems like one of the surprises BB would do

 

[RayClay]

Interesting about TE depth. Might be a better interview if someone told the participants Seymour was traded to Oakland.

 

[muzz]

I can't take what he says about offense seriously, as his 6 years experience scouting was around Baltimore and Cleveland, and their offenses are...well......offensive!

 

[tanked_as_usual]

regarding OLB, it boils down to physical tools and how badly the guy 'wants it' or how much he 'gets it'....I like kindle in this regard even though he's not been perfect off-field

people should be willing to put up with a fair number of 'mistakes' when it comes to turning a DE into an OLB......you can mask a fair amount of this early simply by weighing his called plays more toward rushing the passer than going into coverage early on and gradually increasing his coverage. this was the approach to both merriman and ware

I believe the signing of lewis is a stopgap to seeing how the draft works out......the one thing is that I doubt the pats will be willing to start rookies at both RDE and ROLB, so some platooning will be needed......

I am cooling ot the idea of odrick at #22......first, I am not sure he will be there, 2nd, not sure he's that much better than mike wright