Draft Countdown with one of the better first rounds I have seen for the Patriots

[midwestpatsfan]

Always a site I like to go to and right now, if the 1st round ended up that way for the pats I would be dancing in the streets.
17. Aldon Smith, DE/OLB Mizzouri
28. Cameron Heyward, DE Ohio State

Smith is raw, but year 1 could be a pass rush specialist as he learns to play on his feet and bulk up some to defend the run better.

Heyward is probably just the opposite. Not going to wow you with his pass rushing skills, but is real good against the run and would be a great fit in the patriots 3-4 system.

 

[SanAngeloState]

I like that. Those are who I would pick also.

Throw in a guard like danny watkins later and it could be a promising draft.

 

[Marqui]

Very nice 1st round. Just add Mikel LeShoure with one of the 2nds and that would be a great draft.

 

[Peachhead]

I could certainly live with that. I may prefer a couple other guys, but we could do a hell of a lot worse than Smith and Heyward. And the mock definitely has the positions spot on.

 

[BelichickFan]

I would be happy with that but the chance of us taking an OLB at that spot is slim to none IMO.

 

[Marqui]

the chance of us taking an OLB at that spot is slim to none IMO.

Really, why?

 

[SirApropos]

Really, why?

BB doesn't draft OLB's in the first round. First round is reserved for 3-4 down players and Smith would be more of a Sub-Rusher.

Also Heyward evidentally had some sort of Elbow Surgery which has him unable to do anything for 3 months so I think he will slip a bit into the late 2nd early 3rd round now.

 

[mgteich]

Because Bill Belichick is running the draft?
Because we have need an OLB for many years and he hasn't used a first yet?
Because bb believes that 3-4 OLBs are overvalued in the first round?

Really, why?

 

[BelichickFan]

Really, why?

Largely my opinion but Belichick usually plays it fairly safe in the first round. Lots of seniors. Lots of big schools. And lots of players with just moderate position changes. Mankins from OT to OG, Vince from DT to NT. Mayo from OLB to ILB. Maybe this is the year Bill takes the jump to the extra risk (and reward) of a college DE switching to OLB in the first round. But I don't see him taking on the added risk of that when he will have options (the way the draft looks now) at much safer positions. There's a reason we have a very good record of first round picks since 2001 and it's not because of taking high risk, high reward players.

Again, it's just my opinion but I've said the same thing for several years and have been given no reason to change that opinion.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

The OSU kid is suppose to have a questionable motor. Same knock as Gholston.

The other kid is suppose to be very raw and weigh like 245 lbs. However, one report I saw said he has good coverage skills.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Because Bill Belichick is running the draft?
Because we have need an OLB for many years and he hasn't used a first yet?
Because bb believes that 3-4 OLBs are overvalued in the first round?

Has BB ever taken a red shirt sophomore before? Is there enough film on this kid for BB to burn a 1st round pick?

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

Because Bill Belichick is running the draft?
Because we have need an OLB for many years and he hasn't used a first yet?
Because bb believes that 3-4 OLBs are overvalued in the first round?

BB doesn't draft O-linemen in the first round?
BB doesn't draft ILB in the first round?

Just because he hasn't doesn't mean he wont.
If Lawrence Taylor were coming out this year and we thought we could have a chance to land him - we would. It doesn't make sense to say - we don't draft X position in the first round.

Hell, if a kicker can make 70 yard kicks on an 85% basis he's worth a 1st round pick. Or a punter whose net average is 65 yards.

 

[Marqui]

BB doesn't draft O-linemen in the first round?
BB doesn't draft ILB in the first round?

Just because he hasn't doesn't mean he wont.

Yea, I'm wondering that too.

 

[BelichickFan]

BB doesn't draft O-linemen in the first round?
BB doesn't draft ILB in the first round?

Just because he hasn't doesn't mean he wont.

Nope. But he has yet to make an exception to big schools, lots of experience and no more than minor position changes. He may surprise me but there's no reason to think that he will.

 

[Dufflebagz]

BB doesn't draft O-linemen in the first round?
BB doesn't draft ILB in the first round?

Just because he hasn't doesn't mean he wont.

Ding ding.....we have a winnah

 

[BelichickFan]

BB doesn't draft O-linemen in the first round?
BB doesn't draft ILB in the first round?

Ding ding.....we have a winnah

No we don't.

Mankins and Maroney had little and no position change respectively. Maroney was from the Big Ten. Mankins was from the smallest school ever for a BB #1 pick but Fresno St. isn't that small and Belichick knows the HC.

Every player we have drafted in the first round has been relatively safe each with his own smallish risk factors. A DL moving to OLB in round one would be a stunner unless he's shown a lot of the OLB skills we require of that position on the field over time in college.

 

[D-Money]

Aldon Smith will be a force.The problem with this team is that they dont go for the guy that has the talent.Instead of picking Dunlap,this team when after Jermaine Cunningham who had 1 sack.Cunningham needs to do a better job getting to the QB.

 

[aabtec]

Because Bill Belichick is running the draft?
Because we have need an OLB for many years and he hasn't used a first yet?
Because bb believes that 3-4 OLBs are overvalued in the first round?

Yes and I can remember when many folks said that BB would never take an OL in the first round,,yet he drafted Mankins.

I hope that we get a really good OLB to rush the passer (draft or FA) and help along the DL and OL..Everything is won in the trenches.

aabtec

 

[MustaphaM0nd]

Belichick doesn't coach by a dogma, or stick to some kind of ideology. He'll draft anything anywhere, or sign anyone for any amount, if it checks out as being "in the best interest of the team." Thats part of why you can never predict his decisions.

 

[MaineMan]

The problem with drafting an OLB in the 1st round lies not with BB, but with a market that overvalues guys with enormous college pass rush numbers at the expense of other qualities and undervalues 3-down players who may not have quite as exciting pass rush numbers.