Don Banks' 2.0 Mock

[reflexblue]

your right...you watch TV so much better than me......how could i have ever thought that i could watch a screen the way you do....

If you haven't watched the games how can you comment in the first place. There were many games during the season that Brady was running for his life.

 

[reflexblue]

Sacks and QB hits have as much to do with Brady as it does with the line. And, since you didn't actually watch the games, let me fill you in.

Koppen was horrible most of the season. His play "improved" once Mankins returned. Koppen blew blocking calls several times and it got Brady creamed against the Jets and Ravens in particular.

Connolly was below average at LG and average at RG. He's a significant drop off from Neal, nevermind Mankins.

Light isn't signed right now and he may not be back. So the Pats have a big hole to fill at one of the tackle positions depending on what they do with Vollmer and whether or not Light re-signs.



Yes, we'd have heard just as much about McCourty as Bodden because they play different sides of the field. McCourty won the starting job out of camp and he'd have been there opposite Bodden.

I think the interior of the O-line needs to be upgraded, Koppen and Mankins are Ok during the regular season but gotten destroyed going back to the SB in 07.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think the interior of the O-line needs to be upgraded, Koppen and Mankins are Ok during the regular season but gotten destroyed going back to the SB in 07.

Was Mankins destroyed or just Koppen? Seems to me that Koppen blew a lot of line calls in that SB.

 

[MaineMan]

Was Mankins destroyed or just Koppen? Seems to me that Koppen blew a lot of line calls in that SB.

IIRC, Koppen had a sub (Hochstein?) to his right instead of Neal for most of the game. That might tend to screw up communication and timing a bit - especially if you haven't played in a game together since the pre-season.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

IIRC, Koppen had a sub (Hochstein?) to his right instead of Neal for most of the game. That might tend to screw up communication and timing a bit - especially if you haven't played in a game together since the pre-season.

Billy Yates

 

[MaineMan]

Billy Yates

Oh, right. Thanks!

 

[bucky]

Billy Yates

I seem to remember Hochstein being tossed on his ass a lot in that game.

 

[reflexblue]

Was Mankins destroyed or just Koppen? Seems to me that Koppen blew a lot of line calls in that SB.

I'm for replacing Koppen also. Did he blow calls and Mankins had to cover for him...maybe. But that would have to be a lot of calls since the 07 SB. While i have stated that Mankins performance in the playoffs has been poor it doesn't make sense to me why he would play so well in the regular season, then so poorly in the post season. But it seems to be the same problem evry time, pressure up the middle. It was that way in every playoff game starting with the SB in 07. I'd like someone to explain why this seems to happen only in playoffs. I know im not the only one that thinks that mankins under performes in the playoffs, and im not talking about the knee jerk reactionaries that think the sky is falling every time a play doesn't go the patriots way.

 

[Off The Grid]

i couldnt believe we passed on bryant twice last year. the guy looks like hes gonna be special. your right too, now were gonna pull the trigger on the 3rd or 4th best WR in the 1st round, when we couldve had bryant, the consensus number 1 WR last year and passed....twice?? no way.

We got this guy named McCourty, maybe you've heard of him. Anyways what good would a reciever do if the Oline doesn't give Brady enough time to throw to him?

About as much good as drafting a RB to run behind a line that doesn't block well...

Agreed. A lot of fans get enamored with WR's and RB's and disregard the fact that with out a line to block they arent' worth much. I ve seen WR's and RB's shut down because of a poor O-line, but i dont' think i have to tell you that.

Ahhh....It brings joy to my heart to hear such Wisdom, gentlemen.

It ALL comes down to Brother Blue's last line there.

You can have WORLD CLASS "Skill Position" talent, and it doesn't matter diddly, if you lose The Battle In The Trenches.

~ Brady and his magnificent crew of Wide Outs couldn't get anything done against the Giants.
~ Better Yet: Peyton and his fun bunch ~ in the 2004 Divisional ~ were HELPLESS against us.

Our O Line Grizzlies have been very good, the last few years.

But "very good" has clearly not been "good enough", without a Tenacious D to pair with.

That goes for the D-line as well Brother Grid.

Of course it does, my good man: That goes without saying...although I say it often.

 

[meggett]

If you haven't watched the games how can you comment in the first place. There were many games during the season that Brady was running for his life.

sarcasm buddy...i watched every game you guys did last year.

 

[Off The Grid]

Shift Keys are nice.

 

[Captain Cliche]

Let me be captain obvious here...

As BB has said, "There are only so many 300 pound athletic men on the planet."

In a year that is deep with DT's, which way do you think he is going?

You can draft normal sized human beings in the later rounds.

 

[Off The Grid]

Let me be captain obvious here...

As BB has said, "There are only so many 300 pound athletic men on the planet."

In a year that is deep with DT's, which way do you think he is going?

You can draft normal sized human beings in the later rounds.

BEAUTIFULLY said, Brother Cliche!! :rocker:

Phil Tayor??

Kenrick Ellis??

Lobster...or Cracked Crab??

Why Not Have BOTH???

 

[3rd and Long]

I'm for replacing Koppen also. Did he blow calls and Mankins had to cover for him...maybe. But that would have to be a lot of calls since the 07 SB. While i have stated that Mankins performance in the playoffs has been poor it doesn't make sense to me why he would play so well in the regular season, then so poorly in the post season. But it seems to be the same problem evry time, pressure up the middle. It was that way in every playoff game starting with the SB in 07. I'd like someone to explain why this seems to happen only in playoffs. I know im not the only one that thinks that mankins under performes in the playoffs, and im not talking about the knee jerk reactionaries that think the sky is falling every time a play doesn't go the patriots way.

I know exactly what you mean, though I tend to think Koppen was the culprit in the Jets game (Mankins was poor in SB 42 though). No matter where the blame lies I do agree with you that we need to upgrade the interior line, as that is clearly where teams with a good defense have seemed to exploit us in the biggest games recently, but I do not think we need to panic and draft a guard with one of our top 3 picks. This is the same line that protected Brady spectacularly the entire regular season, and I know people don't like hearing it, but some blame is on Brady's shoulders for the Jets loss.

If we come out with a D End, a pass rusher, and an offensive playmaker (WR or RB, i do think we need some more skill/speed on offense) with our top 3 picks I will be very happy, then we can address the interior O line with our late 2nd and Minn's 3rd.

 

[ausbacker]

I have to be honest and say I really don't care if the Patriots spend all their picks on the offensive line and the front 7 of the defense.

 

[Richard Camembert]

Back to the mock for a second...

OK, in this one there are 3 QB gone in the first round, so the 5-techs we (OK, I) want go a little earlier. Watt goes high, we take Jordan at 17, and Heyward slips to 30. Wilkerson's stock appears to be rising as he's taken at 24, before Heyward. If we don't take Jordan at 17, Heyward possibly slips to 33, as the Jets take Heyward at 30 and would likely take Jordan over him, were Jordan available.

In a related note, we should probably have gone Jordan at 17, then Pouncey at 28 and OLB Justin Houston at 33. Leaving CB as the last of the needs I want them to fill.

In this mock, we could, of course, go Houston at 17 and then Heyward at 28. No info on what happens after round 1, but Houston would be available at 33 in this mock, so that would not be a great move.

Point is, this is the second draft I've seen where one of the 5-tech DE's drops far enough to grab at 28, and possibly even 33. In this scenario, we could justify trading up from 17 (using 60) because we can fill the DE need later.

 

[mgteich]

Personally, I have 5 of the first 6 picks being OL's or front seven defensive players, plus a running back.

I have to be honest and say I really don't care if the Patriots spend all their picks on the offensive line and the front 7 of the defense.

 

[ausbacker]

Personally, I have 5 of the first 6 picks being OL's or front seven defensive players, plus a running back.

That would be fine with me. Although I wouldn't mind us picking up DeAngelo Williams through free agency.

 

[meggett]

That would be fine with me. Although I wouldn't mind us picking up DeAngelo Williams through free agency.

or Pierre Thomas, he might be cheaper to get than Williams. Or trade for Ryan Grant.

 

[DaBruinz]

your right...you watch TV so much better than me......how could i have ever thought that i could watch a screen the way you do....

Gotta love people who talk out their arse and make fools of themselves in doing so.

You claim to watch the games, but your comments say otherwise. Maybe it's just a pure lack of understanding of the game. What I know is that there are plenty of others who agree about McCourty and don't lament having passed up on Dez Bryant.