Allen Bailey, Anyone?

[the wrothbroughterer]

I think he has what it takes to hack it as a 34OLB on this team, and not only that, but excel at it.

Going into the season I thought he was a potential, albeit a tad undersized, 34DE that we could target as a late 1st rounder. Then I read on NEPatriotsDraft that he participated in LB drills and was curious enough to take a look at his combine stats. If you haven't seen them, they are really impressive. In fact compared to the consensus #1 OLB binky, Aldon Smith, he stacks up just as well, if not more favorably.

Per SteelersDepot:

Height

Bailey 6'3"​

Smith 6'4 1/4"​

Weight

Bailey 285​

Smith 263​

Arm Length

Bailey 34"​

Smith 35 3/8"​

Hands

Bailey 10 1/4"​

Smith 9 3/4"​

40

Bailey 4.77​

Smith 4.78​

225-Press

Bailey 27​

Smith 20​

Vertical

Bailey 36.5​

Smith 34"​

Broad

Bailey 9'9"​

Smith 9'10"​

20yd SS

Bailey 4.56​

Smith 4.5​

3Cone

Bailey 7.43​

Smith 7.19​

Allen Bailey is just a superior physical specimen when you consider that he put up those numbers at 285. A 36.5" vertical is just stupid leg strength at that weight. I'm not one to get overly excited over 40 times, but the 4.77 is very impressive and thinking that Aldon Smith would be able to maintain that speed as he gains weight could be an issue.

Just like Aldon Smith, he worked the end and was sometimes kicked inside to play a 3-tech so any notion that setting the edge will be a problem should be dismissed. He's used to engaging with his hands, can bull rush, and react well in tight spaces.

There is a noticeable difference in the 3cone times and that could translate into a deficiency playing in coverage but as a rush 34/elephant he is a prime candidate. And at what should be the cost of a late 2nd, early 3rd round pick with less developmental needs than the guy that everyone has been clamoring for(myself included), you have to love the cost.

I'm on the bandwagon, ass firmly planted in the drivers seat, and this guy has found his way onto my mock. In my mind, taking him opens you up to being aggressive in getting JJ Watt and taking an OT in the 1st round without experiencing too much of a drop off from our incoming class of pass rushers.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

He's interesting, especially with BB checking him out personally; I must withhold judgement for now as watching him on TV last season failed to move me when considering him for either DE or OLB. If NE takes another look at him and we find out which coach was there, maybe then I'll bite ...

 

[Sciz]

I think he's a long way from being able to help any team, but that athleticism definitely gives him OLB potential. And thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for not calling him a 3-4 DE

 

[patchick]

I don't think Bailey's athleticism has ever been in question; he's quite the specimen. He's also a raw and frustratingly inconsistent player with no well-developed pass rush moves.

Then there's the Miami factor -- the Hurricanes' coaches managed to turn a lot of raw but promising highschoolers into raw but promising college players. So there's plenty of hope that a real coaching staff could bring out Bailey's incredible potential...eventually.

Can you tell I'm having a lot of trouble placing a draft value on this guy?

 

[Patriot Missile]

Can you tell I'm having a lot of trouble placing a draft value on this guy?

The only thing holding me back is BB checking him out personally. If he is picked 1a 1b or 33 I'd be a tad dissapointed. Maybe he is another one of those guys that turns to gold as BB christens him on draft day?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I think Bailey is a Jarvis Green replacement if he ends up here. He may take a few snaps elsewhere--like Eric Moore this season--but he's definitely not a full time OLB or DE in our base defense.

 

[the wrothbroughterer]

I don't think Bailey's athleticism has ever been in question; he's quite the specimen. He's also a raw and frustratingly inconsistent player with no well-developed pass rush moves.

Then there's the Miami factor -- the Hurricanes' coaches managed to turn a lot of raw but promising highschoolers into raw but promising college players. So there's plenty of hope that a real coaching staff could bring out Bailey's incredible potential...eventually.

Can you tell I'm having a lot of trouble placing a draft value on this guy?

I think a lot of people are, with a performance like that the Al Davis's of the world should be making enough noise to push him into the 1st round.

 

[pats63]

pats use 57% in sub-package.....just a thought

 

[Water Boy]

I wrote Allen Bailey off a while ago as a tweener, but he looked ok to me at the combine. I'd be ok with him as "Plan B" in the 2nd round if we miss out on Smith or Reed.

 

[dryheat44]

I don't think Bailey's athleticism has ever been in question; he's quite the specimen. He's also a raw and frustratingly inconsistent player with no well-developed pass rush moves.

I don't know where to put him either, but it's probably on Day Three. I have concerns about motivation, motor, and production vs. top competition.

 

[borg]

I don't think Bailey's athleticism has ever been in question; he's quite the specimen. He's also a raw and frustratingly inconsistent player with no well-developed pass rush moves.

Then there's the Miami factor -- the Hurricanes' coaches managed to turn a lot of raw but promising highschoolers into raw but promising college players. So there's plenty of hope that a real coaching staff could bring out Bailey's incredible potential...eventually.

Can you tell I'm having a lot of trouble placing a draft value on this guy?

Excellent point PatsChick. Randy Shannon...excellent recruiter, terrible coach. Talk over the airwaves down in S Florida was how little his players progressed while at Miami.

 

[bucky]

I think Bailey is a Jarvis Green replacement if he ends up here.

I would agree with that assessment. I think you're asking for serious trouble if you project a 285 lb guy from DL to LB based on his combine numbers. So, my value on him would be 3rd round, but only if we don't get a pass-rushing DE in round 1.

 

[SanAngeloState]

he performed well in shorts. Not so much on the field where his instincts are terrible...

 

[VJCPatriot]

Good athleticism, wish he were taller and longer. Kind of a tweener in size. Hard to categorize him but I would hope we wouldn't look any earlier than the 3rd or 4th round.

 

[the wrothbroughterer]

he performed well in shorts. Not so much on the field where his instincts are terrible...

He had 5(2008), 7(2009), and 7(2010) sacks and 9(2008), 11(2009), 11(2010) tackles for loss. It isn't eye popping, that's for sure, but it's still pretty good.

If you look at College Football Stats and run through the splits, there isn't a dramatic difference in his performance with respect to ranked and unranked opponents. He doesn't perform as well but let's be honest that's to be expected.

There was one video that I saw that really highlighted his biggest deficiency. He doesn't have a bad motor or quit on plays. He's just slow off the ball. Like really, painfully, slow off the line. Go to the 40 second mark to watch.

He does have explosion and speed off the edge in spades, though.

 

[sg14]

Going by the highlights on Patriots .com he looks like Justin Tuck.

Iff BB picks him, I'd be ok with that,,

And would not mind seeing him running a game up the middle on opposing QB's.

 

[Brady2Welker]

He had 5(2008), 7(2009), and 7(2010) sacks and 9(2008), 11(2009), 11(2010) tackles for loss. It isn't eye popping, that's for sure, but it's still pretty good.

If you look at College Football Stats and run through the splits, there isn't a dramatic difference in his performance with respect to ranked and unranked opponents. He doesn't perform as well but let's be honest that's to be expected.

There was one video that I saw that really highlighted his biggest deficiency. He doesn't have a bad motor or quit on plays. He's just slow off the ball. Like really, painfully, slow off the line. Go to the 40 second mark to watch.

He does have explosion and speed off the edge in spades, though.

Good God. He is lethargic off the line, its actually amusing.

 

[rookBoston]

The guy is dumb as a rock. Not a chance.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The guy is dumb as a rock. Not a chance.

Poor lad! The shame, if he only ... wait a minute! :enranged:

 

[Snake Eyes]

Good God. He is lethargic off the line, its actually amusing.

he performed well in shorts. Not so much on the field where his instincts are terrible...

Bad instincts and slow off the line kill it for me, those 2 things are absolutely core to being a good football player.