Ras-I Dowling at 33

[tricktak]

I really like this pick, woul've rather gone with Brooks Reed but hard to argue with it.

 

[BoyWonder]

shocked and smh...

 

[crowell33]

I really like this pick, woul've rather gone with Brooks Reed but hard to argue with it.

IR - RAS Dowling : missed time in college with right knee injury, left hamstring injury, left ankle fracture, right hamstring injury, reinjured hamstring trying to run a 40 yard dash at the Combine and according to PFW, had significant injury history in high school as well. Wait till he gets hit by the big boys in the NFL.

 

[Luke Skywelker]

Not me, because for me this is basically saying that Butler is a bust, a guy who went close to the same spot in a series of CB whiffs the last few years(Wheatley, Butler, etc.). I hate this pick. To me it tells me they're sticking with their soft defense strategy and not bringing in any mean streak in the front 7. They couldn't trade back to get this guy? Clearly there were takers. I understand the whole you can't have enough CB's philosophy, but to take a guy who has been nothing but hurt, at a position we are pretty set at, not what I would go with there.

This draft is a giant snore so far for the Pats. Wake me up when something interesting is done. Maybe they think Brady is going to play until he's 45.

 

[jukes]

can enver have enough corners, cant help but think their trade fell through

 

[Holy Diver]

http://www.darkknightblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/85450-10071-ras-al-ghul_super.jpg

Raz-Al Ghoul

My man....

Good pick, we get another physical corner who LIKES TO TACKLE!


I dub thee...

"Ghoul"

welcome to the razor, Ras!

 

[crowell33]

Not me, because for me this is basically saying that Butler is a bust, a guy who went close to the same spot in a series of CB whiffs the last few years(Wheatley, Butler, etc.). I hate this pick. To me it tells me they're sticking with their soft defense strategy and not bringing in any mean streak in the front 7. They couldn't trade back to get this guy? Clearly there were takers. I understand the whole you can't have enough CB's philosophy, but to take a guy who has been nothing but hurt, at a position we are pretty set at, not what I would go with there.

This draft is a giant snore so far for the Pats. Wake me up when something interesting is done. Maybe they think Brady is going to play until he's 45.

Butler is safe. This guy going to IR. Be shocked if he makes it through camp.

 

[Luke Skywelker]

Was he even going to go in the next 7-8 picks? To have an overnight pick at QB frenzy point(and it has played out as such with Dalton/Kapaernick going in the next few), and to come up with a banged up corner just to stock the shelves when there are clearly other needs - I see nothing here that makes me excited. But what do I know. This pick seemed to have so much value and the turnout was about as lackluster as I could fathom.

 

[Peachhead]

We had the 2nd most premier pick in the entire draft. No doubt we had offers on the table. Even if they weren't great offers they were something additional. We have one of the better CB corps in the conference, and we take Terrence Wheatley Jr?

Assuming Dowling makes it though camp in one piece he can't play Safety or STs (or maybe even press-man) or he'll break in half.

 

[crowell33]

We had the 2nd most premier pick in the entire draft. No doubt we had offers on the table. Even if they weren't great offers they were something additional. We have one of the better CB corps in the conference, and we take Terrence Wheatley Jr?

Assuming Dowling makes it though camp in one piece he can't play Safety or STs (or maybe even press-man) or he'll break in half.

Thats why he's called RAS-IR Dowling

 

[Luke Skywelker]

I think I've come to realize why the Pats like to accumulate picks - to roll the 50/50 dice on as many 2nd round CB's as they can hoping they can hit on one once in awhile.

It's become kind of the reverse philosophy, defend in coverage versus applying pressure.

 

[tricktak]

Ryan Williams is off the board to Arizona now so cross him off the patriots list. Really don't get the pick for Arizona when they already have Beanie Wells and Hightower.

 

[letekro]

What a bunch of hysterical nonsense in this Thread!

The guy was a major contributor as a freshman and was 2nd team All ACC in 08 and 09. He got the injury bug in 2010. What percentage of guys play all 4 years in college and don't suffer a few injuries??

Maybe he'll have bad luck in the NFL too, maybe he won't. I don't think the kind of nicks he suffered in 2010 are predictive of his NFL injury future.

Kiper said before the injuries he was a top 20 player. Get a grip folks. Does Jabaal Sheard and co really excite you that much?

 

[Holy Diver]

From Scouts.com


Pros: Plays under control and with confidence. Is disciplined when reading keys and doesn't get caught peeking in backfield very often. Very cautious of getting beat deep when working in man-coverage. Has good size and strength for the DC position. Is diligent about keeping outside contain versus the run. Not afraid to mix it up. Solid tackler; does a better job than most of breaking down and wrapping up in space. Flashes the awareness to go for the strip when possible.

Cons: Can hold up in certain man-to-man matchups but would need deep-safety support versus NFL WRs with upper-echelon quickness. Has some tightness in hips, while top-end speed is very good lack of elite initial quickness can get him in trouble when he takes false steps in man coverage. Will be late reacting to the ball coming out of QBs hands at times in man-coverage but has much better reaction skills in zone.

 

[reflexblue]

From Scouts.com


Pros: Plays under control and with confidence. Is disciplined when reading keys and doesn't get caught peeking in backfield very often. Very cautious of getting beat deep when working in man-coverage. Has good size and strength for the DC position. Is diligent about keeping outside contain versus the run. Not afraid to mix it up. Solid tackler; does a better job than most of breaking down and wrapping up in space. Flashes the awareness to go for the strip when possible.

Cons: Can hold up in certain man-to-man matchups but would need deep-safety support versus NFL WRs with upper-echelon quickness. Has some tightness in hips, while top-end speed is very good lack of elite initial quickness can get him in trouble when he takes false steps in man coverage. Will be late reacting to the ball coming out of QBs hands at times in man-coverage but has much better reaction skills in zone.

Thats nice but can he rush the passer? :bricks:

 

[letekro]

From Scouts.com


Pros: Plays under control and with confidence. Is disciplined when reading keys and doesn't get caught peeking in backfield very often. Very cautious of getting beat deep when working in man-coverage. Has good size and strength for the DC position. Is diligent about keeping outside contain versus the run. Not afraid to mix it up. Solid tackler; does a better job than most of breaking down and wrapping up in space. Flashes the awareness to go for the strip when possible.

Cons: Can hold up in certain man-to-man matchups but would need deep-safety support versus NFL WRs with upper-echelon quickness. Has some tightness in hips, while top-end speed is very good lack of elite initial quickness can get him in trouble when he takes false steps in man coverage. Will be late reacting to the ball coming out of QBs hands at times in man-coverage but has much better reaction skills in zone.

This guy has elite skills for the Pats defense. A huge upgrade for the problematic 3rd CB slot. Guy has so much experience in the BB defense, he may start outside on day 1 with Bodden sliding inside.

 

[BoyWonder]

Thats nice but can he rush the passer? :bricks:

Great question.

 

[Luke Skywelker]

Listen, would be ok with this player, but was the value there at this pick? Unless there was someone else chomping at him soon after(Bunting has him as his 15th rated CB - not that he's gospel), why there? When you had a full night to work a deal. Already at 42 and not another CB has gone. There were QB's that were definitely going to go and went. And other of late first round names. And there is PLENTY of other need.

 

[tricktak]

Sheard, Reed and Jarvis Jenkins are all gone and I really don't know who the Patriots have in mind at outside linebacker and defensive end at this point. Even when Cunningham and Ninkovich are productive they need depth behind those guys or somebody to compete with them. They're running out of players to choose from that fit what they need and they have very few needs but they need to be adressed early.

 

[crowell33]

PFW reports that prior to the college injuries RAS-Ir broke his hand junior year in high school and injured his knee his senior year in high school.