For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28.....

[PatsFanStnfrd]

As we know the Jets selected Wilkerson at # 29. ESPN writer Cimini spent an afternoon in the film room with NYJets scout studying tape of the player. He was not particularly impressed by Wilkerson's potential as a edge rusher:

"Just my own opinion here, but I don't think you're going to see Wilkerson beat too many tackles with his speed and quickness. He's a power player, not an edge rusher. If he gets sacks from the edge, it'll probably be the result of a line stunt or a particular scheme cooked up by the coaches. Ellis has rare traits, but he's going to need a lot of seasoning. In our film session, he struggled at times to read his keys on the most basic plays."
An afternoon in the Jets' film room - Jets Blog - ESPN New York

Of course, as people have pointed out, PatsFans will closely be watching the full season performances of Wilkerson, Heyward and a few others whom the Pats chose to pass over by trading with the Saints.

 

[TealSox]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

With a three-man front, I don't the Jets are expecting Muhammad Wilkerson to lead the team in sacks. Nor would the Patriots had drafted him for his pass rushing prowess. More so, I think Wilkerson possess desirable size, strength and a impression motor.

By passing on Wilkerson, the Patriots made a statement as to how confident they are with what they have on the defensive line. I hope it pans out the way they imagine, because I'm not YET sold on any of the 34 DEs in 2012.

 

[s3antana5757]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

I think that this year was the year to get 3-4 DLs. Unfortunately, the Pats did not. You look at guys like Dareus, Fairley(maybe), Watt, Kerrigan, Liuget(maybe), Taylor(NT), Jordan, Clayborn, Wilkerson, Heyward are all possible at the position.

 

[ay-yo]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

With a three-man front, I don't the Jets are expecting Muhammad Wilkerson to lead the team in sacks. Nor would the Patriots had drafted him for his pass rushing prowess. More so, I think Wilkerson possess desirable size, strength and a impression motor.

By passing on Wilkerson, the Patriots made a statement as to how confident they are with what they have on the defensive line. I hope it pans out the way they imagine, because I'm not YET sold on any of the 34 DEs in 2012.

Your not sold on Ty Warren being healthier than he has been in years?

 

[TealSox]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

Your not sold on Ty Warren being healthier than he has been in years?

Nah, I was referring to the 2012 Draft Prospects.

 

[patchick]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

"Just my own opinion here, but I don't think you're going to see Wilkerson beat too many tackles with his speed and quickness. He's a power player, not an edge rusher. If he gets sacks from the edge, it'll probably be the result of a line stunt or a particular scheme cooked up by the coaches. Ellis has rare traits, but he's going to need a lot of seasoning. In our film session, he struggled at times to read his keys on the most basic plays."
An afternoon in the Jets' film room - Jets Blog - ESPN New York

What an odd criticism of a 315-lb 3-4 DE. What's next, complaints that he lacks the agility to play ILB? (The fact that he refers to Muhammad as "Ellis" makes it even odder.)

The "rare traits but raw as all get out" part seems dead on, though.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

What an odd criticism of a 315-lb 3-4 DE. What's next, complaints that he lacks the agility to play ILB? (The fact that he refers to Muhammad as "Ellis" makes it even odder.)

The "rare traits but raw as all get out" part seems dead on, though.

The film study was actually on Wilkerson and Ellis. . . .

 

[patchick]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

The film study was actually on Wilkerson and Ellis. . . .

Ah, OK. So the part of his analysis of Wilkerson that sounded right to me was actually about Ellis!

 

[rookBoston]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

Wilkerson is exactly the kind of DE that BB would want... and this report reinforces it. Power, size and strength. BB doesn't draft pure pass rushers and even the ones he does, he trains them to control the line, not shoot gaps. Wilkerson fits our defensive scheme. Fact that BB passed, to me, means that he likes what he's got. There's always the likelihood that he'll re-sign Gerard Warren, if we ever have a free agency period. That, plus Ty coming back, Stroud signed, Brace and Deaderick and Love all performed well.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

most good 3-4 DE's only get 4 or 5 sacks per year they are there to eat up blocks

 

[HomerSchooled]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

It occurred to me recently that NO's 1st rounder could conceivably be higher than expected, as well. NOs has several key players entering free agency (including their starting LT and LG), and they could very well end up third in their division. Atlanta should be better than last year, and their passing game may join the elite. Tampa Bay (a 10-6 team last year) should improve drastically. When the cap comes back, they could be a league high 70-80 million beneath it with only one significant free agent (Rudd). If the rumors of team's being obligated to spend upward of 95% of the cap are true, Tampa may be forced to add 3-4 high quality starters to an already young, improving team.

 

[charlie2]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

I really don't (and never did) understand the hype on Wilkerson. Sure he certainly looks the part and has ideal size and length to play 3-4 end however, he had only solid production against very weak competition and more importantly it's quite apparent even from youtube clips that he is far from stout at the line of scrimmage and gets absolutely blown off the line on some plays. While he is a better fit for the Jets in the sense that he relies on his speed to penetrate gaps up field rather than controlling the line of scrimmage, I have serious doubts about him at the next level-mainly because his speed and penetration skills are going to be severely limited at the pro level.

On that note, I am surprised the Pats passed on Heyward. He seemed to be an ideal fit at the end of the first round.

 

[TealSox]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

^Agreed.

I can't begin to understand why the Patriots didn't target Heyward. With his size and skill set, I figured he was a high upside pick considering he fell all the way to 31. I'm afraid he'll be a Pro Bowler with the Steelers in a couple years.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

^Agreed.

I can't begin to understand why the Patriots didn't target Heyward. With his size and skill set, I figured he was a high upside pick considering he fell all the way to 31. I'm afraid he'll be a Pro Bowler with the Steelers in a couple years.

Is Heyward really a significant upgrade over what we currently have? He could play a role, no doubt, but was he a bonafide starter and clear upgrade over Brace/Stroud/Deaderick?

He could develop into a solid player in Pittsburgh, though I think the Pro Bowl talk is a bit much. Only 1 Steeler DE has been to the Pro Bowl in the past 25 years, Aaron Smith in 2005. I'm not saying it's impossible, just that their defense tends to generate numbers for the LBs.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

I really don't (and never did) understand the hype on Wilkerson. Sure he certainly looks the part and has ideal size and length to play 3-4 end however, he had only solid production against very weak competition and more importantly it's quite apparent even from youtube clips that he is far from stout at the line of scrimmage and gets absolutely blown off the line on some plays. While he is a better fit for the Jets in the sense that he relies on his speed to penetrate gaps up field rather than controlling the line of scrimmage, I have serious doubts about him at the next level-mainly because his speed and penetration skills are going to be severely limited at the pro level.

On that note, I am surprised the Pats passed on Heyward. He seemed to be an ideal fit at the end of the first round.

I was a huge Wilkerson fan and not really impressed with Heyward.

In retrospect, I think that level of competition was a huge factor in BB not thinking Wilkerson was worth a first. Maybe if Wilkerson was from the SEC, the projection would not have been as steep.

Regardless we will get to see a lot of Wilkerson, if he stays healthy, over the next several years.

 

[TealSox]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

Now that the Pats have Hanyesworth, I don't think Pats fans will loss sleep over Wilkerson. Despite poor conditioning and even worse attitude, he has shown he can be a dominate performer. And the risk is on par with using a first round pick on a guy like Wilkerson, I'm liking the trade and the prospects of our defense in 2011.

 

[patchick]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

Now that the Pats have Hanyesworth, I don't think Pats fans will loss sleep over Wilkerson. Despite poor conditioning and even worse attitude, he has shown he can be a dominate performer. And the risk is on par with using a first round pick on a guy like Wilkerson, I'm liking the trade and the prospects of our defense in 2011.

That will be an interesting pair to watch. I liked Wilkerson as a long-term prospect, but for year 1 Haynesworth seems a good bet to make a better impact.

 

[mgteich]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

We have acquired a top DT and a top backup NT. Haynsworth replaces LOVE from last year's roster!

I would be fine if Haynsworth were used as only a 4-3 DT and a backup NT. I expect that he will also start at DE, although that is not at all necessary to making this deal worthwhile.

That will be an interesting pair to watch. I liked Wilkerson as a long-term prospect, but for year 1 Haynesworth seems a good bet to make a better impact.

 

[MaineMan]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

We have acquired a top DT and a top backup NT. Haynsworth replaces LOVE from last year's roster!

I would be fine if Haynsworth were used as only a 4-3 DT and a backup NT. I expect that he will also start at DE, although that is not at all necessary to making this deal worthwhile.

I was under the impression that the big issue between Shanhan and Haynesworth - wait, ONE of the NUMEROUS big issues - was that Albert didn't want to play NT in 30-fronts. OTOH, he should certainly be a presence on the inside in 40-front sub-packages. And, now that Stroud has been released (reported to camp with his shoulder still screwed up after off-season surgery), it does seem more likely that Albert would start at DE in 30-fronts.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

Re: For those who wanted Pats to select Muhammad Wilkerson rather than trade # 28....

I was under the impression that the big issue between Shanhan and Haynesworth - wait, ONE of the NUMEROUS big issues - was that Albert didn't want to play NT in 30-fronts. OTOH, he should certainly be a presence on the inside in 40-front sub-packages. And, now that Stroud has been released (reported to camp with his shoulder still screwed up after off-season surgery), it does seem more likely that Albert would start at DE in 30-fronts.

Great points and the sub packages is the first thing I though of when we acquired Haynesworth. I am sure BB with motivate him and teach him to be a great 5 tech. The way BB will get pressure with our current OLB will include Hayneswoth big time IMO. Our OLB cannot just line up and get 10 sacks but the way BB schemes with a guy like Hayneswoth I think this is a great pickup to help our defense.