Pick #27- you'll be very disappointed if Pats pass on whom?

[BelichickFan]

Because they're all second rounders or worse. I match your lack of excitement in that scenario.

The other possibilities, Branch, Mercilus, Still, name them, they all give me the same feeling. I'm not always like this but I don't like what should be there. If we trade up for someone who's legit, fine, otherwise I hope we can trade out with at least one of these picks. I'd prefer to trade #27 for a #3 and #1 next year and take Bruce Irvin than take Branch in the first round.

 

[everlong]

Cox, Brockers and Hightower all fit the bill for me. I think the first two are gone in the teens anyway. I believe Hightower can play all 4 spots in our 3-4. I think about him lining up on the same side as Mayo and the offensive line having to decide who's inside and who's out? Who's the Mike? Who's rushing, who's dropping? One? Both?

 

[UK_Pat37]

Janoris Jenkins. This guy has a pretty broad range of draftability IMO, but if he's there at 27, then I think he goes a long way towards solving our secondary issues.

Another corner??? I look at a lot of corners and see free safety skills. In Jenkins' case, I see more of a corner, but I really liked what I saw out of McCourty in his limited time at FS. I believe McCourty has the skill set to play FS very well and would be a great complement to Chung.

Then, of course, USE the next 3 picks on pass rush.

I see exactly the same thing. If the Pats don't draft a pure corner and move McCourty to more time at safety then I can see us picking up a corner like Dennard or Johnson who could transition to FS. I would probably address it in the second round myself but if Belichick thinks he can move past the character issues then you'#re getting a top 20...potentially top 10....talent in Jenkins.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I see exactly the same thing. If the Pats don't draft a pure corner and move McCourty to more time at safety then I can see us picking up a corner like Dennard or Johnson who could transition to FS. I would probably address it in the second round myself but if Belichick thinks he can move past the character issues then you'#re getting a top 20...potentially top 10....talent in Jenkins.

All this can play corner or safety stuff is making me sick. IF you can't play corner at 22, you will never be able to play it. Call him a safety and be done with it! BB has done a terrible job of drafting guys that were supposed to be "flexable". As it turns out "Flexable" means not good enough to play at one position.

Right now the Pats have Arrington (a UDFA) as one starting corner, and Chung (#33) as the Strong Safety, he has wasted a first, two seconds, a third and fourth, on guys that are no longer with the team. Is McCourty a CB? He stunk last year, I don't know if he was hurt or what. Please don't even mention Made of Glass, he won't make it out of camp before he goes on Ras-IR. The Pats have 10 guys on the roster right now they are listed as DBs and another listed as a WR.

I'm of the opinon that if you can play either position, it really means that your not good enough to start at either. Obviously BB can not draft DBs, he should just go with pass rushers to cover up the deficents of the ten or so JAGs that they have back there.

 

[jah]

Really, I think that you need to watch last year a little more closely. Mayo played outside quite a bit.

Do you know the difference between 3-4 and 4-3 personnel?

 

[Snake Eyes]

Courtney Upshaw, I think the guys ia a great football player and am not concerned that he's not as athletic as some people think he should be. I also think we can find a place for him in a 3-4 or 4-3.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Do you know the difference between 3-4 and 4-3 personnel?

I really think I do. The trouble with some fans they get hung up on prototypes instead of looking at football players. Believe it or not some players can play both.

Now stick to the topic and contribute something of your own.

 

[everlong]

Courtney Upshaw, I think the guys ia a great football player and am not concerned that he's not as athletic as some people think he should be. I also think we can find a place for him in a 3-4 or 4-3.

The question is does BB believe that? I answered yes for Woodley coming out and the Patriots answered no. I think Woodley coming out was a better pass rusher and better in coverage but Upshaw is more stout against the run but that more or less they are good comps for each other. I question Upshaw's ability to play in space but that he'll have no issue setting the edge even with his sub-standard size, by BB's numbers, in our 3-4.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

The question is does BB believe that? I answered yes for Woodley coming out and the Patriots answered no. I think Woodley coming out was a better pass rusher and better in coverage but Upshaw is more stout against the run but that more or less they are good comps for each other. I question Upshaw's ability to play in space but that he'll have no issue setting the edge even with his sub-standard size, by BB's numbers, in our 3-4.

Does eveyone understand that Upshaw weighed in at 279 (Same weight as Crick, I think) at his pro day and only ran in the 4.8 (hand timed, which means 4.9 on the Indy combine clock), and looked as flexible as a statue?

Fletcher Cox is 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier but tenth of a second faster and way more flexible than Upshaw, but no one is talking about Cox as a 3-4 OLB. Because Cox for all his outstanding numbers is NOT a 3-4 OLB.

I think we just need to say that Upshaw was a whale of a college player, but would be better off in the Pittsburgh style defense than ours.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

If OT Martin of Stanford is on the board still, when we draft at #27, what does BB do?

Because:

1.) Unless someone else falls, Martin will be the highest rated player on BB's board.
2.) Do we need another 1st round OT? I think we do, but does BB?
3.) Is Martin only able to play the right side? I think he can play both, but he is not nearly as athletic as Solder, who would be able to step right in and play LT if Light calls it a career.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I don't want a T even if Light retires at 27. We still have Solder and Vollmer. For depth we have Marcus Cannon who is being projected at RT, Gallery can play a little tackle. I think Light is coming back making it a moot point.

I will be disappointed if we draft an interior offensive lineman at 27. A c/g. We have 9m playing LG. Our C is signed for 3 years. RG will not make/break this team. We have a HOF candidate at that position right now. A former number 1 pick as his backup in Gallery. Our Super Bowl teams won with a lot less at those positions. Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Ted Johnson and Lawyer Malloy were all 1st or 2nd round picks. We have to draft defense. You can't just get guys off of the scrap heap. Defense....Defense....Defense. If we draft Amini Silatolu I will eat a pineapple without taking the skin/shell off.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Does eveyone understand that Upshaw weighed in at 279 (Same weight as Crick, I think) at his pro day and only ran in the 4.8 (hand timed, which means 4.9 on the Indy combine clock), and looked as flexible as a statue?

Fletcher Cox is 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier but tenth of a second faster and way more flexible than Upshaw, but no one is talking about Cox as a 3-4 OLB. Because Cox for all his outstanding numbers is NOT a 3-4 OLB.

I think we just need to say that Upshaw was a whale of a college player, but would be better off in the Pittsburgh style defense than ours.

I'd much rather have Cox than Ingram, I just think everyone else is of the same opinion, making Cox a very unrealistic choice to fall to us.

 

[everlong]

Does eveyone understand that Upshaw weighed in at 279 (Same weight as Crick, I think) at his pro day and only ran in the 4.8 (hand timed, which means 4.9 on the Indy combine clock), and looked as flexible as a statue?

Fletcher Cox is 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier but tenth of a second faster and way more flexible than Upshaw, but no one is talking about Cox as a 3-4 OLB. Because Cox for all his outstanding numbers is NOT a 3-4 OLB.

I think we just need to say that Upshaw was a whale of a college player, but would be better off in the Pittsburgh style defense than ours.

That's sort of what I meant by I don't believe he can play well in space and if they didn't pull the trigger on Woodley who was a better match for us IMO then I don't see it for Upshaw.

 

[mrscruff]

I won't particularly be upset at the Pats not picking anyone at 27, but if Fletcher Cox makes it past 20 (unlikely) then I will be upset if we do not trade up. Otherwise I am all for trading down in this draft. The back end of the first is not significantly better than the early second.

 

[ay-yo]

The question is does BB believe that? I answered yes for Woodley coming out and the Patriots answered no. I think Woodley coming out was a better pass rusher and better in coverage but Upshaw is more stout against the run but that more or less they are good comps for each other. I question Upshaw's ability to play in space but that he'll have no issue setting the edge even with his sub-standard size, by BB's numbers, in our 3-4.

Actually I believe b/c Upshaw's strength is stuffing the run, BB will have him rated higher than most.

 

[ay-yo]

Does eveyone understand that Upshaw weighed in at 279 (Same weight as Crick, I think) at his pro day and only ran in the 4.8 (hand timed, which means 4.9 on the Indy combine clock), and looked as flexible as a statue?

Fletcher Cox is 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier but tenth of a second faster and way more flexible than Upshaw, but no one is talking about Cox as a 3-4 OLB. Because Cox for all his outstanding numbers is NOT a 3-4 OLB.

I think we just need to say that Upshaw was a whale of a college player, but would be better off in the Pittsburgh style defense than ours.

Why Pitt D compared to ours?

Start at the 43 seconds mark and you tell me if Upshaw can play in space.

Regardless, Nink doesn't play too much coverage and the other OLB / DE has even less coverage responsibility. Let him put his hand down and rush on passing downs.

Upshaw is the guy I would be disappointed to pass on at 27.

 

[Sfpat]

Stephen Gilmore, whom I believe can be an exceptional FS, far better than Barron or Smith. At 27 there will be numerous equally rated DE/OLB/DT's whom the Pats can select from at 31 and 48 but very few impact quality DB's.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

Really, I think that you need to watch last year a little more closely. Mayo played outside quite a bit.

In a 43 defense he did as the weakside LB.

 

[ATippett56]

At #27 overall:

Fletcher Cox

 

[supafly]

. Please don't even mention Made of Glass, he won't make it out of camp before he goes on Ras-IR. The Pats have 10 guys on the roster right now they are listed as DBs and another listed as a WR.

I'm of the opinon that if you can play either position, it really means that your not good enough to start at either. Obviously BB can not draft DBs, he should just go with pass rushers to cover up the deficents of the ten or so JAGs that they have back there.

Maybe you should follow another team? Seeing as how this team has won more games than any other team in the past 11 yrs, and has gone to the SB in 5 of 11 yrs, I am guessing that they are doing enough right to warrant that.

The thought that drafting/choosing secondary players who can play BOTH corner and safety somehow "not being good enough to play either" is borderline ridiculous.

You have no problem listing their failures, but you don't make mention of their successes or the players who they have successfully turned into starters.

You do realize that they drafted 24 players in just the yrs of 2009 and 2010 alone right? Apparently, you figured that all 24 would stick?