Willie Mac on Chandler Jones and Andre Carter

[mayoclinic]

Thought this deserved it's own thread. Karen Guregian talks to Willie McGinest about Chandler Jones:

Former Patriot Willie McGinest — one of the last true pass-rushing studs the team employed at defensive end — hasn’t seen Jones in person at training camp, but the NFL Network analyst watched film of the Pats-Saints game. His initial impressions of the first-round pick?

“He’s real physical. I saw (Bushrod) have to tackle him one time, which means he was winning,” McGinest said. “Bushrod had his hands full. I think the kid’s gonna be fine. He showed a lot of good things, positive things.”

McGinest also liked seeing that Jones put some weight on. That will better serve him playing defensive end.

“If they go to the 3-4, he’s going to have to be able to two-gap and take on the double teams,” McGinest said. “It’s not just about pass rushing in that defense. You have to be stout. You have to play the run as well. When he’s inside, he’s going to have to be able to deal with those tackles and those tight ends, and double teams and blocking schemes as well.”

In terms of advice, naturally, McGinest offered plenty for the Syracuse alum, who Friday made his teammates incredibly happy by catching a towering Zoltan Mesko punt which earned them the evening off.

“He has a lot of good tools. I’d like to see him use his hands and his length a little more to keep guys off him, because you get tangled up with those guys, they want to wrestle and grab you and keep you in tight,” McGinest said. “But he’s a long kid, he has long arms. The only thing I saw from watching him that I would advise is using that length more to create a little more space. Pro Bowl tackles, they want you to run down the middle of them. And you saw a little bit of that. But it’ll come with reps and learning.”

Early raves about Chandler Jones - BostonHerald.com

Willie also had this to offer on the potential return of Andre Carter:

“If (Carter)’s 100 percent ready to go, and he can play, and he can give you that flexibility as another pass-rushing guy, he’s going to help the team,” McGinest said. “You know Bill (Belichick’s) all about what’s good for the team. And if you can come in and help the team, then that’s what you do. But I don’t know what type of shape he’s in, or where he’s at (post-surgery). I just think it all depends on what Andre Carter you’re getting, what he has left, and how he feels.”

 

[Marqui]

Shame Carter got hurt, we could have had a great pass rush with Carter and Jones on the field at the same time.

 

[strngplyr]

I don't think we'd have Jones if Carter didn't get hurt, honestly.

 

[Bertil]

Shame Carter got hurt, we could have had a great pass rush with Carter and Jones on the field at the same time.

Not to mention a few well timed Super Bowl sacks...

 

[BananaRepublican]

Thought this deserved it's own thread. Karen Guregian talks to Willie McGinest about Chandler Jones:

Willie also had this to offer on the potential return of Andre Carter:

Things are looking good for Jones if an alum of Willie's stature rates his game like that. Nice insight into what Jones has to do to become elite. He doesn't sound that far away like we were led to believe.

Carter ... harumph. The guy has not materialized and we've already got a crowded roster. I think his contract demands will sink that ship.

 

[Marqui]

I don't think we'd have Jones if Carter didn't get hurt, honestly.

Not sure how you figure 33 year old Carter would stop them from drafting Jones. Not to mention they would still need a replacement for Anderson.

 

[strngplyr]

Not sure how you figure 33 year old Carter would stop them from drafting Jones. Not to mention they would still need a replacement for Anderson.

If we had an uninjured Carter still on the roster I don't see us trading up. If Jones fell to us, we'd take him at 27, otherwise I don't see it. When is the last time BB drafted a pass rusher in the first round even without a 10 sack Carter?

 

[ausbacker]

If we had an uninjured Carter still on the roster I don't see us trading up. If Jones fell to us, we'd take him at 27, otherwise I don't see it. When is the last time BB drafted a pass rusher in the first round even without a 10 sack Carter?

Should the Patriots choose to do so they can have Jones, Hightower and Carter.

 

[strngplyr]

Should the Patriots choose to do so they can have Jones, Hightower and Carter.

I'm more than OK with that. My point was never that it was Jones or Carter, it was simply that I don't think we'd have drafted Jones with a healthy Carter on the roster.

But yes please, bring back Carter if he's fully recovered, the guy is a workout warrior so I'd assume he's stayed in the best shape he could be in and he knows the defense.

 

[Rob0729]

Should the Patriots choose to do so they can have Jones, Hightower and Carter.

I don't know about Carter. He wants to be paid like a Pro Bowler. Sometimes players his age decide to hang it up rather than come back for another year at the veteran minimum especially when he isn't guaranteed a starting role. Carter as he was last year would get a starting role, but at his age and his injury he might be a situational player.

 

[strngplyr]

I don't know about Carter. He wants to be paid like a Pro Bowler. Sometimes players his age decide to hang it up rather than come back for another year at the veteran minimum especially when he isn't guaranteed a starting role. Carter as he was last year would get a starting role, but at his age and his injury he might be a situational player.

I keep seeing everyone say this but nobody ever posts the link, where did you all hear this from?

 

[Patriot Missile]

If we had an uninjured Carter still on the roster I don't see us trading up. If Jones fell to us, we'd take him at 27, otherwise I don't see it. When is the last time BB drafted a pass rusher in the first round even without a 10 sack Carter?

I hate that assumption "when was the last time?" when it comes to BB. He does what he wants to when he wants to.

He's been on record in the past as claiming he would move up if the opportunity or player presented itself. Quite clearly he valued Jones and Hightower or else he would of stayed pat or traded back. BB knows the difference in value between a aging pro bowler and rookies with the potential to be great.

 

[ausbacker]

I'm more than OK with that. My point was never that it was Jones or Carter, it was simply that I don't think we'd have drafted Jones with a healthy Carter on the roster.

But yes please, bring back Carter if he's fully recovered, the guy is a workout warrior so I'd assume he's stayed in the best shape he could be in and he knows the defense.

One thing we know is BB always has a plan. We must all agree on that. I'm unsure if Carter's unavailability would make much difference to BB's vision.

I don't know about Carter. He wants to be paid like a Pro Bowler. Sometimes players his age decide to hang it up rather than come back for another year at the veteran minimum especially when he isn't guaranteed a starting role. Carter as he was last year would get a starting role, but at his age and his injury he might be a situational player.

I'm not sure Rob. Until I see a comment that Carter want's a PB contract I'll reserve judgement on that. For his role, I agree with you that it would be situational.

 

[mayoclinic]

Bedard expects Jones to "rip it up again" versus the Eagles:

Bedard: Expect Jones to 'rip it up again' vs. Eagles

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

If we had an uninjured Carter still on the roster I don't see us trading up. If Jones fell to us, we'd take him at 27, otherwise I don't see it. When is the last time BB drafted a pass rusher in the first round even without a 10 sack Carter?

Considering the pre-draft love fest Mike Lombardi had on Chandler Jones; I'd bet it's safe that the Patriots would still move up.

Lombardi recommended the Dolphins take Jones at eight.

He's the closest analyst in the BB mindset.

 

[BradyFTW!]

If we had an uninjured Carter still on the roster I don't see us trading up. If Jones fell to us, we'd take him at 27, otherwise I don't see it. When is the last time BB drafted a pass rusher in the first round even without a 10 sack Carter?

I think you're narrowing the scope of your vision too much- we actually do have a pretty relevant comp here, which is that the Pats invested a first rounder in Solder just last year despite Light still being around. the Patriots plan for the future over drafting for immediate need, and you have to assume that Carter, being 33, was never in their long-term plans. My guess would be that Carter's injury will simply force Carter to see more snaps this year, which in the long term will probably help the team.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Considering the pre-draft love fest Mike Lombardi had on Chandler Jones; I'd bet it's safe that the Patriots would still move up.

Lombardi recommended the Dolphins take Jones at eight.

He's the closest analyst in the BB mindset.

I was agreeing with him about the Dolphins, Taneyhill at 8, wow! I could not have pulled the trigger on that. I would have taken the best pass rusher on the board, instead of reaching for Taneyhill.