The Defense Before the Draft

[Fencer]

Just to make some adjustments to your roster... may seem minor, but it highlights the issues:

DEFENSE (25)
DE - 4 Seymour, Warren, Green, Hill/rookie Not sure we can afford the last roster slot there -- but we may need it for Wright's understudy.
the class of our D... a cause for tremendous pride

DT - 1 Wright
Wright only really works in the scheme when we shift to a 4-3 with Seymour inside. At which point he's a DE. He's also a FA of some kind after this season.

NT - 2 Wilfork, Smith/rookie
underlining our need for real depth at NT, in the form of an agile 320# tackler-- of which there are none in this draft class after Branch Agreed. Wilfork can't go all game, every game, and while Seymour, Warren, Green, and even Vrabel have played there, that doesn't seem to be the coaching staff's preference.

OLB - 4 Vrabel, Colvin, Thomas, Woods
all set on the outside... we're back to our 2003 form

ILB - 4 Bruschi, Izzo, Alexander/UFA, Mays/rookie
Seau would make this unit much better, but a Day One pick would still make sense. I still like Posluszny on this team, to ultimately take the reigns reins (sorry, pet peeve) from Bruschi. Bru, Seau, Pos and Izzo sounds SB calibre to me, and the one thing that would put this D over the top. Still need Alexander and/or an extra OLB for depth.

CB - 5 Samuel, Hobbs, Scott, Gay, Spann/Andrews/rookie
I actually think our CB situation is fine for 2007. Maybe a rookie to groom for 2008, and a guy for the PS... but the urgency is not there for me. Both Gay and Scott are FAs after this season. We really could use a developmental guy, unless Spann/Andrews grow into the role.

S - 5 Sanders, Wilson, Harrison, Hawkins, Mitchell/Baker/rookie
Harrison has got to be considering retirement. With Wilson and Hawkins, our need is more for SS than FS, which is why the excitement about Merriweather, Nelson and Griffin has be scratching my head a bit. Perhaps you're overlooking that both Wilson and Hawkins are FAs after this season?Plus speed has been an issue in the secondary. Hawkins is due for an upgrade. Aaron Rouse is more the size: 6-4 223#, but lacks the intangibles. I'm not sure I see a SS that I like in this draft, after Landry; John Wendling, maybe. Weddle?

I'm not wholly convinced your nitpicks were any more accurate than what you were correcting.

 

[BelichickFan]

Although Geno has been injured the past two years, he has been judged good enough to have garnered pro bowl votes in his healthy years. Samuels, is also a near probowl CB. Hobbs looks to be a rising player, as well. Gay proved himself as a starter on a Super bowl winning club, and Sanders has improved as a SS in only two years. Scott started for the winning record Steelers foro several years,as well. All four starters and even a reserve or two could be voted to the probowl in their careers. Guys like Rodney and Gay.

I disagree with your opinion that they either "sucking", except Rodney and/or they are "below average". When Geno is a free agent after the next season, he'll draw interest and as much money as Mr. Lewis got after being benched by the Eagles, too. Neither Bill and Scott, who franchised Asante nor the several clubs who were looking to sign him for big bucks, thought he was "sucking or below average".

I think I respect their opinions more than yours.

If you read what I said more closely, you'll see I said "Safety" not DB so don't throw Samuel and Hobbs at me.

Before you smuggly talk about their opinion, let's see how many Safeties are drafted this year. I bet at least two are before Round Five is over.

 

[AzPatsFan]

If you read what I said more closely, you'll see I said "Safety" not DB so don't throw Samuel and Hobbs at me.

Before you smuggly talk about their opinion, let's see how many Safeties are drafted this year. I bet at least two are before Round Five is over.

BF,

You're right . I'm wrong. You can read your opinion to refer only to Safeties and not DBs. But I think your still guilty of a little hyperbole. Wilson Gay and Sanders are not chopped liver. I do expect them to draft a S in the 3rd. Pisciteli, Weddel, Wendling or Rouse, (but I prefer Josh Wison at CB or Zak DeOssie.) But just because they seem to be good values about that time...

As for a first round midget safety ? It's Daft ! Sheer Daft!!

 

[BelichickFan]

I do expect them to draft a S in the 3rd. Pisciteli, Weddel, Wendling or Rouse, (but I prefer Josh Wison at CB or Zak DeOssie.) But just because they seem to be good values about that time...

As for a first round midget safety ? It's Daft ! Sheer Daft!!

I expect a DB in the first and third. And either a LB or another DB with the other first.

I'm not HUGELY concerned about CB with Hobbs, Samuel and Gay but we do need another there and we need him desperately if Samuel's not signed long term by then.

Safety, I like Harrison of course. Sanders is OK as a backup. Wilson, who knows and he's a UFA in 11 months. Hawkins - see Sanders but a lot older.

What I would really like can't be done without a #2, that would be a CB and S in round one, Siler in round 2 and another S in Round 3.

Given our situation I would be fine with signing Seau and Hartwell (or similar vets) to give us LB depth and draft a CB and two Safeties with our top three picks. I know you think I'm nuts but I'm damn serious. We've upgraded our starting LB, now we need depth there and more quality at DB.

 

[captain stone]

I expect a DB in the first and third. And either a LB or another DB with the other first.

I'm not HUGELY concerned about CB with Hobbs, Samuel and Gay but we do need another there and we need him desperately if Samuel's not signed long term by then.

Safety, I like Harrison of course. Sanders is OK as a backup. Wilson, who knows and he's a UFA in 11 months. Hawkins - see Sanders but a lot older.

What I would really like can't be done without a #2, that would be a CB and S in round one, Siler in round 2 and another S in Round 3.

Given our situation I would be fine with signing Seau and Hartwell (or similar vets) to give us LB depth and draft a CB and two Safeties with our top three picks. I know you think I'm nuts but I'm damn serious. We've upgraded our starting LB, now we need depth there and more quality at DB.

This is a solid synopsis of the state of the back 7 (or 8).

The only thing I would add, is that I hope a LB is drafted on the first day, in addition to vet FA aquistitions; and that some vet FAs at DB are added.