Why dont you like Paul Posluszny or do you?

[SeanBruschi54]

It seems people on this board are either all for him or all against him. My reasons are why?

Why the hate on a player who compares considerably to our own Tedy Bruschi in his best days?

Paul has been clocked between 4.58 and 4.65 in his 40 times.
Has incredible play reading instincts.
Solid tackler.
Has quick sideline to sideline movement.
Has been a team leader and and is considered to have a great on and off field work ethic.
AND
He can play coverage better than most.

His biggest knocks are his knee injury (which he showed he can play this past season)
His weight (240, but has the frame to put on more weight but we don't need that much more)
Gets held up my bigger lineman (isn't that the knock on most ILB's? most have that issue and deal with it once getting to the pros and getting the proper coaching)

Also Puz has compiled 372 tackles in 44 games. That's about 8 1/2 tackles per game. If you don't count his freshman year then its been closer to 9.5 tackles per game.

Also one more notable mention. Puz lost his best lineman last year in Tamba Hali and blew out his knee that off season. Yet came back and put up nearly identical seasons with a lesser line in front of him.
Games Tackles TFL SCK PBU INT
2005 12 116 11.0 3.0 3 1
2006 13 116 9.5 3.0 4 0


So what don't you like?

 

[rookBoston]

AND he switched from outside in a 4-3 to inside in a 3-4. So, he's already half way up the learning curve. I dont get the negativity. He's a great fit for the Pats.

 

[Handel]

He has small legs.







Says Tom Casale.

 

[Remix 6]

like stated..they went from 4-3 to 3-4 and he struggled mightly

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I like him, and if I was a Chicago or Carolina fan, or the Pats ran San Diego's version of the 3-4, I'd be drooling over him. Since the Pats run the Belichick version of the 3-4, and he doesn't weigh in at 240 (my profiled minimum), checks in at 6'1 1/2" and has a slighter frame than Bruschi, I believe he will have difficulty reaching and maintaining 250 (the prototype weight for Pats LBs). Each draftnik uses their own standard, mine has been laid out in my draft board building threads, I'm not expecting the Pats to draft a 260 lb. OT, I also doubt they will draft a 238 pound ILB. (Those who wish to point to the Vilma note in Patriot reign need to show me the Patriot roster he appeared on and conduct an analysis of the Jets' 3-4 and tell me he is as effective butting OG's helmets as he was hiding behind two wide-bodies.)

 

[Remix 6]

I like him, and if I was a Chicago or Carolina fan, or the Pats ran San Diego's version of the 3-4, I'd be drooling over him. Since the Pats run the Belichick version of the 3-4, and he doesn't weigh in at 240 (my profiled minimum), checks in at 6'1 1/2" and has a slighter frame than Bruschi, I believe he will have difficulty reaching and maintaining 250 (the prototype weight for Pats LBs). Each draftnik uses their own standard, mine has been laid out in my draft board building threads, I'm not expecting the Pats to draft a 260 lb. OT, I also doubt they will draft a 238 pound ILB. (Those who wish to point to the Vilma note in Patriot reign need to show me the Patriot roster he appeared on and conduct an analysis of the Jets' 3-4 and tell me he is as effective butting OG's helmets as he was hiding behind two wide-bodies.)

he was behind 2 wide bodies but wide bodies arent useful unless your good. if they had Wilfork maybe Vilma could of done better

 

[PATSNUTme]

I'll take him as a second or thrid option to either Willis or Harris. May even take Bradley instead.

 

[Remix 6]

i think Harris or Siler would be the best fit but if u want a guy who has tremendous potential but its a bigger risk than Willis.

Harris and Siler are less athletic but good against run as 3-4 ILB playing strongside while Willis has a chance to fit in but it would sort of take away his skills unless we run have the 3-4 that SD/Cowboys have with the zone blitz or w.e its called

high reward - Willis
safest pick for 3-4 : Harris

 

[Mainefan]

Whenever a poll has only two possibilities, yes or no, those with doubts have no place to go. How about a "not sure"?

 

[spacecrime]

It seems people on this board are either all for him or all against him.

Well, you either want to draft a guy or you don't. What's with the all-or-nothing stuff? Every player in the draft people have yea or nay opinions about, not just Poz.

I'm a nay-er. Too small, too much a guy who looks great in college but doesn't have the horsepower to make it in the NFL. Think Mike Ruth type of guy. Designed for the college game.

In the right system (Colts) he might do well. Not with the Pats, IMO.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Thats the reason why I hate him. He blew out his knee.

 

[Seymour93]

Another reason to like Posluszny...

http://sports.aol.com/nfl/story/_a/posluszny-heir-to-penn-st-linebacking/20070316085309990001

This doesn't mean he doesn't have his favorites. His eyes light up when New England Patriots linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel are mentioned. When he studies pros, he pops in videotapes of middle linebackers Zach Thomas, Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis.

 

[IceColdBruschi]

Thats the reason why I hate him. He blew out his knee.

It didn't even require surgery. I am a Penn State fan, and I have seen everyone of his games and think he will be a great pro. I have no idea why some people think Harris or Siler are a better fits for the Pats. None of them have experience in a 3-4, and neither have the resume or athletic ability of Posluszny. Poz is a throwback, and reminds me of Zach Taylor as a middle linebacker. I understand wanting Willis, as he is a great linebacker, but Harris and Siler do nothing for me.

 

[Remix 6]

It didn't even require surgery. I am a Penn State fan, and I have seen everyone of his games and think he will be a great pro. I have no idea why some people think Harris or Siler are a better fits for the Pats. None of them have experience in a 3-4, and neither have the resume or athletic ability of Posluszny. Poz is a throwback, and reminds me of Zach Taylor as a middle linebacker. I understand wanting Willis, as he is a great linebacker, but Harris and Siler do nothing for me.

harris actually played 3-4 at michigan a yr or 2 ago. Poz might have a little experience at 3-4 but so does Beisel..and u know what..Poz sucked in 3-4

 

[mgteich]

I think the issue will be whether Harris projects as a better 3-4 LB. I suspect that both might be available or within reach at 24.

 

[IceColdBruschi]

harris actually played 3-4 at michigan a yr or 2 ago. Poz might have a little experience at 3-4 but so does Beisel..and u know what..Poz sucked in 3-4

Poz had the same amount of tackles playing inside in a 3-4 as he did outside in a 4-3. He was also playing a new position in a new scheme with a knee that wasn't 100%. It could be argued that he was more impressive in 06 than he was in 05.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I like him fine at 24 or 28. I love to see his education work for him. A 3.57 gpa is pretty darn good considering how much football is involved in his life.
Can't deny his football credentials either, He knows how to play football and he plays it hard and with great smarts. I think he has the recognition to play in a BB type defense and I think BB knows it too.

 

[skaIownsIyou]

saying he struggled in a 3-4 defense as an ILB....

well that's cause he plays the OLB position...he's more of a 4-3 OLB....

any LB going from OLB to ILB will struggle mightly....esp if he just came back from a major knee injury...and he still managed to post good numbers....vrabel can move inside or outside, but he was originally a OLB, with the lack of ILB, he made the transition to ILB..

as a psu fan, i love pos, and although i may not see him in a pats uniform, i'm excited about the nfl career he is about to begin

if the pats drafted pos at 24 and nelson at 28, i'd be completely satisfied

 

[mcsully]

Ihe doesn't weigh in at 240 (my profiled minimum), checks in at 6'1 1/2" and has a slighter frame QUOTE]

Wait wait wait.. in another thread
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=53512&page=2
you say Willis at 240 is to small.. But now you say that is the minimum..

 

[skaIownsIyou]

It didn't even require surgery. I am a Penn State fan, and I have seen everyone of his games and think he will be a great pro. I have no idea why some people think Harris or Siler are a better fits for the Pats. None of them have experience in a 3-4, and neither have the resume or athletic ability of Posluszny. Poz is a throwback, and reminds me of Zach Taylor as a middle linebacker. I understand wanting Willis, as he is a great linebacker, but Harris and Siler do nothing for me.

i think pos is the best fit for the pats.....better than willis....isnt willis like 237lbs? ran a 4.35 or something like that?...

both willis and pos have their own respective pros and cons

willis
pro- willis's incredible 40 time will finally get some speed, (along with the addition of AT) into that LB core of the patriots who are known to be slower but better the guys who make the tackle

con- 237lbs...idk...but he seems more like a coverage LB than a hard hitting LB...i havnt read too much into willis besides what people post here, which is primarily his weight and 40 time...(obviously ^^) but if peopel say pos will have a hard time with opposing oline...having someone who is almost 30-40 lbs lighter....idk...

posluzny
pro- right after the 06 draft/his junior season, he was a projected top 10 pick in the following draft....he transitioned from his original more comfortable 4-3 OLB position, to a new position and formation at 3-4 ILB, and his knee, obviously, and guess what, he still posted near identical numbers in his senior season, and even with the new ILB 3-4 position, and recovering from his knee injury, he was winner/finalist for many collegiate awards for defensive/academic players.....he's not only an instinctive football player by showing he makes the right desicion, and even goign into a totally different defensive formation/moving to ILB, he's academically intelligent, in 05, PSU lost one game (to michigan, which was a last second come from behind td), so he sort of had the comfort of knowing, "if we dont stop the opposing offense, we're going to lose"....b/c kevin kelly cant hit fg's for his life, and morelli is no michael robinson, as morelli started for the first time this year...in 06 there was more pressure, and pos still put up the same or better numbers he did in 05

con- all of what you guys say, i still think pos is the best fit for the pats...


IMO- the best fit for LB in the 1st round for the pats are #1 posluzny, #2 siler, #3 beason, and a distant 4th willis....only upside for willis, as i stated before is his incredible 40 time, and fom what i know, the LB core isnt about how fast you can run, its about making the play/tackle when it counts....and posluzny is leagues ahead of willis in terms of football instincts