Tom Curran's draft primer...

[Seneschal2]

Curran is doing a position-by-position breakdown leading up to the draft. If possible, I'd like to keep this as a 'floating' thread, as it may be interesting to see if Tom will have a Patriots slant with these mini-profiles. And if so, this thread will serve as a handy reference. I'll update as needed.

Compiled after conversations with NFL scouts and front office personnel and Tony Pauline:

CBs

Safeties

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Curran is doing a position-by-position breakdown leading up to the draft. If possible, I'd like to keep this as a 'floating' thread, as it may be interesting to see if Tom will have a Patriots slant with these mini-profiles. And if so, this thread will serve as a handy reference. I'll update as needed.

Compiled after conversations with NFL scouts and front office personnel and Tony Pauline:

CBs

Safeties

Good read.

 

[Seneschal2]

Good read.

I agree -- which makes two of us.

Here's Curran's latest, which I find is worthy to consider: ILBs

Feedback please...

 

[BelichickFan]

I agree -- which makes two of us.

I read it, it was interesting in a minimilist kind of way. Top Fives are only so interesting . . .

 

[BelichickFan]

Here's Curran's latest, which I find is worthy to consider: ILBs

Feedback please...

Nothing too surprising there except that Waters is really moving back up right now. Was his torn ACL a straight torn ACL or was there other stuff involved like Harrison ? After his good workouts he seems like a great guy for us as we wouldn't need him as a starter until 2008 anyway.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Nothing too surprising there except that Waters is really moving back up right now. Was his torn ACL a straight torn ACL or was there other stuff involved like Harrison ? After his good workouts he seems like a great guy for us as we wouldn't need him as a starter until 2008 anyway.

Waters? Not until day 2. Desmond Bishop is another pretty good candidate for ILB that can be had fairly late.

 

[Clonamery]

Nothing too surprising there except that Waters is really moving back up right now. Was his torn ACL a straight torn ACL or was there other stuff involved like Harrison ? After his good workouts he seems like a great guy for us as we wouldn't need him as a starter until 2008 anyway.

If I got anything out of the 5 chosen to be highlighted, it would be a focus on Waters, I guess.

 

[dryheat44]

Waters? Not until day 2. Desmond Bishop is another pretty good candidate for ILB that can be had fairly late.

Apparently Waters looked fine at his workout, so really it's just a question of rust. Bishop isn't in the same league as a healthy Waters. I could be talked into drafting him at #91 if we haven't gotten our LB yet. If Bishop is there in the sixth round, I wouldn't be opposed to picking him up, but he's not going to give you what Waters will.

 

[BelichickFan]

Apparently Waters looked fine at his workout, so really it's just a question of rust. Bishop isn't in the same league as a healthy Waters. I could be talked into drafting him at #91 if we haven't gotten our LB yet. If Bishop is there in the sixth round, I wouldn't be opposed to picking him up, but he's not going to give you what Waters will.

I'm not sure why everyone doesn't want to touch Waters, torn ACLs aren't exactly career ending and, like you said, he's not looking too bad right now.

If we got one of the CB and one of the Safeties in round one I would have no problem taking Waters near the end of the 3rd round.

 

[Seneschal2]

Apparently Waters looked fine at his workout, so really it's just a question of rust. Bishop isn't in the same league as a healthy Waters. I could be talked into drafting him at #91 if we haven't gotten our LB yet. If Bishop is there in the sixth round, I wouldn't be opposed to picking him up, but he's not going to give you what Waters will.

Exactly. So much focus is on the early portion of the Pats draft, that if we don't draft a LB early, we better start considering some of these later prospects. I know BB does.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Curran rates David Harris as a 32-50 pick. I think he has size, 6-2 245, speed, sub 4.60, pass coverage ability, excels in run stuffing defense. He excelled at Div I big time football. He is smart, instinctive and technically sound. I think he is the best specific SILB 3-4 ILB in the current draft.

He is a a "safe pick" that will play, but some say he has a limited ceiling. Reaching for him at 28 versus 32 is hardly a "big reach". If we know anything about the Pats first round picks under BB/SP, is that they don't want to miss and haven't done so, to date.

After the fact, they seem to make sense. Would Harris look good at 28, "in retrospect"?

 

[dryheat44]

Curran rates David Harris as a 32-50 pick. I think he has size, 6-2 245, speed, sub 4.60, pass coverage ability, excels in run stuffing defense. He excelled at Div I big time football. He is smart, instinctive and technically sound. I think he is the best specific SILB 3-4 ILB in the current draft.

He is a a "safe pick" that will play, but some say he has a limited ceiling. Reaching for him at 28 versus 32 is hardly a "big reach". If we know anything about the Pats first round picks under BB/SP, is that they don't want to miss and haven't done so, to date.

After the fact, they seem to make sense. Would Harris look good at 28, "in retrospect"?

When I mock it out, without trades, I always come to the decision of Harris or Josh Wilson at #28, knowing that either one is a "reach". Usually I take Wilson, figuring I can hopefully pick up Bradley, Waters, or DeOssie later on. But by no means would Harris disappoint me at #28.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

When I mock it out, without trades, I always come to the decision of Harris or Josh Wilson at #28, knowing that either one is a "reach". Usually I take Wilson, figuring I can hopefully pick up Bradley, Waters, or DeOssie later on. But by no means would Harris disappoint me at #28.

I look at Robison, DeOssie, and Waters as the mid-round fallbacks, it always comes down to Woodley, Harris, and Bradley...and whoever Tony Pauline might be, he did nothing to take my eye off Bradley:

Tony Pauline says... "Big, powerful linebacker who forces the action up the field. Leaves a trail of blockers in his wake getting to ball carriers and dominant at the point of attack. Plays heads-up football and not just a linebacker aimlessly chases the action. Has a lot of limitations in coverage or when asked to make plays in reverse."

I have to wonder how much of the last sentence is related to a player in his first year back from ACL surgery, and whether Woicik, Nash, Pees, Pepper, and Patricia can improve on that...he's the perfect size to fill TJ's old shoes.

 

[Seneschal2]

Updated -- OLBs

OLBs

1. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
2. Jon Beason, Miami
3. Lawrence Timmons, Florida State
4. Stewart Bradley, Nebraska
5. Justin Durant, Hampton

---

Every OLB listed (except Bradley) is small by Pats standards. All are under 240 and relatively short. Bradley as we know is 6-3, 254.

That said, if size is indeed a requirement to play ILB for the Pats, then Bradley moves into the #1 slot. If BB suddenly detours from his preferred LB mold, then IMO Posluszny will rank up there with Bradley as the top two from this very short list.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: Updated -- OLBs

OLBs

1. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
2. Jon Beason, Miami
3. Lawrence Timmons, Florida State
4. Stewart Bradley, Nebraska
5. Justin Durant, Hampton

---

Every OLB listed (except Bradley) is small by Pats standards. All are under 240 and relatively short. Bradley as we know is 6-3, 254.

That said, if size is indeed a requirement to play ILB for the Pats, then Bradley moves into the #1 slot. If BB suddenly detours from his preferred LB mold, then IMO Posluszny will rank up there with Bradley as the top two from this very short list.

David Harris and Anthony Waters are the two of Curran's top five ILB who pass my size stereotype. I've opined enough on Willis, he's just a better fit for the Tampa-2 teams and a poor fit in a 3-4 taking on Guards head-to-head. Siler might be able to bulk up to 250, but his change of direction numbers show very limited quick twitch capability - Drew Bledsoe at ILB. I think the Pats are going to be making a decision between Harris and Bradley when looking over second round talent to take in the late first (those looking at rankings and thinking third round for Bradley, at least two pundits have Bradley going in the second). Waters is a nice fallback choice in the middle rounds.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Updated -- OLBs

Every OLB listed (except Bradley) is small by Pats standards. All are under 240 and relatively short. Bradley as we know is 6-3, 254.

That said, if size is indeed a requirement to play ILB for the Pats

I'm not about to eliminate any of these guys except Durant :

Paul Posluszny . . . A tremendous combination of intensity, intelligence and football skill. He has the ability to anticipate plays before they occur and is always flying around the ball.

Sounds just like Bruschi.

Jon Beason . . . A tremendous athlete who plays bigger than his listed size

Lawrence Timmons . . . Explosive athlete who plays bigger than his listed size

No reason to eliminate any of these guys IMO. This is an impossible draft for me to guess at with these guys, several first round Safeties, several late first round CB. Who the hell knows.

 

[sebman2112]

When I mock it out, without trades, I always come to the decision of Harris or Josh Wilson at #28, knowing that either one is a "reach". Usually I take Wilson, figuring I can hopefully pick up Bradley, Waters, or DeOssie later on. But by no means would Harris disappoint me at #28.

Who do you keep getting as choices at 24?

 

[dryheat44]

Who do you keep getting as choices at 24?

Marshawn Lynch RB California
Justin Harrell DL Tennessee
Anthony Spencer LB Purdue
Aaron Ross CB Texas
Paul Posluszny LB Penn St

To be honest, I'd rather trade 24 and pick up Spencer or Harrell at 28.

 

[NEPatriot]

I've found Curran's draft primers to be rehashed draft guides. I don't think he really follows college football to the extent needed to provide new and useful insight. This is also the case for most newspaper writers who are really writing for the benefit of more casual fan.

 

[biffman]

Timmons sounds intruiging. We could use him situationally for a year or so and then have him starting in year two.

Tony Pauline says... "Explosive athlete who plays bigger than his listed size. Makes plays all over the field and really forces the action. Defeats blocks, beats running backs to the corners and easily covers tight ends down the field. Not completely there just yet but has only started for one year."

Where is he projected to go? Late first/early second?