PushnPencils
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2007
- Messages
- 951
- Reaction score
- 7
I'll keep soap-boxing for this guy until he gets taken by someone on draft day. Hopefully us.
I'm glad I ain't the only one who feels that way:
PATRIOT FIT: If you can find a better 3-4 ILB prospect in this draft, we’d like to see him. Willis is strong and smart enough to contribute quickly in the Patriots’ system, and players like that are hard to come by. Unfortunately, for the team, his outstanding workout numbers may have put him out of reach. He’s projected to go anywhere from just outside the Top 10 to the mid-20s.
OLE MISS LINEBACKERS COACH DAVID CARRAO: “I think anybody that drafts Patrick Willis will get a middle linebacker that will lead their defense for a long time. He’s as dependable a kid and player as I’ve ever been around. … I think (what stands out) is just his overall size and speed. He was running sub-4.4 at 235, he’s got that truly rare combination of size and speed. … I thought he was a great leader. He was a young man that led by teaching. When other kids watched film, he’d teach younger guys how to watch film. All the guys watch film, but if you don’t know how to do it, then it’s not as useful. And because I was breaking down a lot of the film (as a grad assistant the last two years), he and I would talk a lot and, ask `Did you see that?’ or `Did you see this?’ and he’d tell younger guys what we came up with. … He’s got the natural ability to contribute in any system. (Patriots LB coach) Matt Patricia and I were GAs together at Syracuse and I told him, ‘I don’t know where exactly he’d play, but he’ll be a great part of whatever team he goes to.’ … More than just looking up to him, (his teammates) all liked him. He was a genuinely nice guy to everybody. Everybody liked to be around him, he was friendly to everyone, no one has anything negative to say about him, and that’s part of leadership.'’
LATER-ROUND LIKENESS: Anthony Waters, Clemson
I'm glad I ain't the only one who feels that way:
PATRIOT FIT: If you can find a better 3-4 ILB prospect in this draft, we’d like to see him. Willis is strong and smart enough to contribute quickly in the Patriots’ system, and players like that are hard to come by. Unfortunately, for the team, his outstanding workout numbers may have put him out of reach. He’s projected to go anywhere from just outside the Top 10 to the mid-20s.
OLE MISS LINEBACKERS COACH DAVID CARRAO: “I think anybody that drafts Patrick Willis will get a middle linebacker that will lead their defense for a long time. He’s as dependable a kid and player as I’ve ever been around. … I think (what stands out) is just his overall size and speed. He was running sub-4.4 at 235, he’s got that truly rare combination of size and speed. … I thought he was a great leader. He was a young man that led by teaching. When other kids watched film, he’d teach younger guys how to watch film. All the guys watch film, but if you don’t know how to do it, then it’s not as useful. And because I was breaking down a lot of the film (as a grad assistant the last two years), he and I would talk a lot and, ask `Did you see that?’ or `Did you see this?’ and he’d tell younger guys what we came up with. … He’s got the natural ability to contribute in any system. (Patriots LB coach) Matt Patricia and I were GAs together at Syracuse and I told him, ‘I don’t know where exactly he’d play, but he’ll be a great part of whatever team he goes to.’ … More than just looking up to him, (his teammates) all liked him. He was a genuinely nice guy to everybody. Everybody liked to be around him, he was friendly to everyone, no one has anything negative to say about him, and that’s part of leadership.'’
LATER-ROUND LIKENESS: Anthony Waters, Clemson