LaMarr Woodley?

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

I think he would be a good Patriot... similar to Thomas.

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24945&pcid=46

 

[zippo59]

I think Woodley is one of the best “football players” in the draft and will be a future stud at the pro level. I keep hearing about his size and questions about where he’s going to play in the NFL but when you watch him on tape, he’s a monster that does a lot of things well. His style of play is very similar to a guy the Patriots just paid a lot of money to acquire this offseason.

Woodley is an interesting prospect. Plus MichiganDave would be very happy.

 

[chunkypony]

yea, i heard he kills people.

 

[braveht]

The scouting rpt at draft countdown had this iffy review. If BB can down play or correct weaknesses he could be good, or better. I've concerns about his coverage skills. Not the biggest job at OLB but it is needed. Rosy's int. in the playoff was huge.

Strengths:
A good athlete with great quickness off the snap...Is solidly built...Very strong and a big hitter...Versatile with experience at defensive end and linebacker...Excellent in pursuit and has a motor that never stops...Natural pass rusher with a knack for getting after the quarterback...Technically sound, will use his hands well and can shed blocks...Holds his own versus the run...Has a lot of experience and was very productive...Tough, nasty and a hard worker...Team leader with good intangibles.

Weaknesses:
A 'tweener who does not have the ideal height that you look for...His timed speed is only average...May have to make a position change at the next level...Struggles with and can be overpowered by massive offensive linemen...His lack of size and pure speed will only be magnified in the NFL...Will not fit in well in every scheme.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think he would be a good Patriot... similar to Thomas.

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24945&pcid=46

Someone else made the claim that Woodley is similar to Thomas, yet when questioned on how they were similar, the person couldn't really say.

Personally, I think its a lot of hogwash. They are 2 entirely different players Thomas is fast, agile and quick, with very good football instincts while Woodley has decent speed, but isn't agile or quick. Woodley was regularly pulled off the field in passing situations because he's wasn't able to cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield. If he couldn't do that in D1, how is he supposed to do that in the Pros?

 

[Ceresco]

If we drafted Woodley I wouldn't be upset. I think BB could make him into a great LB.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

He is one of the most talked about players on Sirius Radio - They LOVE his NFL potential

 

[sebman2112]

I think he would be a good Patriot... similar to Thomas.

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24945&pcid=46

Completely agree! He's one of my favorite player's.

 

[sebman2112]

Someone else made the claim that Woodley is similar to Thomas, yet when questioned on how they were similar, the person couldn't really say.

Personally, I think its a lot of hogwash. They are 2 entirely different players Thomas is fast, agile and quick, with very good football instincts while Woodley has decent speed, but isn't agile or quick. Woodley was regularly pulled off the field in passing situations because he's wasn't able to cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield. If he couldn't do that in D1, how is he supposed to do that in the Pros?

They are simular in size, they both have good instincts, and they are simular as pass rushers. Woodley and Thomas are very good at killing QB's, and they are both good at stripping the QB or ball carrier. They also have some pass rush moves that are simular. If you watch a highlight video of Woodley then watch highlight video of Thomas they look a lot like eachother. Here's where they are different: Thomas is better in coverage, while I believe Woodley is better against the run.

 

[Michigan Dave]

Woodley is an interesting prospect. Plus MichiganDave would be very happy.

Very happy is an understatement.

Sadly, I just don't see us getting the opportunity. No matter how loudly I advocate for LAMARR AT 28!, I doubt he goes first round, and I know he won't be there for us in the third. I do know that if we got LaMarr, he would break QBs!

 

[Michigan Dave]

Someone else made the claim that Woodley is similar to Thomas, yet when questioned on how they were similar, the person couldn't really say.

Personally, I think its a lot of hogwash. They are 2 entirely different players Thomas is fast, agile and quick, with very good football instincts while Woodley has decent speed, but isn't agile or quick. Woodley was regularly pulled off the field in passing situations because he's wasn't able to cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield. If he couldn't do that in D1, how is he supposed to do that in the Pros?

LaMarr was not regularly pulled off the field in passing situations. That's flat out incorrect. If anything, LaMarr was a huge asset for us. The majority of snaps on defense were passing situations (we only trailed against Wisconsin, OSU, and USC) as other teams were playing catch-up. LaMarr was probably the best pass-rusher in D-I last year. Why on earth would we have sit him in passing downs? In fact, the position LaMarr played is a hybrid position we've had for years (initially manned by James Hall in 97-99), rush linebacker. If you look preseason, some people had him in the LB grouping, some in the DL grouping. For the most part, he played DE, but he has the speed and agility to play the outside backer position in the league. He hasn't had the oppurtunity to drop back in coverage much at all, so that is a weakness more from an experience standpoint rather than something he struggled with. In our defensive scheme, he either was stuffing the run, or rushing the passer.

 

[JDP111]

LaMarr was not regularly pulled off the field in passing situations. That's flat out incorrect. If anything, LaMarr was a huge asset for us. The majority of snaps on defense were passing situations (we only trailed against Wisconsin, OSU, and USC) as other teams were playing catch-up. LaMarr was probably the best pass-rusher in D-I last year. Why on earth would we have sit him in passing downs? In fact, the position LaMarr played is a hybrid position we've had for years (initially manned by James Hall in 97-99), rush linebacker. If you look preseason, some people had him in the LB grouping, some in the DL grouping. For the most part, he played DE, but he has the speed and agility to play the outside backer position in the league. He hasn't had the oppurtunity to drop back in coverage much at all, so that is a weakness more from an experience standpoint rather than something he struggled with. In our defensive scheme, he either was stuffing the run, or rushing the passer.

Damn!! DaBruinz, where's the know-it-all rebuttal?

 

[DaBruinz]

Damn!! DaBruinz, where's the know-it-all rebuttal?

Only meat-heads like you have the know-it-all rebuttals.

As much as I appreciate Michigan Dave's insight, I think that he might be thinking of only this year. However, in the 2 previous years, Woodley was regularly subbed for on passing downs when Woodley was playinig LB. Its pretty well documented.

 

[zippo59]

FWIW, Woodley's 40 time was a high of 4.84 and a low of 4.68.

 

[sebman2112]

FWIW, Woodley's 40 time was a high of 4.84 and a low of 4.68.

Actually, He's had a low of 4.62 and that's at 265-269lbs.

 

[sebman2112]

LaMarr was not regularly pulled off the field in passing situations. That's flat out incorrect. If anything, LaMarr was a huge asset for us. The majority of snaps on defense were passing situations (we only trailed against Wisconsin, OSU, and USC) as other teams were playing catch-up. LaMarr was probably the best pass-rusher in D-I last year. Why on earth would we have sit him in passing downs? In fact, the position LaMarr played is a hybrid position we've had for years (initially manned by James Hall in 97-99), rush linebacker. If you look preseason, some people had him in the LB grouping, some in the DL grouping. For the most part, he played DE, but he has the speed and agility to play the outside backer position in the league. He hasn't had the oppurtunity to drop back in coverage much at all, so that is a weakness more from an experience standpoint rather than something he struggled with. In our defensive scheme, he either was stuffing the run, or rushing the passer.

I'm not a Michigan fan, so it's nice to see that people who have watched him even more than I have feel the same way about him. LaMarr Woodley was THE best player on the defense, and he'll be a monster in the NFL.

 

[zippo59]

Actually, He's had a low of 4.62 and that's at 265-269lbs.

I got it off NFL Draft Scout so I dunno.

 

[Michigan Dave]

Only meat-heads like you have the know-it-all rebuttals.

As much as I appreciate Michigan Dave's insight, I think that he might be thinking of only this year. However, in the 2 previous years, Woodley was regularly subbed for on passing downs when Woodley was playinig LB. Its pretty well documented.

I think you're thinking of 2004. In 2004, we used the 3-4 defense for the first time, and LaMarr's role as a Rush Backer was much different (it has really been a DE position ever since James Hall was there in 97). He was still our second leading tackler, but we would switch to a speed defense at times, and go with Woods or Manning on the outside for speed. Jim Herrmann was big on disguising coverages and zone blitz, and when they bulked LaMarr up in the 03-04 offseason, he was playing a different position. He thrived in 2005 and 2006, and was rarely substituted for (2005 was when Pierre Woods was being disciplined, and would've been a good alternative to bring in.) If you go back even as far as 2003, when LaMarr was a freshman, he played in all 12 games in a more traditional role (still a lot of pass rushing) and was OK. That 04 season was just an odd year. Despite playing out of position in 04, LaMarr was still voted as UM's top lineman/backer.

Heck, save for last year, and you can make arguments against the development of most of our defensive linemen/backers, because our defense was flat out soft. They were not aggressive, and didn't attack. In LaMarr's first 3 years, the defense as a whole had 29, 21, and 24 sacks total. That is atrocious given the talent on the field. Last year, in a system that played to the strengths of our players, they had 43 sacks.

 

[Michigan Dave]

I'm not a Michigan fan, so it's nice to see that people who have watched him enven more than I have feel the same way about him. LaMarr Woodley was THE best player on the defense, and he'll be a monster in the NFL.

Yeah, but I'm very biased as well. LaMarr is a friend, and far and away my favorite player.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yeah, but I'm very biased as well. LaMarr is a friend, and far and away my favorite player.

MichiganDave -
Don't get me wrong. Contrary to JDP111, I am hardly a know-it-all and I alway defer final judgement to BB and Pioli. If they feel he is the best value available when they pick and they chose him, I'll be all for it. I just won't be expecting him out there much unless he shows enough to allow Vrabel to move inside full-time, which I think would be a waste of his assets.

Woodley could end up being the next Rosie Colvin for the Pats. Which would be great. But it doesn't solve the issue at ILB. And that is my biggest concern considering that this could, very well, be Bruschi's last year.