Early 2008 Watch List - LB and CB

[cstjohn17]

A nice thing about all the highly rated QBs is that it is a position the Patriots are unlikely to invest a first round pick. This could allow players at position of need to slip to them.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I watched the ESPN replay of Washington @ Syracuse: pitiful.

Keep an eye on #9 RB Louis Rankin 6-1 205 of Washington, he's fast and broke a number of runs.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.gbnreport.com/2007rbpreview.html

Top 20 RB Prospects
#	Player	              H/W	       School	
1	Darren McFadden 	6-1, 215	Arkansas      (JR)	
2	Steve Slaton 	       5-9, 205 	West Virginia (JR)	
3	Ray Rice 	       5-9, 205 	Rutgers	(JR)	
4	Mike Hart            5-8, 210 	Michigan 		
5	Ian Johnson 	       5-10, 210 	Boise State 	(JR)	
6	Brandon Ore 	       5-10, 210 	Virginia Tech (JR)	
7	Yvenson Bernard 	5-9, 205 	Oregon State 		
8	Tashard Choice 	6-0, 205 	Georgia Tech 	
9	James Davis	       5-10, 210 	Clemson 	(JR)	
10	Jonathan Stewart     5-10, 235 	Oregon 	
11	Jamaal Charles 	6-0, 200 	Texas 	       (JR)
12	Rafael Little 	5-9, 195 	Kentucky 	
13	Albert Young 	       5-10, 210 	Iowa 	
14	Allen Patrick 	5-11, 195 	Oklahoma 	
15	Ryan Torain 	       6-0, 215 	Arizona State 	
16	Dantrell Savage 	5-9, 195 	Oklahoma State 	
17	Calvin Dawson 	5-10, 210 	Louisiana-Monroe 	
18	Tyrell Sutton 	5-9, 195 	Northwestern 	
19	Kregg Lumpkin 	6-0, 230 	Georgia 	
20	Justin Forsett 	5-9, 190 	California

Sleeper file: Chris Jennings, Arizona State; Allen Aldrige, Houston; Hugh Charles, Colorado; Herschel Dennis, USC; Austin Scott, Penn State; Lynell Hamilton, San Diego State; Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth, BC: Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore, Maryland; Greg Moore, Bradley Glaththaar and Butler Benton, Cincinnati; Mark Bonds, Western Michigan; Courtney Tennial, Tulsa; Kenny Cattouse, Troy.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm hoping we see more from them against V tech this weekend, but Glennon didn't look that good against East Carolina until #90, the East Carolina DT, left the game.

The East Carolina LB Cotton was a beast against the run and in coverage. If he wouldn't have cramped up he might have cracked 20 tackles for the game. He really impressed me with his Physical play and nastiness.

Cotton did cover a lot of ground. I just watched the 1/4 game ESPN's replay shows and two seniors I'd like to see again are #51 MLB Fred Wilson and #41 DE Zack Slate. East Carolina is a team to track the next couple years because it looks like they have some underclass talent at DL/LB.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I caught a chunk of the second half of South Carolina/Georgia. Jasper Brinkley looked okay playing behind a pretty good looking D-line, but his twin brother Casper stood out more during the time I was watching. I checked their bios to see what they each did last season - Casper was a starting DE who led the team in sacks and was second to his brother in tackles-for-loss. He's playing LOLB this season (no W/S LB in the Georgia game) and is second to his brother in tackles after two games. For my money (in this game) I thought he took on blockers a little better then his brother did. Hopefully I can catch them again to get another look.

A late round/UDFA possibility for LB to consider is #12 Brandon Miller of Georgia. They have him listed at MLB, but he was playing SLB while I was watching.

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Box, my only reservation with Casper is that I really didn't think he had that proverbial "motor" and as such didn't seem like he was going at full throttle on every play. I also noticed that his brother is consistenly ranked much higher than Casper so was thinking that perhaps CB would make a nice second day, project pick for the Pats provided we have any left over after this videocam fiasco.

Also, I liked the running of Boyd. Not sure why he's nowhere to be found on any of the draft prospect lists.

 

[dryheat44]

I watched the ESPN replay of Washington @ Syracuse: pitiful.

Keep an eye on #9 RB Louis Rankin 6-1 205 of Washington, he's fast and broke a number of runs.

Another long, long, season for the Orange. The frosh QB has potential if he doesn't get killed this year.

Rankin is a freshman, no? So is the Huskie QB (brainfart), who looked outstanding. Looks to be every bit the athlete that Tebow is.

Washington is going to be a very, very, good team over the next couple of years.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think South Carolina is playing LSU this weekend, That should be an excellent game to scout the Brinkley boys since LSU has NFL speed on both sides of the ball.

 

[cstjohn17]

James Laurinaitis - Saw a little of the Ohio State Northwestern game, if you can call it a game... Was focused on #33 (Laurinaitis), it was pretty cool, they had the Ohio State defense get introduced by his dad, the ex-wrestler.

It was hard to tell if he is physical enough to play inside with a Patriots style 3-4 but he is very athletic, instinctive and makes plays. Also appeared to have a decent grasp of dropping into coverage. Based only on glimpses of each player I put him ahead of Rey Maualuga. Maualuga has the edge on pure physicality but is not as refined and doesn't appear to be anywhere near as instinctive.

If Laurinaitis is available he appears to be a player who could be an extremely high level backup and special teams player in year 1 and then start for the next 4 years.

Other player - Malcolm Jenkins, he got beat a couple times, not burnt but his man caught the ball. He looks the part, big strong, fast. He will be a starting NFL CB.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think Jasper Brinkley hurt his knee in the LSU game and will need surgery.

If this is true, it's a sad day for him and his family.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think Jasper Brinkley hurt his knee in the LSU game and will need surgery.

If this is true, it's a sad day for him and his family.

Brinkley is done for the year and will be requiring surgery.

 

[cstjohn17]

Brinkley is done for the year and will be requiring surgery.

He just lost a lot of money. The Chargers took a chance on Waters (Clemson) last year in the 3rd round. Maybe the Patriots can get good value with Brinkley in the 4th. They will have a need at ILB (stop me if you have heard tis before).

 

[zoidrk]

dryheat...I am a diehard Longhorn follower and I can tell you without hesitation that Jamal Charles is EXACTLY the type of player Belichick would NOT be interested in. He lacks focus, fumbles way to often, and both his intelligence and character are mediocre. The Pats would be much better off taking a Mike Hard in the 2nd or possibly luck out with one of their 3rd round choices and groom him as a replacement for Kevin Faulk.

I know LB and CB will be our biggest positions of need, but if the SF pick gets us in the top 15 we gotta consider one of the five or six OT's who have potential to be Pro Bowl left tackles. Matt Light has been a great player for us but he is getting up there.

Losing that pick at the end of the 1st round kills me because that is where we could have got our CB. There are about ten college CB's who are all relatively equally rated at this point. I am certain we could have got a Justin King or Jenkins from Ohio State at the end of the 1st.

You know what I would love, especially because it would kill Jets fans, is if we could trade back up to the top of the second round. As we approach the trade deadline and there are teams on the playoff bubble and sufferiing from a rash of injuries, I'd offer let's say a Chicago a package of Chad Jackson, Kareem Brown and O;Callahan for what might be a high 2nd. Jackson is never going to make it here, Brown has upside, and O'Callahan seems to be slipping. A team with a shot at the playoofs and in need of bodies might just overpay.

 

[dryheat44]

dryheat...I am a diehard Longhorn follower and I can tell you without hesitation that Jamal Charles is EXACTLY the type of player Belichick would NOT be interested in. He lacks focus, fumbles way to often, and both his intelligence and character are mediocre. The Pats would be much better off taking a Mike Hard in the 2nd or possibly luck out with one of their 3rd round choices and groom him as a replacement for Kevin Faulk.

I know LB and CB will be our biggest positions of need, but if the SF pick gets us in the top 15 we gotta consider one of the five or six OT's who have potential to be Pro Bowl left tackles. Matt Light has been a great player for us but he is getting up there.

Losing that pick at the end of the 1st round kills me because that is where we could have got our CB. There are about ten college CB's who are all relatively equally rated at this point. I am certain we could have got a Justin King or Jenkins from Ohio State at the end of the 1st.

You know what I would love, especially because it would kill Jets fans, is if we could trade back up to the top of the second round. As we approach the trade deadline and there are teams on the playoff bubble and sufferiing from a rash of injuries, I'd offer let's say a Chicago a package of Chad Jackson, Kareem Brown and O;Callahan for what might be a high 2nd. Jackson is never going to make it here, Brown has upside, and O'Callahan seems to be slipping. A team with a shot at the playoofs and in need of bodies might just overpay.

Welcome, and don't be a stranger. I like your post.....until you get to the last paragraph. If we trade Jackson, Brown, and O'Callaghan for a high second, the Bears definitely aren't overpaying. We're underselling.

Despite the fact that we have only one other WR under contract for next season behind Jackson, and that Belichick made an agressive move up to get him, I can't see him being traded. Besides that it would be the ultimate Buy High and Sell at the Lowest Possible Point strategy. Brown could be an ideal 3-4 DE, which are rare, and O'Callaghan is a contributor on the OL. I can't imagine any rookie we'd pick up even at the #35 hole is worth ditching all three.

 

[BritPat]

Currently watching the Wisconsin @ Illinois game, and I have to say I'm impressed with Vontae Davis.

 

[dryheat44]

Currently watching the Wisconsin @ Illinois game, and I have to say I'm impressed with Vontae Davis.

And I think you at least have to start considering Mendenhall a longshot Heisman contender. He's been great all season.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

A replacement for Faulk

What about Mike Hart of Michigan. Although I would not spend a 1st rounder on a replacement for Faulk, if this guy fell to us in the second, I would not hesitate to snatch him up. With a little work on routes, catching and blocking, he could be a viable option.

 

[zoidrk]

I understand the perspective selling low. But bottom line is as great as the Pats are this year, there are dark clouds on the horizon....specifically Gay, Wilson and Samuels all being FA's at the end of the season...plus Bruschi and Seau ready for pasture...and Matt Light on his last lap. We got BIG TIME needs next season - some obviously and hopefully would be filled with FA's. But again, bottom line is that we will be fortunate to get ONE STARTER out of this past year's draft. We need to get three or four out of next years draft. Losing that #1 really hurt.
I've never been a Chad Jackson fan. I just don't think he is focused enough to be a Belichick player. If he is healthy by mid-season and a team on the playoff bubble was in need of WR's, I'd take a second for him in a heartbeat.
As to O'Callahan, it seems that Britt may have overtaken him and I suspect if Kazur were hurt we might even see a Hochstein out at RT. O'Callahan is great to have around for depth purposes but if you could package him and get a high draft pick that could turn into a starting DB down the road you have to think about it.
I don't know much about Kareem Brown's status, but again, if there were a playoff bubble team whose d-line was hard hit with injuries, maybe they would "overpay" in a package. He obviously isn't going to leapfrog Green or Wright anytime soon, and it seems the other young guys Smith and Thomas seem to be regarded just as highly.
By the way, I'd love Mike Hart at the end of the second round, but I also think Jacob Hester in the third would be great as well.
But the main reason I'd kill to move back into the late first of early second is that there seems to be 6-8 CB's that are fairly evenly rated. I don't think any of them are in the Champ Bailey mode so if the SF pick ends up in the top 15 I'd much rather see a LT or LB. But I also doubt any of those top 6-8 corners will last to our pick at the end of round two.
But then, clearly I am a draft glutton. I'd only be happy if we had six picks in the top three rounds. I think last year taught us what a waste of time multiple second day picks are, the miracle of Brady aside.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Losing Wilson, Gay and Samuel out of next year's secondary is painful, but also remember that Rodney is definetely not getting any younger and his coverage ability was never a strong suit to start off with.

Sanders and Merriweather could grow into decent starters and it is possible to use day 2 picks for safeties for depth purposes.

However if we move Merriweather to CB, that would leave FS Phillips of Miami sitting pretty for us with the 49ers pick.

But regardless, we proably need 2 CB's between day 1 draft picks and FA's.

I have my eyes on 3 CB's that I think would work well in our system:

Zenon of LSU
Lowery of San Deigo St. (best ball skills of any CB in this draft)
and the taller of the 2 CB's down at South Florida, I forgot his name.

I plan on watching Jenkins of Ohio State. I hear he is the real deal, but I have not seen him play this year.

 

[SamBamsFan]

Losing Wilson, Gay and Samuel out of next year's secondary is painful, but also remember that Rodney is definetely not getting any younger and his coverage ability was never a strong suit to start off with.

Sanders and Merriweather could grow into decent starters and it is possible to use day 2 picks for safeties for depth purposes.

However if we move Merriweather to CB, that would leave FS Phillips of Miami sitting pretty for us with the 49ers pick.

But regardless, we proably need 2 CB's between day 1 draft picks and FA's.

I have my eyes on 3 CB's that I think would work well in our system:

Zenon of LSU
Lowery of San Deigo St. (best ball skills of any CB in this draft)
and the taller of the 2 CB's down at South Florida, I forgot his name.

I plan on watching Jenkins of Ohio State. I hear he is the real deal, but I have not seen him play this year.

I think your talking about the other Jenkins (Mike). This kind of worries me:
"Charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and opposing or obstructing an officer without violence during the 2007 off-season and South Florida suspended him indefinitely so character is a concern."
From Scouts Inc write up...