Top 5 talent

[carolinatony]

Here are a few of the players who would be Worth a top 5 pick imo
There are not many worth it. I see us trading down

Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU ........Great player but LB more of a need
Jake Long, OT, Michigan .......Solid but our OL is good
James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State..... Would will the void but will BB grab him
Kenny Phillips, S, Miami........ Maybe too high
Dan Connor, OLB, Penn State..Good but again would BB take a LB
Chris Long (DE) Virginia......... He is rated a top5 pic but we need LB

Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas....We need LB and CB more

 

[Remix 6]

no LB is worth top 5 this year..

 

[PonyExpress]

no LB is worth top 5 this year..

I read Peter Kings MMQB tonight. He says that he called around the league asking talent evaluators about Chris Long, and some felt Long's best pos in the NFL would be OLB, I assume in a 3-4. Have you seen Long play? I haven't. Virginia is never on up here.

 

[ayjackson]

no LB is worth top 5 this year..

not so fast...at Scouts Inc., only seven players grade out better than Laurinaitis and I've heard many say he's better than Hawk, who was a top 5 last year. There's some big games to come and the combine/pro days, so let's not make any crazy conclusions yet.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Jake Long is over rated; Vernon Gholston ate his lunch this weekend.

Glenn Dorsey is the best player in the draft, he can command triple teams at DT and can beat good left tackles as a speed rusher. I can't wait till he's in aqua and orange.

 

[zarakotas5]

Jake Long... Vernon Gholston ate his lunch this weekend.

I agree with you. Gholston made him look pretty bad. The announcers still lauded him. "The first time this happened, that happened, etc..."

My opinion of Long took a big hit in the OSU game. He looked like an NFL rookie when he was supposed to turn up his status as an NFL prospect.

 

[dryheat44]

I read Peter Kings MMQB tonight. He says that he called around the league asking talent evaluators about Chris Long, and some felt Long's best pos in the NFL would be OLB, I assume in a 3-4. Have you seen Long play? I haven't. Virginia is never on up here.

I've seen a few Virginia games. Long has looked unblockable. Warren Sapp unblockable.

I've heard many say he's better than Hawk, who was a top 5 last year. There's some big games to come and the combine/pro days, so let's not make any crazy conclusions yet.

I certainly don't think Baby Animal is better than Hawk (pun unintended...but that's just weird), but I suppose you could make the argument. In the Pro's though, Hawk is just much better equipped to play the stack-and-shed style required of a Pats LB. I think Laurenaitis is going to have to play the middle of a 4-3...an Urlacher/Vilma type player.

 

[cstjohn17]

I read Peter Kings MMQB tonight. He says that he called around the league asking talent evaluators about Chris Long, and some felt Long's best pos in the NFL would be OLB, I assume in a 3-4. Have you seen Long play? I haven't. Virginia is never on up here.

He seems to be either a 4-3 end or perhaps an OLB. I don't know if he is big enough to play a 3-4 end in the Pats scheme. He may be overrated because of his jeans (Wranglers I think...)

The OLB to watch is Gholston, he has Willie Mac size and had a great game against Michigan. I saw him beat the right tackle several times, others have reported that he beat Jake Long but I didn't see it.

Vernon Gholston may have passed Harvey (Florida) as the best OLB/DE prospect, he will rise higher after the workouts, he is scary big. If he runs a decent time, 4.6s, look for him to be a top 6 pick and potentially make an impact like Ware or Merriman.

 

[BelichickFan]

If Michael Ohur of Mississippi comes out he may end up being the #1 OT in the draft. Long way to go and, whether they should or not, the combines and workouts will change a lot.

 

[zarakotas5]

The OLB to watch is Gholston, he has Willie Mac size and had a great game against Michigan. I saw him beat the right tackle several times, others have reported that he beat Jake Long but I didn't see it.

Gholston repeatedly beat Long, both with strength and technique/quickness. Long was struggling more often than solidly blocking.

If you have DirecTV, there is a Big-10 channel that is similar to the NFLN. They play classic games, team reports, re-plays. They must be replaying the game this week. It's included in the basic package, not a premium channel.

If not, I'm sure it's on youtube, etc.

 

[PonyExpress]

He seems to be either a 4-3 end or perhaps an OLB. I don't know if he is big enough to play a 3-4 end in the Pats scheme. He may be overrated because of his jeans (Wranglers I think...)

The OLB to watch is Gholston, he has Willie Mac size and had a great game against Michigan. I saw him beat the right tackle several times, others have reported that he beat Jake Long but I didn't see it.

Vernon Gholston may have passed Harvey (Florida) as the best OLB/DE prospect, he will rise higher after the workouts, he is scary big. If he runs a decent time, 4.6s, look for him to be a top 6 pick and potentially make an impact like Ware or Merriman.

I am wondering whether someone who has seen C. Long actually play believes he has the quickness to play 3-4 OLB. As far as Gholston goes, IMO he's a 4-3 end, a physical specimen in the mold of Abiamiri, not a 3-4 OLB. Alot depends on how both perform at the combine. I have seen Gholston and he strikes me as a bit stiff. Harvey has his own issues but he is a more fluid athlete and seems more suited for shift to LB. That doesn't necessarily trnaslate into top 5 pick. Harvey is less than inspired vs. the run... in fact teams seem to run right at him with success. When he is interested he can be very physical in the run game, but his interest effort and intensity seem to wane frequently.

 

[dryheat44]

I am wondering whether someone who has seen C. Long actually play believes he has the quickness to play 3-4 OLB.

I think Virginia/Virginia Tech is on National TV this Saturday. It should be a real good test for Long.

Oh, and no, I don't think you can make a linebacker out of him. IMO in the 3-4 he's a DE that can be pushed inside on passing situations. I think he's quick enough to play OLB, but I think you're playing him away from his strengths in that situation. He can engage, and defeat, O-lineman pretty regularly to blow up plays.

 

[sebman2112]

Chris Long isn't big enough to be a fulltime DE in a 3-4 system like NE's. Yea, in the Chargers one gap, but not in NE. He'd have to gain some weight. Problem is even though Chris has decent speed, he's not blazing fast, so if he gained weight it would slow him down.

From what I've seen Chris is limited in coverage, and while he has good pass rushing ability, I don't see the speed/ability to drop into coverage and cover the LT's of the world in the flat. Last time I checked he was listed at 4.8 - 40, which simply isn't going to cut it at OLB, especially since NE's LB's have more coverage responsibilities than others.

 

[sebman2112]

I certainly don't think Baby Animal is better than Hawk (pun unintended...but that's just weird), but I suppose you could make the argument. In the Pro's though, Hawk is just much better equipped to play the stack-and-shed style required of a Pats LB. I think Laurenaitis is going to have to play the middle of a 4-3...an Urlacher/Vilma type player.

This is actually how I feel about James as well. I think he'll make a good 4-3 MLB, and he might be most effective in a Tampa 2.

 

[PonyExpress]

Chris Long isn't big enough to be a fulltime DE in a 3-4 system like NE's. Yea, in the Chargers one gap, but not in NE. He'd have to gain some weight. Problem is even though Chris has decent speed, he's not blazing fast, so if he gained weight it would slow him down.

From what I've seen Chris is limited in coverage, and while he has good pass rushing ability, I don't see the speed/ability to drop into coverage and cover the LT's of the world in the flat. Last time I checked he was listed at 4.8 - 40, which simply isn't going to cut it at OLB, especially since NE's LB's have more coverage responsibilities than others.

You're probably right... but maybe he'll surprise at the combine. If Long has great small area quickness and a great vertical jump that could be telling. He seems to have a nack for batting passes. That's what intrigues me about Tyson Jackson of LSU as well, at 3-4 DE.

 

[RussFrancis]

Before I watched the VA/Miami game, I was thinking Chris Long would be a nice pick at OLB in the NE 3-4. But he's just too big. I think he's about 285. He's a 4-3 Dend. He's a great pass rusher, and Miami was double and triple teaming him all night. But he's not going to be able to turn and cover backs in the flat or drop back in coverage and pick up WRs in the short passing game. He's just too big. But he's going to be a great pro probably playing Dend. Not quite big enough for the 3-4 but he is 6'4 so he's got the frame to add weight. But we're pretty good at Dend.

Now, after watching Michigan/Ohio State, Vernon Gholton looks like a serioius prospect. He's a 6'4 264. Roughly the size of Vrabel and Thomas. That's tremendous size for a 3-4 LB. Question is, does he have the versatility to play ILB and OLB? Thomas, Vrabel and Colvin all play outside very well. Thomas is probably already slightly out of position inside. But he's versatile and fast enough to do it. If this young Ghoston kid has those kindof skills, then he's going to be special. I think he's All-American this year at DEnd. ILB is the greatest position of need at this point, imo. Of course, they wont draft just to fill a need. But the kid looks like the real deal. So he definitely makes the short list.

By the way, I thought Jake Long looked pretty good. I think he'd make a solid pick as well. But the Oline is so solid right now, and Kaszur at the RT is only in his 3rd year. Light seems secure at the LT. No change really needed at either spot. And to draft an Olineman that high and that contract probably wouldnt make sense. I dont think secondary that high is an option. If we make the top 5 pick, its for a major impact player and immediate difference maker. With Bru and Seau close to retirement, I really hope they go with a young backer.

 

[ayjackson]

If Michael Ohur of Mississippi comes out he may end up being the #1 OT in the draft. Long way to go and, whether they should or not, the combines and workouts will change a lot.

I've read good things about Clady too, but does BB have a track record drafting or avoiding underclass offensive lineman?

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

Chris Long is 6'3" 285LBs whereas Vernon Gholston is 6'4" 264LBs. Long is more a classic 4-3 DE and Gholston is a DE/OLB based on size.

 

[PonyExpress]

Chris Long is 6'3" 285LBs whereas Vernon Gholston is 6'4" 264LBs. Long is more a classic 4-3 DE and Gholston is a DE/OLB based on size.

It's best to wait for the Senior Bowl/combine to know the true size/weight of players. Listed heights and weights are notoriously inaccurate.

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

It's best to wait for the Senior Bowl/combine to know the true size/weight of players. Listed heights and weights are notoriously inaccurate.

Agreed. They could both be considerably smaller. At least they both have experience rushing the passer. That seems to be something our LB can do well.