What LB would you like for us to Draft?

[carolinatony]

BB most likey will trade down. and pick up another pick or two. Who do you see at say pick 12-18 that he may take at LB assuming he takes one?
Last year most of us liked Willis,this year its ??? What LB's to you like?
thanks

 

[dryheat44]

BB most likey will trade down. and pick up another pick or two. Who do you see at say pick 12-18 that he may take at LB assuming he takes one?
Last year most of us liked Willis,this year its ??? What LB's to you like?
thanks

If Gholston's there, he could be the guy. Especially in light of Colvin's injury/contract.

 

[patchick]

If Gholston's there, he could be the guy. Especially in light of Colvin's injury/contract.

The only guys I could picture in the top/mid 1st round are Gholston (OLB), James Laurinaitis (ILB) and maybe Derrick Harvey (OLB) or Rey Maualuga (ILB). Every one of those guys has college eligibility remaining, though, making projections a wild crapshoot at this point!

 

[Mikman]

If Gholston's there, he could be the guy. Especially in light of Colvin's injury/contract.

I agree on that. When Pats trade down a few spots, this should be their guy.He's a beast and his stock keeps raising. As a junior, he could wind up being the top pick in the 2009 draft if he stays for 1 more year in college. If he declares for this years' draft, Patriots could pick up an excellent pash rusher and run stuffer on a relative cheap price.

They can develop him as a OLB in their 3-4 or use him as a pass rushing DE when they come out in a 4-3 defense.

 

[Water Boy]

Last year most of us liked Willis

Through his first 11 NFL games, it appears that those of us who liked Willis were right. If we could turn back time, I wonder if BB/Pioli would be willing to trade their 2 first rounders for for Willis.

 

[carolinatony]

Reading pre draft talk this Gholston sounds like a good player for us and MAYBE this is the year BB will take a LB.
Please no more Willis talk; I really wanted the Pats to take him.

 

[sebman2112]

ILB in the the 12-18 range?

Rey Maualuga is the only guy I like at ILB for NE's system that could go in this range, but recent reports have him staying in school for another year....

OLB in the first round?

I like Quentin Groves, and think his speed (4.43-4.49 legit) would bring an added demension to NE's pass rush. His size (6'3" 250lbs) is pretty much ideal for the LB position, and I think there's a chance he could have some hybrid ability. I say this because of his size and the fallowing things I've noticed: Gets good arm extension ... strong leg drive ... sheds blocks quickly ... sound angles ... very good in pursuit ... reliable tackler in space ... high motor ... intense ... nice leaper ... and a leader. He plays at Aurburn and he's put up some very good numbers against top level comp, so I think he's one to watch if NE goes LB in the first.

There are some things I also like about Vernon Gholston and I'd be happy if the Patriots drafted him, but I think Groves could make the conversion to LB quicker, and I think he has more versatility as a 3-4 LB prospect.

Either late round one or early round two I like ILB Jonathan Goff, and think some people on this board underrate his ability. This guy has the frame to add more pounds and he sure looks like the 6'4" 240lbs+ that I've seen him listed at:

I've listed the things I like about him in the past, and think he could be effective in NE's system.

With Jasper Brinkley coming off injury he'd be an interesting selection early day two (if the NCAA doesn't allow his return in 2008) at ILB, Shawn Crable is interesting at OLB, and I've got to look at Tommy Blake out of TCU a little more. Some think he could be a 3-4 OLB, but I haven't been able to watch him play all that much.

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

I'm on the Brinkley bandwagon. I like Gholston as well. There are more and better OLB/DE than there are ILB. Most of them have eligibility left.

 

[Remix 6]

im on the Gholston wagon and Erin Henderson, from Maryland

 

[mcbee]

ILB in the the 12-18 range?

Rey Maualuga is the only guy I like at ILB for NE's system that could go in this range, but recent reports have him staying in school for another year....

OLB in the first round?

I like Quentin Groves, and think his speed (4.43-4.49 legit) would bring an added demension to NE's pass rush. His size (6'3" 250lbs) is pretty much ideal for the LB position, and I think there's a chance he could have some hybrid ability. I say this because of his size and the fallowing things I've noticed: Gets good arm extension ... strong leg drive ... sheds blocks quickly ... sound angles ... very good in pursuit ... reliable tackler in space ... high motor ... intense ... nice leaper ... and a leader. He plays at Aurburn and he's put up some very good numbers against top level comp, so I think he's one to watch if NE goes LB in the first.

There are some things I also like about Vernon Gholston and I'd be happy if the Patriots drafted him, but I think Groves could make the conversion to LB quicker, and I think he has more versatility as a 3-4 LB prospect.

Either late round one or early round two I like ILB Jonathan Goff, and think some people on this board underrate his ability. This guy has the frame to add more pounds and he sure looks like the 6'4" 240lbs+ that I've seen him listed at:

I've listed the things I like about him in the past, and think he could be effective in NE's system.

With Jasper Brinkley coming off injury he'd be an interesting selection early day two (if the NCAA doesn't allow his return in 2008) at ILB, Shawn Crable is interesting at OLB, and I've got to look at Tommy Blake out of TCU a little more. Some think he could be a 3-4 OLB, but I haven't been able to watch him play all that much.

I think straight line speed is a bit overrated. Plus Groves would be moving to OLB, which is a switch. He's looked lost so far there.

I'm not sure how he would hold up at the point of attack, which if he couldn't, is kind of a dealbreaker for a top 1/2 of first round draft pick. Groves seems like a one trick pony, just rush the quarterback and he has the speed (in college) to get around the tackles and do it.

Good LBs don't have to be drafted in the first round or even the top 2.

Plus I think NE's 3-4 doesn't put as much pressure on the ILB to be super fast...hard to be both fast and big enough to hold the middle against guards.

Jeremy Leman in the 4th or 5th might work. Spencer out of Arizona in the late rounds...Robertson the DE of GTech in the 3rd or 4th is big enough to hold the edge and has a lot of TFL and sacks.

It's a shame they haven't drafted some of these types of guys before so they'd be ready. Now they have to get vets who already "are ready" but they are few and far between or expensive.

 

[RussFrancis]

The only guys I could picture in the top/mid 1st round are Gholston (OLB), James Laurinaitis (ILB) and maybe Derrick Harvey (OLB) or Rey Maualuga (ILB). Every one of those guys has college eligibility remaining, though, making projections a wild crapshoot at this point!

:yeahthat:

Gholston or Laurinaitis. One of those guys. That's the ticket. Probably Gholston. He's playing the same position in college that Bruschi, Colvin, Thomas and Vrabel each did. With size and skills similar to Thomas. Nothing to not like about that kid.

 

[sebman2112]

:yeahthat:

Gholston or Laurinaitis. One of those guys. That's the ticket. Probably Gholston. He's playing the same position in college that Bruschi, Colvin, Thomas and Vrabel each did. With size and skills similar to Thomas. Nothing to not like about that kid.

He doesn't have AD's coverage ability. Frankly, I think he's more 4-3 DE than anything, and I want to see him go through some LB drills.

 

[Remix 6]

He doesn't have AD's coverage ability. Frankly, I think he's more 4-3 DE than anything, and I want to see him go through some LB drills.

hes dropped back and hes probably the safest 3-4 DE to OLB Switch in the draft

 

[PonyExpress]

As of right now Gholston and Harvey seem like the best options at OLB, and I base that mostly on stuff I've read. I have reservations about both of them from watching them myself. As for ILB, I have some questions about Laurinitis. Ohio State doesn't have a very good track record with their all-world LBers recently. I wouldn't classify Hawk or Carpenter as world beaters in the NFL. Laurinitis has a dad who was a pro wrestler and lived in a steroid culture. I would need to feel very certain that he didn't help his kid's athletic career along a bit, just to be safe.

Watched Maualuga. So much talent on that team it's hard to tell where the real talent is. Have to wait for the combine numbers.

Haven't seen Wheeler of GTech alot this season, and everyone says Wheeler has had a down year. But I loved him last year, and GTech has produced alot of good pro LBers. Wheeler they say is too small for a 3-4 etc, and it's probably true, but he has dynamic athletic ability and makes plays... passes defensed, sacks, TFLs, etc. He laso plays with an edge and has charisma, which are imprtant at LB. With the naked eye he's a better prospect than Timmons was.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Dan Connor here at PSU would be a good fit. He's a little bigger than Poz. And, has some minor(maturity issues) behind him. He'd be a great fit. If we trade for 2 1's. I'd consider him with the 2nd one after using the first one on a cb. Doubt if he lasts until the 2nd round.

 

[zoidrk]

the trend in college ball is to smaller and faster linebackers. I am interested if any of the smaller college LB's such as Mayo of Tenn, Hayes of FSU, Highsmith of LSU and the kid from Virgina could make the transition to strong safety and be groomed to replace Rodney. All these guys are in the 210-220 range and run in the 4.5 territory. That's gotta be faster then Rodney does it now.

 

[sebman2112]

hes dropped back and hes probably the safest 3-4 DE to OLB Switch in the draft

I don't agree with this at all, sorry.

 

[sebman2112]

Dan Connor here at PSU would be a good fit. He's a little bigger than Poz. And, has some minor(maturity issues) behind him. He'd be a great fit. If we trade for 2 1's. I'd consider him with the 2nd one after using the first one on a cb. Doubt if he lasts until the 2nd round.

I know Dan is about an inch taller than Paul who came in at 6'1.5" at the combine, but Dan (228lbs) needs to gain some weight. Even Paul weighed 238lbs (officially).