Howie Long sees C. Long as 3-4 OLB in NFL

[PonyExpress]

http://www.weei.com/pages/268228.php

Now that Al Groh, an NFL coach who ran the 3-4 with BB, and BB's good friend, and C. Long's father, a HOF defensive player, both believe that C. Long should play 3-4 OLB in the NFL, is there any real question? Howie also said he would like to see C. Long play for the Pats.

The draft order is

1. Miami
2. St Louis
3. Atlanta
4. Oakland
5. KC
6. NYJets
7. Pats

Miami may draft him #1, but would prefer to trade down. If they stay at #1, my guess would be M. Ryan. The reason I say Matt Ryan is that the BC Coach is considered a sleeper to be hired as HC for the Dolphins. He has long said that Ryan is like Hasselbeck, whom he coached with Seattle. Hasselbeck is a personal favorite of Parcells. The Parcells/Coughlin BC/Mara family/BC/Hasselbeck/Ron Wolfe (GB architect, Parcells confidante, and mentor to Jagozinski)/ Ryan connection tells me that Ryan is definitely on the Dolphins radar. While Parcells' supposed rule is not to draft Qbs high in the draft, he did select Bledsoe.

St Louis desperately needs O-line help: Jake Long

Atlanta needs either a Qb or a dynamic talent to energize the fan base, one with which the SEC fans are familar: McFadden

Oakland was a sieve at D-Tackle, and the retirement of W. Sapp and the injury and free agency of Tommy Kelly leave a gaping hole in the D. Also, IMO Al Davis would be reluctant to draft Howie's son considering the tremendous pressure the kid would be under living up to the legend of his father in his father's uniform. I think Howie would make that known to Al Davis as not something he would want for his kid. IMO Oakland will take Dorsey or S. Ellis.

KC is loaded at DE with Jared Allen and Tamba Hali. Allen will be franchised. KC desperately needs offensive talent. The offensive line is a problem. Clady or Otah seem logical. Also they may look at an elite young secondary player like K. Phillips (even though they have Page and Pollard) or either of the Jenkins boys to replace the aging Law and Surtain. But they are a real candidate to TRADE DOWN a few slots.

The Jets will definitely draft C. Long if available. Otherwise they will trade down to acquire more picks, because they only have 4 in the whole draft after trading up twice last year for Revis and Harris.

IMO if the Dolphins do not take C. Long at #1, the Patriots can get him by trading up to #5 with KC, ahead of the Jets. Such a trade would only cost the Pats the #7 overall plus their early 3rd rd pick, the one they acquired from Oakland.

If that opportunity presented itself, I would definitely do that. From what I have seen of college football, Chris Long is playing at a completely different level than the other prospects. He is playing at an NFL level, but in college. It's pretty astounding. His physical talent is similar to McGinest, his intensity reminds me of Bruschi, his intelligence of Vrabel. He is like a composite of the classic Patriot Lbing corps. Personally I wonder if Long has been on the Pats radar since last year, and they were planning on accumulating the necessary draft picks to make a trade up for him when they basically passed on last year's draft and acquired multiple early picks in this one. The Spygate penalty has hurt their position but not irreparably.

 

[cstjohn17]

IMO if the Dolphins do not take C. Long at #1, the Patriots can get him by trading up to #5 with KC, ahead of the Jets. Such a trade would only cost the Pats the #7 overall plus their early 3rd rd pick, the one they acquired from Oakland.

I have been thinking about the same trade, sure the cap hit is crazy but think of this front seven.

Assumes either Bruschi or Seau return and split duty with a rookie.

OLB - Colvin, Woods
DE - Seymour, Green
ILB - Bruschi/Seau, Alexander, Lua
NT - Wilfork, Wright
ILB - Thomas, Ben Moffit (Central Florida, my Binkie)
DE - Warren, Smith
OLB - Vrabel, Long

They would be able to put serious pressure on the QB. In 2009 Long takes Colvin's spot and Moffitt takes over for Bruschi/Seau.

 

[BradyToMoss]

Chris Long and Rosie on the edges and we would have to move Vrable back inside with AT, how's that for a 3-4. (Long, Rosie, Vrable and AThomas).

Here's what I would do if I were BB:

Assuming (McFadden, Dorsey, JLong) go top 3 in any order and that's what the order will end up being. If Long gets past Oakland, get on the horn ASAP with KC and jump in front of the Jets, KC would be looking to deal down and still have a shot at Matt Ryan at 7 because we're still in front of QB-starved Baltmore. We grab Long at #5 and give KC a 4th rounder.

 

[c_nice_37]

Here's what I would do if I were BB:

Assuming (McFadden, Dorsey, JLong) go top 3 in any order and that's what the order will end up being. If Long gets past Oakland, get on the horn ASAP with KC and jump in front of the Jets, KC would be looking to deal down and still have a shot at Matt Ryan at 7 because we're still in front of QB-starved Baltmore. We grab Long at #5 and give KC a 4th rounder.

This would be unbelievable. You'd have to think the Jets know this and we'd be bidding against them (they'll need to talk to KC to move up 1 spot.) It can't be that easy.

Trading down is much much more likely. However, if this could play out I'd be all for it.

 

[patchick]

ILB - Thomas, Ben Moffit (Central Florida, my Binkie)

Isn't Moffitt facing some massive character questions? A shame, since he seems like a good fit on the field.

 

[dryheat44]

Isn't Moffitt facing some massive character questions? A shame, since he seems like a good fit on the field.

Yeah, his estranged wife claims she wrote every paper for him at USF, and took on-line courses for him. (Hey, the Patriots are cheaters, right?) There's some pretty amusing/sad quotes:

"Ben Moffitt has never written a paper," Shauna told the paper. "Never. Ever. I love him, but he doesn't know how to spell. He cheats"


"We were a team," Shauna said. "I did the papers in order for Ben to play. I'd write his paper and he'd go clean the kitchen. I wrote those papers because I love him and I was trying to help our future. I don't want to do anything that won't please Christ. I'm tired of him being portrayed as Mr. Wonderful. He's been awful, awful to me and these kids for two months."


Oh yeah...and he's slow. Really, really slow. He's been listed as 4.7, but I'd have to see that to believe it. I don't think he could beat a 4.9

 

[patchick]

It's pretty ugly with Moffitt. The team had this big PR campaign about how Mr. Wonderful would lead the defense in practice then drive an hour home to be with his wife and kids. But now it's coming out that he actually abandoned the wife and kids in the middle of the season (according to his wife: no more rent money, no visits to the children, etc.)...but let the PR machine keep rolling.

Oh yeah, this was a Chris Long thread, right? OK...I'd be delighted to see Long a Patriot. But they'd better finagle a way to draft at least 2 CBs, too.

 

[PonyExpress]

It's pretty ugly with Moffitt. The team had this big PR campaign about how Mr. Wonderful would lead the defense in practice then drive an hour home to be with his wife and kids. But now it's coming out that he actually abandoned the wife and kids in the middle of the season (according to his wife: no more rent money, no visits to the children, etc.)...but let the PR machine keep rolling.

Oh yeah, this was a Chris Long thread, right? OK...I'd be delighted to see Long a Patriot. But they'd better finagle a way to draft at least 2 CBs, too.

Don't see why they need at least 2 cbs. They could resign Randall Gay, sign a cheap veteran like Brian Kelly wanting another title, then take a young cb in rd 2 or 3.

 

[sebman2112]

Don't see why they need at least 2 cbs. They could resign Randall Gay, sign a cheap veteran like Brian Kelly wanting another title, then take a young cb in rd 2 or 3.

They'll draft at least two "DB's", and I'm almost certain of this.

The difference being one will be a Safety. I wouldn't be surprised if they drafted two CB's and one Safety (overall). They've got plenty of picks...

I don't think they have any intentions of trading up either. If Chris Long becomes a Patriot it's likely coming with his slipping past the Jets, and into their laps. Remember, they waited for Wilfork and didn't have to trade up to get him.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

This would be unbelievable. You'd have to think the Jets know this and we'd be bidding against them (they'll need to talk to KC to move up 1 spot.) It can't be that easy.

Trading down is much much more likely. However, if this could play out I'd be all for it.

Heck, even if that happens, they still increase the price the JEST have to pay, so it's all good in my book.

 

[patchick]

Don't see why they need at least 2 cbs. They could resign Randall Gay, sign a cheap veteran like Brian Kelly wanting another title, then take a young cb in rd 2 or 3.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I don't think there is such a thing as a "cheap veteran CB" any more. When a guy like Jason David signs for 4 years at $4 million per, you know there's a serious supply/demand problem at the position. I suspect they'll have some competition for Gay.

Right now, the Patriots CBs under contract for 2008 are:
Ellis Hobbs
Mike Richardson
Antwain Spann

Even adding Randall Gay to that mix, I'd like to make like 2003 and draft a couple in hopes of finding a guy ready ready to start sooner rather than later.

 

[BelichickFan]

"Ben Moffitt has never written a paper," Shauna told the paper. "Never. Ever. I love him, but he doesn't know how to spell. He cheats"

Just waiting for someone to stop in and say this makes him the perfect Patriot :bricks:

Anyway - I like Long but if we draft that high I'm hoping for someone who can play a lot quickly (not necessarily start immediately). If Colvin leaves and Thomas goes back inside that could happen but I don't see a lot of snaps for a rookie OLB in 2008.

I'm more focused on CB or RT if the value looks good at #7 and, early, it looks like it just might. Of course what I really want to do is trade down for a lower #1, another pick and a #1 next year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It's pretty ugly with Moffitt. The team had this big PR campaign about how Mr. Wonderful would lead the defense in practice then drive an hour home to be with his wife and kids. But now it's coming out that he actually abandoned the wife and kids in the middle of the season (according to his wife: no more rent money, no visits to the children, etc.)...but let the PR machine keep rolling.

I said a few weeks ago that, in my mind, Eckel--whatever his faults might have been--hadn't done anything I considered unforgiveable. IF what Moffitt's wife is claiming is true (this is the first I've heard of it), then Moffitt is certainly not the kind of human being I want to see in a Pats uniform.

 

[Wretch]

If the Dolphins take Ryan like you think. I think it is more likely that they would take Glen Dorsey. The Jets have huge DL problems. They need some space eaters on the line.

I wasn't aware of the Parcells BC connection but I think it is unlikely the Dolhpins take Ryan. Parcells needs an immediate impact players not a qb that will take a few years to mature. Plus the Dolphins spent a second round pick last year on Beck and I think Parcells will give the guy a shot, and Trent Green still wants to play. Either of those 2 could give the Dolphins 1 or 2 years to build the rest of the team especially if the Dolphins can get their running backs healthy.

 

[patchick]

IF what Moffitt's wife is claiming is true (this is the first I've heard of it), then Moffitt is certainly not the kind of human being I want to see in a Pats uniform.

Just want to second that "if." Don't mean to condemn the guy prematurely -- it's always possible that things look very different from his side. But at the very least, Moffitt will be answering a LOT of questions at the combine that have little to do with assignments and coverages.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Regardless of whether or not Moffit cheated, I can not see him in our base defense. At 6'1" and 235 lbs while running a 4.9, he would get swallowed whole by every TE and OG that came at him.

I would do the KC trade (#7 and Oakland's third for #5) in a skinny minute to get a player like C Long. In the second, I would take Goff (estimated a 6'4" and 245lbs.) and with our third, I would take CB Lowery of San Jose State. On day #2, I would come back with a TE (gotta give BB his TE), and in round 5, I would take a chance on a Strong Safety like Adams of Michigan. He only has 1 year of starting experience, can't cover all that well, but he brings the wood on every running play and can play special teams. (Kind of sounds a bit like Rodney)

 

[cstjohn17]

Regardless of whether or not Moffit cheated, I can not see him in our base defense. At 6'1" and 235 lbs while running a 4.9, he would get swallowed whole by every TE and OG that came at him.

I would do the KC trade (#7 and Oakland's third for #5) in a skinny minute to get a player like C Long. In the second, I would take Goff (estimated a 6'4" and 245lbs.) and with our third, I would take CB Lowery of San Jose State. On day #2, I would come back with a TE (gotta give BB his TE), and in round 5, I would take a chance on a Strong Safety like Adams of Michigan. He only has 1 year of starting experience, can't cover all that well, but he brings the wood on every running play and can play special teams. (Kind of sounds a bit like Rodney)

Well, looks like I will have to find a new binkie.. this one latest about 8 days. I really don't care about how smart he is or if he can read, some people are book smart, some people are football smart and some people are idiots. But any one who doesn't do the right thing by their kids is a punk.

It is always interesting when the players actually get weighed and measured. I think I remember Jones-Drew shrank 1/2 of an inch in between an All Star bowl game and the combine. I loved that kid coming out of college, he had star written all over him.

At the weigh ins we will start to see who is 6'1, 234 and who is really 6'2 240+, also who is 4.9 and who is 4.7.

One last digression, something I was thinking.... the Jets and Patriots have completely different rosters, Pats = pro bowlers & quality depth, Jets = serviceable starters and no depth. This makes it difficult to compare draft needs but if the 2008 Patriots draft produces the top level talent that the Jets had in 07 then the Pats draft is a success.

2007 - New York Jets
Rd Sel # Player Position School
1 14 Darrelle Revis CB Pittsburgh - starting CB
2 47 David Harris ILB Michigan - starting ILB
6 177 Jacob Bender T Nicholls State - reserve tackle/guard
7 235 Chansi Stuckey WR Clemson - reserve WR / returner

 

[BradyToMoss]

Regardless of whether or not Moffit cheated, I can not see him in our base defense. At 6'1" and 235 lbs while running a 4.9, he would get swallowed whole by every TE and OG that came at him.

I would do the KC trade (#7 and Oakland's third for #5) in a skinny minute to get a player like C Long. In the second, I would take Goff (estimated a 6'4" and 245lbs.) and with our third, I would take CB Lowery of San Jose State. On day #2, I would come back with a TE (gotta give BB his TE), and in round 5, I would take a chance on a Strong Safety like Adams of Michigan. He only has 1 year of starting experience, can't cover all that well, but he brings the wood on every running play and can play special teams. (Kind of sounds a bit like Rodney)

I want you sitting next to BB at the draft in April Ochmed my friend. You're makin a ton of sense.