Pre-season NCAA Prospects (Jr./Sr.)

[TealSox]

This list is brought to you by your friends at profootballweekly.com. I hate that I am talking about the 2009 draft only a month after the 2008 draft, but for giggles it will be fun to see how it all turns out a year from now.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2008/sneakpeek09.htm

Seniors:

1. MLB James Laurinaitis / Ohio State.

2. OLT Michael Oher / Mississippi State.

3. DE Michael Johnson / GA Tech.

4. CB Malcom Jenkins / Ohio State.

5. MLB Rey Maualugo / USC.

6. TE Brandon Pettigrew / Oklahoma State.

7. MLB Darry Beckwith / LSU.

8. DE Tyson Jackson / LSU.

9. OLT Phil Loadholt / OU.

10. LB Brian Cushing / USC.

Juniors:

1. QB Matt Stafford / Georgia.

2. CB Vontae Davis / Illinois.

3. DE Everette Brown / FSU.

4. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey / Maryland.

5. RB Chris Wells / Ohio State.

6. DE Auston English / OU.

7. DE Willie Young / NC State

8. DE Maurice Evans / Penn State.

9. S Taylor Mays / USC.

10. TE Jermaine Gresham / OU.

4 senior linebackers makes me think that there will be talent at the position when the Pats pick in the first round. I'm not saying I know where the Pats are going to pick or that they will even be interested in a LB in the first round, but depth leads to surplus. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Kirk Morrison of Oakland is a free agent next year. Unless they franchise him, he would be a valuable commodity that could be neglected with guys like Beckworth and Cushing coming out.

6 defensive ends seems extreme.

2 tight ends (one in each category) had Patriots written all over it. Watson has been serviceable at best, but he surely isn't the second coming of Ben Coates.

Matt Stafford has NY Jets written all over him. Pennington is going to be under fire quickly.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think Morrison is strictly an inside thumper and a real good one to boot. He struggles in coverage, but is very good versus the run.

The TE in college that I think has Patriot written all over him is Coffman of Mizzu, if he runs well. He has good hands and runs decent routes. Not much of a blocker, but not many college TE's are anymore.

 

[patsfaninpa]

This list is brought to you by your friends at profootballweekly.com. I hate that I am talking about the 2009 draft only a month after the 2008 draft, but for giggles it will be fun to see how it all turns out a year from now.

Never too early to talk draft. As long as you pencil us in at pick 32
We have an extra two, more than likely an extra 3(Losing Asante) and
possibly an extra 4(Losing D.Stallworth), Plenty of ammo to move up
if front office identifies someone they want. Early hunch for me OT. This
will be Light's 8th year. And, we know what has happened to Kaczur.
A.Boone,M.Oher and Loadholt all supposed to be good prospects. Plus others.

 

[LuthierJr]

Never too early to talk draft. As long as you pencil us in at pick 32
We have an extra two, more than likely an extra 3(Losing Asante) and
possibly an extra 4(Losing D.Stallworth), Plenty of ammo to move up
if front office identifies someone they want. Early hunch for me OT. This
will be Light's 8th year. And, we know what has happened to Kaczur.
A.Boone,M.Oher and Loadholt all supposed to be good prospects. Plus others.

Being a Big OU fan I can say I'm not a huge fan of Loadholt. Sure he is HUGE (6-9 325), but he is raw. At the Tackle position he isn't quick enough to stop speed rushers, but that can be worked on I'm guessing.

My take on the other OU guys mentioned...

Austin English- DE Guy shows serious potential Made lots of big plays, we shall see more this year.

Jermaine Gresham-TE : Stud. Great hands, good blocker. Pretty good size, but will need to bulk up some. (6-6 230)


Some others from OU are Duke Robinson. I expect him to go a little earlier though as he is a force on the O-Line. Most likely projects to be a guard. he is 6-5 325lbs

Nic Harris is a very solid safety too. Good speed and versatility. Has played nickel and safety at OU.

 

[JOhnnyBravo]

Teal

you probably don't like those other guys from that FOX company anymore, but they have a top draft picks in their forum as well. It's by that guy Stuber, whomever he is.

It had some pretty cool graphics.

sure hoping we get one of those linebackers

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Never too early to talk draft. As long as you pencil us in at pick 32
We have an extra two, more than likely an extra 3(Losing Asante) and
possibly an extra 4(Losing D.Stallworth), Plenty of ammo to move up
if front office identifies someone they want. Early hunch for me OT. This
will be Light's 8th year. And, we know what has happened to Kaczur.
A.Boone,M.Oher and Loadholt all supposed to be good prospects. Plus others.

"More than likely" = near virtual certainty (seriously)
"Possibly" = very likely

 

[dryheat44]

If Chad Jackson doesn't blossom this year, I wouldn't mind seeing Heyward-Bey as the pick. He's going to be a Superstar, and we could use that kind of player as Moss ages.

 

[TealSox]

Harrison and James Sanders are UFAs after this year. Rodney coming back would definitely depend on how he plays this year moreso than how the team plays. Merriweather bridges the gap a bit, but I would think the Pats would be looking around and/or re-signing Sanders.

2010 is a rough year that will partly be resolved in '09, with Seymour, Jarvis Green, Vince Wilfork, Stephen Neal and Mankins hitting the market. Still yet, there are a grip of other players on this team to hit the open market. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Some answers will be in the draft others will be dealt with with larger salaries.

Which reminds me....

2010 is an uncapped season?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

2010 is an uncapped season?

As of the moment.

 

[flyonthewall]

Rumor has it that Laurinaitis is not too bright. Shocker considering his heritage.

 

[dryheat44]

Rumor has it that Laurinaitis is not too bright. Shocker considering his heritage.

Lithuanian? Armenian? I don't see what that has to do with anything.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

FYI, Michael Crabtree, WR from Texas Tech, will also be eligible after this coming season. He's supposed to be a monster - big and fast with great ball skills.

As a Bills fan, I like seeing so many DE's at the tops of the charts, since I think they may go DE in the first round next season.

Well, I'm guessing Mr. Crabtree is unlikely to be available when it's the Pats' turn to draft.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

At offensive tackles I see a couple of players that could help us in 2009.

Oher (Ole Miss)- LT with great feet and lateral movement. Swallows up speed rushers and bull rushers a like. Does not come off the ball with the flat back on running plays and doesn't have the explosion you would hope for, but is effective in the running game. If he could ever learn to play 60 minutes with his hair on fire, he could be a top ten player.

Boone (Ohio State) - RT a big body 6'7" or so and comes off the line with some expolsion and a fairly flat back. Speed rushers probably keep him awake at night, but he can sink his hips against any bull rushers out there.

Unger (Oregon) - RT Nasty! and I love nasty players. Not the biggest RT but he has explosion in the running game and decent enough feet in the passing game. I really think with some work on hand usage and placement, as well as some added strength, he could be a first round pick.

Over rated OT's

Smith of Alabama. Soft! Pillsbury dough boy in the running game. No explosion, no pop, no movement of defensive players. However if no one lines up over him in running situations, he is capable of getting to the third level of the defense. Amazing feet in the passing game. Swallows any and all rushers. Unless Saban takes a blow torch to Smith this fall, someone will wind up over drafting this kid.

 

[Lockdown06]

At offensive tackles I see a couple of players that could help us in 2009.

Oher (Ole Miss)- LT with great feet and lateral movement. Swallows up speed rushers and bull rushers a like. Does not come off the ball with the flat back on running plays and doesn't have the explosion you would hope for, but is effective in the running game. If he could ever learn to play 60 minutes with his hair on fire, he could be a top ten player.

Boone (Ohio State) - RT a big body 6'7" or so and comes off the line with some expolsion and a fairly flat back. Speed rushers probably keep him awake at night, but he can sink his hips against any bull rushers out there.

Unger (Oregon) - RT Nasty! and I love nasty players. Not the biggest RT but he has explosion in the running game and decent enough feet in the passing game. I really think with some work on hand usage and placement, as well as some added strength, he could be a first round pick.

Over rated OT's

Smith of Alabama. Soft! Pillsbury dough boy in the running game. No explosion, no pop, no movement of defensive players. However if no one lines up over him in running situations, he is capable of getting to the third level of the defense. Amazing feet in the passing game. Swallows any and all rushers. Unless Saban takes a blow torch to Smith this fall, someone will wind up over drafting this kid.

I dunno if you've ever read the book "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis, but if you have I don't see any way that Belichick would select Oher. He is a central character in the book, and one of the major concerns with him is that he's a physical specimen and overall a nice kid with a troubled past, but he has some pretty severe learning disabilities (or at least, he used to, its certainly possible that he's managed to compensate for them by now.) If he hasn't however, I don't see how he'd fit in with the pats, who tend to prioritize football smarts.

 

[mmasterkillah]

Lithuanian? Armenian? I don't see what that has to do with anything.

His dad wrestled in the WWF.

 

[BritPat]

Maualuga has to be the highest rated LB on most boards, even now. And I'd certainly take Cushing over him.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say Laurinaitis does not go while round 2.

I'm going to enjoy watching USC this year.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I dunno if you've ever read the book "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis, but if you have I don't see any way that Belichick would select Oher. He is a central character in the book, and one of the major concerns with him is that he's a physical specimen and overall a nice kid with a troubled past, but he has some pretty severe learning disabilities (or at least, he used to, its certainly possible that he's managed to compensate for them by now.) If he hasn't however, I don't see how he'd fit in with the pats, who tend to prioritize football smarts.

Unless his learning disabilities interfere with his ability to learn the line calls, I can't Oher, not fitting into the Pats OL scheme. He is big, solid build (Not flabby), athletic, mobile and has decent technique and fundamentals. He probably won't win any science, math or English competitions, but as long as he can learn line calls, he is good as gold for the Pats.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Maualuga has to be the highest rated LB on most boards, even now. And I'd certainly take Cushing over him.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say Laurinaitis does not go while round 2.

I'm going to enjoy watching USC this year.

I think USC plays Ohio state this year, so we will get a chance to see each teams LBer crew against a decent opposing offense.

I really, really like Cushing's game on the field. But the Pats are going to need to do a lot of due dilignece over the rumors of past roid and HGH use.

 

[Kontradiction]

Why no love for Percy Harvin?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Why no love for Percy Harvin?

I watched a couple of the coaches tapes over last season;s games at Florida and he popped for me when I was watching the tape. The speed, the moves, the play making ability.

BUT... there is always a but, what position is he? Florida appeare to move him all over the place. Is Harvin the next Faulk, without the blitz pick up ability, or is he the next Troy Brown, only with more speed.

He is a talent, but is he another Hester or is he a player that can also contribute in the base offense.