2014 Draft Prospect Thread

Hercules Rockefeller said:

Was so disappointed to see Martin's poor number here. I still think he'll make an excellent pro center, but it'll likely be somewhere else. Sad face emoticon.

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I keep going back and forth between Martin and Richburg as my top C in this draft. I think Richburg is the better player, more technical, quicker and maybe more athletic but Martin is more stout and would hold up better against bigger NT's. I think I'll probably go with Richburg in the end because teams seem to be moving away from the monster NT's towards a more penetrating DL. Whilst I think NT is becoming a market inefficiency, the need for the bigger C's to combat them is also lessening. I love Richburg's smarts, instincts and ability to block at the second level and I think he would be a great fit for the Pats.

Check out Dee Ford, from the left outside linebacker spot) going man to man with the Running Back (Ben Malena) in coverage here:

Dee Ford vs Cedric Ogbuehi (2013) - YouTube

Dee Ford is good, but not what the senior bowl showed him to be. He definitely had the snap timed extremely well and basically had a game similar to what Brandon Graham had a few years ago.

The only team I can see reaching for him in the first would be Seattle and maybe Minnesota. One more team that just came to mind would be the 49ers. If they are willing to reach for AJ Jenkins, one of the biggest reach in years, I'm not going to be surprised with any of their choices.

manxman2601 said:

Check out Dee Ford, from the left outside linebacker spot) going man to man with the Running Back (Ben Malena) in coverage here:

Dee Ford vs Cedric Ogbuehi (2013) - YouTube

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And Dee Ford bull rushing Cedric Ogbuehi for the sack. Ford certainly has a lot of weapons in his pass rush armoury. Really violent hand user too. Really starting to like him for that #29 pick.

Dee Ford vs Cedric Ogbuehi (2013) - YouTube

doesntmatter1 said:

Dee Ford is good, but not what the senior bowl showed him to be. He definitely had the snap timed extremely well and basically had a game similar to what Brandon Graham had a few years ago.

The only team I can see reaching for him in the first would be Seattle and maybe Minnesota. One more team that just came to mind would be the 49ers. If they are willing to reach for AJ Jenkins, one of the biggest reach in years, I'm not going to be surprised with any of their choices.

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I believe Philadelphia and New Orleans have shown quite a bit of interest in Ford as well. There is a good chance he comes off the board between 20 and 30 which is just too high for my liking.

Wilfork#75 said:

I believe Philadelphia and New Orleans have shown quite a bit of interest in Ford as well. There is a good chance he comes off the board between 20 and 30 which is just too high for my liking.

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I'm sold on him as a candidate at #29. Tremendous range of pass rushing moves and real athleticism. My only issue is that he's not an edge-setter. Whether I'd trade up for him is another matter. I would a couple of spots. I'm not sure I'd jump up to 20.

MrNathanDrake said:

Don't read into that "instincts" nonsense.

Kam Chancellor was once a 5th rd pick who lacked "instincts" according to scouts. Now he's a Pro Bowler and one of the most feared SS in the league.

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I wasn't referring so much to "instincts" as to limitations in coverage and playing uncontrolled.

Loston often goes for the big hit rather than playing smart. That's what the description of Buchanon sounded like. (Also reminds me of Chung...)

I like the idea of drafting a safety and/or corner who may be overaggressive as long as they can cover -- my thought is that playing behind Revis and Browner could help them learn how to be aggressive without compromising the defense's integrity.

But I wouldn't be drafting either early -- we have greater need on the D-line and I might take a TE early, too, if the right guy is available.

Dee Ford said on Path To The Draft that he did a 6.9 on the 3-cone. I'm fully on board now. Would be very happy with him at #29.


And I'm starting to like his teammate Tre Mason @62.

Wilfork#75 said:

I believe Philadelphia and New Orleans have shown quite a bit of interest in Ford as well. There is a good chance he comes off the board between 20 and 30 which is just too high for my liking.

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Philadelphia is famous for taking players that our draft forum likes before we even get a sniff. LOL. It wouldn't be the first time, and won't be the last. Plus I think we trade with them every year or something.

Honestly this year the Pats need extra picks, but if there is a 1st round value left on their board, I hope we take him unless we get a sweetheart deal - ie a 2nd and a 5th this year plus a future 1st.

Craig Loston is Meriweather minus the actual talent. Pass pass pass.

manxman2601 said:

Dee Ford said on Path To The Draft that he did a 6.9 on the 3-cone. I'm fully on board now. Would be very happy with him at #29.


And I'm starting to like his teammate Tre Mason @62.

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I still don't see it on his tape. I'd rather go with a more flexible and bigger prospect later in the draft like a Jeffcoat who had a 6.97 3C.

everlong said:

I still don't see it on his tape. I'd rather go with a more flexible and bigger prospect later in the draft like a Jeffcoat who had a 6.97 3C.

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It's not just the 3cone, that's just the icing on the cake. Ford has really violent hands and a wide array of pass rush moves. He also plays with his head up and comes off blocks really well to make plays. He's not stout enough to be an every down DE straight away, but he can drop into coverage so he can be a SLB too. I'd still rather have Hageman and maybe Tuitt ahead of him at 29, but I'd be fine with Ford now. He's my favourite of the higher round pass rushers.

I like the suggestion Stinkpete made in the main forum about taking a coverage linebacker like Shazier which would in turn free up Collins to rush the passer more. Collins could be used in a Von Miller role playing linebacker in base D and rushing the QB in sub with, perhaps, Chandler Jones shifting inside.

It all starts with looking at the NFL and AFC Regular Season Numbers for the Pats. Let's keep it simple because anybody whose played knows football is about throwing and running the ball and trying to stop it as well. The rankings are from best to worst (1st is best...)

Offense Ranking:
Passing yds per game - 10th in the NFL and 4th in the AFC
Rushing yds per game - 9th in the NFL and 3rd in the AFC
Total Yards per game - 7th in the NFL and 3rd in the AFC

Defense Ranking:
Passing yds per game - 17th in the NFL and 10th in the AFC
Rushing yds per game - 30th in the NFL and 16th in the AFC
Total Yards per game - 26th in the NFL and 15th in the AFC

If this doesn't show how much the Pats have to focus on the Defense this year I don't know what to say. Use the picks in the top four rounds to get impact players on Defense especially a NT/DT and DT/DE and with five players in the top 4 rounds it is still possible to get an OG and TE. The stats above and the Defensive play throughout the year and against the Broncos. The defense will be scary with impact players and the new cornerbacks.

I am all aboard the Ealy/Ford train as right now due to recent signings I think DE is our most pressing need. However if both of them go before we pick I am curious about what we should do.

I have looked into other DEs later in the draft and have not been impressed. It is true we could pass with a 3rd rotational pass rusher but I am so sure I even see that too much.

BobDigital said:

I am all aboard the Ealy/Ford train as right now due to recent signings I think DE is our most pressing need. However if both of them go before we pick I am curious about what we should do.

I have looked into other DEs later in the draft and have not been impressed. It is true we could pass with a 3rd rotational pass rusher but I am so sure I even see that too much.

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Jeremiah Attoachu is coming for a visit and it sounds like we probably worked out Marcus Smith. It's worth taking a look at the DE/OLB tweeners.

manxman2601 said:

It's not just the 3cone, that's just the icing on the cake. Ford has really violent hands and a wide array of pass rush moves. He also plays with his head up and comes off blocks really well to make plays. He's not stout enough to be an every down DE straight away, but he can drop into coverage so he can be a SLB too.

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I don't see him playing SLB or playing well enough in space. As a pass rushing specialist I'd use a mid second on him. In general I think he may slide into the second based on lack of size. Also draft scout is listing his workout 3C as 7.09 which is good but not 6.9 good. Also his SS is listed as 4.73 which is flat out bad and too slow for an SLB.

everlong said:

I don't see him playing SLB or playing well enough in space. As a pass rushing specialist I'd use a mid second on him. In general I think he may slide into the second based on lack of size. Also draft scout is listing his workout 3C as 7.09 which is good but not 6.9 good. Also his SS is listed as 4.73 which is flat out bad and too slow for an SLB.

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I linked to a play where dropped into coverage with a RB and he looked fine there. But let's not get this out of perspective, he's not being drafted to be a SLB, he's being drafted to rush the passer which is what he does best. It's arguably our biggest need right now and there's a good synergy between need, value and skillset with Ford as a pick.

manxman2601 said:

Dee Ford said on Path To The Draft that he did a 6.9 on the 3-cone. I'm fully on board now. Would be very happy with him at #29.

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I can understand the appeal of the player, but that pick would truly shock me. I just can't picture BB taking a 6'2" DE in round 1.

patchick said:

I can understand the appeal of the player, but that pick would truly shock me. I just can't picture BB taking a 6'2" DE in round 1.

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But you can a 230lb linebacker?

Or a 280lb DT?