Patriots Pass Rush Should Upgrade With Collins, Buchanan

Patriots Pass Rush Should Upgrade With Collins, Buchanan
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Collins was mainly utilized in a coverage role in 2013 but with his uber-athleticism, the team may have just scratched the surface on his ability to get after the quarterback....

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PatsFans.com Article said:

Patriots Pass Rush Should Upgrade With Collins, Buchanan
By:

Collins was mainly utilized in a coverage role in 2013 but with his uber-athleticism, the team may have just scratched the surface on his ability to get after the quarterback....

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS STORY​

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Jamie should be a starting DE. Not sold on Buchanan.

Draft Needs :

#1) offensive line OR TE
#2) TE OR offensive line
#3) DT
#4) QB
#5) DE/OLB
#6) whatever

One of the more intriguing aspects of this off season for me, will be how the Pats will use Jamie Collins. His position versatility could be off the charts. Last season he showed some flashes as an explosive edge rusher either from the DE or OLB position. But he also showed some great coverage ability to the point, where on occasion the Pats put out wide on big receivers. He also showed that he'd be a factor as a blitzing inside LB.

Its the myriad ways that the Pats can use him that makes him such a potentially valuable asset. Will he be the 3rd edge rusher the Pats need so badly?. Will be be our best coverage LB? Or will he be our mythical SS in certain coverages, a guy who can both provide physical run defense as well as being a physical presence in coverage. Note I didn't use "can" instead of will, because I really think he CAN do all those things.

But here's the problem that makes this so interesting. In a very young and developing player, it might not be wise to throw ALL that on his plate at this point of his career. So what I'm so curious to find out is, that within the realm of KISS, just what will the Pats be asking Jamie Collins to do.

The other thing I'd really like to hear at some point of this off season is how much bigger, quicker, stronger, faster (take your pick) Michael Buchanon looks this season. I guess we won't hear much on this until after the off season conditioning program is completed. I'd really be encouraged if Buchanon wins a parking spot

There are a couple of coverage linebacker types (Shazier, Telvin Smith) that could be had in the early rounds of the draft. Scouting reports on these guys read like they're better prospects than the DEs who will be taken in the same range (Crighton, Murphy, Martin).

If Belichick feels the same way as the OP does on Collins' pass rush potential, then drafting a LB early may make the defense better than drafting a traditional DE.

patfanken said:

The other thing I'd really like to hear at some point of this off season is how much bigger, quicker, stronger, faster (take your pick) Michael Buchanon looks this season. I guess we won't hear much on this until after the off season conditioning program is completed. I'd really be encouraged if Buchanon wins a parking spot

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He showed promise, but his biggest problem was pushing way too far upfield (particularly against mobile QB's which also indicates poor situational awareness). That will work against an immobile statue like Peyton and Flacco. Not so much against the Geno Smith's of the world, I.E. - when it was Buchanon's direct fault that Smith made that first down run on third and long in the second Jets game. If he fixes that area of his game, bulks up a bit, and learns a few moves (such as the swim) along the way, he could be a very nice asset to have in a DE rotation.

I like Buchanan, but would agree we need more than promise if he doesn't make the leap. Also, if Bequette doesn't either play or get cut, I want a Congressional investigation.

RayClay said:

I like Buchanan, but would agree we need more than promise if he doesn't make the leap. Also, if Bequette doesn't either play or get cut, I want a Congressional investigation.

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I have to bump this comment...... Bequette could star in a remake of The Invisible Man

Collins was the pats leader in pass deflections by the LB's with 4 and he only had one sack so I don't see him as a true pass rusher but he could be used on the blitz

I wouldn't bank on either of them , maybe a vet like Will Smith could help in a rotation.

RayClay said:

I like Buchanan, but would agree we need more than promise if he doesn't make the leap. Also, if Bequette doesn't either play or get cut, I want a Congressional investigation.

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Definitely agree- as the saying goes, hope is not a plan. If he uses the offseason to put on some weight, refine his pass rushing moves, and become more disciplined about over pursuing and opening up lanes, I do have high hopes for Buchanan. But it would definitely be a mistake to assume that he'll get there

zipster9 said:

Jamie should be a starting DE. Not sold on Buchanan.



Draft Needs :



#1) offensive line OR TE

#2) TE OR offensive line

#3) DT

#4) QB

#5) DE/OLB

#6) whatever

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If Collins gets penciled in at DE, then I would think that LB would jump up to nearly the top for position needs. That's already a thin group even with Collins.

NewFeep said:

I have to bump this comment...... Bequette could star in a remake of The Invisible Man

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Hard to believe a player having any impact on the team after the 2 seasons that Bequette has just completed. But here's the thing. Was Ninkovich's first 2 seasons any better than Bequette's? In fact it wasn't until Ninko's FIFTH year that he became a productive player.

BOTTOM LINE: Based on the prior 2 years, there is little hope that Jack Bequette will have an impact on the 2014 Pats defense......BUT there is hope.

patfanken said:

I'd really be encouraged if Buchanon wins a parking spot

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Didn't Jermaine Cunningham win a parking spot the season before he got cut?

MrNathanDrake said:

Didn't Jermaine Cunningham win a parking spot the season before he got cut?

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I think Ras-I Dowling did this year and then was cut like a week later

We need a rotational DE, a starting pass-rushing LB, backup LB, and a strong safety. If Collins is one of these, we still have three needs.

Stephon Tuitt at 29 thanks. There's your swing tackle and end. That leaves Collins to utilise his athleticism at linebacker (which is my preference).

I don't have much faith in guys like Siliga, Chris Jones, Joe Vellano to provide the necessary pass rush or run stopping against top tier offenses. DT/DE still remain major needs in my opinion.

cstjohn17 said:

I wouldn't bank on either of them , maybe a vet like Will Smith could help in a rotation.

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I mean, I suppose we could try and convince him to come to the Pats, but I really doubt he would have any interest in switching careers.

ausbacker said:

Stephon Tuitt at 29 thanks. There's your swing tackle and end. That leaves Collins to utilise his athleticism at linebacker (which is my preference).

I don't have much faith in guys like Siliga, Chris Jones, Joe Vellano to provide the necessary pass rush or run stopping against top tier offenses. DT/DE still remain major needs in my opinion.

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Agreed on both, for sure.

I certainly don't have much faith in any of the guys that you've listed--aside from being able to provide depth on the chart with Siliga and Chris Jones. I'm not even sure that Vellano ends up on the team myself.

If Wilfork returns close to his previous form, and once again requires double teams it will allow Jones, Ninkovich and Collins more freedom... Buchanan may be a viable option, but that is difficult to tell at this time...

This coupled with a vastly improved d backfield will also make this part of our D better.. there are consistent stories that with Revis in the backfield he makes every one on defense that much better.. so optimism abounds.