New England Patriots 2014 Pre-Draft Depth Chart

ripatsfan91 said:

Plus hasn't Mayo pretty much always been the Sam in our defensive alignment?

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I don't believe so, ripatsfan91. I believe that Mayo has played tons of WILL, with MIKE as well. As a matter of fact, SAM is pretty much the only LB position that he does not play, as far as I know.

I'm pretty sure it's been between weakside (more lately), and middle (more in the beginning), but I'm sure his responsibilities have been switched up many times in different alignments, so maybe you have seen him at the strong side position; I just think it's been few and far between if it's actually happened.

Belichick has tried to take advantage of his athletic tendencies from a rushing standpoint, as well as his tackling machine-like presence in the middle.

Brady6 said:

In my dream world this is what would happen.

Trades –
Patriots trade #29 and #130 to the Lions for #45, #76, and #111
Patriots trade Ryan Mallett to the Texans for #65
Draft/UDFA –
45-Dominique Easley, DL
62-Marcus Martin, OL
65-Deon Buchanan, DB
76-Marcus Smith, DL
93-CJ Fiedorowicz, TE
111-Jordan Tripp, LB
140-Aaron Murray, QB
198-Brandon Thomas, OL
206-Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB
244-Trey Burton, TE
UDFA-Gator Hoskins, FB
UDFA-Terrence Fede, DL
UDFA-Rob Blanchflower, TE

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That draft would enable us to address the trenches with 3/4 first picks, select a top notch SS (type), still get one of the top 5 TEs in Fiedoriwicz, get Aaron Murray as a new replacement QB for when Mallett leaves (although I don't see him being around anywhere near the fourth myself), and address the althletic LB role with Tripp. I would be very happy with such a draft myself.

That group of backup OL makes me a bit (nay..., very) nervous. Also why I think Pats go OL heavy in the draft I guess.

Brady6 said:

In my dream world this is what would happen.

Trades –
Patriots trade #29 and #130 to the Lions for #45, #76, and #111
Patriots trade Ryan Mallett to the Texans for #65
Draft/UDFA –
45-Dominique Easley, DL
62-Marcus Martin, OL
65-Deon Buchanan, DB
76-Marcus Smith, DL
93-CJ Fiedorowicz, TE
111-Jordan Tripp, LB
140-Aaron Murray, QB
198-Brandon Thomas, OL
206-Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB
244-Trey Burton, TE
UDFA-Gator Hoskins, FB
UDFA-Terrence Fede, DL
UDFA-Rob Blanchflower, TE

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I would absolutely love this draft and hate to be such a downer but there is no way some of these players are in these spots. Deon, Marcus Martin and CJ Fiedorowicz have seen their values rise consierably in the last few weeks. CJ has been getting mocked as high as the end of the first round while some "experts" on NFL network think the cardinals will draft Deon Buchanan with their first pick.

I really like the Pats depth at CB. I really do not like the Pats depth at both safety positions.

Some more meat and potatoes in the trenches would be nice.

SeanBruschi54 said:

I would absolutely love this draft and hate to be such a downer but there is no way some of these players are in these spots. Deon, Marcus Martin and CJ Fiedorowicz have seen their values rise consierably in the last few weeks. CJ has been getting mocked as high as the end of the first round while some "experts" on NFL network think the cardinals will draft Deon Buchanan with their first pick.

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I am not sure how you concluded that these players value have risen but from what I have read Martin is falling down boards with Richburg now considered the #1 OC.

Brady6 said:

I am not sure how you concluded that these players value have risen but from what I have read Martin is falling down boards with Richburg now considered the #1 OC.

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NFL Networks many draft shows

I agree with you Sean, that the majority of these simulated mock drafts tend to be a little too giving. I've done in like 3-4-5 times now, and each and every time I'm amazed at how great the draft looks.

Just give me a top 5 TE and some younger talent in the trenches...oh, and a new mid round backup QB to carry and groom for a year until Mallett leaves in free agency.

supafly said:

Andy Johnson brought up an interesting viewpoint earlier this offseason, in terms of suggesting the following at LB:

SAM--Hightower
MIKE--Mayo
WILL--Collins

While it's definitely not the general consensus of what the normal fans think, it kind of seems like that would enable these players to excel at their roles in the best manner possible. What do you think, since you are pretty decent at breaking down defensive schemes and alignments for potential spots?

Am I overlooking any coverage aspect for partial SAM responsibilities? I ask simply because it seemed so simple, but others have not seemed to agree; but also because you are much better than me at assessing individual spots for defensive alignments.

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I agree with Andy, with this LB corps I see Mayo as the guy in the middle wit Hightower at the SAM and Collins the WILL

Ivan said:

I agree with Andy, with this LB corps I see Mayo as the guy in the middle wit Hightower at the SAM and Collins the WILL

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For reference, this is some stills of how they aligned with Spikes here. What stood out to me is that it was not always Spikes in the middle; it was more about gap assignment.

Looking at the depth chart one thing in particular, to me, screams out as a need - ILB. There is no one legit after Hightower and Mayo, and Hightower doesn't really play the middle all the much when Mayo's healthy. A fast, mobile, pass tracking ILB like CJ Mosley would boom this defense into the best of the best ranks. But the odds Mosley is around late in the 1st aren't good. The defensive linemen available early on don't wow me, except maybe Donald but he'll be long gone.

So if Mosley, Donald, safeies Dix and Pryor are all gone, then trading back would seem to be a prudent move because there are plenty of slightly 2nd tier players that will be available 5-8 spots later, players no different in potential than the ones available at 29, should my listed players be gone. Players like Ford, Lawrence, Crichton, Ealy, Tuitt, Nix, Hageman, Jernigan, or OG Su'a-Filo, and Jackson.

Decent backup ILBs can be had as UDFAs, so unless Mosley does indeed free-fall to 29, I wouldn't be on the hunt for one until our needs at DE, TE, C/G, SS & OLB have all been filled.