I Love our Front 7

rochrist said:

The draft DID get a CB. I think they regarded everything after the first four as pretty much the same. Certainly, this kid Roberts has every physical tool you could possibly want in a corner.

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Well technically, he was drafted very late. I wouldn't count on him for too much. Perhaps Logan Ryan will look a lot better in zone.

Froob said:

Well technically, he was drafted very late. I wouldn't count on him for too much. Perhaps Logan Ryan will look a lot better in zone.

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I'll just leave this here:

Trey Flowers looks like a find. If you can actively use your hands as well as he does, you'll always be able to find a role, even as a middling athlete. He reminds me of a cross between Rob Ninkovich and Seattle's Michael Bennett.

Username said:

The rotation is so important for the pass rush.

A lot of aggression, and a lot of pressure.

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A lot depend on how many you can productively bring from how many places (and what happens when you're just bringing four)...

This year's group has the potential to be relentless (it'll be be a battle in camp with the potential for a group that doesn't let anybody get comfortable)

rochrist said:

I'll just leave this here:

There should be plenty of enthusiasm surrounding Roberts, as he has a legitimate chance to join New England's list of seventh-round steals. Between David Givens, Julian Edelman and Matt Cassel, the Pats have had plenty of success generating huge returns on tiny investments. It's obviously too soon to add Roberts to that list, but he's a big-time sleeper to watch at New England's weakest defensive position.​

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Calling dibs on the long-shot binky? (Or not that strong a feeling?)

AzPatsFan said:

Even though a couple of Offensive linemen were needed and drafted, there was precious little addition to the Offensive skill positions, especially in light of losses at RB with the departure of Vereen and Ridley. Precious little talent was obtained in veteran FA either, as replacements too.

Maybe it indicates that there is more to the reserves who admittedly showed flashes, but nothing more, in WR Dobson, and RBs Gray and White.

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Perhaps Belichick expects more of Cadet, Gibson, Gaffney, Tyms and Dorsey than you do.

There seems to be a lot of focus on the pass rush but it is interesting to me that all the draftees on the D-line are reputed to be strong against the run which should potentially put the defense in good situations on 2nd and 3rd downs.

For me Dominique Easley was drafted to be a major penetrating force on the D-Line (not necessarily for his rookie year) and a healthy Easley who lives up to his pre-draft billing could be a huge addition.

I have to say that the additions particularly at the defensive end position were quite surprising but I ran into a couple of articles which suggested that statistically, the defensive end position was debatably the strongest in this particular draft and that there is good value to be found in the mid rounds traditionally.
(Interesting tangent on Patriots/Packers receivers in the article as well).

http://3sigmaathlete.com/2015/03/31/position-based-value-drafting/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...roup-contains-the-most-value-at-the-nfl-draft

McClusky said:

Trey Flowers looks like a find. If you can actively use your hands as well as he does, you'll always be able to find a role, even as a middling athlete. He reminds me of a cross between Rob Ninkovich and Seattle's Michael Bennett.

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It's also quite possible that Belichick doesn't think too highly of ALL of the current projection DEs just the same, and was attempting to replenish the pond a bit. Who knows?

Bequette
Moore
Buchanon

I'm guessing that 2/3 above are cut and we use some of the new draft picks to take those spots.

supafly said:

It's also quite possible that Belichick doesn't think too highly of ALL of the current projection DEs just the same, and was attempting to replenish the pond a bit. Who knows?

Bequette
Moore
Buchanon

I'm guessing that 2/3 above are cut and we use some of the new draft picks to take those spots.

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DE: Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Flowers, Grissom
I don't expect ANY of the three (Bequette, Moore, Buchanan) to make the roster as a DE.

We are full at DT also: Brown, Branch, Siliga, Easley, Jones/Johnson

We have the obvious 3 as our starting LB's
That gives us 13 before we start to consider the three
============================
PICK TWO
White, Freeney, Fleming, Skinner, Gordon, Martin, Wells, ****son
Bequette, Buchanan, Moore

Perhaps one of the three (Bequette, Buchanan, Moore) will make it, perhaps not.

I think the defense will struggle a lot early too. Lots of different type players and there have to be much different schemes on the line and the secondary.

mgteich said:

Perhaps Belichick expects more of Cadet, Gibson, Gaffney, Tyms and Dorsey than you do.

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I'm really curious about Gaffney.

Lets bring Albert Haynesworth back and really stack up the front 7. Translation: I'm always a little concerned about teams that try to go with strong front 7s and not so strong DBs. They make me feel vulnerable.

supafly said:

It's also quite possible that Belichick doesn't think too highly of ALL of the current projection DEs just the same, and was attempting to replenish the pond a bit. Who knows?

Bequette
Moore
Buchanon

I'm guessing that 2/3 above are cut and we use some of the new draft picks to take those spots.

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I would probably expect Bequette and Buchanon to be gone, but I hope Moore sticks around... He needed a lot of development coming from division II and has all the measurables, it would suck to cut him after only one year of development. If they did I would want him on the PS.

Ross12 said:

I would probably expect Bequette and Buchanon to be gone, but I hope Moore sticks around... He needed a lot of development coming from division II and has all the measurables, it would suck to cut him after only one year of development. If they did I would want him on the PS.

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Bequette is a goner, I just don't see how he can make it, unless there is a rash of injuries, the numbers aren't in his favor. I agree Ross, that Moore is very raw but is intriguing and may have some good potential. Buchanon is a tricky one. He was decent at first, kind of leveled off and then got injured. Kind of a good problem to have I guess.

ashley1992 said:

Bequette is a goner, I just don't see how he can make it, unless there is a rash of injuries, the numbers aren't in his favor. I agree Ross, that Moore is very raw but is intriguing and may have some good potential. Buchanon is a tricky one. He was decent at first, kind of leveled off and then got injured. Kind of a good problem to have I guess.

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I feel Bequette is clearly never going to make it, and Buchanon is a decent back-end depth piece to have if you need him, but considering how many DEs the team has right now it's pretty likely he will be shown the door. I wouldn't be surprised if Moore was gone too since they have added so many pieces to the line, but I wouldn't like it. He's quite versatile and has even lined up over the guard at times. I like him a lot.

Ross12 said:

I feel Bequette is clearly never going to make it, and Buchanon is a decent back-end depth piece to have if you need him, but considering how many DEs the team has right now it's pretty likely he will be shown the door. I wouldn't be surprised if Moore was gone too since they have added so many pieces to the line, but I wouldn't like it. He's quite versatile and has even lined up over the guard at times. I like him a lot.

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It seems likely that Belichick wasn't happy with Bequette, Buchanan and Moore competing for backup DE roster spots. After all, Belichick brought in Sheard, Grissom (3) and Flowers (4). They will ALL make the 53 man squad.

Ross12 said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Moore was gone too since they have added so many pieces to the line, but I wouldn't like it. He's quite versatile and has even lined up over the guard at times. I like him a lot.

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Moore is looking at PQ. I like him too.

mgteich said:

It seems likely that Belichick wasn't happy with Bequette, Buchanan and Moore competing for backup DE roster spots. After all, Belichick brought in Sheard, Grissom (3) and Flowers (4). They will ALL make the 53 man squad.

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As much as I like Moore, I like Grissom more... So I'm ok with that. I think Flowers will be a very good backup DE. If they can get Moore on the practice squad I would be okay with it.

CapSpace=$4,986,943 ‏@patscap Aug 26
Pats have 8 1st rounders on roster. 5 of them in defensive front 7

Nice

Fencer said:

I'm sure BB and Patricia will try to dial up a lot of versatility-exploiting disguise from this group. I hope they succeed, especially since the DBs may be restricted, talent-wise, to more vanilla schemes.

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Disguising??. Isn't that deceitful? Uh oh, look for a rule change