3-4 OLB's that fit the Pats Defense

[mayoclinic]

brandon graham...

I love Brandon Graham. I haven't listed him more prominently because he doesn't have the classic measurables which BB has described, but I think that he more than compensates for those with his motor and pass rushing ability. Right now we need guys with his kind of drive on this defense. There's clearly some guys with an attitude who need to go, and we need to make sure that we get guys who have the right intangibles as much as the right measurables. Tedy Bruschi's measurables were lousy as a draft prospect. He didn't work out too badly, as I recall.

 

[dryheat44]

I think BB can take a one dimensional pass rusher, if the pass rusher can rush the passer on 3rd and long or end of game/half scenarios where the opposing team has to throw.

That is provided the one trick pony also excels on ST.

I wonder why we couldn't dress Seau, and play him at OLB as a pass rushing specialist. He's lost more than one step from early in his career, obviously, but he's flashed some good instinct and athleticism over the past two years where he could probably give us 5-8 quality plays a game rushing the passer.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

I love Brandon Graham. I haven't listed him more prominently because he doesn't have the classic measurables which BB has described, but I think that he more than compensates for those with his motor and pass rushing ability. Right now we need guys with his kind of drive on this defense. There's clearly some guys with an attitude who need to go, and we need to make sure that we get guys who have the right intangibles as much as the right measurables. Tedy Bruschi's measurables were lousy as a draft prospect. He didn't work out too badly, as I recall.

From what Ive seen he's a perfect fit in our D. I did a short write up on him here
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/233095-2010-draft-prospects-page11.html



I'm also keeping an eye out for Jerry Hughes but he doesnt impress me as much as a complete football player. He's more explosive and has a higher ceiling, but also more of a bust factor. He could be the next Demarcus Ware or he could be the next Question Groves/Everette Brown. His tackling is not great right now, his character and intelligence is questionable, his run stopping skills and setting the edge are concerns. Seems like a pass rush specialist but not much more than that. His instincts and awareness also worry me as a prospect.

These will probably be the two front runners for OLB conversions come draft day unless Graham decides to put on more weight

 

[MrNathanDrake]

1. Don't forget that as far as LBs are concerned we will hopefully have a fully recovered McKenzie next year and either him or Guyton will play on the outside.

2. As far as our D is concerned its DEs that we need urgently. I have this feeling that Jason Taylor will be here next year, the way BB was all over him in that mic'd up thing, well I just think that there is a two way respect there and it will happen. Peppers will cost a fortune but I really would love to see him here.

3. I think we should concentrate on the offensive line in the draft. I'd use on first pick on a tackle, Guys like Ciron Black from LSU who I really like, and the giant Sam Young from Notre Dame both seem underrated imo, I just looked at a couple of mocks and they are not appearing , I'll have one of them and then a guard is a top priority also. Don't know too many good guards but I'm sure they are out there.

1. Has Guyton ever shown any pass rush moves at all? I've never seen him harassing QB's in the backfield. He's at ILB for a reason. If he could play OLB successfully, he'd already be playing it by now. McKenzie is an ILB in our system.

2. What good will Jason Taylor do? He's 36 years old. I thought the entire point of our past few drafts was to get younger and faster on D. Sure there is a 2 way respect but that doesnt mean Taylor leave his family to come here. If he wanted to play here, he couldve been on the team this year.

3. We have Light and Vollmer. We dont need another Tackle in the high rounds right now. BB has hit twice with tackles in the 2nd-3rd round now anyways. We also drafted 2 Guards last year and if we re-sign Mankins we should be good at OLine. Offense is the least of our worries.

 

[dryheat44]

3. We have Light and Vollmer. We dont need another Tackle in the high rounds right now. BB has hit twice with tackles in the 2nd-3rd round now anyways. We also drafted 2 Guards last year and if we re-sign Mankins we should be good at OLine. Offense is the least of our worries.

Really? Brady not having ample time to throw doesn't bother you? Koppen can be improved, Neal's tank is about empty. Connolly has been uneven. I'm not willing to say our OL is in good shape because George Bussey and Rich Ohrnberger are on board.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Really? Brady not having ample time to throw doesn't bother you? Koppen can be improved, Neal's tank is about empty. Connolly has been uneven. I'm not willing to say our OL is in good shape because George Bussey and Rich Ohrnberger are on board.

Light and Vollmer havnt played at the same time. Once theyre both healthy, hopefully Vollmer at LT and Light at RT (or vice versa). That's a good tackle on each side. Makins is good at LG. Koppen is decent. Kaczur might even be able to play RG.


Either way, we're not drafting a RG in the first round

 

[VJCPatriot]

Either way, we're not drafting a RG in the first round

That much is true. We're drafting Rolando Mcclain.
I wish. Might just be a pipe dream though.
You never can tell with BB.
It wouldn't surprise me if we took a DE instead.

There are a lot of good guards to be found in the 2nd-3rd rounds each year.
So we might go mining for more OL depth in that range.
The right side of the offensive line is not very impressive.
Koppen gets overpowered from time to time as well.

 

[mayoclinic]

Either way, we're not drafting a RG in the first round

Unlikely that we draft a guard in the 1st, but not impossible. Very likely that we draft one in the 2nd.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

That much is true. We're drafting Rolando Mcclain.

he's a good prospect, no doubt, but please don't turn him into this years version of Connor Barwin on this forum