VJCPatriot
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This defensive build plan centers around creating unfair size and athletic matchups for the Pats front 7. Here's how the Pats draft would unfold to get the players needed for the scheme.
Round 1 - JJ Watt DE/Elephant. Watt is the most explosive DE in this year's draft. And his agility means that BB could also use him as a hybrid Elephant backer at times offering even more opportunities to confuse the offensive line and create mismatches. Because of Watt's rare athleticism and agility for his size, I can picture him being used in a role that BB probably wanted Peppers in. And remember that the Pats made a serious effort to recruit Peppers, reportedly 10m per year to join up. That would trump Wilfork as the highest salaried player on our defense.
#28 traded for a 40ish 2nd rounder and a future pick.
Round 2 - Kenrick Ellis DE/DT. Ellis is nimble for a man of his size, 330 lbs+ and he allows the Pats to keep Wilfork at the nose where he plays best. On rushing downs, the Pats don't give up any size and on passing downs, OL would have to focus more attention on him to prevent the collapse of the pocket.
Round 3 - Allen Bailey OLB/DE. Another candidate for the Elephant back position or possible replacement for Wright/Green in the rush end role on passing downs. Bailey is another athletic DL from the U that the Pats have worked out and are presumably watching closely.
Now how does this shake out on defense? Picture this if you will for the 3-4 look.
Warren-Wilfork-Ellis
Cunningham-Spikes-Mayo-Watt
The OL is essentially staring down at 4 DL, making it difficult to run to either side, particularly the stacked Ellis/Watt side. And yet with Ellis collapsing the pocket, that makes it even harder to contain Watt who can use his explosive step from the Elephant role to corral the ballcarrier or rush the QB.
Talking about explosion how do you measure it? Explosion would be a combination of Vertical Jump and Broad Jump. Agility can be measured by shuttle times and 3 cone times. Watt scores highly in both these categories while Bailey scored highly in the explosion tests. Judging from the numbers Watt is the most explosive and agile DL available in this year's draft.
Watt VJ 37" BJ 10' Shuttle 4.21 3 cone 6.88
Bailey VJ 36.5" BJ 9'9 Shuttle 4.56 3 cone 7.43
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2011/02/2011-nfl-combine-results/
Watt's explosion and agility numbers are even more remarkable when you compare them to the OLBs available in this year's draft. Keep in mind also that Watt measured in at over 6'5 and 290 lbs at the combine.
Aldon Smith VJ 34" BJ 9'10 Shuttle 4.50 Cone 7.19
Akeem Ayers VJ 31" BJ 9'8 Shuttle 4.28 Cone 7.49
Brooks Reed VJ 30.5" BJ 9'5 Shuttle 4.28 Cone 7.11
Jabaal Sheard VJ 31" BJ 9'7
Justin Houston VJ 36.5" BJ 10'5 Shuttle 4.37 Cone 6.95
In fact the only prospect who boasts better overall numbers in both categories is Von Miller, who weighs over 40 lbs LESS than Watt. Although Moch beats Watt in the explosion scores, Watt shockingly still beats Moch in the agility department!
Miller (246 lbs) VJ 37" BJ 10'6 Shuttle 4.06 Cone 6.70
Moch (248) VJ 42" BJ 10'8 Shuttle 4.38 Cone 7.09
Ok. That's enough about Watt. But wait, you may ask where Bailey fits into this picture. Well let's say we go to a 4-2-5 nickel look on an obvious passing down. You'd want to rest Wilfork, yet generate the most pressure you can from the front 4. Then your lineup would look like this.
Bailey-Warren-Ellis-Watt
Coverage LB-Coverage LB
In this scenario, I move Warren inside to Wilfork's nose spot. Ellis also clogs the middle and Bailey and Watt attack from the edges.
Top off this draft with a good nickel corner or cb/safety conversion to protect the middle of the field and you've built a stacked defense that will be formidable against both the run and the pass.
Round 1 - JJ Watt DE/Elephant. Watt is the most explosive DE in this year's draft. And his agility means that BB could also use him as a hybrid Elephant backer at times offering even more opportunities to confuse the offensive line and create mismatches. Because of Watt's rare athleticism and agility for his size, I can picture him being used in a role that BB probably wanted Peppers in. And remember that the Pats made a serious effort to recruit Peppers, reportedly 10m per year to join up. That would trump Wilfork as the highest salaried player on our defense.
#28 traded for a 40ish 2nd rounder and a future pick.
Round 2 - Kenrick Ellis DE/DT. Ellis is nimble for a man of his size, 330 lbs+ and he allows the Pats to keep Wilfork at the nose where he plays best. On rushing downs, the Pats don't give up any size and on passing downs, OL would have to focus more attention on him to prevent the collapse of the pocket.
Round 3 - Allen Bailey OLB/DE. Another candidate for the Elephant back position or possible replacement for Wright/Green in the rush end role on passing downs. Bailey is another athletic DL from the U that the Pats have worked out and are presumably watching closely.
Now how does this shake out on defense? Picture this if you will for the 3-4 look.
Warren-Wilfork-Ellis
Cunningham-Spikes-Mayo-Watt
The OL is essentially staring down at 4 DL, making it difficult to run to either side, particularly the stacked Ellis/Watt side. And yet with Ellis collapsing the pocket, that makes it even harder to contain Watt who can use his explosive step from the Elephant role to corral the ballcarrier or rush the QB.
Talking about explosion how do you measure it? Explosion would be a combination of Vertical Jump and Broad Jump. Agility can be measured by shuttle times and 3 cone times. Watt scores highly in both these categories while Bailey scored highly in the explosion tests. Judging from the numbers Watt is the most explosive and agile DL available in this year's draft.
Watt VJ 37" BJ 10' Shuttle 4.21 3 cone 6.88
Bailey VJ 36.5" BJ 9'9 Shuttle 4.56 3 cone 7.43
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2011/02/2011-nfl-combine-results/
Watt's explosion and agility numbers are even more remarkable when you compare them to the OLBs available in this year's draft. Keep in mind also that Watt measured in at over 6'5 and 290 lbs at the combine.
Aldon Smith VJ 34" BJ 9'10 Shuttle 4.50 Cone 7.19
Akeem Ayers VJ 31" BJ 9'8 Shuttle 4.28 Cone 7.49
Brooks Reed VJ 30.5" BJ 9'5 Shuttle 4.28 Cone 7.11
Jabaal Sheard VJ 31" BJ 9'7
Justin Houston VJ 36.5" BJ 10'5 Shuttle 4.37 Cone 6.95
In fact the only prospect who boasts better overall numbers in both categories is Von Miller, who weighs over 40 lbs LESS than Watt. Although Moch beats Watt in the explosion scores, Watt shockingly still beats Moch in the agility department!
Miller (246 lbs) VJ 37" BJ 10'6 Shuttle 4.06 Cone 6.70
Moch (248) VJ 42" BJ 10'8 Shuttle 4.38 Cone 7.09
Ok. That's enough about Watt. But wait, you may ask where Bailey fits into this picture. Well let's say we go to a 4-2-5 nickel look on an obvious passing down. You'd want to rest Wilfork, yet generate the most pressure you can from the front 4. Then your lineup would look like this.
Bailey-Warren-Ellis-Watt
Coverage LB-Coverage LB
In this scenario, I move Warren inside to Wilfork's nose spot. Ellis also clogs the middle and Bailey and Watt attack from the edges.
Top off this draft with a good nickel corner or cb/safety conversion to protect the middle of the field and you've built a stacked defense that will be formidable against both the run and the pass.
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