Nonentity
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
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Hi everyone,
I wanted to get down some thoughts on the Patriots picks now, I'll do a 2 round mock draft with trades afterwards. At least this will give everyone some indications of my thinking. It's nice to be free of free agency now, which really got annoying when thinking about mocks. Suffice it to say that the Denver Broncos won't be drafting Terrence Cody at 11 anymore...
Oh, and I'm only going down as far as the 4th round here. Anything else is a crapshoot where people simply post their late-round binkies (e.g. Jameson Konz, Kent State, workout warrior extraordinairre)
Used the Prospect Ratings at CBSSports for rough player placements - can't post links yet. I'll edit this post once I can.
22 - Maurice Pouncey, C/G, Florida
44 - Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech or Damian Williams, WR, USC
47 - Jason Worilds, OLB, Virginia Tech
53 - Austen Lane, DE/OLB, Murray State
119 - Tony Moeaki, TE, Iowa
Pouncey is one of the best center prospects in the last 5-10 years who Indy are desperately hoping falls to them. Reasons for taking him:
Thomas/Williams is an intelligent wideout who should have no problem picking up our complex route scheme. He is a 6'3 deep threat who I want to be ready to replace Randy Moss in his second year on the team. Moss himself says that he doesn't expect to be here in 2011 (although I would try to retain him). We would make an elementary mistake if we draft a WR to play the No. 2 spot. We need to draft a No. 1 receiver who can learn under Moss for a year. If Moss doesn't leave, great - but we cannot expect a rookie to be able to start and produce in the first game of the 2011 season.
Jason Worilds is a rising prospect with the consistent ability to rush the passer. He has great natural ability with room to improve on his range of pass-rushing moves. He has a great motor and is a high-effort player. When playing the run he's tended to try to use his strength rather than good technique, but this is inconsistency rather than inability to play with technique. He can play SOLB in the 3-4 with Tully Banta-Cain playing on the weak side.
Universal Draft did a fantastic feature on him too.
Austen Lane has been talked about endlessly by others who know him far better than I do (mayoclinic!). Prototypical height/size with production at Murray State, a small school. Every other player I've picked is a solid player, it's time to take a chance. Once you evaluate a player as being a fit, draft them and don't look back. If you want him, it's the second round.
Tony Moeaki is a tight end known for his blocking ability, but his combine and position drills showed that he has good hands and can run his routes well. Getting him in the 4th would be a steal, but this is a deep TE class so hopefully he falls. If we need to trade up higher in the round or into the end of the 3rd, just do it. We have enough comp picks to grab the entire scouting staff's binkies.
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Obviously I haven't taken a 3-4 DE, which is a need. I like Mike Wright as a starter but we clearly need depth and a plan for if Wright doesn't succeed at the position. If the receivers we like aren't there, take Alex Carrington in the 2nd round.
Jared Odrick is Ty Warren Mk II. High floor, low ceiling. Midgets would find it hard to fit between the two. He'd spend his entire life double-teamed and honestly I'm just not interested. Too many good blue-chip prospects in the 1st round to waste my time here.
Throwing out some alternative picks:
If Jahvid Best is there at 44, take him instead.
If Greg Hardy falls to the 4th round, maybe take him instead, unless we can't be bothered with the hassle. The ability is there, but he may not be our sort of player.
If Rolando McClain falls past the Giants, trade up and take him, skipping the OL pick.
This year is just terrible for ILBs. Bite the bullet, don't overdraft one and just hope Tyrone McKenzie (who I really really like) produces.
Finally, Jared Veldheer and Vladimir Ducasse are interesting players, but they just don't fit our needs. We need to worry more about the interior of the line than the tackle spots. I'm happy to stick with Light/Vollmer/Kazcur/LeVoir for another year.
I wanted to get down some thoughts on the Patriots picks now, I'll do a 2 round mock draft with trades afterwards. At least this will give everyone some indications of my thinking. It's nice to be free of free agency now, which really got annoying when thinking about mocks. Suffice it to say that the Denver Broncos won't be drafting Terrence Cody at 11 anymore...
Oh, and I'm only going down as far as the 4th round here. Anything else is a crapshoot where people simply post their late-round binkies (e.g. Jameson Konz, Kent State, workout warrior extraordinairre)
Used the Prospect Ratings at CBSSports for rough player placements - can't post links yet. I'll edit this post once I can.
22 - Maurice Pouncey, C/G, Florida
44 - Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech or Damian Williams, WR, USC
47 - Jason Worilds, OLB, Virginia Tech
53 - Austen Lane, DE/OLB, Murray State
119 - Tony Moeaki, TE, Iowa
Pouncey is one of the best center prospects in the last 5-10 years who Indy are desperately hoping falls to them. Reasons for taking him:
- We are not strong at the center position - it's a clear weakness on the offensive line.
- Steve Neal is made of glass, and Pouncey can play guard.
- We play in a division where our two biggest rivals employ the 3-4, wherefore we need to be able to deal with big nose tackles without always shading guard help over.
- Koppen can keep going this year without too many problems, while Pouncey learns the line calls, gets to know Brady and does a spell filling in at guard.
Thomas/Williams is an intelligent wideout who should have no problem picking up our complex route scheme. He is a 6'3 deep threat who I want to be ready to replace Randy Moss in his second year on the team. Moss himself says that he doesn't expect to be here in 2011 (although I would try to retain him). We would make an elementary mistake if we draft a WR to play the No. 2 spot. We need to draft a No. 1 receiver who can learn under Moss for a year. If Moss doesn't leave, great - but we cannot expect a rookie to be able to start and produce in the first game of the 2011 season.
Jason Worilds is a rising prospect with the consistent ability to rush the passer. He has great natural ability with room to improve on his range of pass-rushing moves. He has a great motor and is a high-effort player. When playing the run he's tended to try to use his strength rather than good technique, but this is inconsistency rather than inability to play with technique. He can play SOLB in the 3-4 with Tully Banta-Cain playing on the weak side.
Universal Draft did a fantastic feature on him too.
Austen Lane has been talked about endlessly by others who know him far better than I do (mayoclinic!). Prototypical height/size with production at Murray State, a small school. Every other player I've picked is a solid player, it's time to take a chance. Once you evaluate a player as being a fit, draft them and don't look back. If you want him, it's the second round.
Tony Moeaki is a tight end known for his blocking ability, but his combine and position drills showed that he has good hands and can run his routes well. Getting him in the 4th would be a steal, but this is a deep TE class so hopefully he falls. If we need to trade up higher in the round or into the end of the 3rd, just do it. We have enough comp picks to grab the entire scouting staff's binkies.
========
Obviously I haven't taken a 3-4 DE, which is a need. I like Mike Wright as a starter but we clearly need depth and a plan for if Wright doesn't succeed at the position. If the receivers we like aren't there, take Alex Carrington in the 2nd round.
Jared Odrick is Ty Warren Mk II. High floor, low ceiling. Midgets would find it hard to fit between the two. He'd spend his entire life double-teamed and honestly I'm just not interested. Too many good blue-chip prospects in the 1st round to waste my time here.
Throwing out some alternative picks:
If Jahvid Best is there at 44, take him instead.
If Greg Hardy falls to the 4th round, maybe take him instead, unless we can't be bothered with the hassle. The ability is there, but he may not be our sort of player.
If Rolando McClain falls past the Giants, trade up and take him, skipping the OL pick.
This year is just terrible for ILBs. Bite the bullet, don't overdraft one and just hope Tyrone McKenzie (who I really really like) produces.
Finally, Jared Veldheer and Vladimir Ducasse are interesting players, but they just don't fit our needs. We need to worry more about the interior of the line than the tackle spots. I'm happy to stick with Light/Vollmer/Kazcur/LeVoir for another year.
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