Preview 3-4 DE projections

[Coach42]

Even if Brace develop0s, you can never have enough depth at DE in a 3-4. It is way BB spent first round picks on Seymour, Warren and a second round pick on Hill (RIP).

It will be very interesting to see how many snaps Brace gets and how does against The-Brick or Woodhead. A good performance will show me a lot about Brace's future.

I agree. I think that if Brace doesn't develop into a solid starter, DE becomes a pressing need. If he does the Pats early draft strategy could shift back to BPA.

 

[WesWelker83]

I think the Pats are looking at these guys at 3-4 DE

1. Marcel Dareus Alabama
2. Jared Crick Nebraska
3. Derek Wolfe Cinci
4. Lawrence Guy ASU
5. Adrian Taylor Oklahoma

I think a lot of the top guys in the mock drafts dont fit our scheme (Clayborn, Heyward, Bailey)

Thoughts?

 

[Coach42]

Crick article.

Rivals.com College Football - Nebraska defense welcomes high expectations

 

[rookBoston]

There's plenty of 3-4 DEs that are eligible next year, but way too many of them seem to be gap-shooters, not gap-controllers. That's a mistake that a lot of Internet wannabe draft "experts" are going to make, and it shall annoy us to no end.

It shall indeed. It has started, already, with the draft experts expounding their idiocy. I've read three of four mock drafts in the last few days that have us selecting 270# DEs in the first round. Makes me mad, because some of the sites are associated with Patriots Nation, and they should know better.

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but just to get it off my chest: there is NO WAY we're taking a 270# DE onto this roster, unless he's a freak (like McGinest) that can play in pass coverage. Our DEs will be 300-310#. Our OLBs will be 250-260#, and anyone in between will have to be a pretty exceptional case of strength or athleticism or both to break the mold.

 

[Peachhead]

A guy I'm really keeping track of (and like what I see) is Christian Ballard from Iowa. He's listed at 6'5", 297 and plays DT and occasionally DE.

http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ballard_christian00.html

 

[MrNathanDrake]

I think the Pats are looking at these guys at 3-4 DE

1. Marcel Dareus Alabama
2. Jared Crick Nebraska
3. Derek Wolfe Cinci
4. Lawrence Guy ASU
5. Adrian Taylor Oklahoma

I think a lot of the top guys in the mock drafts dont fit our scheme (Clayborn, Heyward, Bailey)

Thoughts?

Add Allen Bailey to that List. He plays DT for The U. He reminds me of Ratliff, the NT on the Cowboys, but much more athletic.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think the Pats are looking at these guys at 3-4 DE

1. Marcel Dareus Alabama
2. Jared Crick Nebraska
3. Derek Wolfe Cinci
4. Lawrence Guy ASU
5. Adrian Taylor Oklahoma

I think a lot of the top guys in the mock drafts dont fit our scheme (Clayborn, Heyward, Bailey)

Thoughts?

Dareus is down to 280 pounds and is not a prototypical run stopper. But can really get after the QB. Could be a top 5 pick.

Crick seems ideal in our Defense.

Wolfe - has a following on this board.

Guy and Talor - hard to project them in a two gap defense.

 

[LuthierJr]

Guy and Talor - hard to project them in a two gap defense.

Oklahoma Fan here.... Adrian Taylor is a good kid, and a good football player, but I agree. He is hard to project into a 2 gap system. Doesn't mean he can't, but he doesn't play that way here.

 

[NePatriots]

A guy I'm really keeping track of (and like what I see) is Christian Ballard from Iowa. He's listed at 6'5", 297 and plays DT and occasionally DE.

Player Bio: Christian Ballard - IOWA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

I've watched about 30 of Ballard's games (in person and on tape) - and I have to say that he probably projects to the Patriots better than Clayborn.

He got double teamed nearly as much as Adrian last year.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I've watched about 30 of Ballard's games (in person and on tape) - and I have to say that he probably projects to the Patriots better than Clayborn.

He got double teamed nearly as much as Adrian last year.

How does he do at anchoring at the POA?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Hm . . . this after I post a few articles about him on another board.

Here's a great article on JJ Watt. http://www.postcrescent.com/article/...-two-way-power Hm . . . a former TE who now plays DE? Sign me up!

Another excellent article. Sounds like a great guy. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...4342/index.htm

Take Watt off the DE list, you can slide him over to the OLB list, but he'll need a lot of work.

The kid does not get off blocks. He does play up on his feet, he's got some pass rush motor, but he needs to get stronger and develop more pass rush moves. As of now, he's a late round flyer for some team. If I were advising him, take a year of grad school and work on getting stronger and improving your pass rush moves.

 

[Off The Grid]

Summing up what we've got, so far...Please DO correct any mistakes, Gentlemen:

Prime Candidates

* Jared Crick ~ Nebraska ~ 6.6/285
* Christian Ballard ~ Iowa ~ 6.5/300
* Derek Wolfe ~ Cincinnatus ~ 6.5/295

Great Prospects But Suspect Fits as Gap Stuffers

* Marcell Dareus ~ Alabama ~ 6.3/300
* Cam Heyward ~ Ohio ~ 6.5/285
* Adrian Clayborn ~ Iowa ~ 6.3/285
* Allen Bailey ~ Miami ~ 6.4/288
* Marvin Austin ~ North Carolina ~ 6.3/310

Dark Horse Candidates

* Lawrence Marsh ~ Florida ~ 6.5/290
* Devon Still ~ Penn State ~ 6.5/300

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Summing up what we've got, so far...Please DO correct any mistakes, Gentlemen:

Prime Candidates

* Jared Crick ~ Nebraska ~ 6.6/285
* Christian Ballard ~ Iowa ~ 6.5/300
* Derek Wolfe ~ Cincinnatus ~ 6.5/295

Great Prospects But Suspect Fits as Gap Stuffers

* Marcell Dareus ~ Alabama ~ 6.3/300
* Cam Heyward ~ Ohio ~ 6.5/285
* Adrian Clayborn ~ Iowa ~ 6.3/285
* Allen Bailey ~ Miami ~ 6.4/288
* Marvin Austin ~ North Carolina ~ 6.3/310

Dark Horse Candidates

* Lawrence Marsh ~ Florida ~ 6.5/290
* Devon Still ~ Penn State ~ 6.5/300

Ballard does not impress me as a 3-4 DE, I think he'd be ideal as a 4-3 end. He's just not that stout at the point of attack. He's reportedly got 30 lbs on Karl Klug at the other DT, yet Arizona with two 335+ OG consistently doubled Klug with their 300 lb #3 ranked Center (NFL Draft Scout ranking) and got little to no push against Klug. Ballard made some nice plays, but he was free to make those plays, which tells me how the coaches for Arizona viewed him as a threat.

Clayborn was getting chipped a lot in the passing game, but in the run game it was not uncommon for the LT to block down on Klug and leave Clayborn unblocked - which is why Adrian got to flash some hustle pursuing outside the numbers, nobody touched him.

I don't know if Klug is the 270 he's listed at, but if he's at least 280 at the Combine or his Pro-Day, I want him for DE, anytime in the second round or later. He'll be a fine 3rd down specialist which can take DE reps as needed and be an injury replacement starter.

 

[Off The Grid]

Ballard does not impress me as a 3-4 DE, I think he'd be ideal as a 4-3 end. He's just not that stout at the point of attack. He's reportedly got 30 lbs on Karl Klug at the other DT, yet Arizona with two 335+ OG consistently doubled Klug with their 300 lb #3 ranked Center (NFL Draft Scout ranking) and got little to no push against Klug. Ballard made some nice plays, but he was free to make those plays, which tells me how the coaches for Arizona viewed him as a threat.

Clayborn was getting chipped a lot in the passing game, but in the run game it was not uncommon for the LT to block down on Klug and leave Clayborn unblocked - which is why Adrian got to flash some hustle pursuing outside the numbers, nobody touched him.

I don't know if Klug is the 270 he's listed at, but if he's at least 280 at the Combine or his Pro-Day, I want him for DE, anytime in the second round or later. He'll be a fine 3rd down specialist which can take DE reps as needed and be an injury replacement starter.

NICE. Thanks, man.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Ballard does not impress me as a 3-4 DE, I think he'd be ideal as a 4-3 end. He's just not that stout at the point of attack. He's reportedly got 30 lbs on Karl Klug at the other DT, yet Arizona with two 335+ OG consistently doubled Klug with their 300 lb #3 ranked Center (NFL Draft Scout ranking) and got little to no push against Klug. Ballard made some nice plays, but he was free to make those plays, which tells me how the coaches for Arizona viewed him as a threat.

Clayborn was getting chipped a lot in the passing game, but in the run game it was not uncommon for the LT to block down on Klug and leave Clayborn unblocked - which is why Adrian got to flash some hustle pursuing outside the numbers, nobody touched him.

I don't know if Klug is the 270 he's listed at, but if he's at least 280 at the Combine or his Pro-Day, I want him for DE, anytime in the second round or later. He'll be a fine 3rd down specialist which can take DE reps as needed and be an injury replacement starter.

Hey Box concerning the respect that Zona was giving to Klug, I was notciing that as well. And I want to give props to Klug to holding onto the LOS.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Looks like a lot of DE prospects will be available by our first pick, which I believe will be around the 8-14 part of the draft. Maybe even higher if the Raiders meltdown and really **** the bed this year.