Reiss: Pats should consider 4-3 edge rushers in draft

[RobertWeathers]

The Patriots can afford a luxory or two this year....with their bounty of picks. All I know is that the 3rd down deficiencies have to be solved NOW. Give Brady more chances to operate and this team could be scary good....in the playoffs. Add some extra pressure on the QB and imagine the INTs this secondary could amass.

What luxury do they have? Sure they had a very good record last year but have lost their last two playoff games so clearly they are not where they need to be.

The key attributing factors were lack of a pass rush and a running game that didn't scare anyone because the defense wasn't respected.

With the 6 picks in the first 100, they need to hit on 4 with two being on the o-line and two on defense, preferably at OLB and 3-4 DT.

 

[Peachhead]

Indy's Dwight Freeney is one of the most electrifying 4-3 pass rushers in the league. ESPN-type shows are full of his highlight reels. Robert Mathis is no slouch in the pass rushing stats either.

It doesn't stop Indy's defense from sucking out loud year after year.

How about this? We sucked on 3rd down. We were in sub-packages the majority of the time on third down. Therefore, we sucked in sub-packages.

So get the hell out of sub-packages so often! (IOW get some 3-4 D-line studs again so we can make that work better)

 

[DarrylStingley]

BB sticks to a plan to a fault??

I look at the teams success and realize we are very lucky to have a guy like BB.

Of course, but he's human and not infallible.

If he was, he wouldn't have continued to tape after getting a memo from the NFL that taping wasn't allowed. He would have made better adjustments to what the opposing defenses were doing in SB 42 and the Jets playoff game. He would have had a better plan B when he played hard ball with Deion and Asante.

To be clear, I love BB and would want no one else. Best coach in the NFL.

But that we're lucky to have him is not inconsistent with the notion that there are times when I'd and I assumed others would prefer he adjusted or changed more.

 

[borg]

What luxury do they have? Sure they had a very good record last year but have lost their last two playoff games so clearly they are not where they need to be.

The key attributing factors were lack of a pass rush and a running game that didn't scare anyone because the defense wasn't respected.

With the 6 picks in the first 100, they need to hit on 4 with two being on the o-line and two on defense, preferably at OLB and 3-4 DT.

The luxury they have is double picks in the first 3 rounds. The luxory they can add to this roster is a pass rush specialist using a first rounder , a player BB would NEVER normally add considering his modus operendi is to use 1st rounders for 3 down players.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Get a stud 3-4 DE and a lot of problems go away.
Did you realize that we were missing Ty Warren, starting Gerrard Warren and starting a mix of Brace and god knows who else on the other side this season?

The Pats DL needs upgrading up front with a guy who can command double teams. Whether that is Jordan or Watt, I don't know but if I know BB, he's going to go after the 6-4 to 6-6 prototype DE in the upcoming draft. A pass rush specialist unfortunately is hard to find for the Pats. Every team is looking for pass rusher but it's hard to project to the Pats 3-4 OLB position.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The defense needs more 3 down players- not specialists. You can acquire a specialist in the 3rd round or later.

 

[borg]

The defense needs more 3 down players- not specialists. You can acquire a specialist in the 3rd round or later.

Crable is waving to you, from the street.
Enough with the "developmental" approach.
This was a 14-2 team with a couple of flaws...one being QB pressure leading to an anemic 3rd down defense. I'm betting BB won't let this opportunity go to waste. Either he secures upgrades via Free Agency, or he targets a difference maker using multiple picks.

Consider the following:
1) 3 consecutive playoff losses
2) Jets success
a. Value of veterans free agents
3) NFL players openly mocking Patriots achievements
4) Steelers defensive prowess leading to 3rd SB trip
5) Brady's age
6) Belichicks age and diminishing "Defensive Genus" label

Even though his public personna is closer to cyborg than human, I have to believe BB is very conscious of his legacy and place in NFL history. Spygate overshadows his 3 Lombardis, at least in the minds of many non Patriot players. The more I think about, the stronger my belief that Kraft and Belichick will load this roster now.

 

[asfpnepRefugee]

I also said in another thread this week that they should draft Von Miller if he is availiable, even if it means playing him only on passing downs. They have to find a way to pressure the QB.

Considering that Von Miller is being discussed as a top 5 pick, I think we shouldn't be using phrases like "if he is available" in regards to him.

 

[sebman2112]

Run defense in subpackages wasn't great this season, and adding a "hair on fire" type of player wouldn't help with that. I'd rather see a McGinest type, a player who plays the run well and rushes the passer well, but is kinda iffy in coverage. Heck, I think a Jarvis Green type is a better fit than a Matthews or Woodley type.

Woodley drops into coverage, and is strong against the run. Why do people keep repeating this garbage?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Crable is waving to you, from the street.
Enough with the "developmental" approach.
This was a 14-2 team with a couple of flaws...one being QB pressure leading to an anemic 3rd down defense. I'm betting BB won't let this opportunity go to waste. Either he secures upgrades via Free Agency, or he targets a difference maker using multiple picks.

I don't follow. Crable was not drafted as a specialist. He was drafted to be a 3-down OLB. He just didn't develop into one.

I would argue that this team had multiple flaws and all were proven out as flaws vs the Jets.

-Average run defense
-Average red zone defense
-Barely adequate CB opposite DMc
-Lack of a deep threat in the passing game
-A running game that is not respected by opposing defenses
-Sub-standard pass rush

Some of these shortcomings will be (I assume) fixed next year with Bodden and Ty Warren returning and a couple of Rd1 kids via the draft.

The more I think about, the stronger my belief that Kraft and Belichick will load this roster now.

Seeing how the team's last two drafts have produced a plethora of front-line players, I'd be surprised if BB deviates from that philosophy and becomes the New York Yankees of the NFL.

I agree that they team needs to break the bank in FA or a blockbuster trade for a 3-4 DE AND a 3- down OLB but if they aren't there, then you have no choice but to draft and attempt to develop one.

 

[Mogamedogz]

Woodley drops into coverage, and is strong against the run. Why do people keep repeating this garbage?

Because he's not a Patriot. You've been here long enough to know forum policy on stuff like this.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Considering that Von Miller is being discussed as a top 5 pick, I think we shouldn't be using phrases like "if he is available" in regards to him.

Then this should be easy for you, provide a link to one out of the hundreds of draft sights where he is being discussed as a top 5 pick, top 10 maybe not top 5. Or were you just making that up to fit your argument?

 

[borg]

Then this should be easy for you, provide a link to one out of the hundreds of draft sights where he is being discussed as a top 5 pick, top 10 maybe not top 5. Or were you just making that up to fit your argument?

I view Miller as a luxory and not a foundation player. Teams drafting in the top half of the draft have core issues. I view Miller as a scheming tool for coaches comfortable that their foundations...DTs, DEs, OTs, QBs are solid

 

[Kontradiction]

Not comparing talent level, just style of play. I'd rather have a big pass-rusher who is not a liability against the run compared to a "hair on fire" type who leaves the draw lanes wide open.

Jarvis Green was a MASSIVE liability against the run.

 

[Shelterdog]

Then this should be easy for you, provide a link to one out of the hundreds of draft sights where he is being discussed as a top 5 pick, top 10 maybe not top 5. Or were you just making that up to fit your argument?

I've got no dog in this fight but Miller is popping up as a top five pick on some sites after the senior bowl. For example:

NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com


Scouts Inc has him a the number seven prospect now.

This mock database lists him as a top five guy in at least 15 mocks:

WalterFoootball.com: 2011 NFL Mock Draft Database

EDIT: As to the article, I think Reiss's argument is "draft a pass rusher high and don't worry if they can't play OLB In the base defense, they'll get plenty of run in sub packages."

 

[Deus Irae]

Reiss really needs to avoid doing anything but reporting the facts and figures. His analysis and opinion columns are some of the weakest in the business.

 

[asfpnepRefugee]

Then this should be easy for you, provide a link to one out of the hundreds of draft sights where he is being discussed as a top 5 pick, top 10 maybe not top 5. Or were you just making that up to fit your argument?

I'm somewhat limited due to what sites I can access at work, but a quick google search has Kiper quoting just a couple of days ago that he won't make it out of the top 10, and there have been stories abound about how his stock rose from the senior bowl.

 

[patchick]

He's gonna have to cut down on his size requirements too, missed too many good players like woodley because they were too small.

Actually, the big knock on Woodley at draft time wasn't his size, it was his speed and athleticism. And it's hard to say that the Patriots "missed" him when he was drafted #46 and they didn't have a 2nd-round pick.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Actually, the big knock on Woodley at draft time wasn't his size, it was his speed and athleticism. And it's hard to say that the Patriots "missed" him when he was drafted #46 and they didn't have a 2nd-round pick.

With regard to drafting LBs for the 3-4, it is interesting how different the personnel philosophies are between NE & Pitt. For OLB, we all know BB likes them to be 6-3 + 250lb +

For Pitt, they'll "settle" for a sub 6-3 250+ as both Harrison, Porter, and Woodley fall into this category (maybe not the weight so much).

Pitt seems to put a greater priority on speed while the Pats prefer size.

For ILBs, Pats like the size more while Pitt will go for a smaller, but quicker player with Timmons and Foote being the examples there for Pitt with guys like Bru, Johnson, Spikes and Mayo having more size than speed (although you can say Mayo has speed to burn).

 

[Froob]

Actually, the big knock on Woodley at draft time wasn't his size, it was his speed and athleticism. And it's hard to say that the Patriots "missed" him when he was drafted #46 and they didn't have a 2nd-round pick.

Ah, good point. Forgot they didn't have a 2nd.