We have these dicussions about 1,234,567 times but I will address these issues in here anyway.
We do not know how Tyrone Mckensie will be nor does anyone else, however, he was one of the more productive linebackers at South Florida with 118 tackles, 8 PD, 15 tackles for loss, and a 1 pick. He is known to be able to cover Tight Ends and is a very quick and expolsive. He could turn out to be the next Patrick Willis but he could be also the next Monty Beisel. We simply don't know and I wouldn't put sky high expectations for him for next year either. It takes time to go back from a serious knee injury, and some player never do.
The draft for linebackers this year I would say is decent. You have an outstanding prospect at ILB in Ronaldo Mcclain who is one of the best overall prospects in the draft and can do just about everything from rushing the passer to playing coverage. Unless we trade up into the top 10, we won't be getting him. I see 4 linebackers being taken in the first round with Sergio Kindle who is a great pass rusher out of Texas who could fall to us in the mid 20'.Sean Weatherspoon who could be anywhere from the mid teens to the end of the first round. Brandon Spikes an outstanding MLB who could be a serious option if we keep with the 3-4. I don't see him much of an option if we switch to the 4-3 with Mayo already playing the middle linebacker spot. After these guys, there isn't anyone who jumps off the board as of right now.
I really like the D-Line class, I see a lot of potential in the class. I believe that the Pats should target Greg Hardy from Ole Miss. He's projected by many to go in the top 20, which means that the Pats would have to try to trade up. I think this kid will be an absolute stud. He's 6-5, 265 pounds, and has apparently been clocked at 4.67 seconds in the 40 yard dash. Now, he has some injury problems, but I honestly think he could be worth the risk. He's probably the best DE coming out this April.
If the Pats are looking to stick with the 3-4 next season, they could target someone like Cameron Heyward from Ohio State. He's 6-6, 285 pounds, and he's a great fit as a DE in a 3-4 system. According to most mocks, he could be had in the second round, which would allow the Pats to use their first rounder on the best available player, whoever that may be. Other fits at DE in the 3-4 system could be Allen Bailey from Miami and Jake Odrick from Penn State. They are also players who could be available in the second round.
Additionally, if the Pats are looking to stick in the 3-4 system, they would benefit from taking a look at a pass-rushing OLB. IMO, these are the best prospects to fill that need:
1. Jerry Hughes from TCU (6-3, 260, 4.64 40 time). He has 11 sacks this season, is a good fit to play DE in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4, and could slip to the second round. I think he would be a great success in New England.
2. Von Miller from Texas A&M (6-3, 240, 4.60 40 time). He has 17 sacks this season, and he's only a Junior. Some mocks compare him to Elvis Dumervil. Either he or Hughes could be a great pass rusher for the Pats in a 3-4 system.
Others to look out for are Sergio Kindle from Texas, Ricky Sapp from Clemson, and Eric Norwood from South Carolina. They could possibly fall to the Pats in the 3rd round.
Also guys like Brandon Graham out of Michigan should be condisered. He is a great pass rushing DE/OLB. He fits the Patriots mold with a great football IQ, pass rushing ability, and able to play two different positions.
Carlos Dunlap and Greg Hardy are the two most attractive here who could either drop to us in the first round, or will be within distance to trade with us having 3 second round picks. Dunlap is a beast and a top 10 talent, but with his recent charcter/ off the field issues, it could turn them away. I would be jerking off if he is in the 20's.
I think we could reasonably draft two DE/OLB with our first two picks and then address other needs with other picks.
The Patriots are actually in a good position to select the best player available considering they have 3 second round picks. The greatest positions of need are DE and OLB, both can be addressed in the second round. If a new CBA isn't in place and 2010 is uncapped, the 2010 draft class will be extremely deep due to the fact that the new CBA will likely have a rookie salary cap. Many underclassmen will most likely enter the 2010 draft in hopes of landing decent sized contracts.
Ehh about Shawn Crable. The jury is still out, but how the coaching staff has handled him and his injury proneness is making him look like the next bust. He was supposed to be molded into a pass rusher and it hasn't come to be. I wouldn't be holding you're breath on him.
You can divide up the potential 2010 class of LBs several ways:
1. Guys who currently play DE, but who have enough athleticism to play the elephant in a 3-4. These potentiall include:
- Carlos Dunlap, Florida (junior) - 6'6" 270+# athletic freak who has been plagued by inconsistency and off-field issues. Boom or bust.
- Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech (junior) - 6'4" 268# bull, a bit in the Shawne Merriman mold. May not be fluid enough to play in space. Probable top-15 pick as a 4-3 DE.
- Jason Pierre-Paul, USF (junior) - 6'6" 265# guy with 4.6 speed and an 81" wingspan. A young Javon Kearse, who is still very raw. Will probably come out and go 1st round based on his upside, but needs time to develop.
- Greg Hardy, Mississippi - 6'5" 265# guy with 4.67 speed and tremendous pass rushing moves, who has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency. Once considered a top 20 pick, he may not need a tradeup, and could even go 2nd round because of injury concerns.
- Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh (junior) - 6'5" 265# guy with good speed and athleticism, strong against the run as well as rushing the passer. Still developing.
- Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma (junior) - 6'3" 260# former LB who now plays mostly DE, but is very versatile. Good in all facets of the game.
- Everson Griffen, USC (junior) - 6'3" 270#+ guy with 4.6 speed and long arms. Inconsistent, but high upside. Rumored to be staying in school.
- Brandon Graham, Michigan - 6'2" 268# DE with a very high motor, strong against the run and a terrific pass rusher. May not be fluid enough to play in space.
- Austin Lane, Murray St. - 6'6" 260# freak with DeMarcus Ware-like agility numbers, but who has played against inferior competition.
The big question with these guys is which ones have the athleticism and fluidity to play in space. I like Romeus, Lane, Beal, Hardy and Pierre-Paul. Most guys have at least one question mark - height, fluidity, inconsistency, injuries, inferior competition, etc.
2. Guys Who Project to 3-4 LB's (either inside or out), with some potential to play LB in a 4-3 scheme as well. These guys aren't really 4-3 DE's, or have serious questions about their size and ability to play DE in the 4-3. These guys include:
- Rolando McClain, Alabama (junior) - 3-4 SILB or 4-3 SAM. 6'4" 255#. Top 10-15 pick, possibly higher.
- Sergio Kindle, Texas - 6'4" 255# guy with a lot of athleticism, but still technically a bit raw. Considered a top 15 pick at the beginning of the season, hasn't really dominated as expected. 3-4 OLB or 4-3 SAM, most likely.
- Jerry Hughes, TCU - 6'3" 257# pass rushing demon. May be too light to play 4-3 DE. Not clear how well he can play in space as a 3-4 OLB. Great motor.
- Von Miller, Texas A&M - 6'3" 240# DE who mostly plays rush OLB, in the Elvis Dumervil mold. Fabulous speed rusher, led the nation in sacks with 17. Small, currently weak against the run. Probably a 3-4 OLB at the next level. Could bulk up to the 250 range. TFYdraft (Tony Pauline's website) says the Pats and Steelers have shown interest in him.
- Ricky Sapp, Clemson - 6'5" 245# speed guy, a bit reminiscent of a more athletic Shawn Crable or Manny Lawson.
- Eric Norwood, South Carolina - 6'1" 252# former DE who could probably play 3-4 SILB or OLB and 4-3 SAM. Offers great flexibility.
Other guys in this group include Jermaine Cunningham (Florida), Brandon Lang (Troy), Jason Worilds (Virginia Tech), O'Brien Schofield (Wisconsin), and Lindsey Witten (Connecticut), among others.
3. Guys who appear to be more 4-3 LB prospects. These include:
- Brandon Spikes, Florida - once thought of as a 3-4 SILB, now appears to be more of a 4-3 SAM or MLB. Good leader. Limited athletic ability and upside.
- Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri - leading senior WLB, could possibly also play 3-4 WILB. Great range and tackling ability.
- Travis Lewis, Oklahoma (junior) - pure 4-3 WLB.
- Navorra Bowman, Penn St. (junior) - pure 4-3 WLB.
- Bruce Carter, North Carolina (junior) - pure 4-3 WLB with great range and playmaking ability. Said to be returning for his senior year.
So there's a tremendous amount of depth and variety at the LB position that is eligible for the 2010 draft. Some of the junior prospects may not come out, but many will. Who you like depends a lot on stylistic preference and scheme.
Since BB has professed a bias towards tall guys who have the strength to set the edge and the athleticism to play in space, I'm personally most interested in the first group. But I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Pats draft someone from the second group.
