Scout.com 1 Rounder Mock

[tanked_as_usual]

I like Matthews a lot as a potential replacement for Tedy next to Mayo. I like him more than Maualuga there, because of his athleticism and coverage ability. I do have a concern about his ability to handle blockers, but I would be willing to give him a shot. The problem I have is that he is likely to go earlier than I would use a pick on SILB given our other needs. If he were to last to the 34-47 range I would be delighted, but that seems unlikely. It seems like there's a good chance he will go to the Texans at #15 anyway.

actually, more than one analysis lists coverage skill as a major liability for matthews

 

[PATSNUTme]

But no Barwin groupies where saying anything, he keeps being brought up by the other "Faction" and it is getting tiresome. The guys who like Barwin have already presented thier case in other threads and have done so better then other prospects who have been talked about. It is these little childish jabs by others about Barwin which I find pathetic. Everyone has they own guys just like you have Mathews and you have defended you point. Heck I like Malauga and have presented my case and it was talked about. Not me just acting like a kid trying to post on a site.

Everyone does not say anything about Aaron Maybin being a first round guy and he has just one good year of production. Maybin took full advantage of his starting role this season, having tallied 49 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and even breaking up 3 passes in coverage. These stats kinda remind me of Barwin and Barwin is like a Swiss Army Knife as someone put and could play multiple positions for us and save roster spots. This is why he is going to be considered in the first round not to mention his measureables.

Clay Mathews is interesting but really do not see him falling to us at #23 but I really would not mind having him. He also does not have that much field time in College maybe played less then Barwin this year and did not have his stats. There are so many factors which going into picking in the first round and none of us really know how the Pats are doing in the off season and what BB is thinking. It will be interesting to see how BB handles this draft without Pioli??

OK let me dispute this Matthews playing time myth. He was not a starter until after game 3 this year, that is true. he beat out a talented kid who was the starter. But over the past three years he has had plenty of PT at ILB, OLB, and even DE.

He played for a team who had talent coming out their ears. But he was in the rotation all three years in the defense and proformed well at every position. Some are 3 year starters at schools who have nothing in depth. USC had plenty of depth at allthose positions. So between practicing with and against some of the best talent in the country andgetting reps in all 3 years, Matthews has a body of work.

I don't want to get into comparing him to you-know-who, because I view Matthews as a guy who can play next to Mayo and also kick outside if needed.

 

[captain stone]

it would make more sense to just get monty beisel

No kidding. Matthews is merely a blown-up Safety, which is fine for a team needing a Tampa-2 LB. Besides, I would be shocked (and not in a good way) if Bill drafts another ILB - and a watered-down version of Mayo, to boot - in the first round 2 years in a row.

 

[mgteich]

No, I guess we don't need an ILB. Guyton and Ruud can compete for the starting spot in the future. Matthews does not project to be as good as Mayo. If we need someone as good as Matthews at LB, then we should trade up for Curry, or for Brown, or pwerhaps even for Orapko.

The fact is that we have SEVEN picks in the first three rounds and that ILB is a serious need, well worth one of the top 34 picks if the value is there.

No kidding. Matthews is merely a blown-up Safety, which is fine for a team needing a Tampa-2 LB. Besides, I would be shocked (and not in a good way) if Bill drafts another ILB - and a watered-down version of Mayo, to boot - in the first round 2 years in a row.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

OK let me dispute this Matthews playing time myth. He was not a starter until after game 3 this year, that is true. he beat out a talented kid who was the starter. But over the past three years he has had plenty of PT at ILB, OLB, and even DE.

He played for a team who had talent coming out their ears. But he was in the rotation all three years in the defense and proformed well at every position. Some are 3 year starters at schools who have nothing in depth. USC had plenty of depth at allthose positions. So between practicing with and against some of the best talent in the country andgetting reps in all 3 years, Matthews has a body of work.

I don't want to get into comparing him to you-know-who, because I view Matthews as a guy who can play next to Mayo and also kick outside if needed.

When Reymal was out, I saw Cushings move inside to take his place. When did Mathews play ILB at USC?

 

[JoeShmoe]

But no Barwin groupies where saying anything, he keeps being brought up by the other "Faction" and it is getting tiresome. The guys who like Barwin have already presented thier case in other threads and have done so better then other prospects who have been talked about. It is these little childish jabs by others about Barwin which I find pathetic. Everyone has they own guys just like you have Mathews and you have defended you point. Heck I like Malauga and have presented my case and it was talked about. Not me just acting like a kid trying to post on a site.

Everyone does not say anything about Aaron Maybin being a first round guy and he has just one good year of production. Maybin took full advantage of his starting role this season, having tallied 49 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and even breaking up 3 passes in coverage. These stats kinda remind me of Barwin and Barwin is like a Swiss Army Knife as someone put and could play multiple positions for us and save roster spots. This is why he is going to be considered in the first round not to mention his measureables.

Clay Mathews is interesting but really do not see him falling to us at #23 but I really would not mind having him. He also does not have that much field time in College maybe played less then Barwin this year and did not have his stats. There are so many factors which going into picking in the first round and none of us really know how the Pats are doing in the off season and what BB is thinking. It will be interesting to see how BB handles this draft without Pioli??

Great post. Personally I hope we take Beatty or Britton at #23 (and maybe a shock move for Mack a la Mankins) because I have said before the no.1 priority of the NEP has to be to give no.12 time and protection whilst he is still here

In 10 years, when he and Randy and Wes etc have all gone, we will look back and wish we'd have given him the protection he deserves ...

Im just not that fussed for OLB in the first ... if we get barwin at 34 then great but its not that important to me

 

[PATSNUTme]

When Reymal was out, I saw Cushings move inside to take his place. When did Mathews play ILB at USC?

According to all Pete Carroll and the major draft publications, Matthews has played every LB position and DE at USC.

If you have watched every USC game over the past 3 years, I haven't, and know that is not accurate, then please let us, Pete Carroll, and the major draft publications know.

What is the deciding factor though is if BB calls his name on April 25th. If he does, I will bet that it is not to play OLB.

 

[Liverpool_Patriot]

I'd prefer to wait until next year to get our 3-down ILB in Brandon Spikes, with this year being so thin at the position. I would prefer Spikes to Maualuga because he is quick to the ball carrier and can cover better too.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'd prefer to wait until next year to get our 3-down ILB in Brandon Spikes, with this year being so thin at the position. I would prefer Spikes to Maualuga because he is quick to the ball carrier and can cover better too.

We've been over this ground before in other threads. I agree with you about Spikes (though some see him as too close to Mayo; I don't and think he would be a great SILB complement), and he would probably have been my choice at #23 had he declared. However, just because we'd rather have him is no guarantee that we will get anywhere near close enough to get him next year.

I think that if the "right" SILB candidate falls to us then we should consider them, whether it's 1st day (Maualuga for those who like him, which I don't, or possibly Ayers/Matthews/English/Sintim moving inside) or 2nd (Jason Williams, Jason Phillips or Jasper Brinkley). If things don't fall right or if we don't really like any of those options then we can get by with Mayo/Guyton/Bruschi. Adalius Thomas always offers positional flexibility at ILB. And there are several options in 2010 besides Brandon Spikes, such as Eric Norwood whom I think would make a terrific SILB.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

This years draft will probably be my most anticipated. With so many picks... it will be very interesting how it all ends up.

I have no predictions.

I bet many of the mocks are wrong fwiw...

 

[captain stone]

No, I guess we don't need an ILB. Guyton and Ruud can compete for the starting spot in the future.
We do need a SILB, but neither Guyton nor Ruud are starting-caliber, IMHO. Ruud's not even backup-caliber.

Matthews does not project to be as good as Mayo.
If we didn't already have Mayo, then I would give more consideration to Matthews.

If we need someone as good as Matthews at LB, then we should trade up for Curry, or for Brown, or perhaps even for Orapko.
Why? Those guys are OLBs, and I don't want Brown or Orakpo at any price.

The fact is that we have SEVEN picks in the first three rounds and that ILB is a serious need, well worth one of the top 34 picks if the value is there.

I completely agree, though the only SILBs I see with a value approaching #34 overall are Maualuga, Laurinaitis & Cushing.

 

[mgteich]

Matthews could play inside or outside for the patriots. He's a great talent. We would asking him to share time with Bruschi and Guyton in 2009 and start or share time with Guyton in 2010. He could even move outside in 2010 with Thomas coming inside.

I would be fine with any ILB Belichick chose at 23 or 34.

I completely agree, though the only SILBs I see with a value approaching #34 overall are Maualuga, Laurinaitis & Cushing.

 

[mayoclinic]

Matthews could play inside or outside for the patriots. He's a great talent. We would asking him to share time with Bruschi and Guyton in 2009 and start or share time with Guyton in 2010. He could even move outside in 2010 with Thomas coming inside.

I would be fine with any ILB Belichick chose at 23 or 34.

Matthews and Robert Ayers are my to wild cards for SILB. Both are very intriguing to me inside, but I am not 100% sure about either of them. In Matthews' case, my big question is regarding his ability to take on blockers and hold up against the run. If BB felt that he could develop adequately in these areas, I would be completely behind him at 23 or 34 as an SILB. The same holds true for Ayers in terms of draft position. In Ayers case, I think his strengths are in taking on blockers and holding up against the run, as well as his inside pass rushing move. I have some questions as to whether he can re-adjust to playing standing up, to reading and reacting, and how he will be in pass coverage. Combine the best of Ayers and Matthews and you have the near ideal SILB conversion player.

 

[mgteich]

So after all this discussion, we are left with many players who might be drafted by the patriots in the first 34 to play ILB. Obviously, any ILB pick depends on Belichick's evaluation.

Maualuga
Laurinitis
Sintim
Matthews
Ayers
Cushing

This is a very long list of 3-4 ILB's, especially since we have several fine prospects later in the draft. THIS IS THE YEAR to get our ILB.

Matthews and Robert Ayers are my to wild cards for SILB. Both are very intriguing to me inside, but I am not 100% sure about either of them. In Matthews' case, my big question is regarding his ability to take on blockers and hold up against the run. If BB felt that he could develop adequately in these areas, I would be completely behind him at 23 or 34 as an SILB. The same holds true for Ayers in terms of draft position. In Ayers case, I think his strengths are in taking on blockers and holding up against the run, as well as his inside pass rushing move. I have some questions as to whether he can re-adjust to playing standing up, to reading and reacting, and how he will be in pass coverage. Combine the best of Ayers and Matthews and you have the near ideal SILB conversion player.

 

[mayoclinic]

So after all this discussion, we are left with many players who might be drafted by the patriots in the first 34 to play ILB. Obviously, any ILB pick depends on Belichick's evaluation.

Maualuga
Laurinitis
Sintim
Matthews
Ayers
Cushing

This is a very long list of 3-4 ILB's, especially since we have several fine prospects later in the draft. THIS IS THE YEAR to get our ILB.

I think that is the correct list of potential 1st day SILBs, with the addition of Larry English, who has been proposed on numerous occasions on this board as a possible SILB conversion. That would leave 7 potential day 1 players, most of whom would be in range of one or more of our 4 picks. There are also at least 3-5 attractive 2nd day players - Jasper Brinkley, Jason Williams, Jason Phillips, and Franz Joseph, just to name 4. So there's a lot of potential at the position in this draft. It all depends on how much BB considers the position a need and how highly he rates the various prospects as to whether he warrants spending a 1st day pick on the position. But it's certainly a reasonable possibility.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

:nono: To Day One ILB.

 

[captain stone]

:nono: To Day One ILB.

Why not? I do admit, though, that I'm not a fan of any of these SILB conversion projects. I would rather draft somebody who already has experience producing on the inside.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Why not? I do admit, though, that I'm not a fan of any of these SILB conversion projects. I would rather draft somebody who already has experience producing on the inside.

Why not? The experienced Day One SILB types do nothing for me. Maualuga is overpriced. Cushing seems to be a better 4-3 LB. As does Matthews. Beckwith isn't athletic enough. Laurinaitis is a less physical Mayo-lite, and overpriced. Conversion projects such as Sintim may work out, but we want more athleticism. Day Two offers more scope at a better price.

 

[VJCPatriot]

This is a very long list of 3-4 ILB's, especially since we have several fine prospects later in the draft. THIS IS THE YEAR to get our ILB.

Didn't we do that last year? Some nobody by the name of Mayo... I'd go for a passrusher first and an ILB second.

 

[mgteich]

I have no problem with choosing our ILB at 34.

Didn't we do that last year? Some nobody by the name of Mayo... I'd go for a passrusher first and an ILB second.