Iaputi at #22 is our best value

[The_Riddler]

This kid by all accounts is the next John Hannah and will fill a huge hole on the right side.

Wilson: Iupati makes big impression | National Football Post

 

[lostjumper]

I'm still wary of taking an OG first when we desperately need a pass rusher. However, if the John Hannah comparison was to come true, that would be worth it.

 

[Warren94]

rather go defense and go with Johnson from Alabama in round 2

 

[Snake Eyes]

I disagree, I know I'll be laughed at for this but I think we'd ultimately be better off with Mitch Petrus over Iupati, Iupati would be more effective immediately but Petrus has attributes that Iupati simply doesn't.

Sideline Scouting - Offensive Guards

If you look at Iupati's cons you'll notice that he can be beat by speed and has some mobility issues. Petrus, OTOH, is very quick and athletic, has great feet and mobility, and can redirect. His weakness all stem from improper technique/mechanics, lack of flexibility, and incorrect training, which can all be fixed relatively easily. Give me 6 months and I could turn Petrus into a beast, how easy is it to fix Iupati's issues? And you'd have to pay a lot more for him in terms of draft picks.

 

[VJCPatriot]

A guard in round 1 is not "best value" by any stretch. Defensive line or linebacker would address more pressing needs. We can get quite a good OL in round 2 or even 3 or 4.

 

[dryheat44]

We got our current Pro-Bowl guard at #32. There is no freakin' way Iupati will be the best value available at #22.

 

[MaineMan]

A guard in round 1 is not "best value" by any stretch. Defensive line or linebacker would address more pressing needs. We can get quite a good OL in round 2 or even 3 or 4.

Mankins, 2005, with pick #32. Aside from him . . .

Actually, I agree with you, at least for THIS draft - seems like there may be a bunch of very decent prospects available later on. Plus, we don't even know yet how Ohrnberger or Bussey may turn out. AND, it only becomes an issue if Neal decides to retire.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

rather go defense and go with Johnson from Alabama in round 2

I agree 100%. Johnson played and excelled in the zone blocking scheme and he blocked unbelievably well for Ingram this past year. Day 1 starter, just plug him in.

I still have concerns about Iupati's ability to function from day 1 in the zone blocking scheme, especially when it comes to picking up stunts and blitzers.

 

[chevss454]

Hannah was named by SI the best lineman of all time. I don't think I would compare Iupati with him just yet.
:bricks:

 

[midwestpatsfan]

As high as everyone was with Iupati after the first 2 days of the Senior Bowl, he did come back to earth by the end of the week and the game. His value was so high because the experts thought he could transition out to Tackle as well. I think he showed that he cannot handle the speed that would come at him at Tackle. He also seems to be very "grabby" and will need to work on his hands. In that Senior Bowl, he could have been called for a handful of holding calls, even when he did not need to hold.

 

[TealSox]

Whenever you can get a potential pro-bowl caliber talent, that plays in a position of longevity (such as offensive line or defensive line), I say go for it. Is that person Iaputi? Heck if I know, but if Bill thinks he is, then I support that decision. Essentially, that is where the value is at! There is less value in drafting a kid like Best out of Cal and getting a year or two out of him before he limps his way out of the league.

I'm used to the days when BB would address the offensive line late in the draft and via free agency than use a first round pick. Him taking Mankins, blew my mind and I wrote of the picking of Matt Light because it was a second round pick and he was a solid talent at that time.

Overall, I'm not used to Bill's draft strategy. Trading up for Chad Jackson seemed silly and was a failure. The Pat never really drafted LBs under Bill either (unless you want to count Ted Johnson), but then they draft Mayo (albeit after trading down).

 

[TriplecHamp]

Id be very upset if we picked him at 22....very!

 

[DaBruinz]

Iupati (God, the Boston Accents will butcher his name) isn't a fit for the Pats system unless they go away from the Zone Blocking scheme. Iupati also isn't good at getting outside on screens.. Something that Mankins and Neal were excellent at.

 

[patsfan-1982]

This kid by all accounts is the next John Hannah and will fill a huge hole on the right side.

Wilson: Iupati makes big impression | National Football Post

ill take him if they can get arthur jones, DE in the 2th round.

 

[The_Riddler]

Iupati (God, the Boston Accents will butcher his name) isn't a fit for the Pats system unless they go away from the Zone Blocking scheme. Iupati also isn't good at getting outside on screens.. Something that Mankins and Neal were excellent at.

DaBruinz, the right side of our Oline hasn't opened up a hole in 2 years, Iaputi is a road grader who is quick enough to pull, his only weakness if there is any is his pass-blocking and that's something that Dante can take care of in a hurry with a hungry and motivated talent like this kid is. If he's there at #22, I think that is tremendous value at a weak point in our Oline. Are you comfortable throwing a Connelly or Ornberger in there right now ? I'm not. The scouts say Iaputi will start from day one. What a guard combo that would be with Mankins.

 

[captain stone]

I think that Maurkice Pouncey can more than adequately handle RG while he waits to replace Koppen, by 2011 at the latest. I would therefore give very serious consideration to using 22 on Pouncey ahead of every other OLman who will likely still be available...or any other player not named Dez Bryant, Derrick Morgan or Rolando McClain.

What I hope happens is that Kaczur moves to RG, and Vollmer starts at RT for one more year, then replaces Light in 2011. Now, if Bill doesn't believe that SeaBass can succeed at LT, then a LT of the Future becomes OL priority # 1.

Possible 2011 starting OL:

Vollmer - Mankins - Pouncey - Kaczur - '10/'11 draft pick

 

[Patriot Missile]

Can't say I agree with this unless we traded up or down into the early 2nd round. Too much talent graded ahead of him imo.

 

[WelshPat]

God knows i think Iaputi will be a great player but firstly, i don't think he will be on the board and i think the Pats like those smaller lineman? This guy is more of a Cowboys/Eagles guy, he's huge.

 

[jeffbiologist]

I cant help but think we made 3 transactions last year to land Ohrnberger, a year or 2 with Dante and I think maybe he can handle that position. As a backup lineman we wont know til he gets out there.

 

[SunnyDenmark]

As the Colts have been kind enough to show us these last 10 years (most wins by any team in NFL) - offense alone doesnt win the Lombardi. Defense does and Pats D is just not championship calibre yet.

Iaputi definately is a talent but I can't remember the last time a guard won a championship game for anybody. A defensive stud however can be a game changer. (See last 2 superbowls turned on a pick 6 by defense.) Pats need to go with best defensive player available at #22.

I am hoping one of the top 5 DE will still be available at #22 to replace Seymore /Green. There will certainly be top 5 guard left in round 2 while conversley D-lineman go off the board quickly in the first round. So the value is not there for Pats at #22 when plenty of holes on D need to fill. Furthermore, there might be several candidates to fill guard spot IF Neal not back. ex. Kazur, Ohnberger, Bussey.

Joker, it just does not compute for me.....unless you are playing the Riddler instead.