Question about Willis

[PonyExpress]

There's a whole lot to like about Willis from a size, attitude, toughness, leadership standpoint. Only negative I can find is that he looks a bit stiff, not the ideal fluid, flexible athlete, which makes me wonder if he has the quickness to cover an NFL TE/RB, a la Lance Briggs. I don't mean straight line speed, he'll run a 4.6. Willis is almost exactly Briggs' size when Lance came out in 2003. The reason we would draft Willis in rd 1, at his size, is for the Will ILB, and so his coverage ability is crucial... Maybe I'm used to seeing Bruschi, who is extremely agile and flexible. Willis' shuttle and 3 cone drill numbers should indicate his agility and quickness. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong...

IMHO top 3 ILB prospects are now Willis, Harris and Siler. All 3 have the necessary violence and leadership qualities to thrive at ILB. The question is are they worth a 1st rd pick.

 

[cstjohn17]

There's a whole lot to like about Willis from a size, attitude, toughness, leadership standpoint. Only negative I can find is that he looks a bit stiff, not the ideal fluid, flexible athlete, which makes me wonder if he has the quickness to cover an NFL TE/RB, a la Lance Briggs. I don't mean straight line speed, he'll run a 4.6. Willis is almost exactly Briggs' size when Lance came out in 2003. The reason we would draft Willis in rd 1, at his size, is for the Will ILB, and so his coverage ability is crucial... Maybe I'm used to seeing Bruschi, who is extremely agile and flexible. Willis' shuttle and 3 cone drill numbers should indicate his agility and quickness. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong...

IMHO top 3 ILB prospects are now Willis, Harris and Siler. All 3 have the necessary violence and leadership qualities to thrive at ILB. The question is are they worth a 1st rd pick.

I say No, none are worth a first round pick to the Pats. I think Pos. can be thrown into the mix as well. Maybe for another team, IMO there is little chance that any of the above would start for the Patriots so it may be better (and cheaper) to wait until rounds 2-4 to address ILB. I fully expect a veteran to be brought in to start beside Bruschi (I think he returns).

There is a possibilty that a DE/OLB is drafted in round 1 but as I look at the boards I don't see it happening. A lot can change between now and April but I would be midly surprised if the Pats draft an ILB in round 1, not as surpised as I was when they took a guard or a TE but surprised....

 

[spacecrime]

I say No, none are worth a first round pick to the Pats. I think Pos. can be thrown into the mix as well.

Who/what is Pos.?

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Who/what is Pos.?

Pozluzny of Penn State.

Supposedly Willis has looked a little more fluid in coverage at the Senior Bowl than some expected. I'm keeping my eyes on the LB for sure but until proven otherwise I'm expecting a different direction. Like completely rebuilding the DB.

 

[PonyExpress]

I say No, none are worth a first round pick to the Pats. I think Pos. can be thrown into the mix as well. Maybe for another team, IMO there is little chance that any of the above would start for the Patriots so it may be better (and cheaper) to wait until rounds 2-4 to address ILB. I fully expect a veteran to be brought in to start beside Bruschi (I think he returns).

There is a possibilty that a DE/OLB is drafted in round 1 but as I look at the boards I don't see it happening. A lot can change between now and April but I would be midly surprised if the Pats draft an ILB in round 1, not as surpised as I was when they took a guard or a TE but surprised....

I'm not quite ready to dismiss the idea of an ILB in rd 1. If we look at rebuilding the defense as a 3 year plan, then drafting a player like Willis may not be such a bad idea. Sign Fletcher in free agency, team him with Bruschi in his last year, supplemented with Alexander, whom I am still intrigued by, and perhaps a maturing Corey Mays. Then, draft Willis, with the idea of replacing Bruschi in '08 as the starter as #54 retires. With a year under his belt, Willis could develop a sense for the pro passing game, and work and improve on coverage skills. By year 3 we could have a pro bowl caliber player and the emotional leader of the defense. The question really is, is it worth it to take Willis in rd 1 over, say Harris in rd 2? The coverage issue is the deciding factor. If Willis really has the longterm potential to overcome that stiffness and cover Rbs and TE, than it may be worth it over Harris, who is really just a 2 down thumper, although an excellent leader. Siler may be the equal or superior to those to. I have an impression he may be more naturally athletic than either of them, though I need to see more before reaching any conclusions. As for Pos, I have looked closely and I don't see it.

 

[cstjohn17]

I'm not quite ready to dismiss the idea of an ILB in rd 1. If we look at rebuilding the defense as a 3 year plan, then drafting a player like Willis may not be such a bad idea. Sign Fletcher in free agency, team him with Bruschi in his last year, supplemented with Alexander, whom I am still intrigued by, and perhaps a maturing Corey Mays. Then, draft Willis, with the idea of replacing Bruschi in '08 as the starter as #54 retires. With a year under his belt, Willis could develop a sense for the pro passing game, and work and improve on coverage skills. By year 3 we could have a pro bowl caliber player and the emotional leader of the defense. The question really is, is it worth it to take Willis in rd 1 over, say Harris in rd 2? The coverage issue is the deciding factor. If Willis really has the longterm potential to overcome that stiffness and cover Rbs and TE, than it may be worth it over Harris, who is really just a 2 down thumper, although an excellent leader. Siler may be the equal or superior to those to. I have an impression he may be more naturally athletic than either of them, though I need to see more before reaching any conclusions. As for Pos, I have looked closely and I don't see it.

I like your plan, in any of the above scenarios we would have solid starters with some qaulity youth as backups. A real departure from the current roster, nice work.

 

[cstjohn17]

Addition Willis Info from Pat Kirwan, nfl.com

Does Tedy naturally play the weakside? I know he has been moved around a lot the last 2 years, but what is his natural position.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9953923

2. Patrick Willis, Mississippi linebacker: He's a Tampa 2 middle linebacker, a 3-4 weak inside 'backer, and he'll play the run early in his career with the pro passing attack just one year away.

 

[PonyExpress]

In Kiper's senior bowl review, he writes that Willis is a 2nd rdr, Harris is a 3-4th rdr, Posluzny is a 3rd rdr, B. Davis a 3rd rdr. He says there were 16 possible 1st rd talents at the senior Bowl.

 

[DaBruinz]

In Kiper's senior bowl review, he writes that Willis is a 2nd rdr, Harris is a 3-4th rdr, Posluzny is a 3rd rdr, B. Davis a 3rd rdr. He says there were 16 possible 1st rd talents at the senior Bowl.

By the combine, Kiper will be touting Willis and Posluszny as 1st rounders. Guaranteed. He does this all the time.

I find it amazing that, in Kiper's eyes, Posluzsny has fallen from a Can't Miss 1st rounder to a 3rd rounder, even though Posluszny recovered from his ACL injury AND showed that he could play the ILB position well.