2014 Draft Prospect Thread

[mayoclinic]

I'm wondering how we are going to use Collins next year. Against pass 1st teams, I could see him as a standup de in the 4-2-5. Lined up with TE. Mayo and Hightower will be your two inside linebackers. Chandler Jones at RDE of course. Hopefully, we have Vince and Silver Slugger for 1st and 2nd down. Bring in Chris Jones(Will be good pass-rusher if we can limit his snaps a little) and someone else to get after the qb. Not really a wide-body. I guess Armstead could grow into that. I'm not against drafting Tuitt if he's there to fill that role.

BB's all about game-specific planning and tailoring the match ups/mismatches, so I'm sure he'll move Collins given his versatility. He'll play mostly OLB in base and nickel packages, but could play DE or big nickel safety.

As I mentioned elsewhere, Devin McCourty paid this compliment to Collins after the game:

“He lined up a lot against Fleener today, one of their top players, and he did a great job on him,” said Patriots safety Devin McCourty. “He does everything. He’s one of those freakish athletes that can do what we do as defensive backs as a linebacker.”

Jamie Collins comes up big for Patriots in postseason debut - Sports - The Boston Globe

When a top DB admits that an LB can "do what we do", that's pretty impressive.

As for Armstead, I was on that bandwagon as early as anyone, and I still have high hopes for him, but I think you have to take a wait-and-see approach given his injury. Hopefully he'll be fully recovered, and in the ideal case he would be an "inside/outside" guy who could get reps at both 3-tech and DE (in 3-4 and 4-3 under schemes).

I think that the more versatile pieces you have, the more you can tailor match ups and create mismatches. And with BB piloting the ship, that's going to be very, very useful, regardless of who's a "starter" or the defensive snap count. That's one reason I'm hoping to see a Trent Murphy and/or Kyle Van Noy and/or Lamarcus Joyner drafted in May. The goal is not to have 11 studs and hope that they can play 95% of the snaps, but to have 23-25 of them and wreck havoc.

 

[mayoclinic]

BB's all about game-specific planning and tailoring the match ups/mismatches, so I'm sure he'll move Collins given his versatility. He'll play mostly OLB in base and nickel packages, but could play DE or big nickel safety.

As I mentioned elsewhere, Devin McCourty paid this compliment to Collins after the game:

Jamie Collins comes up big for Patriots in postseason debut - Sports - The Boston Globe

When a top DB admits that an LB can "do what we do", that's pretty impressive.

As for Armstead, I was on that bandwagon as early as anyone, and I still have high hopes for him, but I think you have to take a wait-and-see approach given his injury. Hopefully he'll be fully recovered, and in the ideal case he would be an "inside/outside" guy who could get reps at both 3-tech and DE (in 3-4 and 4-3 under schemes).

I think that the more versatile pieces you have, the more you can tailor match ups and create mismatches. And with BB piloting the ship, that's going to be very, very useful, regardless of who's a "starter" or the defensive snap count. That's one reason I'm hoping to see a Trent Murphy and/or Kyle Van Noy and/or Lamarcus Joyner drafted in May. The goal is not to have 11 studs and hope that they can play 95% of the snaps, but to have 23-25 of them and wreck havoc.

From Matt Borcas at Grantland:

I don’t know if Jamie Collins is the future of defensive football as we know it, but he sure looked like it on Saturday night. Pressed into duty by Brandon Spikes’s curious relegation to IR, Collins recorded six tackles (two for a loss), one sack, three quarterback hits, and an interception in New England’s 43-22 thrashing of Indy. While the 6-foot-3, 250-pound rookie out of Southern Miss is nominally an outside linebacker, I imagine he could line up at any position on the field and perform adequately.

NFL Run & Shootaround: Gods of Carnage - The Triangle Blog - Grantland

 

[patsinthesnow]

. @ProFootballTalk: Ka'Deem Carey opts to enter NFL Draft Ka?Deem Carey opts to enter NFL Draft | ProFootballTalk

Another RB leaves.

 

[mayoclinic]

Arizona St. LB Carl Bradford declares:

Report: Arizona State's Carl Bradford to enter 2014 NFL Draft - NFL.com

 

[mayoclinic]

David Yankey finally declares:

Stanford All-American David Yankey to enter NFL Draft | ProFootballTalk

 

[manxman2601]

Yikes!

By my count we're up to 93 underclassmen who have declared for the 2014 NFL Draft. Previous record was 73. Full List @http://goo.gl/4sbYrs

https://twitter.com/DraftCountdown/status/422823595652292608

 

[patsfaninpa]

Yikes!



https://twitter.com/DraftCountdown/status/422823595652292608

Can you say trade down?

 

[mayoclinic]

He has his troubles but if we end up looking for a Blount replacement in the draft, Jeremy Hill at 6-2, 235 comes close. Will announce tomorrow.

LSU RB Jeremy Hill to announce NFL draft decision Monday - NFL.com

The Supreme Jeremy Hill Highlights - YouTube

He's in. I think he's a good possibility for us.

He's on my 10 foot pole list. Wouldn't touch him with one of those. Check this video from last summer of him sucker-punching some dude in a parking lot. Has been in trouble before he even got to LSU. Pass.

Buckeye Empire » If you somehow haven?t seen it: Jeremy HIll?s Sucker Punch [VIDEO]

Here's a link to the article on what Hill did as a senior in high school.

LSU football commitment Jeremy Hill arrested | NOLA.com

FWIW, NFLDraftScout thinks that Hill could be a day 2 prospect if he answers questions about his off-field baggage to teams' satisfaction, and Gil Brandt ranks him as the top RB in the draft and a possible 1st round pick:

2014 NFL Draft: LSU RB Hill reverses field, headed to NFL - CBSSports.com

Before Hill declared, I said there was a good chance a running back would not be picked in the first round for the second year in a row. I think Hill will be a first-round pick. At 6-2, 235 pounds, he is a big, strong running back who rushed for 1,401 yards, averaging almost seven yards per carry, and scored 16 touchdowns in his sophomore season. His last game of the season might have been his best, a 216-yard, two-touchdown performance against Iowa in the Outback Bowl.

Cam Cameron, the offensive coordinator at LSU this year, recently told me he believes Hill is one of the best running backs he's been around, from the standpoint of power, the ability to catch the ball, etc. When a guy like Cameron, who's been in the NFL as a head coach and offensive coordinator, speaks of a player that highly, you've got to take notice.

LSU's Jeremy Hill, Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey top two RBs in draft - NFL.com

If he goes in that range, he's only an option if Blount can't be resigned, and even then there are other needs that would probably take priority. And I'm not sure the Pats would take a risk on a prospect with his off fields issues that high.

 

[captain stone]

I hope they don't. RBs can be found throughout the draft & as UDFAs, and the FO needs to
expend their precious draft capital instead on C/G(s), Move TE, Pass-Rusher, DT, Coverage
OLB, and SS.

 

[mayoclinic]

I hope they don't. RBs can be found throughout the draft & as UDFAs, and the FO needs to
expend their precious draft capital instead on C/G(s), Move TE, Pass-Rusher, DT, Coverage
OLB, and SS.

Good list.

 

[manxman2601]

FWIW, NFLDraftScout thinks that Hill could be a day 2 prospect if he answers questions about his off-field baggage to teams' satisfaction, and Gil Brandt ranks him as the top RB in the draft and a possible 1st round pick:

2014 NFL Draft: LSU RB Hill reverses field, headed to NFL - CBSSports.com



LSU's Jeremy Hill, Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey top two RBs in draft - NFL.com

If he goes in that range, he's only an option if Blount can't be resigned, and even then there are other needs that would probably take priority. And I'm not sure the Pats would take a risk on a prospect with his off fields issues that high.

FWIW, I never talked about taking him high - I was thinking start of day 3 at the earliest. And of course re-signing Blount would make drafting Hill likely redundant.

As for off the field issues, I present the man he'd likely replace on the roster, Blount, as evidence that that the Pats are a place to earn retribution and that past difficulties are not a limit on being drafted by the Pats at all. This team is a morals free zone.

 

[mayoclinic]

FWIW, I never talked about taking him high - I was thinking start of day 3 at the earliest. And of course re-signing Blount would make drafting Hill likely redundant.

As for off the field issues, I present the man he'd likely replace on the roster, Blount, as evidence that that the Pats are a place to earn retribution and that past difficulties are not a limit on being drafted by the Pats at all. This team is a morals free zone.

I know you weren't talking about taking him that high. I was a bit surprised to see CBS Sports and Brandt rate him as a day 2 prospect (or even higher) given the baggage. I don't think he's an option for the Pats unless his character issues cause him to slip to day 3, and if the Pats feel that he is in a position to "earn retribution" for his past sins.

 

[mayoclinic]

Rumors that Stanford RT Cameron Fleming (6' 5 1/2" 318#) has declared, but I haven't seen confirmation. Tony Pauline has him rated as a 2nd round prospect, but late day 2/early day 3 seems more likely. He could move inside to guard, and would make a nice guard/tackle alternative to Billy Turner.

 

[mayoclinic]

Stanford S Ed Reynolds declares:

Ed Reynolds leaving Stanford to enter NFL draft - Times-Standard Online

 

[manxman2601]

Stanford S Ed Reynolds declares:

Ed Reynolds leaving Stanford to enter NFL draft - Times-Standard Online

Let's not forget Nick Addison of Bethune-Cookman and Thomas Hankerson of Friends University (????).

A while ago I suggested nearly 100 declarations. We're almost there. Pretty sure we're in the nineties now. If ever a BB trade back at some stage looked like decent value, this year would be it.

 

[stelfans]

Where's Merrill Hoge's Tie Knot when you want him to get excited about a prospect:



https://twitter.com/JoshNorris/status/422745244925313024


Pretty sure he was a big fan of Sunseri.

I knew i should've waited, now i have to re-do my mock.

This is an insane draft class.

 

[manxman2601]

Major major binky alert!!!



Zach Kerr, DT, Delaware

6'1", 310 lbs


Credit to Stelfans, he mocked Kerr back before Christmas.

I've just watched the below highlight video for Kerr and all I can say is that this guy has a killer swim move and some serious athleticism in a 310 lb body. He might not blow up the combine but he has genuine quickness. He won't be as good as Wilfork but he definitely reminded me of him.

I've started the video at 4:26. Watch the DT #94 for about the next 5 plays. You'll see short area quickness, sideline to sideline speed and even the ability to chase a RB 30-40 yards downfield. All in the body of a 310lb DT. He's also a co-captain so fits in that regard at least.

Zach Kerr highlight tape - YouTube

And when you've got 10 minutes to spare, watch the whole thing. I know it's only a highlight video, but I'm nearly as excited about this guy as I was Terron Armstead last year.

Kerr is at the Shrine game this week so keep an eye out for news on him, I know I will.

 

[mayoclinic]

Major major binky alert!!!



Zach Kerr, DT, Delaware

6'1", 310 lbs


Credit to Stelfans, he mocked Kerr back before Christmas.

I've just watched the below highlight video for Kerr and all I can say is that this guy has a killer swim move and some serious athleticism in a 310 lb body. He might not blow up the combine but he has genuine quickness. He won't be as good as Wilfork but he definitely reminded me of him.

I've started the video at 4:26. Watch the DT #94 for about the next 5 plays. You'll see short area quickness, sideline to sideline speed and even the ability to chase a RB 30-40 yards downfield. All in the body of a 310lb DT. He's also a co-captain so fits in that regard at least.

Zach Kerr highlight tape - YouTube

And when you've got 10 minutes to spare, watch the whole thing. I know it's only a highlight video, but I'm nearly as excited about this guy as I was Terron Armstead last year.

Kerr is at the Shrine game this week so keep an eye out for news on him, I know I will.

Here's a nice profile on Kerr:

[url http://www.allprofootballsource.com/2014-nfl-draft-sleepers-zack-kerr/?cb=010082418890669942 [/url]

Good find.

 

[manxman2601]

Here's a nice profile on Kerr:

[url http://www.allprofootballsource.com/2014-nfl-draft-sleepers-zack-kerr/?cb=010082418890669942 [/url]

Good find.

That's a great write up and I pretty much agree with everything said.

 

[stelfans]

Major major binky alert!!!



Zach Kerr, DT, Delaware

6'1", 310 lbs


Credit to Stelfans, he mocked Kerr back before Christmas.

I've just watched the below highlight video for Kerr and all I can say is that this guy has a killer swim move and some serious athleticism in a 310 lb body. He might not blow up the combine but he has genuine quickness. He won't be as good as Wilfork but he definitely reminded me of him.

I've started the video at 4:26. Watch the DT #94 for about the next 5 plays. You'll see short area quickness, sideline to sideline speed and even the ability to chase a RB 30-40 yards downfield. All in the body of a 310lb DT. He's also a co-captain so fits in that regard at least.

Zach Kerr highlight tape - YouTube

And when you've got 10 minutes to spare, watch the whole thing. I know it's only a highlight video, but I'm nearly as excited about this guy as I was Terron Armstead last year.

Kerr is at the Shrine game this week so keep an eye out for news on him, I know I will.

Yup that guy can play. Im huge fan.