Ivan dude(being friendly no pun intended) Everybody knows by now I want patriot players dominate! Not just play well, but savage our opponents! I hope Easley Buchanan Moore,Collins are terrorizing passrush forces and Jones takes another stride. I want Dobson and the hard working Thompkins (especially kenbrell)to step up in Hightower want us to field our most dominant OLineman I think Halapio can be a great center and Fleming/Cannon compete to be our athletic powerful RG. Most of all I want to acquire the vastly underrated destructive Carl Nicks. I don't want to hope we can pull off a Superbowl run, I want to know we will savagely dominate every team on route to a Superbowl trophy. I was hoping Hightower was as explosive as elite LBs like Willis/Bowman but packaged in his 270lb body. However its just not the case. From the time he played as a rookie broadcasters called him out as ball carriers crossed his face like he was in quicksand saying Hightower needs to be more explosive than that in the NFL. And " trouble with Hightower he is going to lose in an all out sprint shadowing a TE or RB." I hoped it was result of just a young player being unsure or shy. And many college reports said he needs to step up the intensity.
I watched every highlight I could find on him especially His NFL stuff while watching highlights of established LBs like Bowman/Washington/Smith/David/Wagner/Kuechly/Mosley/Alonzo/Ellerbe/Ogletree/Kendricks.The impact/hits/flashing on scene for jarring hits and pass breakups/Closing burst/ball carriers legs turning to rubber on contact/knifing through blockers/intensityu I saw those guys doing was night and day compared to Hightowers pedestrian burst and drag down tackles. And that's what it seemed like,pedestrian compared to them dudes,kind of like comparing a non athlete to some of them players. I saw one play he tossed a RB out of way on a b!it's that impressed. I didn't want to see that but he was nothing compared to them guys. Just watch YouTube and various NFL highlights sights all over the net of players best highlights and particular games. I watched them 5 hours straight.
On a more positive note I like Beauharnais! He makes some nice hits and plays faster than his 4.8. I'm not saying David fast but a little quicker than timed and shows some good closing burst and intensity. And looks at least competent in coverage and good instincts,very good instincts! Like all the top LBs that weigh about 240, he plays stronger than his size suggests. He could start by end of season. I would bet he has better career than manti teo.
If Buchanan reaches his full potential, Collins makes jump to elite status,Beauharnais becomes a good LB, Dobson breaks out and reaches his ceiling,Logan Ryan steps up as an elite #2 Corner, Harmon becomes an established SS,and Kenbrells very hard work blossoms to fruition,and even Boyce can earn some snaps in the slot and make some big plays out of the slot, our 2013 draft class could become one of best draft classes ever. Collins will break out and his stats will standout because I think he does a lot of blitzing this year. Buchanan has as much raw passrush talent as many top pass rushers and early draft picks. Dobson at 6'3 and growing into his frame has all the raw ability a WR can ask for. 4.37 speed/flexibility/quickness and a second long gear( notice how he pulled away from ike taylor and other DB on longTD).Ryan had 5 ints in limited time and has shown Richard Sherman ball skills except he is 6'0 not 6'3. And has real shot of being at least a top flight #2 corner. I believe Beauharnais will be a pleasant surprise. Harmon is 6'1 and filling out his frame. He has some CB coverage skills and experience. Awesome for a SS in this increasingly pass happy league. His 4.50 speed has been knocked as a corner but phenomenal for a SS. He is a reliable tackler with some thump that will get heavier as he grows into his frame. He is 6'1 and better equipped to match up with TEs than Byrd's and Wards are. I think he settles in as a 6'1 211lb standout SS. Maybe not pro bowler but a standout. Kenbrell my personal favorite. Showed good snatch and go ability and burst out of breaks as rookie. I wish him well on his personal goals of being a better more explosive overall athlete he is working really hard for. And hope he becomes at least a 1000 yard WR. Since this is about LBs, I really like Beauharnais. I think he will be very good 3 down LB. Like I said he is competent in coverage. Watching him play I would guess he runs a flat 4.70. Good enough! I like the mayo/Beauharnais/Collins/ triad! Beauharnais may not be a pro bowler but will be a much respected lb by offenses.
