Wanted: Playmakers

[WaterfallJumper]

Super Bowls in 2014 and 2016 each had defining defensive moments. The Butler pick. The Hightower strip. This year, the defense desperately needed a player to step up, but no one could rise to the challenge (although, honestly, the same was true for the Eagles, other than a timely play by Brandon Graham, obviously).

For years, I've looked at tendencies and scheme fits, and I think that I have a pretty decent success rate. I'm not perfect, and I've had some embarrassing misses, but those are just rites of passage for draftniks. Overall, I've really bought into the Patriots type player scouting profiles, or at least my perceptions thereof.

I'm starting to wonder, however, if we just need to look for difference makers on defense, and figure out where they'll play and how they'll fit at a later time. Offenses are virtually unstoppable in the modern NFL. Look at the record-breaking combined yardage and point total in the Super Bowl. Look at the new wave of offensive principles that have taken the league by storm. Teams must place a premium on players who can force turnovers -- whether that's a strip sack, an interception, a forced fumble, a blocked kick/punt, etc, is irrelevant. The point is that a team must be able to threaten an opposing offense, not just look to contain them and slow them down in the red zone.

While disciplined, fundamentally-sound defense is always a good starting point, I'm beginning to believe that we can find average players to fill in the gaps in FA or UDFA. Let's swing for the fences in the draft. I'm on record that the draft is overrated in the grand scheme of team building (and I stand by that statement), but it's still the best way to bring in young talents who can develop into super stars without destroying your cap management.

So, the question becomes: who are the playmakers in this draft?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I'll start with a couple obvious guys. I'm looking for players who inherently alter the way the game is played due to their presence.

Josh Jackson: 8 interceptions, plus another 19 passes broken up, for a total of 27 passes defended. Multiple pick-6 plays. While he can be beaten on routes, he's extremely dangerous to challenge in coverage.

Vita Vea: shuts down interior runs. Cannot be blocked 1v1 in the run game. Powerful enough to hold his ground against double- and even triple-teams when his technique is right. Developing pass rusher with rare explosive traits.

Who else stands out? I'll update the thread later this week with some stats and gifs to explain my thought process better.

 

[Snooky97]

Agree with Vita, the guy is Vince Wilfork 2.0 with the ability to be even more athletic.

If were going for playmakers my main was in Carter. With the ability to block field goals and punts from just straight powering through is huge.

Harold Landry - Reminds me a bit of von miller. He's very quick on the first step. Seems to come up big when Boston college needed him. Also played Against Notre dame this year and both tackles had a hard job against him.

Tremaine Edmunds - He is Dont'a Hightower. Going to do some more looks on him but he could be another difference maker on this team. we could also rush HT more if we have Edmunds to as he's very good against the run.

Watch the Tape against Clemson -
Makes some huge stops in the run game though. We can use him like HT
Makes one mistake which did lead to a TD. Potentially miscommunication?

 

[JerseyShore99]

How about offensive playmakers?
Gronk seems to be retiring, Edelman and Amendola are 32/33, Cooks will be a UFA next year

 

[Snooky97]

How about offensive playmakers?
Gronk seems to be retiring, Edelman and Amendola are 32/33, Cooks will be a UFA next year

There's nothing special in terms off Offensive playmakers...n

Gronk is pissed off more than anything i feel.
Cooks i think will get a deal.

There just not a lot of talent in the offensive side of things this year.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

How about offensive playmakers?
Gronk seems to be retiring, Edelman and Amendola are 32/33, Cooks will be a UFA next year

I mean, we just put up over 600 yards of offense. I'm not really concerned about the offensive positions. We need to be able to get a stop when it matters, and right now, we can't. Give me someone who can move the quarterback off his spot, or force a fumble. Give me a ballhawk. (This may all be heartbreak speaking, honestly.)

Marquis Haynes has 12 forced fumbles. Landry has 10. They both have 48 tackles for a loss. They're one-trick ponies as pass rushers, but they get into the backfield.

Uchenna Nwosu had 13 pass breaks up this year as a linebacker, plus 9.5 sacks. Skai Moore has 14 career interceptions.

Carlton Davis is an ultra-physical, lockdown corner. He would make an awesome pairing with Stephon Gilmore.

Armani Watts is explosive at safety. He makes plays at all levels of the field.

I still think Vea is the cream of the crop, however. No one else stuffs the run like he does in college football this year (or for the last several years). I'd be willing to part with pretty considerable draft capital to bring him on board.

 

[Snooky97]

@reamer I can see us using our first pick and our Second Second round pick to trade up to get Vita. In all honesty i would happily take that. Agree with you think he is realistically talented.

I'd Like Landry if he falls to us, just tell him to go and get the QB. Another guy worth looking at is Malik Jefferson just from a sheer athletic point of view.

 

[JerseyShore99]

There's nothing special in terms off Offensive playmakers...n

Gronk is pissed off more than anything i feel.
Cooks i think will get a deal.

There just not a lot of talent in the offensive side of things this year.

Feel like this is the first time 87 has publicly considered retirement, anything he does is a luxury given his insane medicals

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

See I don't there's a difference between playmakers & P-TP's but rather scheme vs talent. And I think you know I believe most coaches, think just that. Give me the most talented guys and I'll figure out positions later. I've said this for a long time. From hockey to football, most coaches think this way. Including our own, at times.

I think Rivers was a perfect blend of P-TP & playmaker ( burst, bend, hands etc) that would have helped big time. Huge potential but that injury so early is scary.

I've also believed & said Vea will either be available for a reasonable trade up or even at our own pick. 30 + our 2nd, maybe a 6th/7th could get it done.

Vea & Alexander would make me pretty happy with our first 2 picks.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

We need someone who can come off the edge with his hair on fire and pressure the qb.

Flowers in the ideal second banana pass rusher. Yes I wish he diss better job of setting the edge. But he works better as the guy opposite the real pass rusher.

I know a lot of people are counting on rivers, but the reality is at 240 lbs, he can not play de in our scheme, see marsh.

We need someone with length, 270 pounds, active hands and some bend.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

I'll start with a couple obvious guys. I'm looking for players who inherently alter the way the game is played due to their presence.

Josh Jackson: 8 interceptions, plus another 19 passes broken up, for a total of 27 passes defended. Multiple pick-6 plays. While he can be beaten on routes, he's extremely dangerous to challenge in coverage.

Vita Vea: shuts down interior runs. Cannot be blocked 1v1 in the run game. Powerful enough to hold his ground against double- and even triple-teams when his technique is right. Developing pass rusher with rare explosive traits.

Who else stands out? I'll update the thread later this week with some stats and gifs to explain my thought process better.

Thoughts on Raheem Green from USC? We need players upfront.

 

[TriplecHamp]

One of Evans and Vea on defense.

If one of Burkhead/Lewis leaves I would be all for Sony Michel with 9ers second. I can't see him being anything but a nightmare in our offense. Front 7 speed and power is certainly the priority though.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Feel like this is the first time 87 has publicly considered retirement, anything he does is a luxury given his insane medicals

Just because it's the first time he's mentioned it doesn't mean that he's ready to retire.

Is it possible, sure. Is it likely . . . who knows, but I'd say probably not.

 

[IllegalContact]

repeat after me:

we need defense

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

We need someone who can come off the edge with his hair on fire and pressure the qb.

Flowers in the ideal second banana pass rusher. Yes I wish he diss better job of setting the edge. But he works better as the guy opposite the real pass rusher.

I know a lot of people are counting on rivers, but the reality is at 240 lbs, he can not play de in our scheme, see marsh.

We need someone with length, 270 pounds, active hands and some bend.

Rivers was 250 & could easily get to 260. He's everything we haven't had at that positon for a while. Burst, bend, hands & finish.

 

[Snooky97]

Rivers was 250 & could easily get to 260. He's everything we haven't had at that positon for a while. Burst, bend, hands & finish.

I think rivers could be a 10+ Sack player a year. Alongside wise and Flowers it could become very promising

 

[Bcc66duece]

How about offensive playmakers?
Gronk seems to be retiring, Edelman and Amendola are 32/33, Cooks will be a UFA next year

I'd like to see them sign Landry, Edelman could pass the torch to him as out #1 slot guy for the next few years.

 

[pats_premi]

From draftbreakdown video clips, so far I like Vita Vera, Lorenzo carter, Kemoko Turay, Hercules Mataafa.

 

[Snooky97]

I'd like to see them sign Landry, Edelman could pass the torch to him as out #1 slot guy for the next few years.

Can't see Landry coming here. He's going to be looking at 13m at least.

 

[Snooky97]

From draftbreakdown video clips, so far I like Vita Vera, Lorenzo carter, Kemoko Turay, Hercules Mataafa.

Vita Vea, is an absolute monster, he reminds me of a more athletic version of wilfork.

Carter, is a pure pass rusher. Really am a huge fan of him, and wouldn't mind selecting him