Nawrocki's early Lber report

[PonyExpress]

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Extras/2007/positionrptLB.htm

Loves Gholston, Laurinitis and Maualuga. Maualuga looked like a man among boys vs UCLA, just how an NFL LBer playing college ball should look.

 

[cstjohn17]

They are all good, but they are all juniors so lets hope Ohio State wins the national championship and Gholston and Laurintus come out early.

Maualuga has great size for the position and looks like he could hold up in the middle in the Pats scheme.

One other problem is that none are worth a top 5 pick, some sort of trade back would have to be done to create the right value/need balance.

 

[PonyExpress]

They are all good, but they are all juniors so lets hope Ohio State wins the national championship and Gholston and Laurintus come out early.

Maualuga has great size for the position and looks like he could hold up in the middle in the Pats scheme.

One other problem is that none are worth a top 5 pick, some sort of trade back would have to be done to create the right value/need balance.

From what I gather reading this article, he believes Gholston is worth a top 5 pick. He says if the '05 draft were done over, Ware or Merriman would go #1, and that Gholston is a cross between the two.

 

[cstjohn17]

From what I gather reading this article, he believes Gholston is worth a top 5 pick. He says if the '05 draft were done over, Ware or Merriman would go #1, and that Gholston is a cross between the two.

Very well written and informative article, thank you for posting it.

Even if Gholston's upside is not quite as high as Ware or Merriman I think he could be an effective player in the Pats defense. Plus he would be signed for 6 years, in year 1 he would rotate with Colvin and Vrabel. In year two he would take Colvin's spot. Plus his Buckeye alum (Vrabel) could teach him how to play TE.

2008 LBs - drafting an OLB would leave only one open starting position at ILB, Thomas would drift back inside on early downs. Also the unit would get a lot younger in a hurry, and maybe Seau or bruschi come back for a P/T role.

OLB - Colvin, Gholston
ILB - Thomas, Alexander,
ILB - OPEN SPOT, Lua
OLB - Vrabel, Woods

2009 - sign Channing Crowder as a free agent, and Vrabel for 1 more year

OLB - Gholston, DRAFT PICK
ILB - Thomas, Alexander
ILB - Crowder, OPEN SPOT, Lua
OLB - Vrabel, Woods

 

[ctpatsfan77]

2009 - sign Channing Crowder as a free agent, and Vrabel for 1 more year

Just to be clear--are you suggesting the Pats bring Vrabel back for 2010? He's already under contract through 2009.

 

[PonyExpress]

Obviously this is very early, but right now my draft plan would be as follows:

Plan A
Select Chris Long at #2. Trade Seymour for a mid 1st rdr. Take Maualuga/Laurinitis with that pick. Use the early second rdr to select best available O-Tackle Baker/Oher/Cherilus/Otah.

This would give the Pats an '08 d-line of Warren Wilfork Green Long, and a LBing corps of Thomas Colvin Vrabel Maualuga/Laurinitis.

Plan B
Trade down in the top 10, picking up at least an early 2nd rdr. Select Gholston/Harvey. Trade back into the mid 1st rd and select Maualuga/Laurinitis.

LBing corps: Thomas Vrabel Gholston/Harvey Colvin Maualugua/Laurinitis

Plan C
Trade down in the top 10, picking up an early 2nd rdr. Select Gholston/Harvey. Trade back into the 1st and select best available OT (Baker/Cherilus/Oher). Sign Victor Hobson as a free agent.

Lbs: Hobson Thomas Vrabel Colvin Gholston Harvey

 

[cstjohn17]

Just to be clear--are you suggesting the Pats bring Vrabel back for 2010? He's already under contract through 2009.

My bad, I thought Vrabel was a FA after 2008. I like Channing Crowder, still want to see him at ILB starting in 2009.

 

[cstjohn17]

Obviously this is very early, but right now my draft plan would be as follows:

Plan A
Select Chris Long at #2. Trade Seymour for a mid 1st rdr. Take Maualuga/Laurinitis with that pick. Use the early second rdr to select best available O-Tackle Baker/Oher/Cherilus/Otah.

This would give the Pats an '08 d-line of Warren Wilfork Green Long, and a LBing corps of Thomas Colvin Vrabel Maualuga/Laurinitis.

Plan B
Trade down in the top 10, picking up at least an early 2nd rdr. Select Gholston/Harvey. Trade back into the mid 1st rd and select Maualuga/Laurinitis.

LBing corps: Thomas Vrabel Gholston/Harvey Colvin Maualugua/Laurinitis

Plan C
Trade down in the top 10, picking up an early 2nd rdr. Select Gholston/Harvey. Trade back into the 1st and select best available OT (Baker/Cherilus/Oher). Sign Victor Hobson as a free agent.

Lbs: Hobson Thomas Vrabel Colvin Gholston Harvey

Interesting, I suggested traded Seymour and was roundly slammed. In concept it sounds ok but his cap hit is prohibitive, http://www.patscap.com/

He didn't have a great game against the run but I thought he emerged a little bit in the pass rush.

Of the options I like #1 the least and not because of the Seymour trade, I don't see Chris Long as a good fit for the Patriots D-Line. Reminds me of a better Klecko, just not quite big enough to play the edge in our 3-4 and too slow to play OLB.

#2,#3 - I like, not sure about trading back into round 1 and would expect to get a 2009 1st round pick in any trade down but I do like those LB units.

 

[PonyExpress]

Interesting, I suggested traded Seymour and was roundly slammed. In concept it sounds ok but his cap hit is prohibitive, http://www.patscap.com/

He didn't have a great game against the run but I thought he emerged a little bit in the pass rush.

Of the options I like #1 the least and not because of the Seymour trade, I don't see Chris Long as a good fit for the Patriots D-Line. Reminds me of a better Klecko, just not quite big enough to play the edge in our 3-4 and too slow to play OLB.

#2,#3 - I like, not sure about trading back into round 1 and would expect to get a 2009 1st round pick in any trade down but I do like those LB units.

Oops. I thought the signing bonus had been paid all at once to prevent future cap hits. Did';t see Miguel's more recent updates. Oh well. One can dream. IMO you are underrating Long. Energetic, committed players with good motors like Aaron Smith of Pittsburgh are as valuable as big talented unmotivated players like Seymour.

 

[cstjohn17]

Oops. I thought the signing bonus had been paid all at once to prevent future cap hits. Did';t see Miguel's more recent updates. Oh well. One can dream. IMO you are underrating Long. Energetic, committed players with good motors like Aaron Smith of Pittsburgh are as valuable as big talented unmotivated players like Seymour.

I think Chris Long will be a productive player in the right system (Pittsburgh, Chargers, Cowboys, could play DT in a Tampa-2 scheme) but especially with the depth of the Patriots D Line I really won't think about a 3-4 end in the top 5 unless he was a perfect fit. Much rather see Jake Long or McFadden than a situational starter.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Who says BB has to trade down for picks in this draft?

Why couldn't he trade for picks from the 2009 draft or beter yet, some young veteran LBers or corners?

I would love to see Oakland's ILB Morrison and CB Assignewte (spelling) playing for us next year and have Oaklnad's 2009 first and well.