DRAFT Welcome to New England, Georgia C Jared Wilson

[RobertWeathers]

Campbell / Lowe
Strange / Schweitzer / Sow
Bradbury / Wilson / JAndrews / Brown
Onwenu / Robinson
Moses / Wallace / Jacobs

I’m still not sure the starting line will be very good, but they’ve got pretty good competition set up for the backup spots with some guys that have intriguing talent.

I'm more optimistic.

LT- Blue chip at LT. As a rookie, Campbell will have some speed bumps but the talent is there. Massive upgrade over Lowe.
LG- OPEN. This is the top concern on the line. If Marrone can get Strange to at least average then we are golden. I think he can.
C- Bradbury is functional. If Wilson starts then all the better
RG- Onwenu- Solid.
RT- Moses- Solid.

 

[long distance]

I'm more optimistic.

LT- Blue chip at LT. As a rookie, Campbell will have some speed bumps but the talent is there. Massive upgrade over Lowe.
LG- OPEN. This is the top concern on the line. If Marrone can get Strange to at least average then we are golden. I think he can.
C- Bradbury is functional. If Wilson starts then all the better
RG- Onwenu- Solid.
RT- Moses- Solid.

No matter how good one thinks the pick was Campbell is not a blue chip by any stretch.
He might play with a chip on his shoulder though..

I commend the optimism but this is average OL with hopefully potential of solid (which is an improvement from worst of course) esp if Onwenu and Strange wake up.

Much depends on QB trust and for happy-go-lucky Maye this could be just enough..

 

[RobertWeathers]

No matter how good one thinks the pick was Campbell is not a blue chip by any stretch.
He might play with a chip on his shoulder though..

I commend the optimism but this is average OL with hopefully potential of solid (which is an improvement from worst of course) esp if Onwenu and Strange wake up.

Much depends on QB trust and for happy-go-lucky Maye this could be just enough..

I'm not going to argue if Campbell is a blue chip or not. My definition is based on his athleticism which is off the charts and how he kicked ass vs NFL competition. If he turns out to be a top 5 LT in the most competitive football league on the planet then that is "blue chip".

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I'm more optimistic.

LT- Blue chip at LT. As a rookie, Campbell will have some speed bumps but the talent is there. Massive upgrade over Lowe.
LG- OPEN. This is the top concern on the line. If Marrone can get Strange to at least average then we are golden. I think he can.
C- Bradbury is functional. If Wilson starts then all the better
RG- Onwenu- Solid.
RT- Moses- Solid.

Blue chip estimation certainly has you on the high end of all Campbell evaluators. Which is ok, but understand that when you’re ranking him higher than everyone else people will doubt it.

Also, not only are you projecting him higher than pretty much everyone else, you’re also projecting he’s going to hit the ground running. Whatever level you think he’ll be in his career, a normal career arc would be to discount it back at least a few notches as a rookie.

Personally, I don’t see blue chip with Campbell. I see someone who will be ok for his career, and I expect as a rookie he’ll be much less than that. The line looks drastically different if he’s more like project.

I’m not really worried about LG like you. I think Strange is functional. Probably more so than Bradbury even.

 

[imahobgoblin]

How about switching him to left guard next to Campbell. What kind of running lanes we could see... f Strange, your broken and just a backup i.m.o. Two rookie starters...Rhamondre must be like let's gooo....

That is not really Wilson's game at all. He is not a running road grader type. He is an athletic pass first protector with intelligence to work with a short passing attack with running backs. That is McD's offense with Faulk and White. His play style fits Gibson and Hendrickson more than Rham. And Rham is not celebrating anything today. He had 7 fumbles last year and played like crap. His boss just hired a replacement. The hope is that he responds and ups his game.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Wilson’s RAS is 9.98, 2nd highest among centers tested since 1987. He somehow managed to get clocked at 21 mph. - at over 300 lbs. Devin McCourty hit 22 mph.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Blue chip estimation certainly has you on the high end of all Campbell evaluators. Which is ok, but understand that when you’re ranking him higher than everyone else people will doubt it.

Also, not only are you projecting him higher than pretty much everyone else, you’re also projecting he’s going to hit the ground running. Whatever level you think he’ll be in his career, a normal career arc would be to discount it back at least a few notches as a rookie.

Personally, I don’t see blue chip with Campbell. I see someone who will be ok for his career, and I expect as a rookie he’ll be much less than that. The line looks drastically different if he’s more like project.

I’m not really worried about LG like you. I think Strange is functional. Probably more so than Bradbury even.

The only reason he has been downgraded by people is 33” inch arms. If top 1% athletically with outstanding production isn’t blue chip nothing is.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Same school as David Andrews.

And Georgia is known for their strong run game…

 

[Hugepatsfan]

The only reason he has been downgraded by people is 33” inch arms. If top 1% athletically with outstanding production isn’t blue chip nothing is.

You're skipping a step. He's been downgraded because he reaches when he blocks/overcompensates for the outside speed rush which makes people think he'll trouble with great speed rushers and guys with counter moves, i.e. the top pass rushers of the NFL. People think he'll always have more limitations against the top pass rushers to the point he won't be a top LT. The arm length is just the reason people think it's something he's going to keep doing, as opposed to something he can grow out of. Some do that as a technique issue, he seems to do it because he physically has to.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Blue chip estimation certainly has you on the high end of all Campbell evaluators. Which is ok, but understand that when you’re ranking him higher than everyone else people will doubt it.

Also, not only are you projecting him higher than pretty much everyone else, you’re also projecting he’s going to hit the ground running. Whatever level you think he’ll be in his career, a normal career arc would be to discount it back at least a few notches as a rookie.

Ranking him higher than whom at LT? He was the #4 pick in the draft and was clearly the best LT available. What am I missing?

Yes- I absolutely expect him to start week 1 and be functional. As I said I expect speed bumps. I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation for him.

Personally, I don’t see blue chip with Campbell. I see someone who will be ok for his career, and I expect as a rookie he’ll be much less than that. The line looks drastically different if he’s more like project.

I’m not really worried about LG like you. I think Strange is functional. Probably more so than Bradbury even.

Interesting. You don't doubt Strange when he hasn't played in over a year and prior to his injury was at best iffy at LG for 1.5 years but question the 4th player taken in the draft.

 

[RobertWeathers]

The only reason he has been downgraded by people is 33” inch arms. If top 1% athletically with outstanding production isn’t blue chip nothing is.

Wingspan as well. He is an outlier in that regard. With that said his athleticism, quickness, and technique help him overcompensate for that physical "shortcoming".

Someone should go off and for all the All-Pro LTs dump in an .xls what their wingspan is. I bet most of them are over 77 3/8" and some aren't. I bet those over 77 3/8 had other shortcomings that they overcame.

My point is we can spend forever (as most have) and look at things which are deemed as shortcoming but at the end of the day the player excels because they are just really good football players.

 

[DarrylS]

Yep. Gotta also factor in THEIR board and stack-rankings. What we see as "best available" on Walter Football does not necessarily reflect Vrabel's.

I agree, as somewhat of a draft neophyte I might pay attention to rankings in mock drafts that at best are purely speculative..
It's the old phrase we referred to about beer, "one man's premium is another man's dud suds"...

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Ranking him higher than whom at LT? He was the #4 pick in the draft and was clearly the best LT available. What am I missing?

Yes- I absolutely expect him to start week 1 and be functional. As I said I expect speed bumps. I don't think that is an unreasonable expectation for him.


Interesting. You don't doubt Strange when he hasn't played in over a year and prior to his injury was at best iffy at LG for 1.5 years but question the 4th player taken in the draft.

Yes, he went #4, but the consensus is that there were only two non-QB blue chip prospects (Hunter, Carter). You can be the top LT prospect on most boards and not be considered blue chip. There are not blue chip player at every position every year on every draft board. The consensus this year is that there were none at LT and that Campbell was the best of the bunch.

On your second part, context is key. You said you weren't confident we had a functional/serviceable LG. From what I've seen with Strange he is serviceable/functional, albeit below average and someone that should be replaced. Context matters here. I was I wasn't worried about LG in the context you brought up about us having a functional/serviceable player there. That's a very different grading scale than whether Campbell is a "blue chip" LT like you say vs. someone who will just be "ok" like I have him projected.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Wingspan as well. He is an outlier in that regard. With that said his athleticism, quickness, and technique help him overcompensate for that physical "shortcoming".

Someone should go off and for all the All-Pro LTs dump in an .xls what their wingspan is. I bet most of them are over 77 3/8" and some aren't.

Campbell had the shortest wingspan recorded at the combine since 2011 for an OT so I don't think there's anyone in the current NFL that will be lower than him, all pro or not.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I hope he starts along with Campbell.

 

[DarrylS]

Wingspan as well. He is an outlier in that regard. With that said his athleticism, quickness, and technique help him overcompensate for that physical "shortcoming".

Someone should go off and for all the All-Pro LTs dump in an .xls what their wingspan is. I bet most of them are over 77 3/8" and some aren't.

Local sport stalk radio, particularly Bertram and Felger, both bash Campbell daily & ruthlessly.. they have reduced him to T-Rex...
My view it was a convergence of the Pats greatest need and the best available LT...

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yes, he went #4, but the consensus is that there were only two non-QB blue chip prospects (Hunter, Carter). You can be the top LT prospect on most boards and not be considered blue chip. There are not blue chip player at every position every year on every draft board. The consensus this year is that there were none at LT and that Campbell was the best of the bunch.

On your second part, context is key. You said you weren't confident we had a functional/serviceable LG. From what I've seen with Strange he is serviceable/functional, albeit below average and someone that should be replaced. Context matters here. I was I wasn't worried about LG in the context you brought up about us having a functional/serviceable player there. That's a very different grading scale than whether Campbell is a "blue chip" LT like you say vs. someone who will just be "ok" like I have him projected.

TBH I really don't get caught up in "blue chip" or not. Christ Tony freaking Mandarich was "blue chip" and he was the biggest OL bust in NFL history. Larry Allen was drafted in the 2nd rd and along with Hog is the greatest guard in NFL history. You can say he was not "blue chip" Campbell was a top 10 pick. Carter and Hunter are immensely talented but time will tell if they actually make a difference.

Ok on Strange. Based on his performance and health history at this level i'm not convinced he is "functional".We'll see.

 

[Water Boy]

Local sport stalk radio, particularly Bertram and Felger, both bash Campbell daily & ruthlessly.. they have reduced him to T-Rex...
My view it was a convergence of the Pats greatest need and the best available LT...

**** those guys. I can't listen to either one of them.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Campbell had the shortest wingspan recorded at the combine since 2011 for an OT so I don't think there's anyone in the current NFL that will be lower than him, all pro or not.

My point is everyone has some physical attribute that is less than the standard. Even All-Pros. Somehow the exceptionally talented and hard workers find a way to play at a high level.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Local sport stalk radio, particularly Bertram and Felger, both bash Campbell daily & ruthlessly.. they have reduced him to T-Rex...
My view it was a convergence of the Pats greatest need and the best available LT...

Two of the last people whos opinion I value.