Football Expert's first seven-rounder

They have the Patriots drafting:

23. Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
34. Sean Smith, CB/FS, Utah
47. Connor Barwin, OLB/TE, Cincinnati
58. Fili Moala, DE/DT, USC

Day one seems pretty good. Day two (pre-comp picks), not so much.

89. Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
120. Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State
186. Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian
217. Nathan Brown, QB, Central Arkansas

Barwin is over-rated. His stock shot up because he compared himself to Vrabel as a combo LB/TE.

ctpatsfan77 said:

They have the Patriots drafting:

23. Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
34. Sean Smith, CB/FS, Utah
47. Connor Barwin, OLB/TE, Cincinnati
58. Fili Moala, DE/DT, USC

Day one seems pretty good. Day two (pre-comp picks), not so much.

89. Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin
120. Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State
186. Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian
217. Nathan Brown, QB, Central Arkansas

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I like it. I'd have to read up on those wrs though.

maverick4 said:

Barwin is over-rated. His stock shot up because he compared himself to Vrabel as a combo LB/TE.

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He didn't bring it up himself.

ctpatsfan77 said:

He didn't bring it up himself.

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He can't get through an interview without someone asking him about the comparison.

maverick4 said:

Barwin is over-rated. His stock shot up because he compared himself to Vrabel as a combo LB/TE.

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He didn't compare himself to anyone. Everyone else compared himself to Vrabs. BB seems to like him though. The patriots worked him out to see what he could do, so there must be something there that BB likes about him.

maverick4 said:

Barwin is over-rated. His stock shot up because he compared himself to Vrabel as a combo LB/TE.

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Keep spreading the word, there are GMs who need to hear this message.

ctpatsfan77 said:

They have the Patriots drafting:

23. Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
34. Sean Smith, CB/FS, Utah
47. Connor Barwin, OLB/TE, Cincinnati
58. Fili Moala, DE/DT, USC

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As usual with this year's mocks, I'm perfectly happy after mentally changing the order of the picks. I would be stunned to see Sintim drafted 24 places before Barwin.

My overall complaint with their 7 rounds for the Pats is no o-lineman, pretty unlikely that.

maverick4 said:

Barwin is over-rated. His stock shot up because he compared himself to Vrabel as a combo LB/TE.

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Yeah, he also created a lot of false hype by claiming that he led the Big East in sacks in his first year on defense, and telling people that he put up the most impressive agility and explosiveness numbers of any DE in years. Talk, talk, talk.

Sintim is not going to get drafted. The more and more I see him on film he looks like a one trick pony.

Warren94 said:

Sintim is not going to get drafted. The more and more I see him on film he looks like a one trick pony.

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What is the trick that you see on film?

Patriot Missile said:

I like it. I'd have to read up on those wrs though.

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You have to wonder what Gibson could have done, had he played with a decent QB? He might be a jewel in the rough. If he can be a return man and/or gunner on ST, he should be worth a look.

Here's a link to the mock

The Football Expert: 2009 NFL Mock Draft - 7 Rounds

personally, I'd prefer...



1. James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State- Sintim and English just have too many questions, I'd go with the sure pick, Mayo and Laurinaitis would be the best young duo at inside LB in the league
2. Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan- he does it all, and he's physical, Sean Smith is a tweener with no position... he reminds me of Jimmy Williams from VT, who busted
2b. Connor Barwin, OLB, Cincinnati- good pick
2c. Fili Moala, DE/DT, USC- hate to go defense again when we have needs on the o-line, but I like him better than Tyson Jackson

maverick4 said:

Barwin is over-rated. His stock shot up because he compared himself to Vrabel as a combo LB/TE.

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NFLDraftscouts have him rated at #39. I would say that may be underrating him slightly, even if he is not my

I like Barwin (a lot), and I also like Moala too. I think he has potential too. He looks scrawny at 300lbs and I think he can beef up a bit and still be athletic. I see him as a Wilfork redeux.

I don't see Sintin in the 1st round at all, let alone by us, and Sean Smith is a little clunky at CB. Yeah, he's big, but I'm not sold on him. Talks a little too much sh!t too is the rumor.

That just the 1st 4.

The things written about Sintim on this thread are poised to go into the Hall Of Fame for Insanely Wrong Posts. Best of luck to all of the applicants! And may you be forever positioned next to the wall of pro-Chad Jackson posts.

Seriously, do people get how hard it is to transfer from a 4-3 College end to a 3-4 NFL OLB? Let alone in a complex 3-4 (unlike Dallas or San Diego's). Honestly, people on this board think all we need is a 250-260 pounder with some speedy combine numbers and they'll just figure out the rest!

Granted, I think Barwin's got the skills and intangibles to make the switch successfully, but he'll have to work a lot harder at it than Sintim. Either (or both) at 23 or 34 would make it a good draft day in my mind.

Box_O_Rocks said:

Keep spreading the word, there are GMs who need to hear this message.

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New England made Mike Vrable, Mike Vrable. Mike Vrable did not make Mike Vrable, Connor Barwin.......

aaron spacemuseum said:

The things written about Sintim on this thread are poised to go into the Hall Of Fame for Insanely Wrong Posts. Best of luck to all of the applicants! And may you be forever positioned next to the wall of pro-Chad Jackson posts.

Seriously, do people get how hard it is to transfer from a 4-3 College end to a 3-4 NFL OLB? Let alone in a complex 3-4 (unlike Dallas or San Diego's). Honestly, people on this board think all we need is a 250-260 pounder with some speedy combine numbers and they'll just figure out the rest!

Granted, I think Barwin's got the skills and intangibles to make the switch successfully, but he'll have to work a lot harder at it than Sintim. Either (or both) at 23 or 34 would make it a good draft day in my mind.

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You betcha, we know. In fact, the only reason Sintim -- with his stiffness in coverage and limited athletic gifts -- even enters into the discussion is because of his experience in a similar system. But if experience were really the key to LB success, the Pats wouldn't have passed on every LB Al Groh has ever dished up.

Patriot Missile said:

He can't get through an interview without someone asking him about the comparison.

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I didn't ask him that question...

alvinnf said:

New England made Mike Vrable, Mike Vrable. Mike Vrable did not make Mike Vrable, Connor Barwin.......

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You have a point?