Positional ranking 3-4 OLB Pre Combine

Single biggest need on our defense a 3-4 OLB with the ability to get after the QB.

Positional requirements: Sudden at the snap of the ball. Good hand fighter with a variety of pass rush moves. Strong. Ability to set the edge against the run. Must be able to get off blocks and tackle in tight and in space. Desired ability to be able to drop into coverage and play zone or cover backs and TE's one on one.

Rankings:

1.) Copples UNC - Probably a top 10 pick. Projecting to be off the board by the time we are on the clock.
2.) Upshaw Alabama - Tremendous playmaker against the run or pass. Probably off the board in the #15 to #20 range.
3.) Montgomery LSU - Just a redshirt sophomore. Good size and outstanding 4.5 speed. Projected as late first round pick. Needs a bit more sand in the pants.
4.) Mercilus Illinios - Led Big 10 in Sacks and gets after the QB. Needs help playing the run. Projected as late first or early second round.
5.) Perry -USC - Another late first or early second round pick.

Sleeper: Curry of Marshall Late second or early third round pick. Great burst but raw.

I hope we tarde up for at least upshaw

Ochmed Jones said:

1.) Copples UNC - Probably a top 10 pick. Projecting to be off the board by the time we are on the clock.

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b72s said:

I hope we tarde up for at least upshaw

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Have we been enjoying our Christmas festivities a bit too mulch

Of the potential prospects I've watched or read about, I think Andre Branch and Cam Johnson are the most likely to fill that OLB spot in that they both possess prototypical Patriot OLB size and have more versatility than pin your ears back pass rushers. Upshaw would probably top the board, the question is, does he have enough value to make trading up for him desirable?

Ochmed Jones said:

Single biggest need on our defense a 3-4 OLB with the ability to get after the QB.

Positional requirements: Sudden at the snap of the ball. Good hand fighter with a variety of pass rush moves. Strong. Ability to set the edge against the run. Must be able to get off blocks and tackle in tight and in space. Desired ability to be able to drop into coverage and play zone or cover backs and TE's one on one.

Rankings:

1.) Copples UNC - Probably a top 10 pick. Projecting to be off the board by the time we are on the clock.
2.) Upshaw Alabama - Tremendous playmaker against the run or pass. Probably off the board in the #15 to #20 range.
3.) Montgomery LSU - Just a redshirt sophomore. Good size and outstanding 4.5 speed. Projected as late first round pick. Needs a bit more sand in the pants.
4.) Mercilus Illinios - Led Big 10 in Sacks and gets after the QB. Needs help playing the run. Projected as late first or early second round.
5.) Perry -USC - Another late first or early second round pick.

Sleeper: Curry of Marshall Late second or early third round pick. Great burst but raw.

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There's also Branch out of Clemson. I realize we already have someone named Branch, but you're allowed to have more than one. He would be good. A well disciplined athletic guy.

Also Cam Johnson out of Virginia and a guy out of Boise State, I forgot his name.

Also the guy from WV, forgot his name, is supposed to be as natural a pass rusher as there is. Bruce Irvin.

There are tons of them.

Perry has been labeled as "tight" in some quarters.

SanAngeloState said:

There's also Branch out of Clemson. I realize we already have someone named Branch, but you're allowed to have more than one. He would be good. A well disciplined athletic guy.

Also Cam Johnson out of Virginia and a guy out of Boise State, I forgot his name.

Also the guy from WV, forgot his name, is supposed to be as natural a pass rusher as there is. Bruce Irvin.

There are tons of them.

Perry has been labeled as "tight" in some quarters.

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Perhaps Shea McClennin.
6'3" 255lbs.

Quinton Coples is more of a 3-4 DE than a 3-4 OLB. He's 6'6 290lbs. Perfect Seymour replacement. We need to move up and grab this kid or get the heck out of the 1st.

b72s said:

I hope we tarde up for at least upshaw

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I hope we don't 'Tarde up' it sounds like "suiting up" only when one "tardes up" one gets stupid.

Ochmed Jones said:

Single biggest need on our defense a 3-4 OLB with the ability to get after the QB.

Positional requirements: Sudden at the snap of the ball. Good hand fighter with a variety of pass rush moves. Strong. Ability to set the edge against the run. Must be able to get off blocks and tackle in tight and in space. Desired ability to be able to drop into coverage and play zone or cover backs and TE's one on one.

Click to expand...

If a player could fill all those rolls, they would not be available to NE in the 2012 draft. Some other team would pick him up 1st.

I don't see us trying to fill all those rolls with 1 player. Its even harder when you are looking for a pass rusher who can cover a TE.

It would be a lot easier to find guys who can compliment each others abilities and the result would be the same.

1st round. Jared Crick. Big guy at 6-4 285 is a lot for the o-line to deal with.
A OLB like Lavonte David can run circles around the gaps he can create. David also is a great cover guy, but he might need help tackling TEs, and if he had support from a 6-4 SS like RayRay Armstrong. There is always support for the guy in front.

My mock..

1st (TE) Dwayne Allen, or Tyler Eifert, and (DE) Jared Crick
2nd (WR) Nick Toon and (OT) Mike Adams
3rd SS RayRay Armstrong
4th OLB Lavonte David. (might slip to the 4th, small statured LB at 6-1 225.)

Stilla said:

If a player could fill all those rolls, they would not be available to NE in the 2012 draft. Some other team would pick him up 1st.

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Now we have come to the crux of the dilemma that BB faces every draft year. The lower you pick,the more warts the guys you are choosing from have.

So while a guy may be excellent at pass rushing and stopping the run, because he is not great at dropping into coverage, BB will pass on him while all the other teams in the NFL will still draft the kid and "Coach him up" on dropping into coverage.

For example: OLB Mathews USC a few drafts ago. So while we all think Mathews from USC would have been perfect,BB passes on him because while Mathews is great coming off the edge and great at making plays, is not good in coverage and not great against the run.

This BB thinking makes no sense and is idiotic.

BB needs to look at the traits that make great 3-4OLB's and draft the kid that best fits those traits that is still on the board when we pick. Coach the kid up on the stuff he is weak at while putting him in position to excel at the stuff the kid is best at. If it means sitting the kid a year or two, great then you fill the position with the veteran retread while the kid learns as a reserve and ST player. But for some unknown reason BB will not draft for that position; not even to develop a guy for down the road.

He will do it for QB's, but NOT for OLB's? Why? It makes no sense and is idiotic.

Ochmed Jones said:

Single biggest need on our defense a 3-4 OLB with the ability to get after the QB.

Positional requirements: Sudden at the snap of the ball. Good hand fighter with a variety of pass rush moves. Strong. Ability to set the edge against the run. Must be able to get off blocks and tackle in tight and in space. Desired ability to be able to drop into coverage and play zone or cover backs and TE's one on one.

Rankings:

1.) Copples UNC - Probably a top 10 pick. Projecting to be off the board by the time we are on the clock.
2.) Upshaw Alabama - Tremendous playmaker against the run or pass. Probably off the board in the #15 to #20 range.
3.) Montgomery LSU - Just a redshirt sophomore. Good size and outstanding 4.5 speed. Projected as late first round pick. Needs a bit more sand in the pants.
4.) Mercilus Illinios - Led Big 10 in Sacks and gets after the QB. Needs help playing the run. Projected as late first or early second round.
5.) Perry -USC - Another late first or early second round pick.

Sleeper: Curry of Marshall Late second or early third round pick. Great burst but raw.

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Options 1-4 look as though they'll be gone by the time we pick. That leaves teenage heartthrob Nick Perry. USC football: Lane Kiffin wishes Nick Perry well in NFL draft - latimes.com

Or maybe he's gone too: USC DE #8 Nick Perry Highlights 2010 - YouTube

This years draft is super deep with OLBs. I like Brandon Lindsey in the second, assuming he doesn't blow up at his pro day and combine.

I just think Nick Perry is our Cunningham...just with speed. He's a 4.57 forty guy. Really excellent for a 250 pound man. And his football speed is just as fast, if not faster.

But I'm just an amateur looking at youtube. However, at Walter Football they are convinced he'll go in the first.

He reminds me of when we picked Ty Warren out of Texas A&M, who was considered more of a second rounder. But his burst and speed had him furiously climbing up the draftboards.

That could happen here.

b72s said:

I hope we tarde up for at least upshaw

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manxman2601 said:

Have we been enjoying our Christmas festivities a bit too mulch

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I Don't FEEL Tarde!!

Stilla said:

If a player could fill all those rolls, they would not be available to NE in the 2012 draft. Some other team would pick him up 1st.

I don't see us trying to fill all those rolls with 1 player. Its even harder when you are looking for a pass rusher who can cover a TE.

It would be a lot easier to find guys who can compliment each others abilities and the result would be the same.

1st round. Jared Crick. Big guy at 6-4 285 is a lot for the o-line to deal with.
A OLB like Lavonte David can run circles around the gaps he can create. David also is a great cover guy, but he might need help tackling TEs, and if he had support from a 6-4 SS like RayRay Armstrong. There is always support for the guy in front.

My mock..

1st (TE) Dwayne Allen, or Tyler Eifert, and (DE) Jared Crick

Click to expand...

Do we really need another TE in the 1st round? Gronk just finished up the greatest single season performance by a TE of ALL time! And Hernandez is a matchup nightmare for DCs.

Mercilus here?

Mercilus is going pro. Would be a great pickup.

He projects as an early second rounder, depending on how well he does in the combine.

Time is right: Mercilus says goodbye

NFL Draft notebook: Despite numbers Illini's Mercilus not first-rounder - NFL - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Not a viable first-rounder, despite his NCAA leading sack totals? Rob Rang makes a good case.

Ochmed Jones said:

Now we have come to the crux of the dilemma that BB faces every draft year. The lower you pick,the more warts the guys you are choosing from have.

So while a guy may be excellent at pass rushing and stopping the run, because he is not great at dropping into coverage, BB will pass on him while all the other teams in the NFL will still draft the kid and "Coach him up" on dropping into coverage.

For example: OLB Mathews USC a few drafts ago. So while we all think Mathews from USC would have been perfect,BB passes on him because while Mathews is great coming off the edge and great at making plays, is not good in coverage and not great against the run.

This BB thinking makes no sense and is idiotic.

BB needs to look at the traits that make great 3-4OLB's and draft the kid that best fits those traits that is still on the board when we pick. Coach the kid up on the stuff he is weak at while putting him in position to excel at the stuff the kid is best at. If it means sitting the kid a year or two, great then you fill the position with the veteran retread while the kid learns as a reserve and ST player. But for some unknown reason BB will not draft for that position; not even to develop a guy for down the road.

He will do it for QB's, but NOT for OLB's? Why? It makes no sense and is idiotic.

Click to expand...

Really?

It's "idiotic" for BB to NOT spend a high draft pick on a guy who can attack well but is a defensive liability in every other aspect? Such a guy is likely to only play situationally (if at all) while BB "coaches him up" out of his liabilities. If he can be coached up, that is. Matthews has been in the league two years and is STILL a liability against the run and in coverage to a great degree. For that kind of result, BB might have just as much success drafting a "pass-rusher" much later.

MaineMan said:

Really?

It's "idiotic" for BB to NOT spend a high draft pick on a guy who can attack well but is a defensive liability in every other aspect? Such a guy is likely to only play situationally (if at all) while BB "coaches him up" out of his liabilities. If he can be coached up, that is. Matthews has been in the league two years and is STILL a liability against the run and in coverage to a great degree. For that kind of result, BB might have just as much success drafting a "pass-rusher" much later.

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It is idiotic for BB to avoid drafting players at this position, arguably the second most important position in the 3-4 defense.

Look back at the first three rounds of the last ten drafts and total by defensive positions the number of players BB has taken at each defensive position. List all the players by position. Let me help you with the OLB position, we have Crable, Cunningham and........ well you get the point.

Do the math and report back to us. Hope this sheds some light for you on this subject.

I think that where Vinny Curry will be picked will depend on his true height. I've seen him listed at just over 6'3 by NFLDraftScout.com but I've also seen him listed at 6'5 by Draftcountdown.com..

If Curry is 6'4, then I could easily see the Pats trading up in the second or trading down from the end of the 1st to get Curry. I don't see Curry as a 1st rounder.