2007 Interactive NFL Mock Draft Discussion

[mavfan2390]

Marcus McCauley??????????? Good thing I'm now the GM of the Dirty Birds or I would be really pissed. Marcus McCauley?????? In the First round? I guess that leaves better players for me later (39 & 44 I think).

You wait and see. He comes from a great program, he was the number one corner on the team that had Richard Marshall playing opposite him, and he has crazy measureables.

 

[SamBamsFan]

Repeat after me, "you never, ever, ever, ever draft or sign a cornerback w/ confidence issues". I'm totally serious. It never works.

 

[sebman2112]

I was a big Richard Marshall fan last year. I was going to be a big McCauley fan this year, but he struggled at times during the '06 season. Still though, if Pat Hill gives BB the OK he'd probably select him. I almost think they'd try to trade into the early second for him, though.

 

[mavfan2390]

Repeat after me, "you never, ever, ever, ever draft or sign a cornerback w/ confidence issues". I'm totally serious. It never works.

Oh I see he must've told you he wasn't confident of his abilities? Right? Well at least he stated that in an interview...right?

 

[patchick]

You wait and see. He comes from a great program, he was the number one corner on the team that had Richard Marshall playing opposite him, and he has crazy measureables.

The way I figure it, since you're the GM of the Patriots you've obviously sat down with Pat Hill and had a frank discussion of what ailed Macauley last year, and you came away satisfied, right? Given that, he's a terrific talent and a fine pick at this tricky juncture.

 

[Handel]

So, who shall I draft... Let's think about it.

Thanks Sebman for the change. Look clearer now.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I guess to summarize, I respectfully disagree with the pick.

I see your points, and I like A.C. Vegas' follow-up talking about trade potential. The issue I have with RB came to light for me while doing MWP's dream draft: if you assume the line will be zone blocking, who are the bigger backs who can drift behind the line, spy a hole, then change direction on a pin and accelerate through?

Lynch - yes.
Hunt - ???
Leonard - yes.
Bush - ???
Henry - yes.
K.Smith - ???
Wright - ???
Iloa - ???

Who has the demonstrated field vision? Lynch/Leonard...

Mav's choice tracked with my crazed mismatch theory, not with my personal #1 need (ILB depth), but it did address one of my needs.

Lynch was a versatile feature back in college, he'll probably play around 220 in the Pros, giving him about 20 lbs. more then Faulk. Faulk is in his 9th season, Morris is in his 8th, both are over the magic 30 number. Pass may be shadow roster if no one signs him. Hill is a test model. The RB situation is pretty fluid for the team.

As far as #1's "starting," Warren and Wilfork platooned year one. Graham may have gotten starts, but both he and Watson shuffle in and out as needed, as did Maroney. Mankins and Seymour are the only two #1 choices who consistently started as rookies. That argument doesn't hold water.

Dillon was mostly a 2 down back, we might like Maroney to be a 3 down back, but he isn't there yet. At this point, Lynch comes to the team as a potential 3 down back, and the heir apparent to Kevin Faulk. Were Lynch there, none of us can know that BB will take him, or not. We make our boards based on fellow amateurs who've turned a hobby into an obssession or a job (hello Mel).

In terms of value to the team, it's a sound choice. In terms of first round value from the 2007 draft class, it is what it is. There is no second round selection to target another back, it's first or trade, or hope one of the later backs can cut it. I'd rather spend the first on Lynch or Leonard, then a third on Chris Henry and find out he's true to the name in New England lore.

For all of Meachem's potential, a 70 catch season and 800 yards is pretty good for a Patriot WR in the Belichick era. There are kids coming later who can achieve that, kids who might be able to survive waivers to the Practice Squad where they can develop for 2008.

 

[sebman2112]

I see your points, and I like A.C. Vegas' follow-up talking about trade potential. The issue I have with RB came to light for me while doing MWP's dream draft: if you assume the line will be zone blocking, who are the bigger backs who can drift behind the line, spy a hole, then change direction on a pin and accelerate through?

Lynch - yes.
Hunt - ???
Leonard - yes.
Bush - ???
Henry - yes.
K.Smith - ???
Wright - ???
Iloa - ???

Who has the demonstrated field vision? Lynch/Leonard...

Mav's choice tracked with my crazed mismatch theory, not with my personal #1 need (ILB depth), but it did address one of my needs.

Lynch was a versatile feature back in college, he'll probably play around 220 in the Pros, giving him about 20 lbs. more then Faulk. Faulk is in his 9th season, Morris is in his 8th, both are over the magic 30 number. Pass may be shadow roster if no one signs him. Hill is a test model. The RB situation is pretty fluid for the team.

As far as #1's "starting," Warren and Wilfork platooned year one. Graham may have gotten starts, but both he and Watson shuffle in and out as needed, as did Maroney. Mankins and Seymour are the only two #1 choices who consistently started as rookies. That argument doesn't hold water.

Dillon was mostly a 2 down back, we might like Maroney to be a 3 down back, but he isn't there yet. At this point, Lynch comes to the team as a potential 3 down back, and the heir apparent to Kevin Faulk. Were Lynch there, none of us can know that BB will take him, or not. We make our boards based on fellow amateurs who've turned a hobby into an obssession or a job (hello Mel).

In terms of value to the team, it's a sound choice. In terms of first round value from the 2007 draft class, it is what it is. There is no second round selection to target another back, it's first or trade, or hope one of the later backs can cut it. I'd rather spend the first on Lynch or Leonard, then a third on Chris Henry and find out he's true to the name in New England lore.

For all of Meachem's potential, a 70 catch season and 800 yards is pretty good for a Patriot WR in the Belichick era. There are kids coming later who can achieve that, kids who might be able to survive waivers to the Practice Squad where they can develop for 2008.

Good Post!

 

[mavfan2390]

The whole reason why I didn't pick Meachem is because Lynch is a dual threat...he can run and RECIEVE. He truly is the complete back, now I'm not saying he's L.T., he doesn't have the natural talent, but he sure as heck has the versatility. Besides, where are we going to fit an extra reciever?

Stallworth*
Caldwell*
Welker*
Gaffney
Washington
Brown*
Jackson*

*indicates lock to make roster

we have five locks to make the roster already! Then we have one guy with huge potential (Washington), and one who performed extremely well for us in the postseason (Gaffney).

 

[Handel]

Selected Blalock. Can play G and T. Good value and fill a need.

 

[broadwayjoe]

Selected Blalock. Can play G and T. Good value and fill a need.

Good pick and he scored high on the wonderlic also.

 

[SamBamsFan]

Selected Blalock. Can play G and T. Good value and fill a need.

Good pick (damn you). Definitely an area of need & value.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I actually like the Lynch pick. If he slides down that far I don't think you can pass him up. McCauley though.... There are safer picks to take at that point in the draft. Houston would have been nice for the Pats as well, but sometimes that's how the draft turns. I expect Houston to be snapped up well before 28 in the real draft and he might not even get past the Titans at 19.

 

[dryheat44]

\
As far as #1's "starting," Warren and Wilfork platooned year one. Graham may have gotten starts, but both he and Watson shuffle in and out as needed, as did Maroney. Mankins and Seymour are the only two #1 choices who consistently started as rookies. That argument doesn't hold water.

I'm not talking about starting as a rookie. But unless we trade either Maroney or Lynch, we have a first round pick as a part time player for the duration of his contract

I don't expect anybody at 24 to start as a rookie. I sure as hell expect them to start year two.

Edit: Unless BB decides he wants to change his base offense to two RBs, which I guess is a possibility, if a longshot.

 

[patchick]

McCauley though.... There are safer picks to take at that point in the draft.

Safer, yes. And it's true that the Pats have always taken "safe" players -- relatively sure things, no big question marks -- in the first. But part of that safeness is topflight athleticism. By the 2nd round when all of the sure things are gone, they often gamble on the fabulous physical specimens with question marks around them...like Macauley. And this is their 2nd pick. (Admittedly, that kind of gambling has yielded some of their shakiest picks like B. Johnson and M. Hill.)

Anyway, which safer picks would you have preferred?

 

[Handel]

Little error Sebman on the mock draft list: It's not BlaYlock but Blalock.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm not talking about starting as a rookie. But unless we trade either Maroney or Lynch, we have a first round pick as a part time player for the duration of his contract

I don't expect anybody at 24 to start as a rookie. I sure as hell expect them to start year two.

A valid correction...a distinction I'd still make, Faulk may not be a "starter," but he is in a role that gets consistent use, and might even get more if he was capable of being a 3 down back. Lynch would be capable of handling the extra reps that don't go to Faulk because he is a smaller back. On the positive side, you and I get to throw popcorn at the TV on draft day. :singing:

 

[SamBamsFan]

Like you wouldn't do that anyway! One hour of Mel Kiper and I'm ready to... have many Rolling Rocks

 

[dryheat44]

Look at the two SB participants. Both had a solid RB tandem.

And only one on each team was a high draft pick of that team. I can't think of a team that has two high round draft picks splitting time, unless one has become a clear bust.

And yes, I do see the irony considering in my mock I have Tampa Bay trading up to take Lynch at 24. This means:

1) I think Cadillac is a borderline bust,

and 2) The Bucs FO is no Belichick/Pioli

 

[skaIownsIyou]

i love the marshawn lynch pick

lynch is versatile but not a workhorse.....maroney will be even greater with lynch to acompnay him

there will be no doubt that if lynch fell to 24, and the pats picked him up, the maroney/lynch will develop into one of the best in the nfl