Austen Lane

[Ochmed Jones]

Everything I've heard about Lane suggests that he is a high character, high motor kid who is very driven.

True but you have to keep in mind several important issues that BB looks hard at when determining draft eligible players.

1.) Division coaching is vastly substandard compared to D1. Lanes technique is already substandard, but he can get away with that at D2. How much extra time and attention is this kid gong to need from the coaching staff, just to get him up to basic NFL levels and how are all the changes in technique going to affect his game?

2.) BB does not spend many draft picks on D2 guys. I think the projection is too great for his comfort level.

I myself like what I have seen of this kid thus far. I think he is a better raw OLB candidate than Barwin from a year ago and would love to see him at the senior bowl or even the E/W Shrine game.

 

[mayoclinic]

True but you have to keep in mind several important issues that BB looks hard at when determining draft eligible players.

1.) Division coaching is vastly substandard compared to D1. Lanes technique is already substandard, but he can get away with that at D2. How much extra time and attention is this kid gong to need from the coaching staff, just to get him up to basic NFL levels and how are all the changes in technique going to affect his game?

2.) BB does not spend many draft picks on D2 guys. I think the projection is too great for his comfort level.

I myself like what I have seen of this kid thus far. I think he is a better raw OLB candidate than Barwin from a year ago and would love to see him at the senior bowl or even the E/W Shrine game.

You may be right about BB's comfort level. I agree about Lane being potentially even better than Barwin as a raw OLB candidate, and I was one of the biggest Barwanites on this board. (I wish we could have taken Barwin at #40 and then we could potentially have them both at OLB.) I too am hoping to see him in action against some reasonable competition.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

You may be right about BB's comfort level. I agree about Lane being potentially even better than Barwin as a raw OLB candidate, and I was one of the biggest Barwanites on this board. (I wish we could have taken Barwin at #40 and then we could potentially have them both at OLB.) I too am hoping to see him in action against some reasonable competition.

Romeus and/or Lane is a sweet haul for that position.

And if BB does take a Lane, and Lane becomes a player in a year to two; that would prove to me that BB's staff can coach up players at that position.

 

[mayoclinic]

Romeus and/or Lane is a sweet haul for that position.

And if BB does take a Lane, and Lane becomes a player in a year to two; that would prove to me that BB's staff can coach up players at that position.

Romeus and Lane is my fantasy for that position.

My dream scenario:

1. Trade up for Rolando McClain in the 1st.
2. Get Romeus and Lane for the DE position.
3. Get a RT/RG like Mike Iupati, Gabe Carimi, or Vlad Ducasse.

Hopefully pick up some depth at 3-4 DE and RB, possibly WR/TE. Unless Wilfork leaves, that would be set. If someone wants to sign big Vince to an offer sheet, then we use the picks to trade up for McClain and get Mount Cody or Dan Williams to put at NT along with Brace.

If we had only drafted a Groves in 2008 or a Barwin or 2009 then perhaps we would have someone ready to produce next season and wouldn't need to draft 2 rookies. But I think Romeus and Lane would make a sweet pair of 3-4 OLBs in a year or two.

BTW, Ochmed, I always look forward to this time of day and reading your posts.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Romeus and Lane is my fantasy for that position.

My dream scenario:

1. Trade up for Rolando McClain in the 1st.
2. Get Romeus and Lane for the DE position.
3. Get a RT/RG like Mike Iupati, Gabe Carimi, or Vlad Ducasse.

Hopefully pick up some depth at 3-4 DE and RB, possibly WR/TE. Unless Wilfork leaves, that would be set. If someone wants to sign big Vince to an offer sheet, then we use the picks to trade up for McClain and get Mount Cody or Dan Williams to put at NT along with Brace.

If we had only drafted a Groves in 2008 or a Barwin or 2009 then perhaps we would have someone ready to produce next season and wouldn't need to draft 2 rookies. But I think Romeus and Lane would make a sweet pair of 3-4 OLBs in a year or two.

BTW, Ochmed, I always look forward to this time of day and reading your posts.

I look forwardto this time of the day as well. It's lucnchtime over here and the office is empty. I can decompress and talk about a true passion of mine. Patriots drafting.

 

[Sciz]

Unless Wilfork leaves, that would be set.

Even if Bodden leaves?

 

[mayoclinic]

Even if Bodden leaves?

You caught me. No, if Bodden leaves then we would either need a FA replacement (Richard Marshall and Carlos Rogers will be RFAs if it is an uncapped year, UFAs otherwise; Dunta Robinson will be a UFA regardless) or we would need to draft someone. Other than Joe Haden, who will likely be a top 15 pick, the guys I like in the 2nd round are Brandon Ghee of Wake Forrest and junior Kareem Jackson of Alabama. I'm hoping we won't have to address the position in the draft, however, as we have other needs.