Brandon Spikes Thread

[dryheat44]

I think it was a round too early, but he can help this team.

 

[slash83]

Instant fan favorite..........Dayum the Patriots needed a boost like this kid. We haven't had a physical go get em guy since Harrison, Vrabel and Cox.

Watch this video and tell me this doesn't make you want to put on pads and run through a wall.

YouTube - Brandon Spikes

The emotion he gives me out reminds me of Brian Dawkins and how he connects with his teammates before a game.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

All I know is that Brandon Spikes was one of the players i wanted in this draft. I think he will make a big difference on this defense and very excited to have him as a New England Patriot!! I was worried the first round when we selected Devin McCourty, but after researching the players we drafted, I am really excited!!! Defense Wins Championships and we just got some good solid football players in this draft!! BRING IT ON NFL!! :rocker:

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

So he ran a 5.00 40. Big deal. That never stopped him from decleating Knowsean Moreno.

There is no correlation with speed and decleating.
Plenty of slow big guys decleat.

Force = Mass * Acceleration

Spikes had the fastest 3 cone of all MLBs = Superb Acceleration
250Lbs = big dude

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

Yeah like Bruschi, Vrabel, Ted Johnson and Rodney Harrison were all burners as well. It's about recognition and football instincts. This dude has them.

Agree 100%
When will people understand... football is not a track meet where guys run in spandex and win/lose football games.

All else being equal, a faster version of Spikes would be better sure. But the things he brings to the table outweigh his lack of long speed in shorts. When you turn the tape on, does he look slow out there? Does he get beaten often? It's not like we would be asking him to cover the Wes Welkers of the world.

The question is: does he have functional speed while playing football?

Ben Watson ran a 4.53 40. Jerry Rice ran a 4.6+ 40.
Putting those 2 names on the same line even seems wrong.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Okay, I called Cunningham a future bust, but on a more positive note: Brandon Spikes will beast in our system.

He's good in coverage, has good hands, smart, Great size, leader with a winning mentality.

Spikes will take over Guyton's eventually.

So he ran a 5.00 40. Big deal. That never stopped him from decleating Knowsean Moreno. And even though he's not a sideline to sideline LB. Mayo is. That will be Mayos role on our D. Spikes is however bigger, more vocal, and better at reading Qbs. I expect him to be a better LEADER than any of our recent picks (meriweather, mayo, butler, etc.)

What do you guys think of this pick?

Bill Belichick conducts an annual draft quiz. After it is over, we can stop scratching our heads, see the answers at the back of the book, and it all makes sense.

What was the key weakness of the Patriots in 2009, Offense or Defense?
Correct Answer: Defense. (The Offense was 3rd in the league; the Defense was 11th in the League.)

What was the key Weakness of the Patriots in 2009 on Defense, Run or Pass defense?
Correct Answer: Run Defense. (The Rushing Defense was 16th in the League and the Yards per Carry was an unaceptable 4.4 yards per carry.)

Therefore Coach Belichick decided he needed to toughen up his Rushing Defense, first and foremost. His Rushing Defense was 27 yards per game, worse than the best rushing Defense in the League that of the GBP.

What did he do? He used 3 of 4 draft picks in Rounds 1 and 2 for Defensive players. All three had a reputation as good rushing defenders for their position. Mcourty is equally good as a pass and rush CB; Jermaine Cunnigham is the best big time Rushing defender among the Pass Rushing DE--> OLBs. Finally and most important, Brandon Spikes was the second best SILB Rushing defender among the ILBs. Ty Mckenzie also returns from IR to bolster the Rushing Defense. Belichick also signed two former First Round DLs to aid the Search for a suitable Seymour replacement, and augment the Rushing Defense; and drafted two more to add to the three drafted last season.

Isn't Pass Rush the weakness of the Pats? Yes. But only to a small degree. The Pats sacked the QB only 1 less time, then the NFL's Best Defense of the NYJ. Combining the "big plays" of Sacks plus INTs, the Pats tied the NFL's Best Defense in the composite figure.

Other teams posted better totals by as much as ten "big plays", but their efforts did not necessarily improve their Defenses. The Pats still finished Fourth in the NFL in Points Allowed.

If you want to understand this Draft, analyze the REAL PROBLEM as Belichick did, and you can forsee and predict, what he did to improve.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

This is one of the rare times when fans are more excited about a 2nd round pick than a first round pick

If I didn't know any better,from the fan raves over Brandon, I would swear Spikes was our #27 selection and McCourty at #44

 

[patchick]

Bottom line: Spikes is slower than dirt and can only be used on first and second downs, then it is back to Guyton for obvious passing situations.

Why did BB draft a kid that can barely outrun Mt. Cody? What was BB thinking?

It's funny, reading over this thread...Ochmed, BB clearly decided that Spikes was the kind of player where the measurables don't tell the story. Just as you decided with Cody! Because Cody's measurables are simply dreadful, much worse than Spikes:

6035 349 5.71/3/23/1.90 22 20.5" 07'06" 5.03 8.19

Every number -- every single one -- is easily the worst put up by any DT this year. In fact, compare them to last year's slowest player, Ron Brace:

6030 330 5.48/3.15/1.88 32 28" 08'03" 4.73 8.15

Yet you were Cody's biggest fan, because of what you saw on the field. In Spikes' case, it's both on the field and in the lockerroom.

 

[PatsCanDoIt]

As an athletic sport, football players have to have some athletic ability to hang there hat on. Spikes seems to have elite quickness for an ILB. That quickness is combined with a great ILB frame. So I don't see a problem when his position requires strength and quickness more than anything else athletically.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Okay, I called Cunningham a future bust, but on a more positive note: Brandon Spikes will beast in our system.

Whoa; that's a bold statement. I would say that Cunninham is a bit of a gamble (but not as much as the Pete Caroll gambles) because he is playing a bit out of position. BB has a good track record with defensive players so I am less inclined to agree with you on this point.

Dez Bryant is more likely to be a bust than Cunningham...

 

[Seneschal2]

Spikes, McCourty & more at minicamp - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

...second-round draft choice Brandon Spikes was beaten in a tackling drill in which offensive players attempt to get past defenders within a tight box bordered by orange cones. Unhappy with the result, Spikes pushed the next defender aside and went through the drill again. The drill has offensive players with the ball in their hands and they come running toward the defenders, who must exhibit the proper tackling fundamentals in "touching" the player down. Spikes got beaten by a quick cut, but in a sign of how seriously he takes his craft, he stayed in place and executed the fundamental on the next repetition.

He's off to a fine start with the proper attitude.

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

So far so good. He can even turn a phrase: " It is what it is, but it ain't what you think". That is priceless.