Dominique Easley - what it could mean.

[SeanBruschi54]

Chris Jones was asked to play a role last year that he's just not suited for. In a limited role, as a pass rush specialist he could be very useful. I'd take him over Wilfork for sure at this point on 3rd and long.

If the Patriots felt the same way dont you think they wouldnt have re-signed Kelly, negotiated to keep Wilfork and then draft another DT/DE? Seems like the team was over that big gapping hole up the middle every single time.

 

[Coach42]

If the Patriots felt the same way dont you think they wouldnt have re-signed Kelly, negotiated to keep Wilfork and then draft another DT/DE? Seems like the team was over that big gapping hole up the middle every single time.

I think they're considering subbing frequently to keep everybody fresh. I don't think Kelly and Wilfork coming back says anything negative about Jones. I don't believe they ever intended to play Jones on running downs but their hand was forced by injury.

 

[JMC00]

If the Patriots felt the same way dont you think they wouldnt have re-signed Kelly, negotiated to keep Wilfork and then draft another DT/DE? Seems like the team was over that big gapping hole up the middle every single time.

Did you see what happened last year? Can't ever have enough depth in this league. Especially on the DL.

Chris Jones is far more valuable as a rotational pass rushing DT (20-25 snaps a game) than he is a 3 down (70 snaps a game) DT. Let's also remember the guy was a rookie thrust into a starting roll and he, like many rookies do, hit the rookie wall.

By the way Kelly was not re-signed, he re-did his deal to stay.

 

[BelichickFan]

Did you see what happened last year? Can't ever have enough depth in this league. Especially on the DL.

Chris Jones is far more valuable as a rotational pass rushing DT (20-25 snaps a game) than he is a 3 down (70 snaps a game) DT. Let's also remember the guy was a rookie thrust into a starting roll and he like many do hit that rookie wall.

By the way Kelly was not re-signed, he re-did his deal to stay.

It's going to be a hell of a competition. From the end of last year we've "added" Wilfork, Easley, Kelley, Armstead, Smith to the roster.

That's 5 guys who will either not make it, bump someone off or add a DL to the roster.

I would guess Vellano and Bequette will be gone. Armstead, who knows, then Kelley, Smith, Buchanan will have a death batter for the last spots.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Can't ever have enough depth in this league. Especially on the DL.

Chris Jones is far more valuable as a rotational pass rushing DT (20-25 snaps a game) than he is a 3 down (70 snaps a game) DT. Let's also remember the guy was a rookie thrust into a starting roll and he, like many rookies do, hit the rookie wall.

By the way Kelly was not re-signed, he re-did his deal to stay.

Ahhh yes. I forgot he also reworked his deal to stay. I dont know why I thought he only signed a 1 year deal.

I like Jones but Im not crazy about him. I guess I may be spoiled from the Mike Wright days and just expect more.

 

[Marinlik]

It's going to be a hell of a competition. From the end of last year we've "added" Wilfork, Easley, Kelley, Armstead, Smith to the roster.

That's 5 guys who will either not make it, bump someone off or add a DL to the roster.

I would guess Vellano and Bequette will be gone. Armstead, who knows, then Kelley, Smith, Buchanan will have a death batter for the last spots.

So you think that we will go with two or three ends? Because that's what happens if we let Smith and Buchanan battle for the last spot.

 

[Coach42]

It's going to be a hell of a competition. From the end of last year we've "added" Wilfork, Easley, Kelley, Armstead, Smith to the roster.

That's 5 guys who will either not make it, bump someone off or add a DL to the roster.

I would guess Vellano and Bequette will be gone. Armstead, who knows, then Kelley, Smith, Buchanan will have a death batter for the last spots.

The competition should be very good. If, and it's a HUGE if, everything pans out the D Line could be dominant.

 

[patchick]

So you think that we will go with two or three ends? Because that's what happens if we let Smith and Buchanan battle for the last spot.

It depends one what you can "ends." The Patriots list Armstead as a DE on their roster, and Easley is a hybrid DE/DT. Jones, Ninkovich, Easley, Armstead, Buchanan looks pretty attractive to me.

 

[primetime]

The competition should be very good. If, and it's a HUGE if, everything pans out the D Line could be dominant.

I don't know about dominant, but bringing in Will Smith for depth, Easley as a potential stud, re-signing Wilfork, and getting Kelly back means that it will be substantially better than last year where Ninkovich and Chandler Jones did a ton of heavy lifting but were gassed by the end of the year.

DE: Chandler Jones, Ninkovich, Will Smith, Buchanan, Bequette
DT: Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Chris Jones, Siliga, Armstead, Vellano

This is supposing they don't add another DL soon. Easley and Armstead also have hybrid positional versatility.

Last year they carried 8 defensive linemen at all times. Jones, Ninkovich, Wilfork, and Easley are locks. I suspect Kelly and Siliga probably make it as well. That leaves Smith, Buchanan, Bequette, Armstead, and Vellano to battle it out for 2 spots. My guess is Vellano and Bequette are gone, meaning the camp battle is to see which of the three of Armstead, Will Smith, and Buchanan gets sent packing.

It's interesting because you have two intriguing young guys who haven't done much of anything and a salty vet who as recently as two years ago was one of the better players at his position in the league but has barely played since. My guess is you'd rather have young guys given Smith's injury history doesn't mesh well with the recent injury history of guys like Easley, Wilfork, and Kelly.

 

[Bonzo]

DE: Chandler Jones, Ninkovich, Will Smith, Buchanan, Bequette
DT: Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Chris Jones, Siliga, Armstead, Vellano

I guess we should add "Dr. James Andrews," who seems to have taken up residence in the Pats DLine.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Isn't Easley the guy who prefers cartoons to football?
Anyways, I probably won't care as long as he can
1. pressure/sack the QB;
2. stay healthy!

I mean those are the two main concerns. Talent-wise Easley in the 1st round is not a surprise. I'm just concerned that his head is fully into football and whether those medical red flags are going to haunt us in the future.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

WHy is everyone an expert on a guy on draft day? People killed the collins pick last year...now those people have gone into hiding on the issue. Lets see if the same happens here

 

[patsoxfan]

the return of Ras Dowling

 

[AzPatsFan]

Initially looks like a reach, but I'm more interested in what we can infer about what the Pats were looking for, since Easly clearly doesn't fit the "typical" mold that BB has utilized the last 30 years in a DLman. Especially given that there were several of the those "typical guys" there when the Pats picked. Nix, Hageman, Tuitt, Jernigan, etc were all there for the taking and BB seemed to go for Aaron Donald-lite. I think that tells us a lot.

1. We continue to move away from the 3-4 toward the 4-3 as our basic alignment.

2. The Easly pick once again points out the key importance of the inside pass rush. Push up the middle was a need, and a healthy Easly would have been highly thought of because of this very rare skill.

3. So no to the 6'6 310 lb stereo typical 2 gap NT/3-4 TE. Bill wants an explosive player in the middle and THEY evidently thought Easly was the best guy to fill that need.

4. I think that they would have traded the pick in a nano-second if the opportunity arose, but when it didn't, they went for the best guy on THEIR board, and it was Easly. Lets hope that ACL surgery is like Tommy John surgery and players actually get better once its done.

5. Its going to be crowded and competition should be fierce for those DT slots this TC. I'm looking forward to it. (Wilfolk, Kelly, Easly, Armstead, CJones, Siliga, and Joe V....so far)

6. Say what you want for BB. He never ceases to surprise us with his draft picks.....and today is only DAY one.

There is another interpretation possible. One to which I subscribe and said so prior to the draft numerous times.. The big DLs all sucked for injury, talent or self-motivation problems. The cupboard was simply bare. If a Reggie White at 6-5 and 330 pounds was available, BB would have napped him up.

 

[AzPatsFan]

No worries, thought I was clearing the decks on that, not instigating pernicious word-arguments.

Agree that discussion of the 4-3 vs 3-4 impacts of this pick is the more interesting discussion point. But unfortunately it requires a little bit of technical knowledge that the majority of us fans are not fully equipped to delve into (at least not without delving back into one of AJ's tome-educational threads. LOL.)

I am not so certain that this bodes the death-knell for "read-and-react" per se. But do agree that it appears BB has seen the light that interior pressure is the "SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN 2 POINTS" (D and QB/ball).

I would not expect the increased pressure up front to change his strategy in the mid-/deep-parts of the field or necessarily even affect the LBs. Theoretically it does take another player/some flexibility out of the short part of the field. But BB has dropped DL (VW in particular is memorable) back into coverage (if I had the link this would be a beautiful point to insert the video of him flattening that wr - LOL or him getting his INT). So playing 4-3 doesnt mean to me that we wont see any one of the DE/DL fake pressure, then drop back on some plays to disrupt the QBs reads and the open space/lanes. He has also sent LBs either in concert with dropping a DL or as additional rushers. So with his blurring of the lines sometimes between LB and DL; I think this is more important at increasing the talent level in middle of line; than in changing OVERALL D concepts. It may affect some DL concepts, but LBs and backfield, I think, not so much.

You can still play sound conservative Defense with man coverage and Safety over the top, with sometimes penetrating linemen. BB still believes in that and it will continue, to do so. It's just that he has more talent then heretofore. It was also pointed out to me that Easly also played DE at times, so there is your answer to a supposed need for a reserve DE to spell the starters. Between Easly, Collins, Smith, Buchanan, Carter and perhaps Hightower and Bequette there should be ample pass rush.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Initially looks like a reach, but I'm more interested in what we can infer about what the Pats were looking for, since Easly clearly doesn't fit the "typical" mold that BB has utilized the last 30 years in a DLman. Especially given that there were several of the those "typical guys" there when the Pats picked. Nix, Hageman, Tuitt, Jernigan, etc were all there for the taking and BB seemed to go for Aaron Donald-lite. I think that tells us a lot.

1. We continue to move away from the 3-4 toward the 4-3 as our basic alignment.

2. The Easly pick once again points out the key importance of the inside pass rush. Push up the middle was a need, and a healthy Easly would have been highly thought of because of this very rare skill.

3. So no to the 6'6 310 lb stereo typical 2 gap NT/3-4 TE. Bill wants an explosive player in the middle and THEY evidently thought Easly was the best guy to fill that need.

4. I think that they would have traded the pick in a nano-second if the opportunity arose, but when it didn't, they went for the best guy on THEIR board, and it was Easly. Lets hope that ACL surgery is like Tommy John surgery and players actually get better once its done.

5. Its going to be crowded and competition should be fierce for those DT slots this TC. I'm looking forward to it. (Wilfolk, Kelly, Easly, Armstead, CJones, Siliga, and Joe V....so far)

6. Say what you want for BB. He never ceases to surprise us with his draft picks.....and today is only DAY one.

Kid looks like a beast. IF he stays healthy he could be a force on that D.

 

[PP2]

If Dr. Andrews gave the Patriots any information about Easly's medical history/status, he would be in serious violation of HIPPA law.

Not if the patient gives consent.

And I would doubt Easley would have refused to give consent.

Anyway, I am sure as far as the HIPPA laws go, Andrews and the Patriots have their own way of getting around that just as well as the other 31 teams do. After all we're talking about teams that think nothing of distorting injury reports and covering up concussions.

 

[mgteich]

This is the way I see it with the possibility of adding a DE to compete for one of the roster spots.

DE: Ninkovich, Jones, Smith, Buchanan, Bequette/Moore
DT: Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Siliga, Armstead/Jones

DEFENSE (25)
5 DE
5 DT
5 LB
5 CB
5 S

Obviously, numbers end up being different, but this seems fine for planning.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I'm concerned about the injury history, but I'm here in Gainesville, and I can tell you the kid is a monster and he is going to destroy pockets. He is also good at chasing QB's from behind. That will be an added bonus for a team that has struggled mightily with mobile QB's for years.

 

[AzorianPats]

It's going to be a hell of a competition. From the end of last year we've "added" Wilfork, Easley, Kelley, Armstead, Smith to the roster.

That's 5 guys who will either not make it, bump someone off or add a DL to the roster.

I would guess Vellano and Bequette will be gone. Armstead, who knows, then Kelley, Smith, Buchanan will have a death batter for the last spots.

If they release Bequette and Vellano, and let's not forget we just recently cut Sopoago, and Andre Carter retiring. Easily, Armstead, and the rookie Moore replace Bequette, Sopoago, and Vellano spots on the roster. Smith replaces Carter... That leaves us with a depth chart like this.

DE: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Will Smith, Michael Buchanan, Zach Moore.

DT: Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Sealver Siliga, Chris Jones

Hybrid DE/DT. Armond Armstead, Dominique Easily.

I can see the Pats maybe parting ways with Siliga if Vince shows he hasn't slowed down because of injury, which would be unfortunate considering Siliga really showed great progress at the end of last year.

Also Ninko in a pinch if needed can slide back to LB. That's a good, deep line!