filling in the willie gap

[Flying Fungi]

how to do it best...?

bring in a traditional OLB prospect? Lawson, Greenway, Carpenter...

bring in a down-lineman and plug him in for Willie? Wimbley, Kiwanuka...

bring in a DE/DT and move Jarvis Green over to play the 'elephant' position? Hali, or someone else...

bring in someone for the inside and use Vrabel/Banta-Cain on the outside? Jackson, Hodge, etc...


For whatever reason, I am either expecting a DE tweener to be drafted like Wimbley or Kiwi, or a Jarvis Green to be shifted over...

imagine either line:

...............Warren........ Wilfork......... Seymour
..Kiwanuka .................................................Colvin
......................Bruschi........... Vrabel


...............Warren........ Wilfork......... Seymour
......Green. .................................................Colvin
......................Bruschi........... Vrabel


Either one will satisfy me, and IMO go a long way to make up for the loss of Willie's contributions on the field...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Using Jarvis in that capacity is a new idea, it would be a challenge for him and I would expect they would try to have him drop 20+ lbs to improve his straight-line speed and quickness. For those reasons I have my doubts, he is too effective as a third down specialist and 1st alternate at DE.

Wright might be a better option using your model, he had excellent speed for a DL and was used on STs because he could function well in space. I think he is more valuable as a utility DL, but it is something to ponder.

This gives us the following options already on the team:

Green
Wright
Klecko
Banta-Cain
Claridge
Beisel
Vrabel

It is going to be a fun Training Camp!

 

[BelichickFan]

The answer is obvious to me - which probably means I'm wrong. I think you guys are outthinking yourselves. We need an OLB if Vrabel stays inside. This draft just happens to have two OLB who fit our system well who are expected to be there for our pick, Greenway and Carpenter. We'll take one at put him at LOLB. Simple.

 

[Flying Fungi]

Well--Willie was a reported 270, Green 290...so maybe only 10-15 lbs would be required--Jarvis has shown himself to be very active...and with Colvin and Seymour on the other side, we need someone on the larger side over there to complement Warren in holding the line and primarily being consistent in holding ground and making tackles when presented with the opportunity...

 

[Flying Fungi]

The answer is obvious to me - which probably means I'm wrong. I think you guys are outthinking yourselves. We need an OLB if Vrabel stays inside. This draft just happens to have two OLB who fit our system well who are expected to be there for our pick, Greenway and Carpenter. We'll take one at put him at LOLB. Simple.

Simple you say...

...Vrabel's impact on our team coming from the Pittsburgh bench--simple?

...Bruschi converting from DE to ILB and becoming a team leader--simple?

...Colvin recovering from massive hip trauma to regain his form--simple?

After 3 straight years of draft prognostications of taking numerous day 1 linebackers, the only LBs I can recall being drafted were Tully Banta-Cain and Ryan Claridge. Hardly simple and predictable wouldn't you say? Every year there are discussion about what Belichick prefers in an LB--and every time the conclusion seems to be that a rookie LB will not start for BB. I am willing to go along with this, with the following logic: Willie McGinest's position with the NEP was not an OLB position. Willie was a rush DE, and the scheme wasn't a 3-4 or a 4-3, it was always a 1-3-3 with Willie on the field. The elephant position requires a player of small DE/large OLB size and athleticism. I will contend that it is easier to teach a DE to play outside than it is to teach an OLB to play DE.

Wimbley and Kiwanuka will likely be there at 21...Jarvis is already on the team...if for some reason Wimbley and Kiwi are gone, look for a trade down into the top of the 2nd for a 1st and 2nd next year (precedented trade).

I don't see a day 1 LB as a certainty.

 

[PATRIOTS-80]

Manny Lawson played DE in college I think. But what is is his weight. I remember the article on Patriots.com said 266, but nfldraftcountdown has him at 242.

 

[BelichickFan]

Wimbley and Kiwanuka will likely be there at 21.

I was just reading from a pretty good source (Adam Caplan who has good sources with teams) that Wimbley will likely go from 12 to 20 and that he's very high on the Browns' board (as in - mock drafters would be well adivised to put his name in at #12). When he was asked whether the Browns would trade down, he responded saying, again, the Browns are very high on Wimbley - suggesting they wouldn't trade down and risk losing him.

 

[Flying Fungi]

I was just reading from a pretty good source (Adam Caplan who has good sources with teams) that Wimbley will likely go from 12 to 20 and that he's very high on the Browns' board (as in - mock drafters would be well adivised to put his name in at #12). When he was asked whether the Browns would trade down, he responded saying, again, the Browns are very high on Wimbley - suggesting they wouldn't trade down and risk losing him.

interesting--so Wimbley is a climber...

...not sure what will happen--having watched Kiwanuka, I'd love to see him here, but I'd also be happy with us dropping out of the 1st and stocking up on value picks in the 2nd and 3rd...

Ben Watson...Logan Mankins...I anticipate something odd again this year...

-----------

Lawson is 6'5" and 241...per ESPN/Scouts, Inc

 

[big mike]

interesting--so Wimbley is a climber...

...not sure what will happen--having watched Kiwanuka, I'd love to see him here, but I'd also be happy with us dropping out of the 1st and stocking up on value picks in the 2nd and 3rd...

Ben Watson...Logan Mankins...I anticipate something odd again this year...

I wouldn't necessarily say those were odd picks. Many of us were projecting NE taking an OT in round 1 last year - we just didn't think it would be Mankins. And two years ago I predicted the Watson pick. (only one I got right for us in that draft. Of course, had I known Wilfork would fall to 21, that would have been an obvious choice there too)

 

[Flying Fungi]

I wouldn't necessarily say those were odd picks. Many of us were projecting NE taking an OT in round 1 last year - we just didn't think it would be Mankins. And two years ago I predicted the Watson pick. (only one I got right for us in that draft. Of course, had I known Wilfork would fall to 21, that would have been an obvious choice there too)

big mike--you are a savante--I called Wilfork, and I knew who Watson was when he was called...and I even had Mankins rated high, but preferred Snee...

but this year is like the recent years for the bulk of Patriots fans--all predicting LB or CB or WR...and when I say odd, I mean something that surprises the bulk of fans...

Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Graham, Watson...and Mankins...DL, TE, OL...I expect another DL this year, because I don't see a rookie LB starting for Belichick and as far as I can tell, history bears this out...