Larry English or Clay Matthews

[Warren94]

really like mckillop from pitt. reminds me of ted johnson.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

It's no contest. English.

Senior Bowl Practice: North Linemen

English is at the middle of the video. To me, he stands out from the crowd. IMO, he's better than Orakpo, who's overrated, IMO.

 

[mayoclinic]

It's no contest. English.

Senior Bowl Practice: North Linemen

English is at the middle of the video. To me, he stands out from the crowd. IMO, he's better than Orakpo, who's overrated, IMO.

English looked nice in that clip, but I'm not sure how much was him and how much was Xavier Fulton, who did not get good reviews at the Senior Bowl. But he looked quicker than in some of the films I'd seen of him.

 

[spann31]

I dont think Matthews will make a good pass rusher

 

[spann31]

english ran a 4.9 at the combine, that is slow

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

english ran a 4.9 at the combine, that is slow

His time was reported incorrectly at first: He's right at the high end with a 4.82. His Pro Day may better that, we'll see what happens then.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

really like mckillop from pitt. reminds me of ted johnson.

In what way?

 

[BPF]

In what way?

I had the same thought. McKillop comes underneath blocks too much for my taste. Short arms and doesn't wrap up which causes him to miss tackles.

 

[BallzDeep]

u cant go wrong with linebackers from USC....cmon man Matthews is a stud and has the pedigree! Dont you think his dad taught him a lot of the NFL ropes? PLUS senior Matthews played for Belichick in Cleveland! Its obvious who they would take...

 

[BPF]

Edge to English as a player: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...brown-dl-florida-state-page2.html#post1323249

Matthews is a great athlete and a late bloomer as a player.

 

[BPF]

Bunting likes Matthews better: The National Football Post | Behind The Times: The 10 Yard Split

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

u cant go wrong with linebackers from USC....cmon man Matthews is a stud and has the pedigree! Dont you think his dad taught him a lot of the NFL ropes? PLUS senior Matthews played for Belichick in Cleveland! Its obvious who they would take...

Paul Posluzny was an excellent college LB and he's doing a fine job for Buffalo, but he's a poor fit for NE's defense. The four USC LBs may or may not be excellent LBs, but based on the play I've seen, they are not the best fit for NE, certainly not at round one prices.

 

[dryheat44]

really like mckillop from pitt. reminds me of ted johnson.

McKillop was the best defensive football player I saw last year. Bar none.

I just don't think he can function inside in the 3-4. He has Johnson's stiffness, but he can't compensate with his size. I'd be very happy if Belichick drafted him, but he's off my draft board for the Pats.

As for the question in the poll, I think English is a third-round talent, and Matthews a fourth, so I'll go with English.

OLB candidates I like as much or better:

1st rounders:
Aaron Curry
Everette Brown
Brian Orakpo

1/2:
Clint Sintim
Conner Barwin

2/3:
Michael Johnson
Brian Cushing

3rd:
English
Aaron Maybin
Lawrence Sidbury

4th:
Matthews
Cody Brown
Pierre Walters

 

[Patriot Missile]

McKillop was the best defensive football player I saw last year. Bar none.

I just don't think he can function inside in the 3-4. He has Johnson's stiffness, but he can't compensate with his size. I'd be very happy if Belichick drafted him, but he's off my draft board for the Pats.

As for the question in the poll, I think English is a third-round talent, and Matthews a fourth, so I'll go with English.

OLB candidates I like as much or better:

1st rounders:
Aaron Curry
Everette Brown
Brian Orakpo

1/2:
Clint Sintim
Conner Barwin

2/3:
Michael Johnson
Brian Cushing

3rd:
English
Aaron Maybin
Lawrence Sidbury

4th:
Matthews
Cody Brown
Pierre Walters

Wow! Clay Mathews as a 4th rounder? I'm assuming you are not that high at all on him. I'm not so much either but I would still consider him atleast a 2nd rounder. Are you basing this as him being in a 4-3 or 3-4 or...as how he fits with the Pats?

 

[bucky]

what do we need more a pass rusher or a guy who can cover? I'd say the answer is obvious.

I actually don't think it's that obvious. Good coverage from the LB position was the key to the Pats' defense a few years ago - Phifer and Bruschi were both excellent, as was Colvin before he got hurt, and Vrabel was more than adequate. Last year, the LBs all sucked in coverage.

 

[dryheat44]

Wow! Clay Mathews as a 4th rounder? I'm assuming you are not that high at all on him. I'm not so much either but I would still consider him atleast a 2nd rounder. Are you basing this as him being in a 4-3 or 3-4 or...as how he fits with the Pats?

I imagine myself as Bill Belichick when I do my value chart. I also tune out the Kipers of the world. In 2008, Matthews was regarded as a late-rounder. And somehow, after the Penn St. game, the All-Star games, and the Combine, he's worked himself into the first round. I just don't buy it.

 

[bucky]

As long as we're posting video of English, we should post the same video of Mathews. Here it is, he looks pretty darn good working against Oher.

NFL Video Galleries

 

[VJCPatriot]

If it comes down to an OLB, who would we choose.

Connor Barwin.

 

[dryheat44]

Connor Barwin.

I've been trying to come up with a reason not to target the four year starter at OLB in Belichick's 3-4 defense, who happened to have more sacks than any linebacker in the NCAA last year, and I can't do it.

Honestly....I think Barwin could be a hell of a player, but I don't know why we want to take the conversion project over the 4 years of production Sintim has going for him.

 

[mayoclinic]

I've been trying to come up with a reason not to target the four year starter at OLB in Belichick's 3-4 defense, who happened to have more sacks than any linebacker in the NCAA last year, and I can't do it.

Honestly....I think Barwin could be a hell of a player, but I don't know why we want to take the conversion project over the 4 years of production Sintim has going for him.

Here's some reasons:

- Sintim is athletically limited.
- Sintim has stiff hips and appears to have limited ball skills and coverage ability.
- Sinitm has experience but his ceiling is probably not very high.
- 3-4 OLB experience may not necessarily mean that Sintim won't have a big learning curve with BB's playbook and complex schemes.
- Sintim may be better suited to 3-4 SILB where he will have to learn a new position anyway.

Monty Beisel and Victor Hobson are good examples of athletically limited players who just didn't have what it took to play in the Pats' system. I don't see Sintim ever being more than a solid player at best. Barwin could potentially be a pro bowl player in a few years.