Linebackers

[Pats726]

No linebacker thread??? I really thought there should be one..one for it seems almost all positions..no QB..Kicker..YET!!!
Linebackers...it's here that I feel they will draft a few players. Lawson, Wimbley or even a Carpenter, but he may play inside as well (nothing wrong with versatility.)??? There's Reiss's trio of outside backers..Haralson, Tapp and Ninkovich...a sort of Vrabel-type player. These more or less are a bit lower picks..not exciting but may be OK.
The inside backers may be where they can go later..Reiss's hot list players (Carpenter) Hodge and Parham...they are big sticks in the middle..both would be good TJ players. There are others..a boatload of talent.

 

[mgteich]

I have little to add on linebacker. I have the following on my first round list, where there is major talent, although I generally don't like the size of most. If bb can draft two in the 4th or 5th to develop ILB's, I think we would be better served. Bottom line is that I would be fine with our drafting a top LB (as I have begged for since bb arrived, but I am not holding my breath). I do have a strong preference for the a 1st rounder; otherwise wait until at least the late 3rd.

I suspect that we might have to trade up to get any of these, except Kiwanuka.

FIRST ROUND
Wimbley
Carpenter
Greenway
Kiwanuka
Hali
Lawson

Hawk will be gone early and Sims is too small for my taste, as should also be gone before 21.

No linebacker thread??? I really thought there should be one..one for it seems almost all positions..no QB..Kicker..YET!!!
Linebackers...it's here that I feel they will draft a few players. Lawson, Wimbley or even a Carpenter, but he may play inside as well (nothing wrong with versatility.)??? There's Reiss's trio of outside backers..Haralson, Tapp and Ninkovich...a sort of Vrabel-type player. These more or less are a bit lower picks..not exciting but may be OK.
The inside backers may be where they can go later..Reiss's hot list players (Carpenter) Hodge and Parham...they are big sticks in the middle..both would be good TJ players. There are others..a boatload of talent.

 

[Pats726]

I have little to add on linebacker. I have the following on my first round list, where there is major talent, although I generally don't like the size of most. If bb can draft two in the 4th or 5th to develop ILB's, I think we would be better served. Bottom line is that I would be fine with our drafting a top LB (as I have begged for since bb arrived, but I am not holding my breath). I do have a strong preference for the a 1st rounder; otherwise wait until at least the late 3rd.

I suspect that we might have to trade up to get any of these, except Kiwanuka.

FIRST ROUND
Wimbley
Carpenter
Greenway
Kiwanuka
Hali
Lawson

Hawk will be gone early and Sims is too small for my taste, as should also be gone before 21.

I agree THIS is the year for a BIG OLB..IF they wish to move up to insure one of them..it would make MUCH sense..but after??? A few rounds down...and ILB down..THIS is the year..any preference on which one??

 

[mgteich]

Personally, I like the bigger LB's, who are usually DE's in college. Wimbley at 245 and Hali at 267. Lawson at 240 or even Kiwanuka at 262. The issue is whether they belong on a Round 1 Board. If so, I would prefer them over the smaller LB's. I don't like the idea of drafting a player who has been a star at a certain weight and presume that he can add 20 pounds, and be as effective as he was at the lower weight. This seems to be the kind of thing one does when choosing a Day Two pick.

Sure I'm tempted by Sims, Greenway and Carpenter. However, my suspicion is that whoever is chosen will play inside this year. It is a lot to ask for any player to be a major contributer at OLB for the patriots, given our complex schemes. There is the certainly possibility that someone could find a role in the passing game, taking reps from Banta-Cain.

I have no strong preferences beyond the top group. The Browns list is probably a good place to start: Tapp, Harylson, Ninkovich and Kudla.

I agree THIS i
s the year for a BIG OLB..IF they wish to move up to insure one of them..it would make MUCH sense..but after??? A few rounds down...and ILB down..THIS is the year..any preference on which one??

 

[LloydBraun]

Lb

Tapp or Kiwanuka would be nice outside, while Hoyte or Schlegel would be a great addition inside. Gocong is intriguing as an OLB as well.

I am eager to see Claridge and why Chad Brown spoke so highly of him. I was undert the impression that he was not allowed to train with the team last year due to injury status.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Value grouping

I agree THIS is the year for a BIG OLB..IF they wish to move up to insure one of them..it would make MUCH sense..but after??? A few rounds down...and ILB down..THIS is the year..any preference on which one??

My value grouping for ILB is Hoyte, Parham and Schlegel fro WILB and Bobby Carpenter, Chad Greenway Gerris Wilkerson for SILB.

Greenway and Carpenter are multi-talented and could play OLB as well, and probably would, no such chance for Gerris. They are first rounders, Gerris is a 4th so maybe its a value grouping of two, and a value grouping of one, as well.

For the WILBs anywhere from third to fifth but I like them enough to want a pair of the three at that price...

ILB might become signal; callers so smarts is needed as well.
Wonderlics for Greenway 29 and Carpenter 29 and Wilkerson 26 seem acceptable. I don't have those for Parahm and Schlegel but I'll bet they are good as Parham graduated in 3.5 years at Virginia, and Schlegel was accepted at Air Force Academy before transfering, majoring in Engineering.