My Blueprint for the Defense

[mayoclinic]

Pretty simple looking "blueprint" right now:

1. Re-sign Aqib Talib.
2. Cut Vince Wilfork. Painful, but time to move on.
3. Sign a DE. Michael Johnson / Carlos Dunlap 1st choice, or Corey Wootton.
4. Draft one of Aaron Donald / Dominique Easley. Donald if at all possible.
5. Draft one of Ryan Shazier / Christian Jones.
6. Draft Antone Exum.

Anything else is gravy.

Gravy:

7. Sign Red Bryant, Linval Joseph or Arthur Jones, or draft Justin Ellis.
8. Draft another big DB, whether day 2 (Kyle Fuller, Bashaud Breeland) or day 3 (Aaron Colvin, Dontae Johnson, Jonathan Dowling)

Realistically, priorities on the other side of the ball and cap constraints may conflict with these.

 

[ripatsfan91]

Gravy:

7. Sign Red Bryant, Linval Joseph or Arthur Jones, or draft Justin Ellis.
8. Draft another big DB, whether day 2 (Kyle Fuller, Bashaud Breeland) or day 3 (Aaron Colvin, Dontae Johnson, Jonathan Dowling)

Realistically, priorities on the other side of the ball and cap constraints may conflict with these.

To meet the priorities we could do:

1. Su'a-Filo
2. Shazier
3. ASJ/Niklas
4.Christian Jones/Exum
6. Stork/BPA
6. BPA
7. Logan Thomas

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

I thought Seattle's Clinton McDonald was a RFA but he's unrestricted. McDonald is a pass rushing DT, but he's only had one year of good production. Could be an FA option for us. No idea what kind of contract he'll demand though.

Seattle doesn't really have starters on their front four -- they're more like rotators, and three of them are free agents. Red Bryant could be cut too.

 

[mayoclinic]

Thought for the day:

Q: What do the 2001, 2003 and 2004 Pats' SB teams have in common?

A: The Pats drafted a DT with their 1st round pick in all 3 drafts preceding those seasons. Richard Seymour #6 in 2001, Ty Warren #13 in 2003, Vince Wilfork #21 in 2004.

Coincidence? Maybe. But we haven't taken a DT in the first 2 rounds since 2004, and only 1 DL (Chandler Jones in 2012), and we haven't won a SB since then.

Aaron Donald would have the same impact on a disruptive defense as Richard Seymour had on a 2-gapping 3-4. He's got the intelligence, work ethic, motor, technical proficiency and athleticism to come in and impact as a rookie.

 

[Coach42]

Thought for the day:

Q: What do the 2001, 2003 and 2004 Pats' SB teams have in common?

A: The Pats drafted a DT with their 1st round pick in all 3 drafts preceding those seasons. Richard Seymour #6 in 2001, Ty Warren #13 in 2003, Vince Wilfork #21 in 2004.

Coincidence? Maybe. But we haven't taken a DT in the first 2 rounds since 2004, and only 1 DL (Chandler Jones in 2012), and we haven't won a SB since then.

Aaron Donald would have the same impact on a disruptive defense as Richard Seymour had on a 2-gapping 3-4. He's got the intelligence, work ethic, motor, technical proficiency and athleticism to come in and impact as a rookie.

I think you're right. I just can't see Bill drafting him.

 

[ATippett56]

I think you're right. I just can't see Bill drafting him.

I envision the Cowboys or the Bears all over Aaron Donald. Furthermore, the Chicago Bears need to draft a whole new defense.

 

[ripatsfan91]

I envision the Cowboys or the Bears all over Aaron Donald. Furthermore, the Chicago Bears need to draft a whole new defense.

Could mean that Pryor falls to us at #29. Cowboys and Bears both have terrible safety play and if they want pick DT early, a safety will fall to us

 

[ATippett56]

Could mean that Pryor falls to us at #29. Cowboys and Bears both have terrible safety play and if they want pick DT early, a safety will fall to us

I have yet to see the New England Patriots cut safety Steve Gregory let alone Adrian Wilson.

 

[ashley]

Could mean that Pryor falls to us at #29. Cowboys and Bears both have terrible safety play and if they want pick DT early, a safety will fall to us

I really wish, but I think too many teams could take him before us.

-St Louis at 13
-Chicago at 14
-Pittsburgh at 15
-Dallas at 16
-Baltimore at 17
-Green Bay at 21
-Philly at 22
- Cincy at 24

I think all those teams have the potential to take him unfortunately.

 

[manxman2601]

I always said that Grid had excellent taste. He likes Jimmie Ward as much as I do giving him a first round grade.

Could someone post a link for me please.

 

[mayoclinic]

I always said that Grid had excellent taste. He likes Jimmie Ward as much as I do giving him a first round grade.

Could someone post a link for me please.

Your wish is my command:

Category: Jimmie Ward -

My issue is not about Ward being a good safety. Not much doubt about that. It's that he's too much like Devin McCourty to fit what the Pats need.

 

[mayoclinic]

I really wish, but I think too many teams could take him before us.

-St Louis at 13
-Chicago at 14
-Pittsburgh at 15
-Dallas at 16
-Baltimore at 17
-Green Bay at 21
-Philly at 22
- Cincy at 24

I think all those teams have the potential to take him unfortunately.

I don't expect Pyror to last, but I like some of the potential CB/S hybrids a lot:

- Antone Exum. 5' 11 5/8" 213#. 4.59 40, 35" vertical, 9'9" broad jump, 7.05 3-cone, 4.13 short shuttle. All while probably not 100% physically recovered from his ACL injury.

- Keith McGill. 6'3" 211#, 33 1/4" arms. 4.51 40, 1.60 10 yard split, 39" vertical, 10'9" broad jump, 6.29 3-cone, 4.18 short shuttle.

And then there's Telvin Smith. 6'3" 218#, 4.52 40, 1.53 10 yard split.

Obviously, it takes more than athleticism. Exum and McGill both have safety experience. Pryor has good instincts and is a big hitter, but I'm not sure that he's going to be elite.

I like Pryor, but if I had to pick between Pryor and Ryan Shazier as a 1st round pick, I'll take Shazier.

 

[Off The Grid]

Could mean that Pryor falls to us at #29.

I have yet to see the New England Patriots cut safety Steve Gregory let alone Adrian Wilson.

Yes, the concept of upgrading the scrub before cutting the scrub loose can be very confusing to some.

 

[mayoclinic]

Post Combine defensive guys who I really like and their current NFL DraftScout rankings:

DT Aaron Donald (22) *
LB Ryan Shazier (33)
DT Dominique Easley (54)
DB Kyle Fuller (59)
S Deone Bucannon (82)
CB Bashaud Breeland (84)
LB Christian Jones (124) *
NT Justin Ellis (139)
DB Antone Exum (150) *
DB Dontae Johnson (228) *
DB Phillip Gaines (253)
DB Jonathan Dowling (284)

The 4 guys with an * are my top 4 value picks based on those rankings.

 

[everlong]

DT Aaron Donald (22) *

If he slides to 20 I'd advocate a trade up.

LB Ryan Shazier (33)

I would rather have Jones later.

DT Dominique Easley (54)

Apparently he blew his interviews and came off as really immature. Couple that with the injuries and he's off my board.

DB Kyle Fuller (59)

Gone in the top 35.

S Deone Bucannon (82)

I'm liking Exum as a safety vs a corner and think he's the best value.

CB Bashaud Breeland (84)

I need to go back and watch more of him.

LB Christian Jones (124) *

Totally.

NT Justin Ellis (139)

I posted a comparison of him and Nix in another thread. At #139 he may be a best value too.

DB Antone Exum (150) *

As I said safety and I'm sold.

DB Dontae Johnson (228) *

I need to study up on him.

DB Phillip Gaines (253)

Yes, please.

DB Jonathan Dowling (284)

If they miss on Exum Dowling is a great value here.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't expect Pyror to last, but I like some of the potential CB/S hybrids a lot:

- Antone Exum. 5' 11 5/8" 213#. 4.59 40, 35" vertical, 9'9" broad jump, 7.05 3-cone, 4.13 short shuttle. All while probably not 100% physically recovered from his ACL injury.

- Keith McGill. 6'3" 211#, 33 1/4" arms. 4.51 40, 1.60 10 yard split, 39" vertical, 10'9" broad jump, 6.29 3-cone, 4.18 short shuttle.

And then there's Telvin Smith. 6'3" 218#, 4.52 40, 1.53 10 yard split.

Obviously, it takes more than athleticism. Exum and McGill both have safety experience. Pryor has good instincts and is a big hitter, but I'm not sure that he's going to be elite.

I like Pryor, but if I had to pick between Pryor and Ryan Shazier as a 1st round pick, I'll take Shazier.

For the Patriots, Pryor wouldn't need to be elite to instantly upgrade the secondary. I like Shazier but I would still take Pryor first. Then again, Pryor is my super binky and has been for a little bit now so I might be biased. Since the team probably doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of getting him, I would take Bucannon or Exum. We need some athleticism mixed in with physicality back there badly. A hitter would fit perfectly with what McCourty gives us, in terms of range.

 

[mayoclinic]

DT Aaron Donald (22) *

If he slides to 20 I'd advocate a trade up.

LB Ryan Shazier (33)

I would rather have Jones later.

DT Dominique Easley (54)

Apparently he blew his interviews and came off as really immature. Couple that with the injuries and he's off my board.

DB Kyle Fuller (59)

Gone in the top 35.

S Deone Bucannon (82)

I'm liking Exum as a safety vs a corner and think he's the best value.

CB Bashaud Breeland (84)

I need to go back and watch more of him.

LB Christian Jones (124) *

Totally.

NT Justin Ellis (139)

I posted a comparison of him and Nix in another thread. At #139 he may be a best value too.

DB Antone Exum (150) *

As I said safety and I'm sold.

DB Dontae Johnson (228) *

I need to study up on him.

DB Phillip Gaines (253)

Yes, please.

DB Jonathan Dowling (284)

If they miss on Exum Dowling is a great value here.

It sounds like we pretty much agree on the values.

If we somehow had an extra 2nd round pick (no comment on how that might occur), I'd do something like the following:

- Cut Vince Wilfork (painful), Isaac Sapoaga and Adian Wilson (not so painful)
- Re-sign Aqib Talib
- Sign Michael Johnson/Carlos Dunlap in FA
- Re-sign Dane Fletcher (fairly inexpensive)
- Trade 29 and a 3rd to move up to the low 20's and take Aaron Donald
- Trade back from one of the 2nd round picks for a 3rd and 4th
- Take the best TE in the 2nd round out of ASJ, Troy Niklas and Jace Amaro
- Take the best interior OL in the 3rd (Joel Bitonio / Marcus Martin / Weston Richburg / Travis Swanson)
- The Christian Jones with a 3rd round pick
- Take Justin Ellis with one 4th round pick
- Take Antone Exum with the other 4th round pick
- Take one of Logan Thomas/Larry Webster in the 6th as a TE conversion
- Take one of Dontae Johnson / Jonathan Dowling / Phillip Gaines in the 6th/7th

That would address the TE and interior OL priorities on offense. And on defense you'd have:

- Justin Ellis/Sealver Siliga as 0/1 techs
- Aaron Donald/Chris Jones as 3-techs. Donald could also be moved around.
- Tommy Kelly and Armond Armstead as guys who can play 0/1, 3 or 5 tech.
- Chandler Jones, Michael Johnson/Carlos Dunlap, Rob Ninkovich and Michael Buchanan in a DE rotation. Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Armond Armstead could also see time at DE.
- Jerod Mayo, Dont'a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Christian Jones and Dane Fletcher at LB. Rob Ninkovich could also get some snaps at LB.
- Steve Gregory/Antone Exum at SS. Jones or Collins could also play a hybrid LB/S role at times. If Tavon Wilson somehow progresses, Gregory could become a cap casualty.
- Devin McCourty/Duron Harmon at FS. Dontae Johnson/Jonathan Dowling could also play FS at times.
- Aqib Talib, Alphonso Dennard and Dontae Johnson/Phillip Gains/Jonathan Dowling as outside CBs. Logan Ryan could also get some time here.
- Logan Ryan and Kyle Arrington as slot CBs.

That would be a darn versatile and talented defense. You would have incredible disruption up front, incredible range and versatility at the second level, and a deep secondary with good size and athleticism.

In an even better world Vince Wilfork would somehow be able to come back at an effective level and would restructure to free up enough money to sign a FA DE like Johnson/Dunlap. Then we wouldn't have to draft a NT like Ellis, and we could have a front 4 of Johnson/Dunlap - Wilfork - Donald - Jones. That would be amazing, though I think it's very unlikely.

 

[everlong]

I
- Trade 29 and a 3rd to move up to the low 20's and take Aaron Donald
- Trade back from one of the 2nd round picks for a 3rd and 4th
- Take the best TE in the 2nd round out of ASJ, Troy Niklas and Jace Amaro
- Take the best interior OL in the 3rd (Joel Bitonio / Marcus Martin / Weston Richburg / Travis Swanson)
- The Christian Jones with a 3rd round pick
- Take Justin Ellis with one 4th round pick
- Take Antone Exum with the other 4th round pick
- Take one of Logan Thomas/Larry Webster in the 6th as a TE conversion
- Take one of Dontae Johnson / Jonathan Dowling / Phillip Gaines in the 6th/7th

If it all fell into place it's your best plan to date. I definitely prefer ASJ, Martin, Exum to safety, Thomas and Gaines in your options with the caveat I need to look at Dontae Johnson more.

 

[sircole]

everlong and mayoclinic, I would definitely like an athletic and aggressive defense lineup that you all are proposing.

 

[mayoclinic]

I started a thread on measuring power and explosion with a link to an old Pat Kirwan article:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/1100859-measuring-power-explosion.html

It's a crude and imprecise metric, but it's a starting point. Thinking about a defensive player who could have an explosive and disruptive impact, I think that Aaron Donald, Ra'Shede Hageman and Ryan Shazier are the 3 guys who stand based on Kirwan's metric. That's obviously only a small piece of the puzzle, but something to think about.

And BTW, Jamie Collins stood out last year in terms of his explosiveness based on this metric.