Patriots.com's take on LB's and DB's

[The_Dragon]

Updated for WRs

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24078&pcid=41

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

I don't like picking on individuals but Kyle Psaty's articles are written for the casual Pats fan seeking cursory knoweldge on the team/players.

IMO, the 3 best writers at www.patriots.com are:

Tom Casale
Andy Hart
Paul Parillo

Casale especially does a great job analyzing upcoming drafts.

 

[everlong]

Kiper updated his top 5 draft picks by position yesterday.

Inside Linebackers
1. Patrick Willis, Mississippi
2. Buster Davis, Florida State
3. David Harris, Michigan
4. Zach Diles, Kansas State
5. Brandon Siler, Florida*
5a. Rory Johnson, Mississippi*
5b. Zak DeOssie, Brown
5b. Jon Abbate, Wake Forest*


Outside Linebackers
1. Lawrence Timmons, Florida St.*
2. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
3. Michael Okwo, Stanford
4. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
5. Stewart Bradley, Nebraska
5a. Earl Everett, Florida

Defensive Ends
1. Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas*
2. Gaines Adams, Clemson
3. Charles Johnson, Georgia*
4. Adam Carriker, Nebraska
5. Anthony Spencer, Purdue
5a. Tim Crowder, Texas
5b. Jarvis Moss, Florida*
5c. Jay Moore, Nebraska
5d. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame
5e. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
5f. Quentin Moses, Georgia

And his top 25 of which only 3 LB/DE's that fit our mold make the list, and one of those is almost certain to be gone.

10. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson (6-4½, 260) | previous: Same
Flashes dominating ability with his athleticism and quickness. Adams led the Tigers with 10½ sacks and 15½ tackles for loss.

19. Lawrence Timmons*, LB, Florida St. (6-2¼, 233) | previous: 21
Moves right to the top of a very subpar linebacking group, particularly from the senior class. Timmons' production and consistency from game to game are what jumps out at you.

23. Anthony Spencer, DE, Purdue (6-2½, 261) | previous: 22
He became a much more effective pass rusher in 2006 for the Boilermakers. The key at the next level will be his athleticism and versatility, because I project he'll be an ideal outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

If Kiper is correct, and I'm in the middle on Kiper I don't think he's gospel like some but I don't hate him like others, maybe the Pats will not be going LB in the first round but instead going value at the position in rounds 2 & 3.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Kiper updated his top 5 draft picks by position yesterday.

Inside Linebackers
1. Patrick Willis, Mississippi
2. Buster Davis, Florida State
3. David Harris, Michigan
4. Zach Diles, Kansas State
5. Brandon Siler, Florida*
5a. Rory Johnson, Mississippi*
5b. Zak DeOssie, Brown
5b. Jon Abbate, Wake Forest*


Outside Linebackers
1. Lawrence Timmons, Florida St.*
2. Paul Posluszny, Penn State
3. Michael Okwo, Stanford
4. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma
5. Stewart Bradley, Nebraska
5a. Earl Everett, Florida

Defensive Ends
1. Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas*
2. Gaines Adams, Clemson
3. Charles Johnson, Georgia*
4. Adam Carriker, Nebraska
5. Anthony Spencer, Purdue
5a. Tim Crowder, Texas
5b. Jarvis Moss, Florida*
5c. Jay Moore, Nebraska
5d. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame
5e. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
5f. Quentin Moses, Georgia

And his top 25 of which only 3 LB/DE's that fit our mold make the list, and one of those is almost certain to be gone.

10. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson (6-4½, 260) | previous: Same
Flashes dominating ability with his athleticism and quickness. Adams led the Tigers with 10½ sacks and 15½ tackles for loss.

19. Lawrence Timmons*, LB, Florida St. (6-2¼, 233) | previous: 21
Moves right to the top of a very subpar linebacking group, particularly from the senior class. Timmons' production and consistency from game to game are what jumps out at you.

23. Anthony Spencer, DE, Purdue (6-2½, 261) | previous: 22
He became a much more effective pass rusher in 2006 for the Boilermakers. The key at the next level will be his athleticism and versatility, because I project he'll be an ideal outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

If Kiper is correct, and I'm in the middle on Kiper I don't think he's gospel like some but I don't hate him like others, maybe the Pats will not be going LB in the first round but instead going value at the position in rounds 2 & 3.

You must look at DEs with the potential to move to LB whenever looking at LB draft lists. If you did, you'd be pretty excited as I am. I see plenty of such players in this draft.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Were we not getting burned time after time on the AFCCG by guys like
Utec and Dallas Clark. These guys were WIDE FRIKIN OPEN.
tight ends are a linebackers' responsibility. We had to take guys out
because of cramps and maybe I think exhaustion. Eric Alexander was inside
and Vrabel was back outside.

We need inside linebackers. One way or the other.
I know BB will remedy this situation.

He Will remedy the situation, Everyon e get flu shots in Training camp!

 

[everlong]

You must look at DEs with the potential to move to LB whenever looking at LB draft lists. If you did, you'd be pretty excited as I am. I see plenty of such players in this draft.

I do and that's why I posted the DE's. If there's only a couple of top 25 prospects that are LB/DE's and then a bunch of others that are in the mix but perhaps not first rounders then I think the Pats may go CB/S with the first round picks then go LB in the second or third.


2. Gaines Adams, Clemson
5. Anthony Spencer, Purdue
5b. Jarvis Moss, Florida*
5d. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame
5e. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
5f. Quentin Moses, Georgia

Unless Adams falls to us at 24 at least two of the others will slip to the second round where we could trade up and get one of them. A couple might even fall to the third round.

I actually think Moss will be a first rounder too and we very well could pick him at 24, and all of this will change a thousand times between now and the draft especially after the combine.

 

[pats1]

Note the author, Kyle Psaty, is not one of the patriots.com regulars. Maybe he's an intern or something, but obviously he's got a lot to learn. E.g. "Defensive backs make up a large percentage of the team right now, so there will likely be some departures from this group."

Yeah, he came on as an intern last summer.

Didn't seem that bright from the few seconds he was on PFW in Progress.

 

[pats1]

I don't like picking on individuals but Kyle Psaty's articles are written for the casual Pats fan seeking cursory knoweldge on the team/players.

IMO, the 3 best writers at www.patriots.com are:

Tom Casale
Andy Hart
Paul Parillo

Casale especially does a great job analyzing upcoming drafts.

Are you familiar with Casale's comments on this website?

(Hint: Click here: www.PatsPsychos.com)

 

[The_Dragon]

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24106&pcid=41

 

[The_Dragon]

Updated for Defensive Ends


http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=24170&pcid=41

 

[Isaac]

Kiper updated his top 5 draft picks by position yesterday.

Inside Linebackers
1. Patrick Willis, Mississippi
2. Buster Davis, Florida State
3. David Harris, Michigan
4. Zach Diles, Kansas State
5. Brandon Siler, Florida*
5a. Rory Johnson, Mississippi*
5b. Zak DeOssie, Brown
5b. Jon Abbate, Wake Forest*

H.B. Blades completely off the list, eh? I wonder if he forgot about him.

 

[BradyManny]

Are you familiar with Casale's comments on this website?

(Hint: Click here: www.PatsPsychos.com)

Someone might want to look into the possibility that Brady-to-Branch is "close friends" with say "I'm Ron Borges?" and "AllisonLovesBrady".

Anytime someone who is particularly critical of Jackson or Maroney comes on and also happens to give props to Casale, I become a little paranoid.