Pondering potential Kevin Faulk understudies

[DaBruinz]

do you realize we would need to waste a late 1st for him? do you realize if Asante is gone that we have 0 proven CBs who can play pro bowl caliber for a season? Do you realize our LBs are on the DECLINE? do you realize Caldwell wont be a great 1? (maybe jackson can but nothing yet). Do you realize Safety is a bigger need than a RB? Do you realize we have a power back in Dillon and if we want a Leonard type of player we have a guy who can get reisnged cheap by the name of Pass?

What I realize is that lots of different things happen on draft day. Plenty of players slide. Need I point to Ernest Shazor again?

Patrick Pass is NOT a powerback. You are crazy if you think that. Hell, you have no credibility if you believe that Patrick Pass is a powerback. He's an average running back. Not a power back, but not a scat back either.

Now, though Dillon's contract runs through 2009, I don't see him being around that long. In fact, I see him probably retiring after the 2007-2008 season.

What I KNOW is that what YOU think is important for the Patriots doesn't mean a damn thing to the Bill Belichick or Scott Pioli. I also know that they draft by best value available, NOT STRICTLY BY NEED AS YOU IMPLY, and that if they believe that Leonard offers more value at #28 than any other player on their list, they will draft him. Yes, the Pats have needs at LB, S, CB, etc. But that is no different than any other year when they have needs.

So, please stuff your holier than though attitude in the garbage can because I know what I think are positions of need. And I also try and temper it what I believe the Patriots look at.

And the reason to stow the attitude is because you didn't bother to read what Box said. Box said 2nd round (and you acknowledged it). And, honestly, if Leonard slipped to the Pats in the 2nd round, he'd be a STEAL.

 

[dryheat44]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Garrett Wolfe in this role. He'd be my pick.

 

[PonyExpress]

Whenever Mewelde Moore of the Vikings becomes available, he'll be our guy to replace Faulk. BB loved him coming out of the draft.

 

[AzPatsFan]

If you are looking for a multi-talented replacement for Kevn Faulk you need to look at the same quality of players.

None of you seem to be doing that. The best replacement that I have seen for the former All SEC player Kevin Faulk, was the All PAC10 UCLA player drafted by the Jags last year. Maurice Jones-Drew.

Mr Drew has proven to be a very good spot runner; and very good receiver; and is also dangerous when he returns kicks. i was hoping that he would fall to the end of the second round to the Pats but he didn't.

Like Kevin he was a high second round pick and very talented. To date I haven't seen anyone in this class that is anywhere similar...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Garrett Wolfe in this role. He'd be my pick.

Garrett gives up 15+ pounds to Kevin and at least 2", I'm looking for a third down back who can pick up a blitzing LB and win consistently, to go with the inside/outside running and receiving. Lorenzo Booker came closest to being a Faulk clone when I watched the Senior Bowl (Wolfe went home injured), but I chose to look for someone who could do much of what Kevin does without being his clone, which had me looking at Leonard again.

We have two backs who are, or appear to be, reaching the end of their Patriot careers, Dillon and Pass. Leonard brings a little bit of both and is at minimum a utility back prospect as good if not better than Pass. So yes, I'm hung up on the guy. I wish the Pats could have held onto Cobb last season, Pittsburgh proved to be dain bramaged letting him go for Miami to scoop. He had Faulk potential, including the fumbles!

 

[AzPatsFan]

Whenever Mewelde Moore of the Vikings becomes available, he'll be our guy to replace Faulk. BB loved him coming out of the draft.

Yes! or Maurice Jones-Drew when he is a FA...

 

[DaBruinz]

Yeah, when I saw him I thought Patrick Pass. No offense to Heath Evans, but I would rather groom this kid and lose Evans. And when...I mean if....Pass goes down yet again, we have a good replacement.

Pass is a UFA if I am not mistaken.

 

[Clonamery]

Yes! or Maurice Jones-Drew when he is a FA...

Jones-Drew is Jacksonville's #1 back starting next year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Some more love for Leonard (from November, mind you):

TALENT BOARD ROUND: 1
If someone tells you that Brian reminds them of Mike Alstott (FB - Tampa Bay Bucs), you know right away that they are listening to a scout who is trying to downgrade Brian and praying he is there for his team to pick late in the draft. Brian has more athletic talent in his left butt cheek than Mike Alstott ever thought of having.

Brian has the same athletic talent that Brian Urlacher has. As I stated earlier - he reminds me a lot of John Riggins (former RB Washington Redskins) and I believe he will have the same impact on the NFL as Riggins did in his career. I personally consider Brian a top ten pick in this draft, but I’m sure he will not be picked in the top ten. The scouts know that a player who is a Fullback/ H-Back in college is not going to be picked in the top ten; however, I would if I was picking in these slots. Brian can play any position he wants and in a system you need him to play in.

Tackling him on a sweep in the NFL is going to scare the living crap out of those itsy bitsy CB’s and safeties. To them, he is going to look like Jason in one of those Friday the 13th movies. I can just see him playing for the Denver Broncos and becoming the feature back in their system. I can see him becoming the featured back in any system for any team in the NFL. I’m going to call him Brian (Jason) Leonard because if you put a hockey mask on him and tell him to run, he is just going to scare the living crap out of you just like Jason did in all those Friday the 13th movies.

 

[PonyExpress]

BTW, Mewelde Moore is a RFA this season and former 4th rd pick. Childress diminished his role, and I doubt they would tender him. He has played in every game the last 2 years and shed his "sick-bay commando" image. If not this year, as an UFA next year he would make a solid 3rd down back and punt returner and a quality Faulk replacement.

 

[Seneschal2]

If we REALLY want Leonard... just keep in mind that it's a LONG WAY from #28 to our second-rounder (if R2 is where folks plan on taking him). BB doesn't really care about concensus rankings from the experts. He'll draft someone who fits the Pats system and profile first, while anticipating other teams needs along the way. If he feels Leonard (or anyone) won't make it to the next Pats pick, he'll try and make a move. For this reason, I have Leonard as a #28 option -- no later.

 

[spacecrime]

Kevin Faulk seems to be getting old and slow. Well, all the players are a year older. Faulk seems to be slowing down, though. What we need is a guy who can pick up the blitz, catch a pass, and just say NO to draw plays.

But why do we need to replace Patrick Pass? He spent the year on IR. What's to replace?