Way too Premature 2008 Top 10 Mock

[Aqua4Ever04]

While I could see why we'd be hesitant to go safety-safety two years in a row, there are two starting safety spots and Phillips and Meriweather have started together before on Miami. I think the main thing is that we're not confident in Geno's return to the team, Rodney gutting it out for another year and James Sanders being a long term starter. It's not quite the area of concern that ILB is, but it's still something to consider and it would be nice to not worry about our safeties for another 6 years and also have a combination of safeties that could be absolutely dominant. At the least, the safety situation is not going to prevent us from taking Phillips if we think he's a superstar in the making, whereas it's pretty unimaginable that we'll go with a QB or an interior lineman.

Yeah that's one thing people over look at the truth is I overlooked it a bit in this mock as well. It doesn't matter that they took a safety, there are 2 safety positions, you're correct. I think it falls into taking the best player available and it just depends on who you think that is. The Pats need youth at the linebacker position, but if they feel Phillips is the better player over Rivers then you have to take him.

 

[chunkypony]

I can see us drafting Chris Long, but moving him to ILB.

All of our ILB now were DE in college.

Long plays for Groh at Virginia, and comes from a strong football pedigree.

Plus, Howie Long would pick us every sunday on fox for the rest of his life!

 

[The Gr8est]

Don't forget we still have Sammy Morris. I can't see the Pats grabbing McFadden unless they deal Maroney away.

In another thread, someone mentioned that if the Pats can't find a trade partner to move down, they may pass as Minnesota did ( I know, Minnesota didn't INTENTIONALLY pass) in order to avoid paying too high a salary against the cap.

Now, wouldn't it be hilarious (and not entirely impossible to happen) if the next team felt the same way and didn't want to pick there either and just waited?

How would that be ruled? Once the second team's time passed would the next team get to pick, or would the second team's clock not actually be running since the Pats' hadn't made their pick?

I know teams jumped into the void before by Minnesota, but if the next team hadn't, I wonder how it would be ruled?

"We're entering the fourth hour of the standoff between the Patriots and the Bengals with neither side appearing ready to blink and actually make a selection. We'll return as soon as anything happens."

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

I can see us drafting Chris Long, but moving him to ILB.

All of our ILB now were DE in college.

Long plays for Groh at Virginia, and comes from a strong football pedigree.

Plus, Howie Long would pick us every sunday on fox for the rest of his life!

I think Long is better suited at DE. If you want to go ILB, you'd be better suited trading down.

 

[sebman2112]

I'm not a big Matt Ryan supporter. Have you seen him the last 2 games? Not all that impressive. I think the QBs in this draft are over rated, each has some serious flaws.

Phillips is a line backer my man.

Been smokin' some crack lately, my man?

 

[sebman2112]

I can see us drafting Chris Long, but moving him to ILB.

All of our ILB now were DE in college.

Long plays for Groh at Virginia, and comes from a strong football pedigree.

Plus, Howie Long would pick us every sunday on fox for the rest of his life!

Chris Long is two slow to play ILB, and he doesn't have the coverage range. Seriously, I don't see the idea of converting him to LB, and I don't see him fitting in at DE in NE's 3-4. He looks like more of a 4-3 DE to me.

 

[sebman2112]

Heatster, your comment about Phillips left me scratching my head. Have you watched him play, more than once? He's a lot better than James Sanders, and has much more upside. He's bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent, more of a ball hawk, much better ball skills, better in coverage, and he hits harder. Almost Everything I want in a Safety Phillips has over Sanders. The only thing Sanders has is experience in the system, but everything else is advantage Phillips.

Also, I always said Carriker was the best 3-4 DE in that particular draft class, but I never understood why you thought NE would draft him. Meriweather, Spencer, and Woodley all made a lot more sense.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Been smokin' some crack lately, my man?

Phillips, Rivers, confusing me. :bricks:

Kenny Phillips, safety, Miami.

Keith Rivers, linebacker, USC.

I know this, just a little mind boggling.

 

[dryheat44]

Heatster, your comment about Phillips left me scratching my head. Have you watched him play, more than once? He's a lot better than James Sanders, and has much more upside. He's bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent, more of a ball hawk, much better ball skills, better in coverage, and he hits harder. Almost Everything I want in a Safety Phillips has over Sanders. The only thing Sanders has is experience in the system, but everything else is advantage Phillips.

Also, I always said Carriker was the best 3-4 DE in that particular draft class, but I never understood why you thought NE would draft him. Meriweather, Spencer, and Woodley all made a lot more sense.

Well, you're judging one's performance against NCAA competition and comparing it to one's performance against NFL competition. We know that there are many NCAA athletes that can dominate on athletic ability alone. I think Phillips could be one of those.

 

[patsfan55]

Phillips is amazing but do you want to go safety again after taking Meriweather?

admittedly dont know much about phillips
he more of a strong or free?
meriweather is def more of a free
sanders can play either, but is better on the strong side
if phillips is a strong i could def see us taking a look
bb loves playmaking safeties
and rodney is very close to having to hang up the cleats
rodney at this point is actually prob the most underrated play on our team, our pass defense is really that much better with him in there

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

admittedly dont know much about phillips
he more of a strong or free?
meriweather is def more of a free
sanders can play either, but is better on the strong side
if phillips is a strong i could def see us taking a look
bb loves playmaking safeties
and rodney is very close to having to hang up the cleats
rodney at this point is actually prob the most underrated play on our team, our pass defense is really that much better with him in there

Like a lot of players that come from the U, he is just a pure athlete. Belichick might get a little frustrated with his brain farts in mechanics and proper technique but that shouldn't be a problem because it rarely occurs any how.

As you say, BB loves play making safeties and that's what Phillips is.