what about 2 first-round LB

[notex]

whats everyone think of this...completely solidify the LB core for next year with two stud LB in the (one outside and one Inside)... if the ILB could start it would make our LB starters
OLB - colvin, vrabel, rookie, TBC
and
ILB - Bruschi, rookie, verteran FA (?), seau

I
seau comes back for one more (?) <--- the comment seau made before the SD game when he said "I am a patriot" made me think maybe he would come back for just one more....id love that.

anyways...i think if the LB core were to be stocked up the need for extra DB's wouldnt be needed...sign one veteran LB and samuels and that is a pretty damn good defense regardless of who we pickup from the 2nd round on.. far as im concerned we could pick a WR/TE/T/FB/CB and i think our team has amazing potential..
people dont give wilson enough credit or hawkins/sanders/harrison....thts a legit group of safteys and i think wilson and sanders are our future at hte S position...they are both day one picks and i trust the decisions that BB has made in the past.

 

[patsfaninpa]

If we keep TBC that's a pretty good set of olb's; Colvin,Vrabel,TBC and P. Woods. We could do it if we keep Asante. But, I'd rather have a cb if there is a decent one available.

 

[carolinatony]

I don't think there is enought talent to take 2 LB's in the first. Ilike LB and DB in the first.

 

[cstjohn17]

I posted this in another thread but it applies to the draft as well. I don't see a first round ILB, maybe OLB.

--------------------------

I was hoping for Seau and 1st and 2nd downs with Edwards coming in on 3rd downs...

It should be interesting, the Patriots require a lot from their ILBs. They need to be able to take on guards and also drop into coverage.

London-Fletcher has played in a 4-3 his whole career and has been protected by big tackles (Williams, Adams, etc.). He is also on the short side.. that being said the guy can play, I don't know about his ability in coverage but he should be able to be a very effective 2 down player.

Players to keep an eye on:
ILB
- Napolean Harris from the Vikings, good size and speed. 6'3, 250 and runs a 4.6. He has not played up to his potential as a number 1 pick but is only 27 and would be real big improvement athetically speaking.
- London-Fletcher - see above
- Kawika Mitchell - I don't know as much about him, the games I have watched he has seemed average, not overly physical and nothing special about his game

OLBs
- TBC - interesting to see what happens here, as a backup / ST I think he is ok, not much upside. As a starter he is below average to average
- Antwan Peek and Jason Babin - both players were drafted to play 3-4 for Houston, and are not good fit for their new 4-3. Seems like the same type of player as TBC, maybe a little more upside. Babin is not a free agent but it would be shocking if he was made available or cut, maybe the Pats unload Hill for Babin, a change of senery may help these busts.
- Adalius Thomas (Balt) - too young (29) and too slow (4.65) to play for the Pats. Just kidding, he would be great but is going to be quite expensive. I don't see this happening.

Projected LBs for 2007
- changing of the guard to some degree, most starters remain in tact but backups are younger, faster and cheaper
- ILB - veteran brought in to start, player drafted in rounds 2-4 to play special teams and learn system, take over for Bruschi in 2008
- OLB - decision to be made about TBC, appears to be a strong DE class, would not be shocked to see a DE/OLB drafted on Day 1, maybe even round 1
- Special Teams - a lot of changes here, the younger guys have proven to be as capable as the vets, Izzo and Davis do not return... I should mention that this is biased, I have not been a fan of Izzo for the last couple of years, I think Alexander or Mays could assume his role with no drop-off.

The new unit is not as experienced but improves the overall speed and has a nice balance of youth and veterans.

ROLB - Colvin, draft rounds 1-3
RILB - Harris (FA signing from the Vikings), draft pick rounds 2-5
LILB - Bruschi, Alexander, Mays
LOLB - Vrabel, Woods

Potential picks at OLB - Moses (Georgia), Victor Abiamiri (ND), Woodley (Michigan), Moss (Florida), Spencer (Purdue), Timmons (Florida State)

Potential picks at ILB - DeOzzie (Brown), Waters (Clemson), Harris (Michigan), Siler (Florida), Posluszny (Penn State), Everett (Florida), Burgess (Michigan), Sartz (USC), Stewart (Nebraska)

 

[rookBoston]

I could absolutely see us taking 2 LB.

I could see us taking none. I could see us taking one, or three. I dont mean to be trite, but really anything is possible.

 

[mgteich]

It would be irony if we lost Graham to free agency, and picked up Harris, just as we should have done in the draft.

I posted this in another thread but it applies to the draft as well. I don't see a first round ILB, maybe OLB.

--------------------------

I was hoping for Seau and 1st and 2nd downs with Edwards coming in on 3rd downs...

It should be interesting, the Patriots require a lot from their ILBs. They need to be able to take on guards and also drop into coverage.

London-Fletcher has played in a 4-3 his whole career and has been protected by big tackles (Williams, Adams, etc.). He is also on the short side.. that being said the guy can play, I don't know about his ability in coverage but he should be able to be a very effective 2 down player.

Players to keep an eye on:
ILB
- Napolean Harris from the Vikings, good size and speed. 6'3, 250 and runs a 4.6. He has not played up to his potential as a number 1 pick but is only 27 and would be real big improvement athetically speaking.
- London-Fletcher - see above
- Kawika Mitchell - I don't know as much about him, the games I have watched he has seemed average, not overly physical and nothing special about his game

OLBs
- TBC - interesting to see what happens here, as a backup / ST I think he is ok, not much upside. As a starter he is below average to average
- Antwan Peek and Jason Babin - both players were drafted to play 3-4 for Houston, and are not good fit for their new 4-3. Seems like the same type of player as TBC, maybe a little more upside. Babin is not a free agent but it would be shocking if he was made available or cut, maybe the Pats unload Hill for Babin, a change of senery may help these busts.
- Adalius Thomas (Balt) - too young (29) and too slow (4.65) to play for the Pats. Just kidding, he would be great but is going to be quite expensive. I don't see this happening.

Projected LBs for 2007
- changing of the guard to some degree, most starters remain in tact but backups are younger, faster and cheaper
- ILB - veteran brought in to start, player drafted in rounds 2-4 to play special teams and learn system, take over for Bruschi in 2008
- OLB - decision to be made about TBC, appears to be a strong DE class, would not be shocked to see a DE/OLB drafted on Day 1, maybe even round 1
- Special Teams - a lot of changes here, the younger guys have proven to be as capable as the vets, Izzo and Davis do not return... I should mention that this is biased, I have not been a fan of Izzo for the last couple of years, I think Alexander or Mays could assume his role with no drop-off.

The new unit is not as experienced but improves the overall speed and has a nice balance of youth and veterans.

ROLB - Colvin, draft rounds 1-3
RILB - Harris (FA signing from the Vikings), draft pick rounds 2-5
LILB - Bruschi, Alexander, Mays
LOLB - Vrabel, Woods

Potential picks at OLB - Moses (Georgia), Victor Abiamiri (ND), Woodley (Michigan), Moss (Florida), Spencer (Purdue), Timmons (Florida State)

Potential picks at ILB - DeOzzie (Brown), Waters (Clemson), Harris (Michigan), Siler (Florida), Posluszny (Penn State), Everett (Florida), Burgess (Michigan), Sartz (USC), Stewart (Nebraska)

 

[Ochmed Jones]

DeOzzie

I never really pay any attention to Ivy leaguers however I happened to see that GBN lists DeOzzie as 6'4" and 265. Perfect size for a Pats ILB. Plus palying at Brown, we know he's smart enough and disciplined enough for him to play ILB for the Pats. So why does GBN have him listed outside the top 15 at ILB? Well I thought maybe it was his speed. Then I see he runs a spectacular 4.60 in the 40. So unless it is a typo, I'm thinking BB needs to jump all over this guy. That type of size, speed and smarts is freakish.

DeOzzie must have looked like he was playing against high school kids last year at Brown with that size and speed.

I'm not sure where the blemish is with this kid, but his size and speed are screaming "Pats ILB of the future" to me.

 

[cstjohn17]

Re: DeOzzie

On paper it makes a lot of sense, the combine should reveal a lot (Agility, interviews, etc.). With that size he could also play OLB and show some versatility. I haven't seen him play but at a minimum if he has a passion for the game he should be able to play special teams. He also has an injury history, shoulder and knee.

I am just an intrigued by Waters from Clemson, he won't be able to work out before the draft but was the top ILB before his knee injury. 6'3, 242, 4.6

I never really pay any attention to Ivy leaguers however I happened to see that GBN lists DeOzzie as 6'4" and 265. Perfect size for a Pats ILB. Plus palying at Brown, we know he's smart enough and disciplined enough for him to play ILB for the Pats. So why does GBN have him listed outside the top 15 at ILB? Well I thought maybe it was his speed. Then I see he runs a spectacular 4.60 in the 40. So unless it is a typo, I'm thinking BB needs to jump all over this guy. That type of size, speed and smarts is freakish.

DeOzzie must have looked like he was playing against high school kids last year at Brown with that size and speed.

I'm not sure where the blemish is with this kid, but his size and speed are screaming "Pats ILB of the future" to me.

 

[jczxohn1]

Re: DeOzzie

FWIW,from PFW Pro Prospects Review - Zak DeOssie
Lined up inside in college but better suited to play outside in pros.Does not show much awareness of what is coming at him from the sides and can do a better job of reading his keys. Plays too tall and struggles disengaging from marginal bloockers. Is best when he free to run to the ball. Closes fast when he has an alley but struggles to break down in space and will whiff in the open field. Has the speed and quickness to lock down backs in coverage. Has the measurables to get a chance, but is not as good of a football player as his ht-wt-speed would suggest.

Sounds like a developmental player.

 

[Seneschal2]

As we know from BB's drafts -- anything's possible.

Given the fans perceived team needs, I doubt we pass on a Safety or CB with one of our two firsts. I can easily see an OLB drafted to play inside (Posluszny maybe)...or a DE drafted to play OLB (maybe Abiamiri or Spencer). I'm hoping that a quality DB be available at #24 or #28. Those are three positions to look at with both firsts.

Of course, whichever position we don't fill in round one will carry over into the next round, etc.

One point I'd like to make regarding Pats prospects. It's o.k. to use prospect rankings as a reference -- but I wouldn't be glued to them. More important to realize that BB doesn't adhere strictly to the rankings...but selects prospects who fit the Pats profile and system.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think BB and his staff can teach a lot of things to players, but they can't teach size, speed and passion for the game. (I can verify he's got two out of three what what I saw.)
As a seventh rounder this guy makes sense to me. He can start on ST and work his way into the base defense.