Right now, 6 games in, the most glaring weakness is again the pass defense. It’s fine for the base defense to be geared for stopping the run, but it doesn’t work well for protecting a lead when opposition has to throw. We’ve seen it against Baltimore, Seattle, and almost Denver. Baltimore and Seattle both overcame thirteen point deficits because the defense couldn’t stop the pass. The only other weakness is the offensive line. It’s still a pretty good unit but it’s the weakest for the Pats in years. I pick up 3 Oregon Duck offensive linemen. There is too much value to pass up. The OL scheme is the same as the Pats and they also run a full speed no huddle offense. I also pick up two full backs to help with the 3rd or 4th and shorts. The Pats have had trouble running against those types of downs since Koppen went down.
Trade Patrick Chung for a 3rd.
1. Trade for a high 2nd & 4th
2a. Dion Jordan, DE Oregon
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a prospect as long, athletic, and good at everything involved in stopping the pass. He bends the edge and goes around tackles so effortlessly. He’s the answer to mismatch TEs in coverage. He’s not bad against the run because he’s great at disengaging blockers, but at 6’6” 250 he’s not yet strong enough to start at DE. I think he can have an Aldon Smith type of rookie year. Comes in as a rookie, only plays in the nickel, and still has a huge impact. By the time he’s a sophomore he should easily have acquired the weight to play DE full time. Special teamer.
2b. Move back a few spots into the early third and pick up a 6th
3a. *Matt Elam, S Florida
Intelligent, fast, physical, high motor hit stick. He’s good against the pass and the run, but I like him a little more against the pass. Plays well around the LOS and as a slot corner in man and zone. Good special teamer. High character, leader, NFL bloodlines, you know, all things Belichick likes.
3b. Ezekiel Ansah, DE BYU
An interesting mix of JPP and JJ Watt. I usually hate older players but this one is worth it. He plays anything from nose tackle to OLB in BYU’s 3-4. He’s raw, plays a little too high, but has freakish size and athleticism. He can move inside on passing downs.
3c. *Da’Rick Rogers, WR Tennessee Tech
Probably the best value at WR in the draft as a former first round prospect. Big, fast, and smart - he’s this years Hernandez. I think his value is only going to continue to drop so the end of the third seems right.
4a. Trade for a 6th and 2014 4th
4b. Rashard Hall, S Clemson
I love this guy’s nose for the football. It doesn’t matter what kind of play or where the play goes, Hall is involved in it. Excellent play recognition and a definite playmaker. Plays FS at Clemson and is often the single high safety. Until Bill drafted Tavon Wilson all the safeties were thick, hard hitting, run stoppers. Hall can stop the run, and is listed at 210 pounds, but he looks thin IMO. Special teamer.
6a. Zach Boren, FB OSU - He has some blocking skills, some receiving skills, is a captain, and plays for Meyer. He just seems like a future Patriot and he’ll help run the ball when the defense knows it’s coming, like late in the game when trying to run out the clock.
6b. Quinton Dial, DT Alabama
This guy is good. He’s a big, long pass rusher with 5-tech size, but Saban moves him all around the D line.
7. Blaize Foltz, OG TCU
Big upside guard prospect with prototypical size. He might out bench Marcus Cannon. Powerhouse freak.
UDFA:
MarQueis Gray, QB Minnesota
He’s improved exponentially as a passer this season, but he’s also been hurt for most of the season. He reminds me a lot of RG3, and Ryan Tannehill. Physically he’s like a bigger but slower RG3, but he’s followed a Tannehill-like career path. They both started as WRs but moved to QB after two seasons. As passers they were both raw but showed lots of potential and improvement.
Taimi Tutogi, FB/TE Arizona
He’s a 6’1” 260 pound wrecking ball with light feet, good hands, and world class versatility. Not only is he a FB and TE, but he also played DL at Arizona. Special teamer.
Carson York, OG Oregon - Could have been a top 100 if not for the knee injury. He broke a knee cap (not that serious.)
Kyle Long, OT Oregon - A raw, but big, athletic tackle with upside and NFL bloodlines. He’s second string LT to a 275 lbs RS freshman, but I liked what I saw from him at ASU. He played a lot and didn’t look like a UDFA to me.
Ryan Clanton, OG Oregon - He’s unlisted at CBS, but I like him more than Nick Cody - his listed teammate that plays RG to Clanton’s LG. He’s a better pass blocker than run blocker.
