Ryan Kalil USC

[Celtics_Champs]

Something tells me to watch this guys name come draft day. Belicheck always surprises. And I am starting to think that he will take Center Ryan Kalil. I remember at the combine, the pats had him in for an interview. I also heard, the draft guy on NFL Network, talking about him and the pats. I know its not much, but its just an observation. Any USC fans know anything about him? I wouldnt mind taking him with the 28.

[Pierce 4 3]

Well... Mel Kiper Jr. on ESPN is always braggin about him. He's the best center in the draft, and is supposed to be the 5th or 6th best lineman in the draft. I don't know too much about him, but he's a real good run blocker.

[wetsthebed]

I see some mocks predicting we take him, but honestly why? We just signed Koppen to a long term extension, I don't see the logic in taking Kalil in the first round.

[sunshinekids99]

I'm with you West. I just don't see how taking a center makes all that much sense. Koppen seems to be the guy.

[TheCelticTruth]

I'm with you West. I just don't see how taking a center makes all that much sense. Koppen seems to be the guy.

koppen may be the best center in the league. its pretty siff competition in the top few so its hard to really get beyond the top group in my opinion. hes most underrated of the best centers anyway. however, the pats have always done well with drafting interiror linemen and findint spots for them. if the take a lineman im not going to question it, but its not going to be to unseat koppen, because no one in this draft is good enough right now

[Celtics_Champs]

No, not center. What I meant was, if we were to take him. We could teach him guard, or even tackle. Out of all line coaches, we might have the best. And I think Scarneccia could teach Kalil guard.

-This really isnt a push for us to take him. But if the pats are sitting there at 28 with everyone they like at safety/corner/linebacker off the board. I would rather see us take a lineman, rather then a WR or Running Back.

[alwayslovetheceltics]

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koppen may be the best center in the league. its pretty siff competition in the top few so its hard to really get beyond the top group in my opinion. hes most underrated of the best centers anyway. however, the pats have always done well with drafting interiror linemen and findint spots for them. if the take a lineman im not going to question it, but its not going to be to unseat koppen, because no one in this draft is good enough right now

great post. agreed

[TheCelticTruth]

This really isnt a push for us to take him. But if the pats are sitting there at 28 with everyone they like at safety/corner/linebacker off the board. I would rather see us take a lineman, rather then a WR or Running Back.

yeah. i actually expect somebody to fall. we almost always get somebody we shouldnt. imagine willis fell because all the late risers got picked up early?

[wetsthebed]

No, not center. What I meant was, if we were to take him. We could teach him guard, or even tackle. Out of all line coaches, we might have the best. And I think Scarneccia could teach Kalil guard.

-This really isnt a push for us to take him. But if the pats are sitting there at 28 with everyone they like at safety/corner/linebacker off the board. I would rather see us take a lineman, rather then a WR or Running Back.

But why? There are some good guards available in the late first round. Why bother taking a center and teaching him a new position when we could just draft a Ben Grubbs or Justin Blalock?

I'd rather take a tackle anyway.

[HCYanks]

A new starting LT or at least an eventual successor is far and away the biggest need on the O-line; if the Pats can't find anything there, they should be looking at other positions. By the way, you can't just draft a lineman and expect him to change positions; there's a reason good left tackles get big contracts.

[Celtics_Champs]

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But why? There are some good guards available in the late first round. Why bother taking a center and teaching him a new position when we could just draft a Ben Grubbs or Justin Blalock?

I'd rather take a tackle anyway.

By the way, you can't just draft a lineman and expect him to change positions;

You guys are probably right here. But I brought up kalils name because he was the one I heard patriots made contact with. And I thought of a Carrol-scarneccia connection. Belicheck loves drafting players who have played for coaches he has contacts with. For example, pat hill and logan mankins. Boston College, with Damien Woody, and Dan Koppen. There are others as well.

Can someone tell me about grubbs and blalock? I might have overlooked them.

[wetsthebed]

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You guys are probably right here. But I brought up kalils name because he was the one I heard patriots made contact with. And I thought of a Carrol-scarneccia connection. Belicheck loves drafting players who have played for coaches he has contacts with. For example, pat hill and logan mankins. Boston College, with Damien Woody, and Dan Koppen. There are others as well.

Can someone tell me about grubbs and blalock? I might have overlooked them.

You listen to the media too much, C_C. I'm sure the Patriots have talked to a ton of players.

Ben Grubbs: Good athlete at 311, good movement, broke out in his senior season, still has potential, needs to work on his strength and toughness, doesn't always get a good push, better pass blocker than run.

Blalock: Good athlete, strong. doesn't get pushed around, smart, killer instinct, doesn't have great footwork, better run blocker than pass.

Personally, I like Blalock better, but Grubbs goes higher on most mocks. Blalock was projected to go in the first round for a while, but has slipped to the early second in most mocks. Not really sure why. Icness, who went to the combine was reporting that the patriots like him.

I'd still rather draft Joe Staley at tackle.

[captain_cheapseats]

A new starting LT or at least an eventual successor is far and away the biggest need on the O-line; if the Pats can't find anything there, they should be looking at other positions. By the way, you can't just draft a lineman and expect him to change positions; there's a reason good left tackles get big contracts.

I'd rather see them draft an OG to replace Neal, at least in Rd. #1. We already have a young guy being groomed to take Light's place in O'Callaghan who was playing at a very high level before getting hurt. And there is always Britt, the long term project who is still progressing and getting better every year (keep in mind Banta-Cain finally started to contribute right after everyone gave up on him).

[Celtics_Champs]

You listen to the media too much

The media might be wrong just as much as everyone, but they also have much better sources then anyone on any message board.

I'd still rather draft Joe Staley at tackle.

Same, but I dont think he will fall.

[TheCelticTruth]

well we dont have any coaching ties with bc, they just coach up really good o-linemen. also, i dont think any coaching carroll has done ever worked out well here. scarnecchia was here before carroll and may even be here after belichick.

as for switching linemen's positions, the pats have never seemed very interested in players who cant be versatile, especially with interior linemen. that being said, were not talking about going from d-tackle to insidelinebacker. switching between center and guard, for a guy who can play center is about as hard as changing socks. its like, take what you already do and minimalize it. pretty much any center should be able to play guard. if he couldnt it would be a football iq issue and he wouldnt be in new england.

you want to replace steven neal? thats nuts. no guard in this draft is as good as he is, and none of them started playing as late as he did. this guy should be recognized as one of the players in this league who has developed the fastest. if he had gone to the combine, he would be top notch in every category, his wrestling experience isonly a plus, and the guy is absolutely lethal on pulls. where is the issue?

[Prue]

Much rather have Grubbs...

[TheCelticTruth]

youd rather have grubbs than kalil or than neal?