The Draft Thread

[threrf23]

We needed a thread to talk about draft prospects and such - not simply the #1 pick or specific players.

Personally I can list about 4 guys that interest me.

Rudy Burgess - AZ State -

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pr ... pyid=15070

"Rudy Burgess is one of only three active FBS players and one of only 14 FBS players all-time to top the 1,000-yard mark in rushing, receiving and return yardage. In his career, Burgess has 1,093 yards on the ground, 1,524 yards through the air and 1,600 return yards on both punts and kickoffs. He has scored 19 times as a Sun Devil, six rushing, 12 receiving and one return. He also threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Derek Hagan in 2005 against Washington State. Hagan set the school record for career touchdown receptions on that pass. - ASU Football "

I'm ASU alum and casually follow the team. Burgess is nothing amazing, but is a consistently solid Kevin Faulk type utility player. He just needs to add 20 pounds to be Kevin Faulk's size, and would be a solid candidate to replace Faulk whenever that was needed.

Adam Tafralis - San Jose St -

http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/N ... _saga.html

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scouti ... ralis.html

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pr ... pyid=19077

This guy came into his own a little two years ago when he did his part to help make San Jose St a respectable team. Last year, he continued to put up solid numbers and lead his team to some impressive victories down the stretch I believe, and some hard fought losses - despite the fact that his team had virtually no running game, was nothing too special defensively, and was playing a tougher schedule than the year before. Purportedly forecast as a fullback or TE at the NFL level, he should be available in latter rounds and IMO shouldn't be passed up on by anyone.

Aqib Talib - Kansas -

Only reason Talib makes my list is that he is a top ranked CB and is coming out of Kansas. Watching KU at times last season, they reminded me of a Belichik coached 01/02 Pats team in respects, and I'm inclined to believe that anyone who fit in well enough there would fit in well enough with the Pats, and besides his name has a good rhyme to it

Anthony Collins - Kansas -

An offensive lineman, projected to possibly go in the top 3 rounds, from KU. He makes my list for similar reasons as Aqib Talib.

[happykooner]

What are the chances the Pats take a QB in the Draft? If so, Who???

Three intriguing Qbs
1.Chad Henne- Michigan ( Maybe the Pats will take another Wolverine )

2.Joe Flacco - Delaware (Has strong arm but playing at a small school may keep him from being drafted in 2nd Round.)

3.John David Booty- USC ( doesn't have much accuracy and the Pats will hinder picking another person from USC after Cassel)
Other Notable QBs (Day 2 maybe...)
Erik Anige- Tennessee
Matt Flyn - LSU
Andre Woodson- Kentucky
And yes....
Colt Brennan- Hawaii

[Celtics_Champs]

^Meh, I don't think so. We have guttierez and Cassel. If the pats are not satisfied with them, then they should look the FA route, instead of the draft.

1st pick is to hard to tell right now. We could go ILB, or CB, or maybe trade. Later on, we should draft a RB. Morris will be back next year, and Faulk is Faulk, but it would still be nice to see them select one.

[Basketball Jesus]

Stickied for your pleasure.

[Basketball Jesus]

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Pats take a QB before the fifth round.

As for the draft: They really need to address the secondary and offensive line. I'd hope they'd use one of their earlier picks on a lineman: Cherilus looks like he may drop deep into the second round and would represent a great BC-bred quality tackle that could easily play RT right off and potentially fill in for Light on the left side.

[alwayslovetheceltics]

BBJ, we need someone to replace Light right away.

Clady may fit the bill.


If for whatever reason Dorsey does drop, I am not sure if I could pass up on a talent like him. I watched him a lot last year, and he is simply a beast.

[Basketball Jesus]

BBJ, we need someone to replace Light right away.

I don't disagree with this. However it's pretty damn tough handing a kid fresh out of college the starting LT spot in an offense that requires a bit of football IQ to man the offensive line. The Patriots use a lot of complex blocking schemes(not necessarily difficult, but more intensive than college schemes), especially when running the ball. Surprising as it may sound, a rookie LT may be more of a liability than Light. Light has experience and knowledge.

Clady may fit the bill.

I like Clady but I have my doubts. First he's not agressive enough off the snap, preferring to play smart, which is fine, but he's going to get dominated by bullrushing ends. He's also kind of raw. He'd make for an excellent replacement for Kaczur, but then so wouldn't a few other tackles in the draft. Might be prudent not to waste such a high pick on somebody that gives me the Alex Barron heebie-jeebies.

[Celtics_Champs]

It pisses me off that the 49ers won some of those games. 7th pick is still good though.

With the release of colvin, I really want Vernon Ghoulston. He looks like a great fit. The question is will he be there at 7.

Anyone intrigued by this years crop of cornerbacks? I am not.

[alwayslovetheceltics]

gholston is the best fit, but there is no way mangina lets him fall to us.

as far CB's, Talib is probabbly the cream of the crop. however, he gambles way to much for my taste. I don't want any more of that asante style crap, i want a legit, play good solid defense, corner. for my money, there are none worth it at number 7.

BBJ is probably right about Clady. if he can't play LT for us, screw it, there are bunch of solid guys, so we can get a RT in a later round.

if we stay at the pick, we go either DL or S.

I know everyone and their mother is down on Dorsey, but you cats that actaully watched him this year, don't you guys think he will be a beast?


I also am still high on Kenny Phillips. Having 2 first round safeties from "da U" is not a bad thing.

[The Rondo Show]

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Jonathan Goff, please.

[TheCelticTruth]

-DRC may be a future star at corner
-i dont understand why we "need to move light" please explain that? i know the o-line didnt play well in the super bowl, but its the right side that concerns me, the left side and koppen were all pro bowlers remember? ive often said light would be the best RT in the league, but that entails finding someone BETTER to play LT, and rookies are rarely pro bowlers. ok, marcus mcneill, name one other rookie pro bowl LT
-trading the pick will be our best bet, we need an inside backer more than outside, because if you remember AD was disgusting in the super bowl, they couldnt stop him without holding, the refs just didnt call it. if colvin doesnt come back cheap im sure they prefer to move AD outside

[Celtics_Champs]

Does anyone have a list of the pats draft picks this year? I dont belive we have a second rounder, but do we have a 3rd?

[FakeScreenName123]

Does anyone have a list of the pats draft picks this year? I dont belive we have a second rounder, but do we have a 3rd?

we have a pick in each round + oaklands 3rd round pick

[sunshinekids99]

I thought we lost the second round pick for Welker? Or was that last years pick?

[happykooner]

I thought we lost the second round pick for Welker? Or was that last years pick?

It was a second round pick in last years draft.

[Basketball Jesus]

-i dont understand why we "need to move light" please explain that? i know the o-line didnt play well in the super bowl, but its the right side that concerns me, the left side and koppen were all pro bowlers remember? ive often said light would be the best RT in the league, but that entails finding someone BETTER to play LT, and rookies are rarely pro bowlers. ok, marcus mcneill, name one other rookie pro bowl LT

The Pro Bowl nomination for Light was more a token selection than anything, partly due to voters having no clue how to vote in linemen but mostly because no LT (outside of Joe Thomas) played impressively enough this year. Make no bones: Light was pretty mediocre to downright awful this season. He's losing ground to speed rushers coming in wide on him and even his bread-and-butter - waylaying bullrushing ends - was seriously lacking this season. I agree that the right side is more of an issue but, as it stands, Light has become a liability on the left.

[TheCelticTruth]

well, BBJ, i think you and i have had the discussion about lights problem with speed rushers before, and i cant say that youre point on that is incorrect, however hes either gotten better or there are less big time pass rushers in the league, because the only horrible performance i saw from light was in the super bowl. now i think hes a B+ LT at best, but its not like talented lineman grow on trees.

cant say i feel downright awful is accurate at all, but you and i tend to disagree on a few points when we talk here, and i respect your opinion as much as anyone's

considering most pro bowl voting is done by players im not sure how "token" i consider it, but i laught to think hes a "pro bowl" player in general so you may be exactly right in terms of his competition. i definitely stop short of calling him a liability though, because 9/10 plays tom brady had more time than ive ever seen anyone have to throw, and as good as logan mankins is, i cant believe that tom brady got that kind of performance from an o-line based on mankins and koppen alone

[Basketball Jesus]

I see things a bit differently. Light had quite a few bad/subpar games this season: the Chargers game in Week 2, against Indy, Philly, and Baltimore (although he was partially at fault there, Mankins sucked out for most of the game).

I'd agree saying, at his best, he's now somewhere between a B and B+ left tackle; the problem is he's no longer physically the player he once was. He's relying purely on intelligence and instinct to hold his own. While that will suffice against some of the greener defensive ends in the league, he's really having a terrible time matching up against the stronger, faster, smarter linemen.

What I saw from Light this season was a guy who was a bit slow off the line being decimated by speed rushers, who spun him around quite a few times. If it wasn't for Mankins back-blocking on a few plays or Kyle Brady loading the left side, Light's blocking would have been a lot more exposed than it was.

The problem with replacing Light is that you just can't go out and sign or draft a LT, plug them in and be on your way; the Pats' blocking scheme is too complex to pick up on the fly and Light already has valuable experience in that scheme. It'd probably make more sense to draft Light's eventual replacement, slot him in at RT, and allow him to mature until he's ready to take over.

[TheCelticTruth]

What I saw from Light this season was a guy who was a bit slow off the line being decimated by speed rushers, who spun him around quite a few times. If it wasn't for Mankins back-blocking on a few plays or Kyle Brady loading the left side, Light's blocking would have been a lot more exposed than it was.

The problem with replacing Light is that you just can't go out and sign or draft a LT, plug them in and be on your way; the Pats' blocking scheme is too complex to pick up on the fly and Light already has valuable experience in that scheme. It'd probably make more sense to draft Light's eventual replacement, slot him in at RT, and allow him to mature until he's ready to take over.

the first part is a fair assessment

the second, unfortunately true[/b]

[Prue]

I say we take the best player available out of these guys.

Mcfadden
Gholston (OLB)
J. Long
C. Long (OLB)

Most realistically it will be Gholston. Because I imagine both Ellis and Dorsey getting drafted ahead of us as well as Matt Ryan.

ILB is probably our greatest need but the best one (Dan Connor) is only like 235lbs way too small for our 3-4 backers. I would not mind trading down either if we could pick up a very early second round pick and a mid first. Get 2 CB's that could eventually be starters.