PatsPropaganda

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draft

Patriots-only Big Board UPDATED!

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Patriots-only Big Board UPDATED!

We’ve begun to take a hatchet to our rankings, trimming the fat, players that in our view the Patriots would never draft. Most interesting is the appearance of a lot of late round pass rusher options. I’ve slowly fallen out of love with just about every high round OLB conversion project. All seem to come with significant risk. For me pick 17 will be all about defensive or offensive line.

Forget pass rushers, Patriots biggest need is interior offensive line

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We’ve entered the “disinformation” stage of the draft buildup where you’ll hear a lot of “team x loves this player” and most of the time it’s more full of shit than Rex Ryan. Knowing who another team might like would be a great advantage, so if you’re one of the few teams like the Patriots who are CONSTANTLY competing, it makes sense to try and confuse the living crap out of everyone.

As always New England will be the premier power player in the draft, maneuvering up and down the board to get the handful of players that truly fit their system. When all the dust settles they’ll have a bunch of promising rookies and at least a couple additional picks for 2012. It’s just how BB rolls.

While I really see some Patriots promise in JJ Watt and Cameron Jordan, I’m not sure either of them will be there at 17. And I don’t see a cash all your chips and move up to take Robert Quinn scenario, nor am convinced that Aldon Smith is a sure-fire stud for the Pats system.

So if Watt or Jordan are not available, what do the Pats do? It’s looking more and more like a trade down situation to me; just a few spots to grab an interior lineman like Derek Sherrod, Danny Watkins, or Clint Boling.

Interior line is really a huge need that no one is talking enough about. Stephen Neal retired, Logan Mankins is going to skip town as soon as he can, and Dan Koppen is entering his final year.

I would even argue that they should go for a G/C at 17 over Watt or Jordan, but given the available talent I think they’ll be able to trade down and still get a step-in-and-start guy in the early to mid 20s. You could add Mike Pouncey to that list though I’m not as sure he’s as versatile as some say he is.

As much as people might be clamoring for a defensive end or outside linebacker, the current roster depth is far greater at those positions than it is at interior line. Imagine if under the new CBA Mankins is allowed to walk, or the Patriots decide to trade him. Then throw in an injury to Dan Koppen. Who’s your starting LG-C-RG?

Wendell-Ornberger-Connolly? Eeeeeek! That’s not what a 34 year old Tom Brady needs.

At least there’s some experienced depth along the defensive line and outside linebacker. They might not be ideally talented, but they will certainly be better than they were last year with Ty Warren, Mike Wright and Myron Pryor back, along with a year’s experience for Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick.

So it’s time to utter my favorite phrase around draft time…. DON’T BE SURPRISED… if the Pats take a center/guard with their first pick, whenever that might be. It’s the biggest need none of the pass rush fanatics are talking about, and it’s certainly not a sexy selection, but it’s the kind that teams who consistently compete for Super Bowls need to make.

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So what happens when the Patriots decide to put a player through a private workout? According to multiple agents and players, during most private workouts, the Patriots rely heavily on film. Typically, they’ll spend the first part of the workout watching tape with a player, while quizzing them about what’s on the screen. Then, the player and the coaches will take them to the field to have them execute something they learned in the tape room. If a player is able to show an ability to bring those skills from the film room to the field while under the watchful eye of a New England coach, then, the Patriots know they really have something.

Chris Price/WEEI

(MUST READ ALERT)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/so-what-happens-when-the-patriots-decide-to-put-a/

WEEI: New picks for Patriots in new mock

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WEEI: New picks for Patriots in new mock

17. New England [from OAK (8-8)] Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri The decision between Smith and J.J. Watt would be a very tough one, and though Watt might have a more successful NFL career, the Patriots might not get a crack at a top pass-rusher if they wait until 28th pick rolls around to address it. The concern for a guy like Smith is the one-year wonder tag, and he’ll need to convince 3-4 teams like the Patriots that he’s capable of playing outside linebacker at the next level.

28. New England (14-2) Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State The Patriots took a tight end coming off back surgery last year, so this would be a boring class if it didn’t include a defensive lineman coming off Tommy John surgery, no? Heyward doesn’t have the same potential as Watt, but he has the NFL bloodlines, carries himself in a very professional manner and would be a fixture on the defensive line with Vince Wilfork and a healthy Ty Warren.

If these were the two picks in the first round I’d be very happy. I go back and forth on Heyward. Some say his motor runs hot and cold, but a lot of the game tape I’ve seen of him makes me think he’s the closest thing to a true Patriots 34 defensive end in this draft.

As for Smith it just comes down to how great his FBI (football intelligence) is. He has the physical size, but everything else is a mystery to all of us.

So if the Patriots deemed Smith and Heyward worthy of the first round selections I’d be excited because they’d be adding two players at areas of real need on the defense. This would also provide potential new pass rush solutions from both the OLB and DL spots.