Wanted to bring a new name into the safety dicussion.  We talk a lot about Matt Elam, and for good reason, but the other Gator S is a good football player as well and brings a lot of what NE is lacking... a big, aggressive physical presence that can patrol deep or play up near the LOS.

Josh Evans (6-1 205) is a good size kid that will come up and smack you in the mouth, but is a good tackler in the open field... He's also a rangy kid that moves well... blue collar kid.  Prob an early Day 3 kid with some late Day 2 upside.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that ILB needs to be addressed this draft.  While I really love our SEC starting trio of Mayo, Spikes, & Hightower, the depth behind them doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.  No disrespect to White, Koutouvides, and Rivera, but none of them are good enough to fill the void when we are faced with an injury to one of the starters.  A solid ILB who excells in coverage and who can be effective on 3rd down passing situations is a definate need.  I really like Oregon's Alonso as a mid-late round guy if BB doesn't address the position earlier.

In response to mbeaulieu07's comment:

Wanted to bring a new name into the safety dicussion.  We talk a lot about Matt Elam, and for good reason, but the other Gator S is a good football player as well and brings a lot of what NE is lacking... a big, aggressive physical presence that can patrol deep or play up near the LOS.

Josh Evans (6-1 205) is a good size kid that will come up and smack you in the mouth, but is a good tackler in the open field... He's also a rangy kid that moves well... blue collar kid.  Prob an early Day 3 kid with some late Day 2 upside.

Good stuff, MB.  I read some good things about him recently.  Definitaly a name to keep in mind if we don't grab Elam or one of the elite safety prospects early.

In response to WazzuWheatfarmer's comment:

The more I think about it, the more I believe that ILB needs to be addressed this draft.  While I really love our SEC starting trio of Mayo, Spikes, & Hightower, the depth behind them doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.  No disrespect to White, Koutouvides, and Rivera, but none of them are good enough to fill the void when we are faced with an injury to one of the starters.  A solid ILB who excells in coverage and who can be effective on 3rd down passing situations is a definate need.  I really like Oregon's Alonso as a mid-late round guy if BB doesn't address the position earlier.

I think a lot depends on the status of Dane Fletcher.  I think BB likes the kid and he's flashed some ability, but if he's not brought back, then yes, Kiko is the top ILB on my board to fill the need... kid should be off the board by the end of Day 2, IMO.

The more I think about it, the more I believe that ILB needs to be addressed this draft.  While I really love our SEC starting trio of Mayo, Spikes, & Hightower, the depth behind them doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.  No disrespect to White, Koutouvides, and Rivera, but none of them are good enough to fill the void when we are faced with an injury to one of the starters.  A solid ILB who excells in coverage and who can be effective on 3rd down passing situations is a definate need.  I really like Oregon's Alonso as a mid-late round guy if BB doesn't address the position earlier.

In response to WazzuWheatfarmer's comment:

The more I think about it, the more I believe that ILB needs to be addressed this draft.  While I really love our SEC starting trio of Mayo, Spikes, & Hightower, the depth behind them doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.  No disrespect to White, Koutouvides, and Rivera, but none of them are good enough to fill the void when we are faced with an injury to one of the starters.  A solid ILB who excells in coverage and who can be effective on 3rd down passing situations is a definate need.  I really like Oregon's Alonso as a mid-late round guy if BB doesn't address the position earlier.

If you are talking using a pick in the first 3 rounds then I don't want to spend heavily on a backup plan when there are other holes that need to be filled. But, if you are talking about accuring a mid round pick and targetting a coverage specialist to replace White and let Nink be the emergency OLB backup with Fletcher the other backup I'm all for it

MB and the gang of draftniks,while your mentioning SS First guy who'll be taken by the Patriots will be Ed Reed! As soon as the Ravens let him search for a new job the Patriots will be his new home. However if that doesn't take place then what are the chances of them just refortifying the O-line with the likes of Barrett Jones? Or Joeckel if he should slide? My choice for a safety would be Zeke Motta saw him play his HS career and he's a keeper!The other really pressing need for the Patriots is a receiver who can take the top off the defense and whose big enough to beat the snot out of Pollard and his ilk of DB's.

In response to WazzuWheatfarmer's comment:

The more I think about it, the more I believe that ILB needs to be addressed this draft.  While I really love our SEC starting trio of Mayo, Spikes, & Hightower, the depth behind them doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.  No disrespect to White, Koutouvides, and Rivera, but none of them are good enough to fill the void when we are faced with an injury to one of the starters.  A solid ILB who excells in coverage and who can be effective on 3rd down passing situations is a definate need.  I really like Oregon's Alonso as a mid-late round guy if BB doesn't address the position earlier.

If you are talking using a pick in the first 3 rounds then I don't want to spend heavily on a backup plan when there are other holes that need to be filled. But, if you are talking about accuring a mid round pick and targetting a coverage specialist to replace White and let Nink be the emergency OLB backup with Fletcher the other backup I'm all for it

Someone here mentioned Brandon Williams, the 340 lb DT from Southern Missouri. I checked whatever youtube was available and I really find him intriguing. He could be available in the fourth, but would not mind picking him up in the third.

Dontari Poe shot up the boards after showing his quickness for a kid that heavy. Williams is likely to show the same athleticsm at the combine. He definitely has agility and quick twitch legs. He also shows off his arm strength on a youtube of him doing a handstand (Okay, okay, I may be getting carried away).

Here's the big difference between Poe and Williams... Williams actually showed his talents on the field, accumulating 5 FFs, 8.5 sacks and 16.5 TFLs. In the Senior Bowl, he dominated OLs one one-on-ones.

He's from a small school, sure. I think it just means he'll have some adjustments to do, but I think he'll be fine.

Williams could be that kid that VW needs next to him.

In response to seattlepat70's comment:

Someone here mentioned Brandon Williams, the 340 lb DT from Southern Missouri. I checked whatever youtube was available and I really find him intriguing. He could be available in the fourth, but would not mind picking him up in the third.

Dontari Poe shot up the boards after showing his quickness for a kid that heavy. Williams is likely to show the same athleticsm at the combine. He definitely has agility and quick twitch legs. He also shows off his arm strength on a youtube of him doing a handstand (Okay, okay, I may be getting carried away).

Here's the big difference between Poe and Williams... Williams actually showed his talents on the field, accumulating 5 FFs, 8.5 sacks and 16.5 TFLs. In the Senior Bowl, he dominated OLs one one-on-ones.

He's from a small school, sure. I think it just means he'll have some adjustments to do, but I think he'll be fine.

Williams could be that kid that VW needs next to him.

Thanks sp, I've been meaning to give this kid a look.

In response to mbeaulieu07's comment:

Wanted to bring a new name into the safety dicussion.  We talk a lot about Matt Elam, and for good reason, but the other Gator S is a good football player as well and brings a lot of what NE is lacking... a big, aggressive physical presence that can patrol deep or play up near the LOS.

Josh Evans (6-1 205) is a good size kid that will come up and smack you in the mouth, but is a good tackler in the open field... He's also a rangy kid that moves well... blue collar kid.  Prob an early Day 3 kid with some late Day 2 upside.

Here is another, Bradley McDougald (6, 208)not sure if he was mentioned but he played for Charlie Weis. Weis said  he was his best player. Can also play WR.

01/01/13 - For the first time since 2010, the Kansas University football team is sending multiple players to the NFL combine. Senior safety Bradley McDougald and senior offensive lineman Tanner Hawkinson both received invitations to the annual skills showcase, which will take place Feb. 23-26 in Indianapolis. McDougald, whom KU coach Charlie Weis at one point called the best player on the team, announced the news via Twitter on Tuesday. Hawkinson, a four-year starter and KU’s record holder for consecutive starts, confirmed his invitation to the Journal-World via text message. - KUSports.com

In response to mbeaulieu07's comment:

In response to seattlepat70's comment:

Someone here mentioned Brandon Williams, the 340 lb DT from Southern Missouri. I checked whatever youtube was available and I really find him intriguing. He could be available in the fourth, but would not mind picking him up in the third.

Dontari Poe shot up the boards after showing his quickness for a kid that heavy. Williams is likely to show the same athleticsm at the combine. He definitely has agility and quick twitch legs. He also shows off his arm strength on a youtube of him doing a handstand (Okay, okay, I may be getting carried away).

Here's the big difference between Poe and Williams... Williams actually showed his talents on the field, accumulating 5 FFs, 8.5 sacks and 16.5 TFLs. In the Senior Bowl, he dominated OLs one one-on-ones.

He's from a small school, sure. I think it just means he'll have some adjustments to do, but I think he'll be fine.

Williams could be that kid that VW needs next to him.

Thanks sp, I've been meaning to give this kid a look.

I just finshed watching the Senior Bowl last night. He had an unremarkable game. S Williams, K Short, and others were definitely more active at penetration. I am not sure if they just told him to clog the lanes. I think the kid can penetrate if asked.

In response to PatsLifer's comment:

In response to seattlepat70's comment:

Has anyone looked into Robert Alford (CB)? Against other teams in their conf, he looked good. I have yet to watch the Senior Bowl, but I thought I read somehwere that he was there and he did fine. Might be an option in third or even fourth round if they trade down and get a fourth rounder.

Yes..he is a riser after the senior bowl. Had a great week. Didn't watch him at all during the year due to where he plays, but several think very highly of him. He has decent, not great size, but he is ultra fast and aggressive playing the ball. Given the depth this year in the draft at cb, I would think he is a round 3-4 type of kid. Mb would probably know best in terms of a grade.

Alford is a kid that Ricky brought up a ways back... intriguing kid, small school, not a big but has that fluidity/COD that BB likes in his CB's... likely to come off the board between Rd's 2-4, IMO.

In response to sportsbozo1's comment:

MB and the gang of draftniks,while your mentioning SS First guy who'll be taken by the Patriots will be Ed Reed! As soon as the Ravens let him search for a new job the Patriots will be his new home. However if that doesn't take place then what are the chances of them just refortifying the O-line with the likes of Barrett Jones? Or Joeckel if he should slide? My choice for a safety would be Zeke Motta saw him play his HS career and he's a keeper!The other really pressing need for the Patriots is a receiver who can take the top off the defense and whose big enough to beat the snot out of Pollard and his ilk of DB's.

While Reed could be an option, he's more of a FS.

OL is certainly an option and if they address in the Top 40-50 or so, Barrett Jones would be near the top of my board in that aspect... as would UNC's Jon Cooper, who would prob need to be taken at 29.

Joeckel is in the discussion for #1 overall, so I don't see any scenerio where he'd be in range.

I too like Motta and think he's in the S discussion in the late Day 2, Day 3 range.

I'd love to see them bring in a DeAndre Hopkins or Robert Woods or Quinton Patton, etc. on Day 1 or 2.

In response to sportsbozo1's comment:
[QUOTE]

In response to mbeaulieu07's comment:I've heard rumors of a trade which would dramatically change the position of where the Patriots would be drafting,if that trade comes to fruition then even Joeckel would be a possible but not likely Draft choice.Of course I'm talking about the Browns new GM and his fondness for Ryan Mallett and probably sending his 1rst round pick NE's way in exchange.The trade would probably look like this Ryan and our first for their first and a fourth/fifth. If they can pull that type of trade off who is the likely target,before any of the others start yelling pipe dream,remember this it was Mike Lombardi who stated without reservation that Mallett was better than either of the two guys taken first and second in last years draft,I'm just stating facts.

Sorry Man, this rumored trade involving Mallett is just too good to be true.  I'd love to see it work out, but I seriously doubt it.  Gonna join the "pipe dream" side of this debate, but man do I hope I'm wrong!  This would change the complexion of the whole draft.