Mayock, the Patriots, & outside linebackers
With the 23rd draft pick in the first round – and two selections in the second round (47th and 58th) – what areas might the Patriots target?
Draft analyst Mike Mayock of the NFL Network thinks outside linebacker could be one area, citing the age of the team’s starters at the position (Mike Vrabel turns 34 in August, Adalius Thomas is 32 in August).
“This is, I think, the best year for outside linebackers that I’ve seen in a long time,” said Mayock, who answered questions on a conference call Tuesday, and later followed up with reporters whose questions weren’t answered due to overflowing demand.
“So this is a situation where need lines up with depth in the draft. In that 3-4 scheme, there are at least four college defensive ends – 4-3 defensive ends – that I think are going to be rush linebackers.
“Aaron Curry [of Wake Forest] will be gone very early, obviously. Brian Orakpo from Texas, he’s a defensive end who I think is going to be a 3-4 rush linebacker -- I think he’ll be gone somewhere in the top 10 or 12 picks. Brian Cushing [of Southern California] is more of a 4-3 [strongside] linebacker, and some people think he can be an inside ‘backer in a 3-4 and that the Patriots would look at a guy like Cushing, and maybe they would. But I would think the outside is more of their priority.
“Which then brings in guys like Aaron Maybin from Penn State, an explosive edge rusher. Larry English, from Northern Illinois, another 4-3 defensive end who is going to be a rush linebacker. He’s kind of a late-1 to a mid-2, I think. Everette Brown, from Florida State, kind of the same thing – a late-1 to a late-2 – a defensive end who will probably be a rush linebacker. Clay Matthews from USC. Clint Sintim, who played in the 3-4 at Virginia and Al Groh, obviously the same system as Bill [Belichick], so it’s a little easier to evaluate.
“Those are some names, all guys who go by the end of the second round.”
Comment
Permalink
Email
Any DE to LB conversion is difficult to evaluate and it's hard to justify using a top pick on one. Look at Gholston last year. If the Pats were to pick a project I would hope that player at least played a few games standing up so they could see how he plays in coverage.
CORNERBACK...CORNERBACK...draft AND free agency. Move Hobbs off the corner, please.
Any word on Paul Kruger of Utah? He's the right size at 6-4, 260, but I've heard he's got health issues. If he checks out, he looks like a second-rounder. If the Pats play it right, they could take care of their most pressing needs (CB, S, OLB) in their first three picks.
Agree with Andy M, about DE convertng to LB. Gholston is a perfect example. Very risky...Clint Sintim may by someone to look at. Led the nation in sacks (for seniors); played an OLB in a 3-4 scheme; was also coached under Al Groh, who has worked with Belichick before in the past...
In watching the practice drills at the senior bowl Larry English and Clay Matthews looked very good, particularly English. Yes, we need a cornerback bad, but two things to keep in mind you've got to take a player who will be a good starter and not take a journeyman because he's at the right position, two, putting pressure on the QB helps whoever is playing corner to cover for less time. The OLB's look deeper and look like a good one might carry down to the Pats first pick. I think Mayock is right.
I think Clay Matthews is the guy they'll get in the second round. He comes from a team that plays a multiple front defense, meaning he's very versatile, and he has incredible character. He started as a walk-on there and worked his way up. Also comes from great football blood. Mike I asked you a question about their need for an OLB last week, this clears things up, thanks.
Despite the good depth @ OLB in the draft, this surprises me a bit. I thought that the Pats have a bigger need for bodies behind Mayo/Bruschi than they do behind Vrabel/AThomas. With Guyton backing up @ ILB and Woods/Crable @ OLB, wouldn't the thought process might be to take an ILB early and an OLB later? I hope they take the training wheels off Crable next year and let him play.
Sintim is a great call. Totally under the radar for most of college, but he is a great character guy, a leader, and he already understands the 3-4. History has also shown us that Belichick likes to pluck from the ranks of the college coaches he knows the best. Nick Saban, when he was at LSU, was a great example. We took more than a few Tigers back in the day.
Always be weary of the 4-3 DE convert. Gholston is a precautionary tale from last year, and I think the last guy who worked out for the Pats was Big Willie McG (or was Teddy B a college DE?). Anyway, the Willies and Terrell Suggs of the world are few and far between.
Sean Smith, CB out of Utah would by MY pick at 23.
"Sean Smith, CB out of Utah would by MY pick at 23." Mike Allen, AKA, NEM
That's because your a BUFFOON !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get Crabtree with the 3rd pick from the Chiefs. That is, if the Chiefs want Cassel.
Who cares about defense?
How about this. If the Chiefs are foolish enough to give up the #3 overall pick for Cassell, do it. Then trade down from #3 to say #7ish and take Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State. Then with the 23rd pick take Matthews or Sintim. Then in the second round they could take someone like Laurinites (I know I misspelled that) if he is still there. Then they would have taken care of 2 of their biggest needs and with Mayo, Guyton, Crable, Matthews, and little Animal, their LB corp would be set for YEARS...
Yeah that sounds good too. The LB position would be set.
Legion of Doom spikes on the shoulder pads!
Mike Allen,
The chargers had THREE 1st round corners on defense this year -- all studs. When they lost Merriman, it didn't matter. Corners need a pass rush to be effective. Pass rush causes turn overs by creating bad throws. OLB is the biggest priority. We can get a good corner with a pick in the 2nd round.
Has anybody seen a Pats draft? Besides last year, when has the Pats drafted a LB (Mayo, Crable & Ruud - Guyton & Redd FA) in the draft? Besides those when?
The Pats will draft a DL. Seymour & Wilfork in last year of their deals. I see them getting DE Tyson Jackson (23), SS Moore (47), & TE or RB with (57)
Aaron Spacemuseum
Your comment is taken and I don't disagree with you regarding having a need at OLB. However, the corner position, overall, right now is a total mess. I would really go for a top stud type corner in the first round, if available.
Smith, out of Utah, will be one of those type corners. He has it all, including decent size at 6 ft 3.
Will he be available at 23? Probably not. But if he is, I would grab him.
And yes, I understand the importance of a good pass rush, but right now our corners are being destroyed. And, a lot of the weakness at pass rush, IMO, was in the schemes being used rather than a lack of ability. Once they let Merriweather run a few safety blitzes, we saw an improvement in the pass rush. Overall, I thought that Dean Pees was way too soft in his defensive calling this past season. And, with the weak corners, it really hurt.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
Patriots Twitter
ask reiss
Questions will be considered for Mike's mailbagbrowse this blog
by categoryINside Boston.com