Fokou & Barnes draw closer look from Belichick

Mike: "The workouts are a small part of the overall scouting process, and were likely needed by the Patriots to finalize their grades on both players."

I think we got the disclaimer down already =)

Now onto football talk. I like Barnes. Not as much as Mike Allen loves Sean Smith. That my new disclaimer for talking about DB's. The kid is a great tackler and has good closing speed which would work well in our defense considering we play off the ball alot and he seems physical enough for when or if we did press coverage. Hes also over 6ft which will get all the defensive backfield haters off Bills back! Itws all about the short shuttle times with DB's.

Mike-
Has there been any correlation in the past between who the Pats have had private workouts with either here or there and who they have actually drafted or brought in after the draft as an UFA? Maybe this is a better question for the mailbag.

Mike
2:00 on Sat afternoon. Really? / Really?
And for two late rd guy's
How did we get so lucky? And some of the posts you listen to.

Hi Mike,
Was Belichick ever as involved personally in the process leading up to the draft before this year? He seems to have done a lot of traveling to look at the prospect himself. Is he looking to prove that he does not need Pioli and others who left ?

Moise Fokou is the best linebacker name since Tedy Bruschi. He's a little light for the ILB position, but he could fit in well as a safety/linebacker hybrid in BB's new pass defense emphasis subpackage.

Kevin Barnes is really good. He was a noted track guy coming into college, but really developed into a good football player. He was injured for most of last season, which really lowered his stock. He was considered a potential first day draft pick coming into last season.

Foiku transferred to Maryland from division II Frostburg State. He's a terrific athlete and plays with a high motor. He could be an impact special teams player as he develops...

Hi Will. That is a tough question to answer because I have never seen a full list of visits/workouts each year. That information is not provided to the media. We have to dig it up, and that is often hard to do. Usually, when a player is drafted, he tells media members on a conference call that he had a workout. I think the first rounder usually visits, although Logan Mankins didn't. Southie77, I'd be interested to hear Belichick's thoughts on this. My hunch is that this is standard operating procedure for him.
--Mike

University of Maryland is in College Park, MD. Do you think that BB might have been visiting his mother and made a side trip? Doesn't she still live in Annapolis?

I don't see Moise Fokou fitting on the Pats as he's just too small to play LB and too big and slow to play safety. Barnes has potential though.

Dave Philistin is the Linebacker from Maryland that everyone seems to be fogetting about... kid is going to be a stud! Steal in this years NFL draft... absolute Steal!