Patriots, OGs & the draft

Andy Levitre showed up as a prospect for Tackle and Guard. Hmmm...that sounds like a Belichick guy to me. Speaking of, I bet Belichick reads Reiss's Pieces.

How about Alabama's Antoine Caldwell 6'3" 309. He's played at center RG,LG,an RT. Graduated in 3 yrs. I know he's not #23 but maybe later on. Lined up across from Raji at the Sr bowl and held his on.

Hi Marc. I think Belichick is in trouble if he's reading this. Rog, I didn't include Caldwell after reading the Pro Football Weekly Draft Guide and seeing this: "does not adjust well to moving targets and is late to redirect." Obviously, it's just one opinion, but that's a big part of what the Patriots ask their guards to do.
--Mike

> I bet Belichick reads Reiss's Pieces

Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

BTW, I want to join in the chorus and thank Mike for the phenomenal work he does in keeping us informed. I look forward to Reiss' Pieces several times per day. Thanks Mike!

Mike,
I think Eric Wood from Louisville should be added to the list. Dante spent some time with thim I remember reading in this section. He would add depth and versatility immediately, can play G and C, while also protecting the Pats against Mankins or Neal leaving via free agency after this season. He's smart, tough, competitive, aggressive and durable. He is also surprisingly agile for a player his size. Has ability to develop into a solid starter at either G or C.

I know that this post was about OG's but since it's the latest post, here goes.

I was reading the SF 49's board and there was some talk about tading Kentwan Balmer, last year's 49's 1st round pick to the Patriots for maybe a 2nd rounder and 4th.

So Mike Reiss, do you have any thoughts on this? Would the 49's have any interest in trading Balmer?

Also, how about your thoughts about trading Seymour while they can get good value for him. With his recent history of injuries, is he on the downside of his career?

Thanks in advance for any reply. IMHO, your the best sports writer in Boston right now, though excepting Ryan that's not hard to beat.

Bally.

Your read it here. Alex Mack, OG/Center-CAL, 1st round pick by Pats.

On another note, the Sox remind me of the Astros a few years ago when they had Clemens, Petite, etc. All pitching, no offense. Atlanta has had the same problem.

Did the Patriots bring in Logan Mankins for a pre-draft workout before they drafted him...?

Mike is the best sports reporter we've had in Boston for years, bar none.

Mike - if Mankins and Neal were both resigned, would you still think guard was a long-term priority?

If I'm the Pats and I'm going to give 1st round money to a guy, I want a guy who will PLAY for 7-10 years, make the Pro Bowl, and be a foundational player to the team.

Alex Mack, C/G, CAL. if he's there...or another OT/OG if they slip. They have enough picks to get talent at LB/DE in the 2nd round. You get better quality in this draft if you go OL than defense, especially in the last half of the 1st round.

Mike, maybe you should start looking at some other draft guides too. Meredith, who's name is Jamon, not Jomon, was the guy I mentioned in the OT post you put up. He's a left tackle prospect, not a guard. He started his career at guard, like many college offensive linemen, but he played the vast majority of his college career at tackle, and projects as a left tackle. Tall, long arms, great feet and strong. That's not a guy you draft to play inside. While he'll have the versatility to move around the line that the Patriots covet, he's not going to be drafted to play there. He also finished with a 3.7 GPA at school, and Dante Scarnecchia worked out Meredith personally as a tackle at USC's pro day. I believe the Patriots are looking at him as a tackle prospect, in the second or third round.

Nikos, I was saving Wood for the center position, which will post tomorrow. Agree he is on the radar. Balisarius, I thought Balmer was a prospect who fit the Patriots’ scheme last year as a 3-4 end. Not sure how the Patriots view him and if they’d make that deal. Bill in Houston, Mankins did not come in for a pre-draft visit. MarkB, if Mankins and Neal were both re-signed, I would not put guard as a long-term priority. Richter, thanks for the correction on the spelling of Jamon. Honest mistake, now corrected. Disagree that he is solely a tackle prospect. He’s likely to be cross-trained wherever he is drafted, so I wouldn’t pigeon-hole him. Similar to Logan Mankins. I've found the Pro Football Weekly Draft Guide to be most accurate and reliable. The late Joel Buchsbaum started it and I think Nolan Nawrocki does a great job with it.
--Mike

Balmer was considered a disappointment last year. He'd have to cost a lot less than that for the Patriots, or any team, to pull the trigger on him, IMO. I wouldn't give up more than a late 3rd for him, personally.

Mike, I said it in my post, that yes, Meredith does have the versatility to play inside, and that's going to increase his value to a lot of teams, but he's not going to be drafted to play inside. He finished out his career at LG, and was not effective there, due in part to an ankle injury, but mostly because he doesn't have the frame or base to handle the rigors of playing inside. He's an athletic guy who's primary value will be his ability to mirror pass rushers and keep the quarterback's jersey clean. He's not a guy who'll pick up blocks in the second level or slide down the line effectively, which really limits his value as an OG to the Patriots or anyone else. Quite frankly, he's nothing like Mankins, who's clearly a guard with the athleticism to play tackle in a pinch.

Consider your opinion heard, Richter. You write with conviction. We will see how this one plays out, and the accountability police will revisit in due time.
--Mike

Being a fan of Meredith, I hope the Patriots draft him and we can see first hand how he performs under Belichick, Scarnecchia and the rest of the coaching staff's influence. I'm more than willing to take the heat if I'm wrong about Meredith, and I'm sure you are too, so it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

If he goes to the Raiders, though, all bets are off.

Bill in Houston, you read it here. Pat White, West Virginia - Mr. Everything. Pats trade all their picks to move up and draft a truly remarkable and multi-talented player.

The best guard prospect I've seen this year is Eric Wood. Great pick for the Pats at the 47 spot if he gets there. Unger is pretty good too. And they are both centers as well. Underrated guy is Herman "the house"Johnson huge but can play, not many guys get around him. Reminds me of several years ago Max Starks was big size and not considered first round material -yet he just got franchised. Will be a value choice where he is selected.

Mike,

Nice job giving Joel Buchsbaum his props!! The original "Draftnik", Buchsbaum was very good at what he did!! PFW's Annual Draft Preview always was (and likely still is) read by a fair share of NFL front office-types. Very informative and very thorough.