Continuing the series of Patriots needs in the upcoming draft and identifying players that may fit the Patriots, today we look at Inside Linebackers. This is a position where Belichick likes to have size (see Ted Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Bryan Cox, Roman Phifer) and this year's ILB class is not very large. Here are 3 guys I found thatMAY fit with the Pats.
Kai Parham Virginia 6'3 253
Here's what the experts say: excellent athelete...strong and powerful...outstanding pass rusher and blitzer...played 3-4 scheme under Al Groh (who has NY Jets connection with Belichick)...leadership skills are top Notch. Will be taken by the end of round 3.
Abdul Hodge Iowa 6'2 234
Seems a little on the small side but the report is good:...very quick and atheletic...hits like a ton of bricks...sure tackler...great instincts...very strong...solid technique...smart team leader. Another guy that will be taken by the end of round 3.
Gerris Wilkins Georgia Tech 6'4 230
I saw this guy play a game or two and he seemed to make every tackle. The experts:...Has good size and the frame to get bigger...outstanding run defender...smart with good instincts...big hitter and solid tackler...superb pass rusher and blitzer...has experience at inside and outside linebacker. Will be drafted somewhere in round 3,4 or 5.
That's all I've got on the Inside Linebackers, but since the free agency period is about to begin...
Here are some Offensive players the Pats may target according to Patriots Football Weekly:
Running Backs
Shawn Bryson, Verron Haynes, Maurice Morris, Jonathan Wells.
Jamal Lewis is on record as saying the Pats are one of the four teams he wants to play for.
Wide Receivers
Reche Caldwell, Joe Jurevicious, Josh Reed, Antwan Randal El.
I know the Pats really like Jurivicious the las time he was a free agent, don't be surprised if he
is playing here next season.
Offensive Line
First they need to re-sign Stephen Neal, but the two names mentioned are Tom Nutten and Todd Fordham.
Defensive free agents the pats may target according to PFW:
Defensive tackle Grady Jackson to back up WIlfork. This guy is HUGE.
MLB
Gary Brackett from the Colts. Started for the COlts and led them with 127 tackles.
Earl Holmes
OLB
Julian Peterson (WOW), Antwan Peek, Ben Leber
CB
Ty Law, DeShea Townsend, Brian Williams
Safety
Adam Archuleta, Corey Chavous, Chris Hope, Tank Williams.
Sorry for the quick post, very busy lately, will keep you up to date once free agency begins!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Continuing the Draft Info
Last week I picked some possible targets for the Pats should they decide to pick an outside linebacker. This week we'll take a look at some possibilities at Cornerback. Once again, this is as inexact as it gets, so please feel free to suggest a cornerback I may have excluded. Here they are in no particular order:
Ashton Youboty Ohio State 6'1 188.
Youboty is leaving OSU afterhis junior season. Watching him play, he's a big play type of corner that likes to make a gamble on anINT and could get burned because of it. Here's what the 'experts' say: ...excellent size...solid athelete..good footwork and fluid hips...physical, solid tackler...good ball skills...lots of upside. Youboty more than likely will be gone by the time the Pats pick.
Richard Marshall Fresno State 5'11 190
Fresno State seems to be the newest pipeline to the Patriots based on last years' draft and the relationship between the head coach and Belichick. Naturally, the Pats will know everything they need to know about this kid, which is predominantly why I included him here. He is also skipping his senior year for the NFL and is projected to go 2-3 round. The experts...Excellent athelete with good speed...fluid hips and changes direction well...aggressive in run support...delivers the big blow...game changing plays.
Cedric Griffin Texas 6'2 193
I put him in here for a couple of reasons. First, he's a late 3rd round pick that could be a steal and that's what the Pats do. Second, I do believe he's a little underrated or unnoticed because of the great players he plays with in the Texas secondary. On with the experts...very physical and aggressive...strong and tough...smart and instinctive...versatile and has experience at safety. Sounds like a LOT of things the Pats like in a player.
Tye Hill Clemson 5'10 180
I'd never heard of this guy until I looked at the mock drafts, then I HAD to find out more about him. There were about 5-6 mock drafts that had the Pats taking him with their 1st round pick. Here's what the experts say:...one of the fastest players in the draft (uh oh)...explosive athelete...solid build for his size...plays the ball well in the air...tough and physical...great hips...tremendous leaper...has gotten better every year. He is projected , like the mock drafts indicated, to go in the first round. Keep in mind that this kid is a great, fast athelete, he was also used as a kick retruner.
Antonio Cromartie Florida State 6'3 210
I personally like this guy's ability. I didn't watch a lot of FSU games, but everytime I did this kid made an impact play, whether it be and INT, a big hit or a game changing kick/punt return. He is another Junior coming out early and the scouts are saying he'd be a top 5 overall pick if he stayed in school for his senior year. As it stands he will probablly be there when the Pats pick inthe 1st round. The experts...Outstanding size and long arms...tremendous athelete...great hands and ball skills...fluid hips...pure cover corner...will support the run...threat to score everytime he gets his hands on the ball...proved to be a game cahnger...hasn't even begun to reach his vast potential.
So there you have it, my best guesses to try to get you some info on some guys the Pats may be selecting on draft day. Next week I hope to preview inside line backers.
Ashton Youboty Ohio State 6'1 188.
Youboty is leaving OSU afterhis junior season. Watching him play, he's a big play type of corner that likes to make a gamble on anINT and could get burned because of it. Here's what the 'experts' say: ...excellent size...solid athelete..good footwork and fluid hips...physical, solid tackler...good ball skills...lots of upside. Youboty more than likely will be gone by the time the Pats pick.
Richard Marshall Fresno State 5'11 190
Fresno State seems to be the newest pipeline to the Patriots based on last years' draft and the relationship between the head coach and Belichick. Naturally, the Pats will know everything they need to know about this kid, which is predominantly why I included him here. He is also skipping his senior year for the NFL and is projected to go 2-3 round. The experts...Excellent athelete with good speed...fluid hips and changes direction well...aggressive in run support...delivers the big blow...game changing plays.
Cedric Griffin Texas 6'2 193
I put him in here for a couple of reasons. First, he's a late 3rd round pick that could be a steal and that's what the Pats do. Second, I do believe he's a little underrated or unnoticed because of the great players he plays with in the Texas secondary. On with the experts...very physical and aggressive...strong and tough...smart and instinctive...versatile and has experience at safety. Sounds like a LOT of things the Pats like in a player.
Tye Hill Clemson 5'10 180
I'd never heard of this guy until I looked at the mock drafts, then I HAD to find out more about him. There were about 5-6 mock drafts that had the Pats taking him with their 1st round pick. Here's what the experts say:...one of the fastest players in the draft (uh oh)...explosive athelete...solid build for his size...plays the ball well in the air...tough and physical...great hips...tremendous leaper...has gotten better every year. He is projected , like the mock drafts indicated, to go in the first round. Keep in mind that this kid is a great, fast athelete, he was also used as a kick retruner.
Antonio Cromartie Florida State 6'3 210
I personally like this guy's ability. I didn't watch a lot of FSU games, but everytime I did this kid made an impact play, whether it be and INT, a big hit or a game changing kick/punt return. He is another Junior coming out early and the scouts are saying he'd be a top 5 overall pick if he stayed in school for his senior year. As it stands he will probablly be there when the Pats pick inthe 1st round. The experts...Outstanding size and long arms...tremendous athelete...great hands and ball skills...fluid hips...pure cover corner...will support the run...threat to score everytime he gets his hands on the ball...proved to be a game cahnger...hasn't even begun to reach his vast potential.
So there you have it, my best guesses to try to get you some info on some guys the Pats may be selecting on draft day. Next week I hope to preview inside line backers.
Friday, February 10, 2006
The Draft is only 77 days away....
While it is nearly impossible for even the 'experts' to determine just who the hell the Pats will draft, I've done a little research to do my best to find some possibilities. I've looked at so many mock drafts that I lost count. Most of them have no clue about the Pats and how they draft, some of them seem to be spot on. Only time will tell. Over the next couple of weeks I'll post some potentials on a position by position basis, some guys that stand out to me that the Pats might like. Keep in mind I don't get so see intelligence tests, wonderlick scores or character comments that the Pats use heavily in their determination. Please do feel free to comment, or suggest other players at a given position.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State (not the damn hockey player puckheads) 6'3 255
I've seen him play on several occasions and he reminds me a LOT of Mike Vrabel. Here's what some of the scouting reports say. Excellent size...fast and atheletic...pursues sideline to sideline...great blitzer...good pass rusher...tenacious...tough as nails...a true football player. Here's another interesting note, his dad Rob Carpenter played for the Giants in the 80's. That would lead me to believe that Belichick knows this kid. If the the Pats got him in the first round I'd be thrilled. Knowing them, if they do want Carpenter, they'll trade down 4-6 spots because he is not a good value at 21 overall, he's more like a 26th to 28th overall.
Chad Greenway, Iowa 6'4 244
I saw him play once, he's hard not to notice on the field 'cuz he seems to always be around the ball. Some mock drafts have him going as high as #10 overall. Here's what th experts say. Outstanding athelete...great burst...good size...Excellent in coverage...good intagibles...hard worker...like an extra coach on the field...sure tackler...motor that never stops...been compared favorably to Urlacher. GEEZ, if he's still there at #21 the Pats will be very fortunate indeed.
Spencer Havner, UCLA 6'4 245
Never seen him. I picked him out of the bunch because of his size. Some of the other backers are 6 feet and 230 pounds, Bill doesn't like that. He'll be a 2nd or 3rd rounder, great value if the pats get him with their 3 round pick. The experts...Excellent size...solid frame...always around the ball...sideline to sideline...good job sifting through traffic...excellent in pass coverage...knack for making key interception...versatile and can play many positions. Sounds like a Belichick guy to me!
Let me get on to the picks themselves. So far the Pats have nine picks, one in each round and 2 picks in the 3rd and 4th rounds. In addition, they could get one or two compensatory picks because of their poor off-season last year. That is, the league hands out an additional 32 picks at its discretion based on the performance of free agents you lost compared to free agents you signed. Because guys like David Terrell and Duane Starks sucked, and Ty Law for instance had a good season (10 int's) the Pats are assumed to get at least 1 and most likely 2 compensatory picks. The conventional thinking is a pick at the end of the 4th round (giving them 3 in that round) and an additional pick at the end of the 6th or 7th round. How important is the compensatory pick? Just ask Tom Brady, a compensatory pick added at the end of the 6th round. We'll keep you posted.
Also, I've found the best site I;ve ever seen about the salary cap. This guy knows his shit. Best of all, it's not a league site, he's a Pats fan like me that posts all the cap info you'll ever need. Be sure to check him out, he's already got the '06 stuff up. www.patscap.com/pats2006salarycappicture.html
Enjoy, and remember to tell your friends you read it here!
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State (not the damn hockey player puckheads) 6'3 255
I've seen him play on several occasions and he reminds me a LOT of Mike Vrabel. Here's what some of the scouting reports say. Excellent size...fast and atheletic...pursues sideline to sideline...great blitzer...good pass rusher...tenacious...tough as nails...a true football player. Here's another interesting note, his dad Rob Carpenter played for the Giants in the 80's. That would lead me to believe that Belichick knows this kid. If the the Pats got him in the first round I'd be thrilled. Knowing them, if they do want Carpenter, they'll trade down 4-6 spots because he is not a good value at 21 overall, he's more like a 26th to 28th overall.
Chad Greenway, Iowa 6'4 244
I saw him play once, he's hard not to notice on the field 'cuz he seems to always be around the ball. Some mock drafts have him going as high as #10 overall. Here's what th experts say. Outstanding athelete...great burst...good size...Excellent in coverage...good intagibles...hard worker...like an extra coach on the field...sure tackler...motor that never stops...been compared favorably to Urlacher. GEEZ, if he's still there at #21 the Pats will be very fortunate indeed.
Spencer Havner, UCLA 6'4 245
Never seen him. I picked him out of the bunch because of his size. Some of the other backers are 6 feet and 230 pounds, Bill doesn't like that. He'll be a 2nd or 3rd rounder, great value if the pats get him with their 3 round pick. The experts...Excellent size...solid frame...always around the ball...sideline to sideline...good job sifting through traffic...excellent in pass coverage...knack for making key interception...versatile and can play many positions. Sounds like a Belichick guy to me!
Let me get on to the picks themselves. So far the Pats have nine picks, one in each round and 2 picks in the 3rd and 4th rounds. In addition, they could get one or two compensatory picks because of their poor off-season last year. That is, the league hands out an additional 32 picks at its discretion based on the performance of free agents you lost compared to free agents you signed. Because guys like David Terrell and Duane Starks sucked, and Ty Law for instance had a good season (10 int's) the Pats are assumed to get at least 1 and most likely 2 compensatory picks. The conventional thinking is a pick at the end of the 4th round (giving them 3 in that round) and an additional pick at the end of the 6th or 7th round. How important is the compensatory pick? Just ask Tom Brady, a compensatory pick added at the end of the 6th round. We'll keep you posted.
Also, I've found the best site I;ve ever seen about the salary cap. This guy knows his shit. Best of all, it's not a league site, he's a Pats fan like me that posts all the cap info you'll ever need. Be sure to check him out, he's already got the '06 stuff up. www.patscap.com/pats2006salarycappicture.html
Enjoy, and remember to tell your friends you read it here!
Sunday, February 05, 2006
SuperBowl XL - The Gift
Superbowl 40 was awarded to the Pittsburgh Steelers by the referees. Say what you want, think what you want, but that is how I will always remember it and how it will be told to my grandkids. Did Pittsburgh deserve to be there? Absolutely, they are a very good team that beat everyone they had to in order to get to the superbowl. Ironically, all the bitching that they did in the past when the Pats beat them every year came to fruition, the better team didn't win.
When is the last time you saw an OFFENSIVE pass interference? IF you think there was holding on Hasselbeck's pass to Stevens at the one, you must be a Steeler fan - or a ref. IF you didn't see holding on Randal El's TD pass (watch #84 on the right side of the O-line during replays, the guy holds for about 8 seconds) you must be blind, a Steeler fan - or a ref. If you think that Rothlesberger got in the endzone....well I might give you that one. Did you notice how quick the refs were to award the ball to Pitt on the Hasselbeck 'fumble'?
At least one thing that the Pats have known for quite some time was exposed in front of the world. Ben Roethlesberger SUCKS. 9-21 for 123 and 2 INT's. SUCKS.
Last and certainly not least, how bad were the commercials? I laughed out loud twice. At least if you have a shitty superbowl we should get good commecials. I honestly think these were the worst SB ads I can remember.
Thank GOD this season is finally over and we can get on with preparation for bringing the Lobardi Trophy back where it belongs.
PS...does anyone else think that Hines Ward is gay? Seriously.
When is the last time you saw an OFFENSIVE pass interference? IF you think there was holding on Hasselbeck's pass to Stevens at the one, you must be a Steeler fan - or a ref. IF you didn't see holding on Randal El's TD pass (watch #84 on the right side of the O-line during replays, the guy holds for about 8 seconds) you must be blind, a Steeler fan - or a ref. If you think that Rothlesberger got in the endzone....well I might give you that one. Did you notice how quick the refs were to award the ball to Pitt on the Hasselbeck 'fumble'?
At least one thing that the Pats have known for quite some time was exposed in front of the world. Ben Roethlesberger SUCKS. 9-21 for 123 and 2 INT's. SUCKS.
Last and certainly not least, how bad were the commercials? I laughed out loud twice. At least if you have a shitty superbowl we should get good commecials. I honestly think these were the worst SB ads I can remember.
Thank GOD this season is finally over and we can get on with preparation for bringing the Lobardi Trophy back where it belongs.
PS...does anyone else think that Hines Ward is gay? Seriously.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Brady To Undergo Surgery
The Boston Herald is reporting that Tom Brady will have surgery to repair a hernia. Evidently, Brady played as much as half the season with the injury. Her is the article as it appears in THE BOSTON HERALD:
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady played half of the season with a hernia and will have surgery to correct the problem, probably within two weeks, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The hernia problem did not keep Brady from practicing or force him to miss any time, but he did throw some passes uncharacteristically high as the season went on, indicating the injury may have affected his release.
Brady passed up playing in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on doctors’ orders. During the season he was listed on the weekly injury report from time to time. Brady suffered what was reported by the team to be a shin injury diving into the end zone in Buffalo, Dec. 11. However, Brady wore a knee brace the next week against Tampa and for the rest of the season, indicating the injury was more likely to his knee, not shin.
He was also listed at times as having a shoulder injury, though never groin or hernia problems.
A hernia, according to Steve Bushee, head athletic trainer in the Boston College Sports Medicine department, “usually means a tear in the abdominal wall that allows tissue to poke through and may require surgery.”
A sports hernia, said Bushee, is a disruption in the inguinal canal — in the groin area — and may persist a long time. Surgery can repair it.
Despite the laundry list of ailments, Brady had one of his better seasons, throwing for a career high 4,110 yards with 26 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 92.3 rating.
Pats players were well aware that Brady was hobbled during the year.
“Yeah, of course,” Willie McGinest said from the Super Bowl in Detroit.
McGinest was reminded that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb sat out the second half of the season with a similar injury.
“That’s Donovan,” McGinest said. “We’re not talking about Donovan, we’re talking about Tom. I didn’t know how severe it was, but I knew it was bothering him. But you have guys who play with all types of injuries across the league and on our team. Being the kind of competitor he is, he wasn’t going to let it slow him down.”
Brady played at such a high level that he merited consideration for player of the year but lost out yesterday to Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. MVP Shaun Alexander was also in the mix for the Fed Ex Award, announced in Detroit.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady played half of the season with a hernia and will have surgery to correct the problem, probably within two weeks, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The hernia problem did not keep Brady from practicing or force him to miss any time, but he did throw some passes uncharacteristically high as the season went on, indicating the injury may have affected his release.
Brady passed up playing in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii on doctors’ orders. During the season he was listed on the weekly injury report from time to time. Brady suffered what was reported by the team to be a shin injury diving into the end zone in Buffalo, Dec. 11. However, Brady wore a knee brace the next week against Tampa and for the rest of the season, indicating the injury was more likely to his knee, not shin.
He was also listed at times as having a shoulder injury, though never groin or hernia problems.
A hernia, according to Steve Bushee, head athletic trainer in the Boston College Sports Medicine department, “usually means a tear in the abdominal wall that allows tissue to poke through and may require surgery.”
A sports hernia, said Bushee, is a disruption in the inguinal canal — in the groin area — and may persist a long time. Surgery can repair it.
Despite the laundry list of ailments, Brady had one of his better seasons, throwing for a career high 4,110 yards with 26 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a 92.3 rating.
Pats players were well aware that Brady was hobbled during the year.
“Yeah, of course,” Willie McGinest said from the Super Bowl in Detroit.
McGinest was reminded that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb sat out the second half of the season with a similar injury.
“That’s Donovan,” McGinest said. “We’re not talking about Donovan, we’re talking about Tom. I didn’t know how severe it was, but I knew it was bothering him. But you have guys who play with all types of injuries across the league and on our team. Being the kind of competitor he is, he wasn’t going to let it slow him down.”
Brady played at such a high level that he merited consideration for player of the year but lost out yesterday to Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. MVP Shaun Alexander was also in the mix for the Fed Ex Award, announced in Detroit.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Odds n Ends and SUPERBOWL
Everyone seems to be reporting that Tom Brady has dropped out of the ProBowl due to a groin injury. No one reports the severity of it, nor do they know how or when he injured it. On a seperate Brady note, I think he did a pretty good job as a guest on Family Guy.
A couple of reports have Rodney Harrison working hard towards a return for the start of the season next year. Although he's in the Pats facility 4 days/week for 3-5 hours, they don't think he'll be ready for the start of training camp. Originally the thought was a return in week 3-5 of the season, so him being ready for opening day would be quite a feat.
If you haven't already heard, Belichick will be on the SB pregame show on the sidelines with Mike Tirico. Evidently Belichick will 'breakdown' the game in terms of X's and O's. While I'd love to catch that portion of the pregame, there is no way I'm sitting through all the other BS that ABC will undoubtably include in the pregame just to see Belichick.
Speaking of the SuperBowl, or as I am wanting to call it, SleeperBowl, Anyone have any thoughts? I really care so little about it this year that I have no info to offer. I will be rooting against Pittsburgh because of the cocky, loudmouth nature of the team. So what do YOU think? Do you really care at all about this SleeperBowl? How about picking a winner?
A couple of reports have Rodney Harrison working hard towards a return for the start of the season next year. Although he's in the Pats facility 4 days/week for 3-5 hours, they don't think he'll be ready for the start of training camp. Originally the thought was a return in week 3-5 of the season, so him being ready for opening day would be quite a feat.
If you haven't already heard, Belichick will be on the SB pregame show on the sidelines with Mike Tirico. Evidently Belichick will 'breakdown' the game in terms of X's and O's. While I'd love to catch that portion of the pregame, there is no way I'm sitting through all the other BS that ABC will undoubtably include in the pregame just to see Belichick.
Speaking of the SuperBowl, or as I am wanting to call it, SleeperBowl, Anyone have any thoughts? I really care so little about it this year that I have no info to offer. I will be rooting against Pittsburgh because of the cocky, loudmouth nature of the team. So what do YOU think? Do you really care at all about this SleeperBowl? How about picking a winner?
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