PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

I was hoping you could tell me why your so high on Dominique Easley since I know nothing about him

by

He’s an explosive interior defensive linemen. In recent years, one of my biggest problems with the Pats defense was their lack of pressure up the gut. Part of this was a reliance on Wilfork and other space-eating defensive tackles inside that were great at occupying blockers, but not-so-great and getting upfield and disrupting the pocket.

In the Pats’ defense, they’ve tried to find these kind of guys, but injuries/concussions derailed guys like Myron Pryor and Mike Wright. For all the talk of never replacing Richard Seymour, they’ve never really replaced Jarvis Green either.

So, I think Easley would singlehandedly be a great addition because he would fill this role and give them more flexibility and ability to attack on passing downs. 

In short, he would instantly upgrade the pass rush and make the entire front seven better.

You don’t need to be a trained scout to see how quickly he gets off the ball and the kind of problems he causes:

Between Connolly and Wendell who would you want replaced first and why

by

Wendell, but it’s not like I think he’s terrible. You can certainly win with him and he’s got a nice mean streak. But I think we’ve seen his ceiling and they can find a young guy who can be better.

Connolly might be best served as the interior swing back-up, but they’re paying him as a starter so it’s likely he’ll remain one, even if he slides back to center.

I believe the Marcus Cannon to guard full time ship has sailed. He’s a versatile backup, but better as a tackle.

I am expecting multiple interior line draftees. 

If a SS is taken in the draft should we assume that he will start

by

No, he’ll be given a chance to compete to start but no jobs are handed to anyone. I have plenty of safeties on my big board and I really think it’s one of the wild card positions this year. I could see them taking one as high as the second round or not at all. 

I liked what I saw out of Duron Harmon last year and am curious how he develops in year two. But I felt similarly about Tavon Wilson last offseason and he was a special teamer only in his second year.

And if it all falls apart I don’t think Chung would be a total disaster if he has to fill in. Better him than Ebner.

Are there any DE’s that you like a lot that you think can provide an adequate pass rush

by

Touched on this this morning on the podder with Frenz. Would I advocate someone like Dee Ford/Kony Ealy in the first round? Probably not over Easley. But if Easley’s gone, there’s an argument to be made that they need to take the next best available pass rusher, whether it’s a defensive tackle or defensive end.

Right now, I’m leaning toward the thinking that they would only stick with a potential three-down edge player like Trent Murphy or Kareem Martin (a guy I really like) out of North Carolina.

I don’t find the defensive ends you’d have to take in the first round to be all that intriguing.