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2014 NFL Draft Close-Up: Florida Defensive Lineman Dominique Easley | NEPatriotsDraft.com – 2014 NFL Draft

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2014 NFL Draft Close-Up: Florida Defensive Lineman Dominique Easley | NEPatriotsDraft.com – 2014 NFL Draft

Great and thorough read on Easley from Oliver Thomas.

Look, it’s not surprising that some people don’t like the selection of someone who’s had knee issues, but let’s remember who on the Patriots have torn their ACLs: Brady, Revis, Gronkowski, Tommy Kelly, WIll Smith, Logan Mankins just off the top of my head.

Is it a concern? Sure. Is there some risk? Sure. But what draft pick doesn’t have risk? Why not take a shot on someone whose ceiling is that of a high-first round pick, a player who has the chance to be truly special. I’m all for swinging for the fences like that, especially when it’s filling a need that has been on my mind for the last four seasons.

Congratulations on predicting the Easley pick. I was right there with you in hoping for a DL/pass rush double-dip. Questions: can he make an impact in his first year? Who is likely to be a 3-down D-lineman, who will likely be pushed into a more specialized role on the current depth chart, and what does your ideal 3rd down personnel grouping look like?

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Thanks, I definitely wasn’t alone in thinking he was a good fit, though I thought it might’ve just been wishful thinking. I do think his selection represents a bit of a departure for the Patriots.

Simply, he is not a 3-4 defensive linemen, not that 3-4 or 4-3 matters, but it’s doubtful he’s ever going to be asked to two-gap. But I’m all for it. He’s specialized, but specialized in an area they desperately need.

Is he a three-down DL? I doubt it. But he’ll play plenty and really, that makes it easier to bring him along slowly in his rookie year. As I wrote earlier, year two is where we should really expect him to wow us.

The Pats have options. For an all out pass rush front they could go Ninkovich-Easley-Chandler-Buchanan (or another DPR DE). Or they could put Wilfork/Chris Jones in there for the DPR for more run protection or a different twist.

Easley played all over the line at Florida and had success against every kind of offensive linemen. The Pats will move their DL/DEs all around and take advantage of whatever weaknesses they perceive. It’s an excellent mix to play any kind of game.

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Easley was consistently the first player off the line of scrimmage for the Gators defense – a defense that included the likes of Sharif Floyd (a first-round pick by the Vikings last year), and Dante Fowler (a top 2015 prospect) during Easley’s career. Easley lined up all over the formation, so everyone from centers to left tackles found themselves beat, time and again, from the moment the ball was snapped.

Past injuries could haunt Dominique Easley’s NFL aspirations. | SportsonEarth.com : Mike Tanier Article

If this read doesn’t get you hot and bothered I don’t know what will. A little risk? Sure. But well worth it with his ceiling and potential impact.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/easley-was-consistently-the-first-player-off-the/

Patriots select DT Dominique Easley in First Round

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For perhaps the first time in the Belichick reign in New England, the Patriots’ first move in the NFL wasn’t much of a surprise. Easley was not only the number one player on my Patriots-only Top 50 draft board and also my projected first round pick in my final mock draft but he was all over many Pats pundits’ radars.

Yes, there were rumblings that the Pats loved Easley, but I was all over him from the moment I first saw him on film. I’ve been beating the interior pass rush drum for nearly the life of this blog – four-plus years. 

Simply put, the Pats just haven’t been able to generate enough pass rush up the gut since Mike Wright and Jarvis Green circa 2009.

Easley instantly makes the Pats pass rush better, not only with what he does (explosiveness), but with the attention he will draw, easing things up on Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich on the edges.

I’m not worried about Easley’s ACL tears. We might not truly see the ceiling of his explosion until his second year, but he’ll still be the Pats best interior pass rusher.

Needless to say I’m thrilled with the pick. It’s a great way to kick off the draft, and with seven more picks to go and a major need already filled, the Pats are in great position to really take their team to the next level.