PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

From what you have seen and scouted, to your opinion is this one of the deeper drafts as the pundits have been saying

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I’d agree with that, at least as far as the Patriots needs are concerned. There are some good defensive tackles and interior OL that fit the Pats needs and enough depth that they’ll be available into the second and third rounds.

Also see some interesting safety prospects as well that could be good Patriot fits. 

I don’t love the running backs or cornerbacks in this class and feel like the defensive ends and linebackers are somewhat hit or miss. There’s some intriguing guys in certain pockets but not strong top-to-bottom.

Overall I think the Pats should be able to really round out their depth, especially at some of the positions where they need it most. Still most curious to see what they do at defensive end because that’s a need and not an area where the prospects that are available stand out to me. 

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When I started covering the team in the middle of Hernandez’s rookie season, I was blown away by his talent and wondered why he lasted until the fourth round of the 2010 draft. It couldn’t have just been about the reported marijuana use while he was at Florida. So I called around the league and heard about the concerns some teams had about his associates from his hometown, and that there were possible gang ties. I tried to get something concrete on it, but I couldn’t get any traction with the story (Instagram photos would have been nice). There were no facts, just strong rumors. So I never wrote anything, and then the unthinkable happened. To this day I think about ways I could have dug harder and published a story that, at least, might have woken Hernandez up (and woken us all up to Hernandez) before he allegedly broke bad.

DeSean Jackson needs a wake-up call, more Tuesday mail | The MMQB with Peter King

Interesting tidbit on Hernando from Bedard. It’s not your fault, Greg. It’s not your fault…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/patriots-aaron-hernandez-gang-ties/

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“The safety position used to be a run support position,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “Now it’s not near as much of that… The in the box safeties really are not in the box anymore. They are becoming dinosaurs.” The traditional designations of strong safety and free safety are a thing of the past, like a printed road map. Safeties have to be able to do all in most schemes. There are a few defenses, like the one in Seattle, that still do it the old way. But the Seahawks, with Earl Thomas at free and Kam Chancellor at strong, are the exception rather than the rule.

Safety is becoming a very valuable position in today’s NFL. | SportsonEarth.com : Dan Pompei Article

Well this article certainly reflects well on my strong safety write-up this morning…

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-safety-position-used-to-be-a-run-support/

2014 PatsPropaganda Patriots Top 50 NFL Draft Board

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For the past three years, I’ve put together a Patriots-only big board, ranking 50 prospects that I like most for the Pats, roughly in the order that I like them. Needs are taken into account and I try to spread them out across all levels to try and hit as many as possible. Think of this like a big lottery ticket.

My scores in past seasons: 2011 – four out of nine picks, 2012 – two of seven picks, and 2013 – two out of seven picks (plus Chris Jones though he wasn’t drafted by the Pats). Can I break .500 this year??

Input is welcome, but my only rule is to keep it to 50 guys, so for every guy I add, someone’s gotta come off. Many of you know these prospects far better than I do, so make your case in the comments for additions and subtractions. 

Without further ado, here it is…

 

2014 Patriots-Only Big Board

  1. *Dominique Easley, DT, Florida: Undersized, but explosive. One-gapper. Injury history – ACL in 2013.
  2. Ra’Shede Hageman, DL, Minnesota:  Perhaps a little boom-or-bust but potential to add size to the defensive tackle group, with ability to move around and bring versatility. Just what the Pats needs up front and my favorite realistic pick at 29th overall.
  3. *Stephon Tuitt, DL, Notre Dame: Great size and strength and versatility to play any spot on the defensive line. Better junior year film after injury put him over weight.
  4. *Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington:  Prototypical Y-TE who is a solid red-zone threat and blocks with aggression. Another good Gronk compliment and maybe my favorite TE for the Pats.
  5. *Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA: Experienced and powerful, instant starter at right guard for Pats?
  6. *David Yankey, OG, Stanford:  Versatile captain with very good size could be immediate starter inside.
  7. Calvin Pryor, SS, Louisville: Violent enforcer would bring a needed element to Pats’ safety squad.
  8. Marquise Lee, WR, USC:  Dynamic receiver who might be too good to pass up despite the presence of Aaron Dobson.
  9. Trent Murphy, DE/OLB, Stanford: Good instincts, motor and toughness. Bit of a tweener in Pats system, but plays the way they like.
  10. *Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina: Good strength and burst. Could slip inside on passing downs. Captain.
  11. *C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa: Willing blocker with slippery ability to get open. Another solid TE prospect that could play the Y.
  12. Jace Amaro, F-TE, Texas Tech: Still a bit raw but knows how to get open in the passing game with ideal tight end size. He’d be a good compliment to Gronk and able to play the Y or F spots.
  13. Troy Niklas, Y-TE, Notre Dame: Huge target in the mold of Gronk with the potential to be an every-down tight end almost immediately.
  14. Daquan Jones, DT, Penn State: Good build with quickness inside, could play either DT or NT in Pats’ 4-3 scheme. Good size, maybe a second-rounder.
  15. *Gabe Jackson, OG, Miss State: Excellent size with nimble feet. Can be over-aggressive at times. Two-time captain. Very SEC experienced.
  16. Deone Buchanan, SS, WSU: Aggressive, downhill box defender and core special-teams player.
  17. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas:  Would give the Pats a huge size bump at the center spot. Familiarity with Arkansas offese will help transition. Two-time captain, football junkie.
  18. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State: Durable vocal leader with good size.
  19. *Russell Bodine, C, North Carolina: Short-armed, but aggressive and great knee bend. Good size too.
  20. *Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State: Good size and productivity in Bill O’Brien’s offense that would translate to pros.
  21. Jason Verrett, CB, TCU: Undersized but competitive, likely best to fit in the slot.
  22. Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State: Good all-around running back who runs hard downhill, welcomes contact.
  23. Andre Williams, RB, Boston College:  Smart, powerful back would be good insurance on Ridley/Vereen.
  24. Christian Jones, ILB, Florida State: Great athlete with ideal size who could play multiple LB positions. Awareness an issue? Sounds like Mayo.
  25. Dakota Dozier, OG, Furman: Outstanding size with powerful build. Experienced and light on feet.
  26. Jonotthan Harrison, C, Florida: Size, strength and intangibles. Could play any interior position.
  27. *Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech: Elite athleticism and size, would need time but could develop to challenge Brady in 2-3 years.
  28. Bryan Stork, C, Florida State: Athletic with excellent size. Hard worker, the game is important to him.
  29. Brock Vereen, FS, Minnesota: Shane’s brother is a smart, rangy free safety who is a leader.
  30. Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville: Hybrid defender who could play multiple spots and roles. HS QB.
  31. Ed Stinson, DE, Alabama: Great frame with impressive size and strength. Would be an interesting developmental tool in BB’s defense. Two-gapper, maybe any spot in 34 DL.
  32. Crockett Gilmore, TE, Colorado State: Good size for a Y tight end, maybe not the best receiving threat but could be a good Gronk insurance type in later rounds.
  33. Vinnie Sunseri, SS, Alabama: Instinctive, physical and a leader. Coming off injury.
  34. Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada: Outstanding playing personality and dedication to football. Very versatile, shot up draft boards near the end.
  35. Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State: Big, tough, experienced, durable, competitive Mike linebacker with good speed.
  36. Trey Burton, F-TE, Florida: Versatile and competitive. Player multiple spots, incl. QB. McDaniels’ Swiss Army Knife?
  37. Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood: Great size, outside press man potential, but from small school.
  38. Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford: Good size and versatility, runs downhill. Good compliment to the current NE backs.
  39. Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU: Determined, tough and aggressive. Not ideal size but plays hard. Captain.
  40. TJ Jones, WR, Notre Dame: Experienced captain who would be a slot receiver with some versatility (special teams) on Pats.
  41. Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin: Smart, hardworking receiver who has all the intangibles. Ran many Patriots-like routes.
  42. Quincy Enunwa, WR, Nebraska: Good size and excellent intangibles. Could play outside.
  43. Brandon Linder, OG, Miami: Great size, durability, and intangibles. Aggressive. Versatile – played all along line, incl. TE.
  44. *Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan: Good coverage recognition, smooth. Quick, good explosion, nice hands. Undersized.
  45. Ladarius Perkins, RB, Miss. St: Captain with great agility and vision. Underrated catcher, good acceleration. 
  46. Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana State: Instinctive and tough.
  47. Travis Carrie, CB, Ohio: Good size and awareness with special teams experience. Student of the game, leadership.
  48. Josh Mauro, DE, Stanford: Good size and versatility,not a ton of pass rush presence but could develop.
  49. Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh: Inconsistent pocket passer.
  50. Rob Blanchflower, Y-TE, UMass: Good size and experience. Developmental #3 Y-TE.

Why isn’t strong safety a real position of need for the draft in comparison to our D-line? I don’t see any clear starter for us at that position. Is that position deep in this year’s draft?

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I think to some degree the traditional strong safety is a dying position. Everyone wants to have that “enforcer” on their defense, but how many enforcers can run with today’s tight ends, slot receivers and running backs?

Those traditional strong safety guys are getting relegated to subpackage linebacker spots in many defenses, including the Patriots’. I expect to see Jamie Collins in this kind of role this year, because big safeties are no longer enough. You need uber-athletic linebackers.

It takes a special player to be able to do everything, but ultimately if you’re a safety you need to be able to be a safety, i.e. run and cover on the back end and show good range and tackling skills. Coming downhill and filling against the run is still important, but it can’t be their only tool in their toolbox.

So while I do think strong safety is a need, I think it’s more in a depth role in rounding out what the safety group brings to the party. It goes back to my overall philosophy that if a player isn’t helping the pass defense he’s not helping enough.

A box safety would look good in warmups and presnap, but offenses would attack him if he can’t cover.