PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Aldon Smith

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There was lots of talk about Aldon Smith yesterday on the podcast, with Jay Shields feeling he was a perfect fit for the Patriots defense. He’s definitely raw, but if the Pats are building for long-term success wouldn’t a raw player who could possibly fit your defense really well make sense?

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

https://www.patspropaganda.com/there-was-lots-of-talk-about-aldon-smith-yesterday/

NEPatriotsDraft.Com: Picks to fill the “Will” position

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NEPatriotsDraft.Com: Picks to fill the “Will” position

NEPatriotsDraft gets technical on us with the specific names for the linebacker positions in the Patriots defense, aka Sam-Mike-Will-Jack, and a nice breakdown of some of the top OLB prospects.

While I lean DE at 17, I think that if there is an OLB conversion project with real potential, even if he might need a little time to develop into a three-down OLB, he would be an excellent addition. But until I see Smith, Houston, and Ayers look fluid and athletic in space I remain uncertain if any of them are a) truly capable of playing in the 3-4, b) physical enough to hold the point of attack, or c) have the football nerdiness required of a BB draft pick.

I’d love to draft another Willie McGinest, but I’m just not convinced yet that any of these guys are the next Willie Mac. After we see and hear about the results from the combine we’ll have a much better sense of where they stand.

The Belichick defense demands for players who are versatile, so just because you’re the weak side OLB, usually the pass rush specialist, you will still be required to drop into coverage and play the run more than other 3-4 systems.

So for Patriots to draft an OLB in the first round they will have to be big, athletic, physical and smart. Without exception.

There are plenty of guys out there who can just pin their ears back and gun for the QB every time they’re on the field. But it takes a lot more to play in a defense where you’re going to be asked to do multiple things, including getting after the quarterback. 

If you’re going to get a guy and only ask him to rush the passer what not wait until the second or third round and get a guy like Brooks Reed, my fastest rising crush in this years draft.

SI: Top 50 Draft Prospects

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SI: Top 50 Draft Prospects

If you’re looking for a quick way to become familiar with the top 50 prospects in the this year’s draft here’s a good place to start.

It seems like every time I read new information about guys with Patriots potential you find someone who doesn’t think they’d be a good fit. Justin Houston is that guy here…

45) Justin Houston/DE-OLB/Georgia: The Georgia junior is a tremendous pass rusher out of a three-point stance. The problem is Houston lacks the size for the defensive end position and has poor instincts as a linebacker.

This comes on top of Aldon Smith being mentioned by Todd McShay today as a guy “who needs to play RDE in a 4-3”. So that strikes a blow to two of my top Pats OLB prospects. 

But it’s important to remember that no one, not me, not Mel Kiper or Todd McShay, nor any other draft guru outside of the Pats organization know exactly what they’re looking for at each position. So that means we shouldn’t necessarily cross off Smith or Houston from the board, but it does mean we should watch them closely at the combine to see how athletic they are in agility drills.

But my instinct is slowly saying more and more that chances are around 75% it will be a defensive end or interior offensive lineman at 17, and much much less it will be an OLB. Runningback could also be in the mix.