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Reiss: Breaking down the Patriots sample draft card

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Reiss: Breaking down the Patriots sample draft card

Really rare insight into the true inner goings-on of the Patriots here and thus I have to dub it MUST READ! The most interesting thing to me is confirmation that there are in fact definite measurables that are desired for their system.

DEFINING THE GRADE: Any letters that come before a number is what the team calls “typing”. An “I” type means the prospect is “clean” based on the standards the team has for height, weight and speed at the position in the team’s system. In this grade, the “Z” means the player is height deficient. The “S” means the player is speed deficient. If there was a “B”, it would mean the player is bulk deficient based on his weight. The player’s grade is the number 4.910. The grading scale is 1 to 9, with 1 “not very good” to 9 being “this guy is rare.” The lower-case letters – in this case “lw” – are the team’s alert system. In this case, the “l” means a lower level of competition (e.g. a player from a Division II school). The “w” is a weight alert, indicating that the player has battled a weight problem (either too heavy or too light). The alerts don’t eliminate a player, but remind the team it’s something to investigate further.

Belichick on how the Patriots build their draft board

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Belichick on how the Patriots build their draft board

Great stuff from Mike Reiss, the most interesting quote below. This week we’ll take a similar approach with our big board and break it down by positions and what round we think would be appropriate.

“When you stack your board, you’re going to look vertically … The way we do it, we look vertically by positions. Here’s all the quarterbacks, here’s all the tight ends, here’s all the running backs,” Belichick said at the time.

“[Then] horizontally across the board, you try to get some kind of value of … This cornerback and this guard, and this linebacker and this tight end would have about the same value. They’d come in and they’d be role players for us. They’re never going to be starters. Or whatever their value is.

"And so when you’re sitting there trying to make your picks, you may be looking at three or four guys and they’re all kind of about the same. You’re five or six picks away and whichever one of these guys we end up with, we take them in this order, but we could live with any of them.”

Patriots-only Big Board majorly UPDATED!

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The Patriots-only big board has been evolving on an almost daily basis, and today we cross-referenced and added a lot of commentary via NFL.com. The point of this was two fold; first to get an even better sense of the prospects we had already on the board, and second to provide additional description to help illustrate why we have the players where we have them.

You can always access the big board at the perma-link over on the right column. Here’s the latest top ten…

  1. Marcel Dareus (DL, 6-03, 319, Alabama): would cause havoc, maybe not the perfect size for DE, but strong enough to play any DL spot. Possesses the athleticism and explosiveness to be consistently disruptive against the run and pass. Hands that don’t stop, sheds blockers quickly, and frequently uses the swim move to get to the quarterback. Also has great power to push the pocket and stand his ground adequately when run at.
  2. AJ Green (WR, 6-04, 211, Georgia): smooth, gifted WR, who would add a large outside target currently missing from Pats WR corps. Has the ideal length, refined route-running skills, hands, and big-play ability to become one of the league’s top players at the position. Displays tremendous acceleration and fluidity for a taller player.
  3. JJ Watt (DE, 6-05, 290, Wisconsin), big, athletic five technique with outstanding work ethic. Arguably the cleanest Pats prospect in draft. A hard-working, intelligent, relentless player. Uses his hands extremely well to get off blocks both rushing the passer and against the run. Doesn’t possesses great initial quickness but closes hard and fast on the quarterback and has enough straight-lined speed to pursue from the backside.
  4. Cameron Jordan (DL, 6-04, 287, Cal): has experience in 34, interior pass rush presence. Not ideal Pats DE, but versatility would make him useful. Really a good fit for any team that stresses gap integrity. Has good strength at the point of attack, plays with sound positioning, locates the ball carrier, gets off blocks and uses his good quickness and agility against the run. Not a big-time pass rushing talent by any means, but still has some good power moves.
  5. Robert Quinn (OLB, 6-04, 265, UNC): not as athletic as some thought, but could transition to OLB, bring some athleticism/pass rush. He has an excellent first step and the burst to consistently get around the edge. He is a relentless pass rusher that will only improve once he develops an array of counter moves. He lacks the bulk to hold stout against the running game and can get overwhelmed by bigger blockers.
  6. Julio Jones (WR, 6-03, 220, Alabama): physical, intimidating presence at WR, game changer. Vertical threat due to his height, strength, leaping ability, and speed. Generates big plays after the catch on screens and crossing patterns because of his physicality as a runner. Flashes outstanding hands and ball skills
  7. Muhammad Wilkerson (DL, 6-04, 315, Temple): has the size/anchor strength for DE, also has some interior pass rush ability. Ideal size, excellent shedding ability and the athleticism to pursue from the backside and rush the passer. Jolts offensive lineman at the point of attack, can beat the double team, finds the football and makes plays against the run.
  8. Gabe Carimi (LT/RT, 6-07, 314, Wisconsin): will need to get stronger but projects to either tackle spot, nasty playing temperament. His non-stop motor, coupled with his ideal size, make him a terror in the running game and he has enough athleticism to hold his own in pass protection.
  9. Mark Ingram (RB, 5-09, 215, Alabama):  great instincts and quickness for the game, would fit in well with current stable. Late first round steal. Ingram projects as an every-down back who can make an impact on the ground and in the passing game. One of the most polished running back prospects in recent memory. Has rare natural running sense in terms of vision and patience.
  10. Clint Boling (G/C, 6-05, 308, Georgia): versatile, interior lineman, who plays hard and has experience against top competition. Worker. A savvy, maximum-effort guy who could find a home with a franchise that values technique and mobility up front above pure strength. Has great awareness and understands the finer points of line play.

Click here for the remaining 60 Patriots-only prospects with detailed descriptions.

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We’re excited to be joined by NEPatriotsDraft.com’s head cheese James Christensen this weekend on the PatsPropaganda & Frenz podcast, 1pm Sunday. Mark your calendar. We’ll post the media player early Sunday morning, or you can catch us on Itunes immediately following the show. Should be one of the best Patriots draft discussions you’ve ever heard!

https://www.patspropaganda.com/were-excited-to-be-joined-by/

SI/Don Banks: New mock realistic for Patriots

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SI/Don Banks: New mock realistic for Patriots

Banks has got the Patriots taking JJ Watt and Danny Watkins and I think this is as realistic of a mock as there is out there for the Patriots. If they can get Watt or Jordan at 17 I think they pull the trigger. If not I see them trading down and picking up an interior lineman like Watkins or perhaps Muhammad Wilkerson. Either way I think a defensive front 7 player or offensive lineman are the most likely spots to be addressed in the first round.

ProFootballTalk Mock: Not even close for Patriots

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ProFootballTalk Mock: Not even close for Patriots

I really try not to read ProFootballTalk since Perez Florio is just a master of throwing gasoline on any small spark he sees, and here in his mock draft I’m given even more reason to never visit the site.

He’s got the Pats taking Brooks Reed at 17 and Nate Solder at 28, and while both players are on my Patriots-only big board, their selection at these slots would be overvaluing both of them.

Reed would definitely add some attitude, pass rush acumen, and a great uniform/helmet look to the Pats D, and Solder would eventually be a monster bookend with Sebastian Vollmer, but both players are extremely raw.

With both JJ Watt and Cameron Jordan available the selection of Reed seems like a gross over-simplification of the Patriots needs, with an extreme reach to fill that need.

So yeah, PFT should stick to unfounded rumors and leave the real football analysis to those who are actually paying attention.