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Patriots Draft Preview: Guards
http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/patriots-draft-preview-guards/
Patriots current roster/ needs: The pundits, gurus and draftniks can roll out all their usual talk about how the Pats #1 need is an edge rusher because “you’ve got to pressure the quarterback” or how they’ll take a receiver who can “stretch the field and give Tom Brady a weapon” like they do every year. But I’ll state right here and now that they’re top priority is a starting offensive guard. Brady has weapons. What he needs- what the team needs- is a guy who’ll play 900 snaps a year and keep Brady from being taken apart like Mr. Potato Head.
And unlike the needs at O-tackle, which depend on whether Matt Light comes back, they need a starting guard whether or not Logan Mankins signs his Franchise tender. Stephen Neal is retired. I thought Dan Connelly was solid during Mankins holdout, even before he went all Devin Hester on our asses. But to me there’s only one spot clearly open in the starting 22, and it’s at right guard. As with tackle, they’ll look less for size than for a smart, tough, agile guy who knows his reads and can bounce outside to lead block for the short pass/ screen game.
Positional overview: It’s not a great year for interior linemen. Most mocks have 1 and at most 2 going in the 1st round and no more than 5 in the Top 100. And some of those are centers projected to move to guard. The prospects:
“Guys your age don’t start playing ball. They retire…” Danny Watkins, Baylor. 6-3, 310, 5.17
When it comes to the actual blocking of actual defensive players, Watkins is the class of the draft. He’s got the atheticism the Pats look for. He finishes his blocks. Plays to the whistle (and after). He’s got a mean streak that compares to Mankins. Believe it or not he’s a former British Columbia firefighter. The only flaw in his game is that next season he’ll turn 27. But he’s the one most ready to step in and contribute as a starter in an NFL offense right now and will be there for probably the Pats first 2 picks, 17 and 28.
Two guys from a Patriots feeder school:
Mike Pouncey, Florida. 6-5, 303, 5.12
Pouncey was the center for the Gators who could slide around to any of the three inside spots. He’s generally considered someone who’ll go in the late 1st to mid-2nd. His brother is the very good Steelers 1st round center pick Maurkice, and there’s a school of thought that Mike is far less talented and cashing in on his brother’s name. The Jamie Lynn to Maurkice’s Britney.
Maurice Hurt, Florida. 6-3, 320, 5.42
Hurt was a right tackle in Gainesville. He’s big and top heavy but not considered agile enough to play outside in the pros. And like Pouncey or Gators’ OT Marcus Gilbert, you’re taking your chances any time you draft an O-lineman who played in a spread offense.
Small school guy scouts love: Will Rackley, Lehigh. 6-3, 307, 5.39
As you’d imagine with a highly rated prospect out of the Patriot League, Rackley stands out as you watch his tape. Line scouts say his technique is textbook, he uses his hands well and plays with balance. The fact that he did if for the Mountain Hawks will scare teams away, but then again, the Saints Jahri Evans went to frigging Bloomsburg and he’s the highest paid OG in league history.
Big school guys scouts are not sold on:
Stephen Schilling, Michigan. 6-4, 308, 5.18
Clint Boling, Georgia. 6-5, 305, 5.28
Justin Borin, Ohio St. 6-3, 315, 5.35
I know all three of these guys are God’s children and special and unique in their own ways. So it pains me to say to this, but they’re virtually indistinquishable to me. Read 10 reports on each of them and you can’t tell which one you’re reading about. Strong, lacks agility, inconsistent, blah, blah, blah. These guys are the mean and the median of the very average 2011 OG draft class,. All are expected to go in the 4th or 5th and might develop into capable pros, but should familiarize themselves with the new kickoff return rules.
The Pats have met with: Pouncey. Also Mike Person, Montana St. 6-5, 299, 5.07. Person is considered a late rounder, 5-7.
Ideal Patriot: Watkins
Ideal Patriot if Watkins is off the board and they decide to hold off and make a 3rd round “value” pick: Andrew Jackson, Fresno St. 6-6, 303, 5.27
Like Mankins, Jackson is a guy coached by Belichick apprentice Pat Hill. He’s considered the best pass blocker in this group. He’s got natural quickness and all the scoutspeak cliches about pad levels, hard punches and mirroring his opponents you could ask for. Off the field he’s considered a leader and was a 1stTeam Academic All American. He was healthy all through school until he battled an ankle injury his senior year, so his stock might drop a little. Which is a plus because they might be able to grab him with #74 or even #92.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TdDF5U6qaWA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Just to be clear, the draft board, depth of the field and (wait for it…) “value” will dictate when they grab a guard, but getting a Week 1 starter is Priority 1.
@jerrythornton1
http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/patriots-draft-preview-guards/
Patriots current roster/ needs: The pundits, gurus and draftniks can roll out all their usual talk about how the Pats #1 need is an edge rusher because “you’ve got to pressure the quarterback” or how they’ll take a receiver who can “stretch the field and give Tom Brady a weapon” like they do every year. But I’ll state right here and now that they’re top priority is a starting offensive guard. Brady has weapons. What he needs- what the team needs- is a guy who’ll play 900 snaps a year and keep Brady from being taken apart like Mr. Potato Head.
And unlike the needs at O-tackle, which depend on whether Matt Light comes back, they need a starting guard whether or not Logan Mankins signs his Franchise tender. Stephen Neal is retired. I thought Dan Connelly was solid during Mankins holdout, even before he went all Devin Hester on our asses. But to me there’s only one spot clearly open in the starting 22, and it’s at right guard. As with tackle, they’ll look less for size than for a smart, tough, agile guy who knows his reads and can bounce outside to lead block for the short pass/ screen game.
Positional overview: It’s not a great year for interior linemen. Most mocks have 1 and at most 2 going in the 1st round and no more than 5 in the Top 100. And some of those are centers projected to move to guard. The prospects:
“Guys your age don’t start playing ball. They retire…” Danny Watkins, Baylor. 6-3, 310, 5.17
When it comes to the actual blocking of actual defensive players, Watkins is the class of the draft. He’s got the atheticism the Pats look for. He finishes his blocks. Plays to the whistle (and after). He’s got a mean streak that compares to Mankins. Believe it or not he’s a former British Columbia firefighter. The only flaw in his game is that next season he’ll turn 27. But he’s the one most ready to step in and contribute as a starter in an NFL offense right now and will be there for probably the Pats first 2 picks, 17 and 28.
Two guys from a Patriots feeder school:
Mike Pouncey, Florida. 6-5, 303, 5.12
Pouncey was the center for the Gators who could slide around to any of the three inside spots. He’s generally considered someone who’ll go in the late 1st to mid-2nd. His brother is the very good Steelers 1st round center pick Maurkice, and there’s a school of thought that Mike is far less talented and cashing in on his brother’s name. The Jamie Lynn to Maurkice’s Britney.
Maurice Hurt, Florida. 6-3, 320, 5.42
Hurt was a right tackle in Gainesville. He’s big and top heavy but not considered agile enough to play outside in the pros. And like Pouncey or Gators’ OT Marcus Gilbert, you’re taking your chances any time you draft an O-lineman who played in a spread offense.
Small school guy scouts love: Will Rackley, Lehigh. 6-3, 307, 5.39
As you’d imagine with a highly rated prospect out of the Patriot League, Rackley stands out as you watch his tape. Line scouts say his technique is textbook, he uses his hands well and plays with balance. The fact that he did if for the Mountain Hawks will scare teams away, but then again, the Saints Jahri Evans went to frigging Bloomsburg and he’s the highest paid OG in league history.
Big school guys scouts are not sold on:
Stephen Schilling, Michigan. 6-4, 308, 5.18
Clint Boling, Georgia. 6-5, 305, 5.28
Justin Borin, Ohio St. 6-3, 315, 5.35
I know all three of these guys are God’s children and special and unique in their own ways. So it pains me to say to this, but they’re virtually indistinquishable to me. Read 10 reports on each of them and you can’t tell which one you’re reading about. Strong, lacks agility, inconsistent, blah, blah, blah. These guys are the mean and the median of the very average 2011 OG draft class,. All are expected to go in the 4th or 5th and might develop into capable pros, but should familiarize themselves with the new kickoff return rules.
The Pats have met with: Pouncey. Also Mike Person, Montana St. 6-5, 299, 5.07. Person is considered a late rounder, 5-7.
Ideal Patriot: Watkins
Ideal Patriot if Watkins is off the board and they decide to hold off and make a 3rd round “value” pick: Andrew Jackson, Fresno St. 6-6, 303, 5.27
Like Mankins, Jackson is a guy coached by Belichick apprentice Pat Hill. He’s considered the best pass blocker in this group. He’s got natural quickness and all the scoutspeak cliches about pad levels, hard punches and mirroring his opponents you could ask for. Off the field he’s considered a leader and was a 1stTeam Academic All American. He was healthy all through school until he battled an ankle injury his senior year, so his stock might drop a little. Which is a plus because they might be able to grab him with #74 or even #92.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TdDF5U6qaWA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Just to be clear, the draft board, depth of the field and (wait for it…) “value” will dictate when they grab a guard, but getting a Week 1 starter is Priority 1.
@jerrythornton1
