He says The Patriots need an outside linebacker!? Are you serious. We have 2 great ones! Mike Vrabel, and Adalius Thomas. We need INSIDE LINEBACKERS. This idiot is saying draft Vernon Gholston, and outside linebacker. C'mon! If he followed The Patriots AT ALL, he would know we need an inside linebacker. Sure, we could pi$$ of Mike Vrabel and make him play inside linebacker, where he's not nearly as effective, and the same goes for Thomas, but why would we do that? We need corners, and inside linebackers. Message to Prisco... Watch some football, then you can move up to talking about football. Idiot!
well just a question, but how old are those Lb's you named? now i know Thomas isnt that old, but im think'n he is 28-29, the other 30+? I think its time to look to draft replacements? Umm who backs them up? In a 3-4 defense you can never have too many linebackers!! So umm yea i would have to agree with OLB being a SECONDARY NEED, not primary. Relax, and comprehend what he said....so i say again, just as he said secondary need!!!!
He is right, pats o-line and LB's are an area of concern after the corner pos, not that these pos are terrible, but its the pats and its hard to find a weak link, but those are the pos that need attn.
Nah I'd say he hit the nail on the head. The great thing about Gholston is he'd be able to play end too, he won't be around for them though. I think Prisco is right, they'll draft a corner in round one.
We do need a linebacker, or two. Not just for this season, but for the future of the franchise. This is Tedy Bruschi's last year in my opinion. And I've also heard that Junior Seau was released. Not sure if there's any truth to that though, I've only seen that he was released on these message boards. But you have to remember, these are the Patriots. Most linebackers they have are versatile enough to play inside, or out. So it's irrelevent to say they need an inside, or outside, linebacker. For that matter, we could use a versatile DE that can play linebacker as well. (Bring Back Rosevelt Colvin!!!)
As far as the secondary, Prisco fails to even mention newly-signed Fernando Bryant. He's no stud, or even close to a shut down corner, nor does he make many INTs, but he should help. Jason Webster (and Lewis Sanders) will be lucky to make the opening day roster. They could still use another corner. Any of the top 4 corners in the draft, especially a tall, speedy, raw talent like Rodgers-Cromartie, would be a welcomed addition, and would be all the Patriots need at the moment to shore up their secondary.
Another need is an offensive lineman. Someone to come in and replace any injured starters throughout the season (Stephen Neal), or give Logan Mankins or Matt Light a breather once in a while.
And you should always pay attention to talented running backs, and wide receivers. Not that we need any right now, but for the future. I just hope Sammy Morris comes back heathy, and plays like he did before his season ending chest injury. He impressed me more than Laurence Maroney did last season. I'm just not sold on Maroney to carry the load at RB for our team, and you can't expect Kevin Faulk to carry the ball more than a half dozen times a game.
Just don't expect them to keep their #7 pick unless Gholston does fall into our lap. We could easily trade that pick for a late first rounder, still get our corner, and then have a couple second round picks, or more, to play with.
I just can't wait for the draft next month. Haven't been this exited for a draft in years!
Man, Adalius Thomas is our "youngster" at LB at 31 years old (start of the season). Vrabel's pretty damn old, and can play inside if needed. Therefore, a good pass rushing outside linebacker is a huge need at defense. After Rosevelt Colvin got hurt last season, the defense really missed his pass-rushing skills coming off the edge. Give Prisco a break. I do think he makes stupid predictions and so on just to get the fans talking. But this article was actually pretty good.
I agree. We need a pass rusher, and someone versatile who will allow the Pats to play a 3-4 and an occassional 4-3. I hope to hell Gholston is still there.
Dude are you serious?! True Browns Fan, stick with the Browns. You stated the age of our 2 youngest starting linebackers, and said it was your area of concern. Bruschi is going on 35 and we don't even know if Seau is coming back. They're both inside linebackers by the way. Just so you know. Might be a good idea to fill that hole first. Just a common sense idea there.
I don't care how versatile some people say he may be, that doesn't change the fact that he's not use to playing any linebacker spot, inside or outside. It would be SO stupid to pick up Gholston. We're not picking anyone at the #7 spot regardless. Gaurantee we trade that pick, for more picks and maybe a proven starting corner or linebacker.
You know what, I'm finished with this subject. I figured atleast a few of my fellow Pats might understand what I'm trying to say, but no. You want to replace aging middle line backers, with a DE that's never played any linebacker, well God bless. Go right ahead! Let's see what we do come draft day, till then I'm finished discussing anything draft related.
I just hope I don't stumble upon any more brilliant ideas like Gholston for the Pats. Hey here's one... let's replace the football cleats with roller blades, We'll call BladeBall! Can't wait for BladeBall Season to start. You played the Madden BladeBall 09 yet? Sounds great.
Tell you what Patswillkllyou, you make a good point. But, five things:
1. The Pats just don't have a history of drafting linebackers with high picks.
2. They do have a history of drafting D-linmen with high picks (Seymour, Warren, Wilfork)
3. They do have a history of taking pass rushing defensive ends and converting them to linebacker (Tedy Bruschi). Versatility is a big selling point for the Pats.
4. There just isn't an inside linebacker worthy of a 7th pick, and there might not be one in the first round, unless you want to convert a D-lineman, but we know how you feel about that.
5. A good pass rush can cover for a lot of holes in the secondary. Just ask Giants fans.
But you've left the building, so I guess I'm talking to myself.
For once I thought Prisco was dead on with the Gholston pick. I think that the OLB in a 3-4 is one of the most demanding position on the defense, both physicallty and mentally. There is no denying that Gholston has the physical tools to rush from the edge, or drop into coverage. At 6'3", 255 with 4.5 speed, there's not much he can't do physically. Plus you have the benefit of bringing in an OSU guy to learn from another OSU guy who also happens to be an outstanding and very intelligent team player in Mike Vrabel.
Anyone who has ever seen my posts knows I'm no fan of Belichick or the Pats. But I can still respect good football when I see it. The idea of being able to pair Vrabel with Gholston would be nothing but good for the Pats: they could spell each other in the course of a game; prolong Vrabel's career (since he won't be playing as much during the season); allow Vrabel to groom/teach Gholston as his successor...those are all good things. This kid could be scary good in that defense.
I could see them going after a CB at #7, but even then, any CB they take that high still has some holes in their game. If Gholston is there, he's more of a complete player than anyone else they could get.
Ha ha, Are you trying to say a college defensive end can't make the transition to linebacker in the NFL? Gholston DID play DE at Ohio State. Guess who else played DE at Ohio State: Mike Vrabel! Vrabel used to hold the school's sack record, until it was broken by Gholston.
You need to realise that the NFL is different to college. Chris Long played DE in a 3-4 at Virginia, but at the combine, even he himself said that it was only his third best position in the NFL, behind 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB (because of his size). You need to realise that Gholston will be a great 4-3 end or 3-4 OLB in the NFL. Given the age of the New England linebacking corps in general, they would be nuts to pass on Gholston if he's still there.
First of all Adalius Thomas started the season for the Pats at ILB not OLB. When Colvin went down they moved Adalius to OLB and replaced him on the inside with Seau as a starter. Therefore getting Gholston (which as a Bills fan I really hope doesnt happen) would allow them to move Adalius back inside with Bruschi and have Gholston and Vrabel on the outside.
Second of all Bruschi, Vrabel and Adalius are all over 30.
Lastly, I bet if Ellis or Dorsey are there when the Pats pick Bellichick will take one of them. He loves to take linemen early in the draft and even with the solid DL they have another prospect like Dorsey or Ellis would be a great addition and allow them to rotate more and keep guys fresh.
They can always take a player like Quentin Groves or Cliff Avril in the second round.
Ok, maybe I overreacted a little bit in calling Prisco an idiot, but I still don't get why anyone would want to see us grab an OLB. And with the signing of Hobson, and the possibility that Seau could return, or maybe Colvin for cheap,... I see the only hole we have is Samuel's departure. That's easy.
