Which direction would you go.( Pats draft)

[slamtheking]

 I really feel like lack of Supreme talent at the skill positions, RB, WR, OLB, DE,

 The Pats have amazing picks 17,28,33,56, Plus two thirds, the top of the 4th round because of the Maroney trade with Denver.

 So what do YOU do, not what will Bill do with these Great picks.

The fourth round pick is their own, not Denvers (which went to Seattle).

I think DL and OL are priorities.  it would be great to get a pass rusher. I think RB is up there, but WR is not.

All that said, I think the Pats are in a position to pretty much pick the best player available at each point in the draft.

Ditto.  However, if there's a choice between OL, DL or LB over the other positions assuming the talent evaluation is equal, I'd take someone in those 3 positions in this order DL, OL and LB.

[Eja117]

I am watching Senior Bowl practices on the NFL network right now. Bery berry eenteresting

[Donoghus]

Priorities in my opinion:

1) OL- address it early.  This bunch is getting a bit older and there is the Mankins/Light uncertainties. To me, its the #1 priority.

2) DL- need a pass rusher.  That can't be emphasized enough.  Its a trickier position to address, though.  Can be a real crapshoot.

3) WR- Unless they're trading up for one of the big hames, I wouldn't mind them holding off until late 2nd or 3rd round to address it.

They gotta build "inside, out" this draft.  Concentrate on the lines.  If the talent is thin, don't hesistate moving a pick or two for future picks which they've done in the past.

[Cman]

Based on the posts I've read it sounds like the consensus top two needs are the DL and OL.  It sounds like the relative ranking of the two have to do with whether Mankins is resigned or not.

(couldn't agree more)

[PosImpos]

OL and DL should always be the top priority for any team.

You need look no further than the annual success of the Pittsburgh Steelers to see how important it is to beef up your lines on both sides of the ball.  If you had strong line play on offense and defense you give yourself a chance to win regardless of who your skill players are. 

If you happen to also have an elite quarterback, you have a chance to make it to the post-season and win there, because your OL will give your QB time to work and your DL will make it difficult for the other team to answer.

All credit to Ben Roethlisberger where it is due - the guy is pretty clutch - but the Steelers would still win 8 games with Charlie Batch or whoever playing at QB.  They are rough and tough team that always beats the heck out of their opponent and gives their QB time to work.  The same can be said to a large extent of teams like the Jets and Ravens, who always seem to be in the post-season mix each year.

We know we have Brady for the next few years.  We shouldn't worry about the other skill positions.  Build a formidable D-line and a O-line that will protect Tom, and we will always have a chance to win big games.  For the last few years, the Patriots have been way too much of a finesse team.  Trying to win by scoring a lot and forcing / capitalizing on turnovers is not a reliable formula for success.  Defense wins championships - especially in football.

[Cman]

I think Ryan Kerrigan out of Purdue could be the guy.

I am warming up to this idea.  Mike Reiss had a short piece on him today.

[JSD]

Pass rush.

[beantownboy171]

17th: Aldon Smith olb/Missou
28th: JJ Watt DE/Wisconsin
33rd: Stefen Wisniewski G-C/Penn State
60th: Leonard Hankerson WR/Miami
74th: Quinton Carter S/Oklahoma
92nd: Nate Irving ILB/ N.C. State
4th: Jason Pinkston OT/ Pittsburgh

[Greenbean]

Pass rush!!!!!!!

It is th only thing that held this defense back this year. It is amazing they forced as many turnovers as they did considering they had trouble pressuring the QB consistently.

We need another Richard Seymour...is there one out there?

Im not sure that a pure pass rusher would fit in this system. That is why Seymour was so valuable. He could stuff the run and get to the QB as a down lineman in the 3-4.

I guess we need to look at OLB next if there is no Seymour available.

Offensively we should keep building and turning over our OL. Left tackle will become a priority sooner rather than later so lets look there.

I dont understand the belief that there is a big need for WR's. They were great all year. The Jets just had a good gameplan. They got to Brady and got him out of rythm early. The Pats also missed a couple of Golden opportunities to get an early lead.

You cant look at one game and asses what is needed. We need to continually build this emerging defense. Great offenses do not win Super Bowls. You need a solid and dependable defense. That is fact.

To add to this, I think it is about time the Pats found some luck drafting a running back. Robert Edwards was the last guy they picked that actually looked like a franchise type back and we all know how that ended...

I would think about choosing one in the first 3 rounds even though Bill doesnt have a good track record selecting skill players.

[blackbird]

I don't really know anything about college football, so I don't have any real suggestions, but might it be worth it to package a few of the high picks to move up in the draft and get one of the elite prospects?

[Chris]

I don't really know anything about college football, so I don't have any real suggestions, but might it be worth it to package a few of the high picks to move up in the draft and get one of the elite prospects?

Well, it depends how sure they are of a rookie pay scale, but if they feel confident there will be one, then I think this is a real possibility if there is someone they like enough. 

[PosImpos]

As if more really needed to be said on the subject of defense being far more important than offense in the NFL:

TMQ

"The saying goes -- offense sells tickets and defense wins championships. That has been the theme of the current playoffs. Of the top 10 offensive teams in the NFL this season, only one, Green Bay, reached the title round. But all of the final four teams were in the top 10 for defense. Of the top 10 rushing-offense teams this season, only one, Jersey/B, reached the title round. But of the top rushing defenses, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 -- the Steelers, Bears and Jets, respectively -- made the final four.

In passing, the disparity isn't quite as pronounced. Of the top 10 passing-offense teams this season, only one, Green Bay, made the title round. Of the top 10 passing defenses, two, the Jets and Packers, did so. But in the main event, defense has prevailed over offense emphatically, with defenses No. 2 (Pittsburgh) and No. 5 (Green Bay) reaching the Super Bowl, while offense No. 9 (Green Bay) is the highest represented."


Won't have much confidence in the Patriots until they develop a top defense.

[Evantime34]

As if more really needed to be said on the subject of defense being far more important than offense in the NFL:

TMQ

"The saying goes -- offense sells tickets and defense wins championships. That has been the theme of the current playoffs. Of the top 10 offensive teams in the NFL this season, only one, Green Bay, reached the title round. But all of the final four teams were in the top 10 for defense. Of the top 10 rushing-offense teams this season, only one, Jersey/B, reached the title round. But of the top rushing defenses, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 -- the Steelers, Bears and Jets, respectively -- made the final four.

In passing, the disparity isn't quite as pronounced. Of the top 10 passing-offense teams this season, only one, Green Bay, made the title round. Of the top 10 passing defenses, two, the Jets and Packers, did so. But in the main event, defense has prevailed over offense emphatically, with defenses No. 2 (Pittsburgh) and No. 5 (Green Bay) reaching the Super Bowl, while offense No. 9 (Green Bay) is the highest represented."


Won't have much confidence in the Patriots until they develop a top defense.

How good was the Saints defense last year?

[Chris]

As if more really needed to be said on the subject of defense being far more important than offense in the NFL:

TMQ

"The saying goes -- offense sells tickets and defense wins championships. That has been the theme of the current playoffs. Of the top 10 offensive teams in the NFL this season, only one, Green Bay, reached the title round. But all of the final four teams were in the top 10 for defense. Of the top 10 rushing-offense teams this season, only one, Jersey/B, reached the title round. But of the top rushing defenses, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 -- the Steelers, Bears and Jets, respectively -- made the final four.

In passing, the disparity isn't quite as pronounced. Of the top 10 passing-offense teams this season, only one, Green Bay, made the title round. Of the top 10 passing defenses, two, the Jets and Packers, did so. But in the main event, defense has prevailed over offense emphatically, with defenses No. 2 (Pittsburgh) and No. 5 (Green Bay) reaching the Super Bowl, while offense No. 9 (Green Bay) is the highest represented."


Won't have much confidence in the Patriots until they develop a top defense.

How good was the Saints defense last year?

That was my first thought too.

Basically, it is all about matchups and execution on any given Sunday.  Teams with decent balance have the best chance of winning it all (and I would argue that two of the more balanced teams in the league made the superbowl), but when it's one and done, it is tough to predict based on offense versus defense.

[Evantime34]

In this years the most depth is at Offensive Tackle and Defensive End. I expect us to take two offensive lineman in the first 3 rounds, two players that played DE in college (one as a 5 technique DE in our 3-4 and one as a 3-4 OLB).  That leaves two remaining picks. I think we will trade one of them either to move up or for the draft next year and the other one will be a running back.
Here is who I want at the following positions
OL- Castanzo, Carmini, Solder, Pouncy, Wisniewski (two of)
3-4 DE- Watt, Jordan, Heyward,
3-4 OLB- Kerrigan, Ayers, Miller, Clayborn
RB- Ingram, Williams, LeShore.