19^th nervous Breakdown.

Pats player needs at 19.

By [email protected]

I am now becoming so overanxious for the draft, that I'm having trouble concentrating on everything. I have been so over-propagandized by all the information I’ve read that I am losing the ability to filter it. I believe that my main skill in the draft is that I love to read about the draft, it calms me, and then I am able to pull all that reading into some kind of useful information, at least that is my hope. However, each season I reach an over-load point where my mind overflows with all this draft information and I no longer can extract it out on a whim. I’m having a draftnic nervous breakdown.

I redid my mock this past weekend and did it a little crazier then normal, I was trying to show how strange things happen, and a player or two always slides further down then they should. Then I reached the 19 pick, which has been a high point for me in doing the draft, like a bonus player for the Patriots. This week I had no feeling who they going to take, so I gave them the player I thought would have the biggest impact on their offense. So who will the Pats take at 19? I don’t know but here are a few ideas.

Corner Back: I got an email from another Pats fan who wondered why I didn’t have the Pats taking a corner in the first three rounds. It just seems to me they are positioned wrong for the corners. Newman and Trufant will go to early, and KC and New Orleans desperately need corners, and between them Weathersby and Woolfolk could be taken between 16-18. I think the second round corners will all be gone by the time the Pats pick. However if Trufant falls to them at 14 do you take him? I have said all along I think they should, but I have changed my mind, I think they have to take one of the Big Five at fourteen. If Weathersby is there at 19 they may have to take him. I am worried about Woolfolk, but he has the athleticism to be a good if he can put it all together on the field. In fact, the Patriots might be the best team for him, because he will sit next season behind Law, Otis, and Poole and learn his craft. I also think the Pats will be able to get through next season with the corners they have. Otis and Poole will hold down the number two and nickel corner positions between them, with Myers playing in the dime. Age is a problem, and age would make corner the number one need in next year’s draft. But it would also not be a surprise if Woolfolk or Weathersby goes at 19.

Wide receiver: Not the biggest need for the Pats next season. Brown, Branch, and Patten are as good a 1 through 3 as there is, outside of Oakland. I also believe that David Givens showed enough promise to see some more time on the field as the number 4 receiver. The problem is Brown, who I believe is the Pats best offensive player, but he is small and this will be his 11^th season. Again I believe the Patriots will be fine this season, but age may cause them to address this early in next years draft. However, they will be staring at Taylor Jacobs at 19, and they may have to take him. I was not a big fan, he was a very productive receiver in college, but didn’t seem to have any exceptional characteristics, but then he went out and ran a 4.37 forty on his pro-day. He is a very polished receiver, much like Branch last season, with great hands. He could be a surprise pick at 19. Each team is aloud to bring 20 players to their facilities for a personal interviews. The Pats brought in Brandon Lloyd and Bryant Johnson this past week, either one of them could be on the board when the Pats draft in the second round. I think there is a possibility of the Pats trading down in the first round and pick up an extra 2^nd. Otherwise I think they will wait until the second day of the draft to grab an unpolished receiver. There will be some interesting developmental prospects drafted on the second day. Tyrone Calico, Sam Aiken, Nate Burleson, Kevin Curtis, Anquan Boldin, Talman Gardner, could all be on the board in the forth and fifth round.

Offensive Line: The Pats are all over the board here, they brought in Faine for an interview, and appear intent on upgrading the Center spot, for those of you who haven’t been paying attention to the Andy McCollum saga. Again he seems to be more of a trade down scenario. The number one player I wanted at 14 was Harris, but that has changed as they Pats need to take one of the Big Five. In my latest mock draft I have Harris dropping to them at 19, this would give the Pats a great draft. Sullivan at 14 and Harris at 19 would greatly improve both lines, and thus the whole team. I am a believer that games are won and lost in the trenches. That’s why I want the Pats to take two linemen in the first round, and if one of them is an O-linemen, either Harris or Steinbach, I would not complain. Though Harris is only 20 and will take two or three season to develop into the dominate left tackle I believe he can be. The big surprise could be Wayne Hunter. If Belichick trades down say 5-7 spots to Indy, the Giants, or San Fran’s spot and picks up a 2^nd or 3^rd, I think he will take Hunter, who is maybe the top riser in the draft.

Inside Linebacker: I have ruled out Boss Bailey because the last thing they need is another Outside linebacker or safety. Henderson would be a nice pick up at 19. He is the best run stuffer in the draft. However, I think if they take a linebacker it will be Bradie James in the second round, and his presents eliminates the need for Henderson. I think getting a young Inside Linebacker in this draft is a priority if they are switching to a 3-4 as their base defense, and that James is their man in the second round.

Defensive end: I am thinking more and more the Pats will take a D-end at 19. I really like Mike Haynes as a Left Defensive End who can rush the passer and still play the run. The problem is they have 5 quality Defensive Ends on their roster right now, Willie McGinest, Bobby Hamilton, Jarvis Green, Anthony Pleasant, and Rick Lyle, but none of them are game breakers. But how much of an upgrade would Haynes be, verse other need areas on the team? That is the question Poili will have to answer.

Running Back: Is Antowain Smith done, or did he just not get the same number of carries last season as he did two years ago? Has Kevin Faulk emerged as an every down player, or just a great third down back? Where is J.R. Redman, and who is Antwoine Womack? First, would Larry Johnson be a significant improvement over these player, I say no. A first round pick needs to significantly improve a need position. I believe they will take Lee Suggs in the third round. I have been comparing him to Curtis Martin, and wouldn't be ironic if the Pats take him in the third like Martin. Like Martin, he plays fast and very quick and has strength that doesn’t compute for his size. They both came out of college at 204-206 pounds. They both will fall because of injury concerns, and like Martin proved, I think Suggs will be an excellent back. Okay now for the crazy part, Belichick and Poili were down in Miami last week working out McGahee. Gil Bryant was on WEEI this after noon (Monday 4/7), and he said he thought McGahee would be a top 20 pick. He also said that McGahee is 3 months ahead of schedule.  He has been working out 6 hours a day, and that his attitude and work ethic was so exceptional that if he was holding a first round pick that he would take McGahee. Mcgahee will be working out on the 22nd, and if the knee is sound as people are saying the Pats could take him at 19!