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Patriots Daily Mock Draft, Part 1

April 15, 2010 By 5 Comments

by Patriots Daily Staff

Chris: Well, faithful PD readers, by this time you’ve evaluated a slew of mock drafts, so we figured it was our turn to put ourselves out there (with an appropriate New England bias, of course).

Let me begin by saying that the high level of talent in this year’s draft makes this mock a lot of fun. Pass rushers, receivers and running backs abound. I’d like to add that, if I really were in charge of the Patriots’ picks, I’d trade at least two toward 2011 because 13 of last year’s rookies remain on the roster.

Instead of bothering with specific numbers I just stuck to rounds. I figure there will be plenty of hopping around over the three-day draft, anyway. Enjoy, and if you have a different opinion of who the Pats should draft, feel free to engage in some lively debate in the comments section below.

FIRST ROUND

Jerry Hughes of TCU

Chris Warner: Jerry Hughes, OLB, TCU. Some talk about taking Brandon Graham here – and that might happen – but I like Hughes better as an all-around athlete. Lined up as a defensive end at TCU, but showed the ability to play on his feet. He can rush the passer or cover tight ends, giving the Patriots versatility at that spot. You’ll notice that I am NOT trading down from 22. Because that would be cruel to New England fans. (Pats front office, please take note.)

Greg Doyle: You have to like Hughes’ production and despite everything, he is still only 21 years old. So you are getting a young player, with upside and big college production. I do have a couple of concerns with him. First, I watched him closely vs. Boise State in his bowl game and thought he had a mediocre game at best. He also took a couple really dumb penalties including an after the whistle personal foul reminiscent of David Thomas versus the Colts in 2008. He also had some good moments of pressure against a hard to rush Boise team. Second, his great production came against mid-level college teams, not the elite. I just think it’s a bit of a gamble pick in the first round. He hasn’t played linebacker at all either. I see high boom or bust potential in him. I’d feel better about taking him in the second round.

My pick would be Jared Odrick. I see limited downside to him. Just a very productive, possibly slightly undersized but not significantly, hard working player who was productive against great competition. He’d slide into that 3-4 end spot and allow Mike Wright to be sort of a super sub at every spot on the line. I think worst case Odrick is a close to a decade solid starter. Best case is he’s a Pro Bowler. I don’t see a lot of risk in this pick, which is the main reason I’m favoring it now. As an alternative, Ryan Matthews at running back really intrigues me but it’s not as big a need for the Patriots right now as the defense is. If they could trade Maroney for a third, I might consider that direction.

Scott Benson: This year’s draft meme is clearly the defensive front seven, as it should be – unless the Pats get a lot better there in a hurry, they’ll continue to slide farther and farther away from another championship. Unfortunately, it’s not the only area in which they’ll need to quickly improve. Offensively, the Patriots have essentially reduced themselves to playing 3 (Brady, Moss and Welker) against 11 every week. So offensive skill players are also needed, and in a hurry, as they will likely be without Welker when they open the season. The good news (and isn’t some good news needed?) is they have 4 of the first 53 picks in what is regarded as a solid, even deep, draft. So to me, New England braintrust, the top priorities are these: 1) No avoidance. Give me players, not future picks. If you decide to trade back from 22 (and that may turn out to be in your best interest) it’s for picks you’ll make THIS YEAR. 2) No prototypes. I don’t give a shit what kind of ‘length’ you like. Shawn Crable has ‘length’, and he SUCKS. 3) No projects. Give me grown ups who have demonstrated productivity and consistency for a long period of time. Don’t give me Jason-Pierre Three Names and this ‘freak’ bullshit. Honestly.

Oh, I was supposed to pick a player there? Okay, I’ll take Graham. During Senior Bowl week, he looked like an eighth grader playing with sixth graders.

SECOND ROUND

Chris: Cam Thomas, DL, North Carolina. I just love the whole 6-foot-4, 330-pound thing he’s got going for him. He’s tough to move and fast in a straight line (5.14 in the 40), making him an ideal backup nose and a strong candidate to anchor one side of the line at defensive end.

Greg: Thomas is definitely a player I like who really stood out at the Senior Bowl and the more you check him out you see what a good player he is, if not flashy. He isn’t going to be a big time pass rusher. But he is a guy who could play end or nose tackle that will be very stout against the run. I might go this direction if I did the Matthews thing in the first round, but with my pick being Odrick, I think I prefer Thaddeus Gibson who I see as a high upside guy with tons of talent, who came out after his junior year and has room to grow and has actually played the outside linebacker position. That is my pick at 44.

Scott: I got my linebacker earlier so now I’m looking to fill that vacant RDE spot, so my pick here is the Cal DL Tyson Alualu. Productivity, versatility, consistency, maturity.

Jared Veldheer

Chris: Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale. Like the rest of us, Matt Light isn’t getting any younger. Also like the rest of us, Nick Kaczur made some mistakes last year. Veldheer has a Vollmer-like reach (6-foot-8), quick feet for his size (4.51-second 20-yard shuttle), and the strength to hold down the edge (32 bench press reps). In fact, a comparison to Vollmer’s pro day shows quite a few similarities. A former high school hoopster, Veldheer could put in some time as a blocking tight end, too.

Greg: I like your reasoning on Veldheer, but with Light, Vollmer, Kaczur and LeVoir still on the roster I just see this as too early. Perhaps if they were to trade Matt Light, who is headed into his last year under contract, this might be the move. Instead, I projected Kam Chancellor here who is a big safety. While safety also isn’t a big need with Meriweather, Chung, Sanders and McGowan still around, I would overlook that by saying I don’t think they see Sanders and McGowan as long-term answers. And I think they feel they are lacking a big, physical safety presence since Rodney Harrison retired. Chancellor is a very big safety, around 230 lbs., but with excellent speed and playmaking ability. He was also a leader of Virginia Tech’s defense. Finding a big safety who can hit, run, cover and make plays on the ball isn’t easy. I think Chancellor fits the bill of being Rodney’s replacement they’re right now lacking.

Scott: At this point, I’ve got to diversify my ridiculously limited offensive attack, so the pick here is BYU TE Dennis Pitta, whose athleticism, short area quickness and feel for the passing game gives him the chance to be an immediate contributor. I’m guessing this will be considered by some to be a reach, but keep in mind those people would have you address your tight end need with a freaking basketball player.

Ben Tate

Chris: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn. Okay, okay, maybe this is early. But considering the Pats traded away their third- and fifth-round picks for Derrick Burgess’ garbage-time sacks (Who, me? Bitter?), this will be their last chance to pick up a big, fast back who has had success against the best defenses in college. Time to revamp the offensive backfield, starting with a steady presence who can hold up both physically and mentally for 16 games. Gaining over 1,300 yards vs. SEC defenses says a lot.

Greg: I like Tate a lot and I’m tempted to just agree with you. He is the best blocking running back in the draft and showed great running ability this season and in the Senior Bowl. He tested better than expected after the season as well before scouts. But I’m gonna stick with my defensive oriented first two days by projecting Alualu, the big defensive end from California. With two of the top 4 picks being 3-4 pure defensive ends, I think that would cure worries about that position and right now I have some. Ty Warren has slipped in recent years and battled quite a few injuries. Besides him, they only have the solid Wright established. Alualu, like Odrick, is a very hard working, tough, physical fighter of a player with good size and 3-4 end speed who’d really help solidify the position. I see both as Patriots-type players. Or at least the type of hard working players they were known for in their Super Bowl years.

Andre Roberts

Scott: Daniel Jeremiah of the outstanding Move the Sticks blog has been telling us for weeks that one of the most polished and pro-ready receivers in the draft is the Citadel’s Andre Roberts, so he’s my pick with #53. Like Pitta, he’s got the speed and quickness to go with the well-honed route tree, and the kind of character and maturity that has evidently been in short supply of late in Foxborough. Enough with leading these young players around by the nose. On the field, Roberts  can also step into the punt returner role that Welker will almost assuredly vacate.

Chris: Scott, as you’ll see tomorrow, you’re not alone on the Roberts pick, though Greg and I would consider a second-rounder a bit high to pay for him.

No third rounders, dear readers, so we’ll see you in Part 2 with rounds four through seven…

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Q&A With Auburn RB Ben Tate

March 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

by Chris Warner, Patriots Daily Staff

Auburn Running Back Ben Tate

Bigger running backs get reputations as between-the-tackles guys who get a few yards up the middle and not much else. At 220 pounds, Ben Tate knew this perception of him going into the NFL combine, and he figured he’d do something about it.

The Auburn product cast aside that image by finishing at or near the top of six categories for running backs. He spoke with PD about the combine, playing in the SEC, and the diverse abilities he’s always had.

Well, I wanted to start out by saying congratulations on a great combine performance. I was wondering if you could talk about your workouts leading up to that, and how you feel about the results.

Leading up to the combine, I was just working really hard on the 40 and all those types of things that we were going to do there, as well as position drills. You know, I just worked my butt off. I had my goals set high, and I reached, pretty much, some of my goals, but not all of them. By the end of the day, I was pretty happy with what I did.

What were you most pleased with, and where were you maybe a little disappointed?

I’d say I was most pleased with my (40.5-inch) vertical. And I was a little disappointed with my (4.43-second) 40 time.

Had you been timed in the weeks leading up to that and done a little better?

Oh, yes. Yes, I had. Prior to the combine, I ran a little bit better than what I ran at the combine. So I was a little upset about that at first.

In terms of the months leading up to the combine, what did you feel your perception was – or the perception of you was – as a running back?

I think everyone had this perception of me as just being a big bruiser: I don’t have any moves, I’m not fast, maybe I can’t catch the ball. I think that was more (the) perception (of me), that I was just a big bruiser, when that’s really not so at all. You know, I have real speed to take to the defense, and I definitely can make people miss. I think I’ve shown that plenty of times this year past, my senior year… I also think I’ve shown that, when I’ve had the opportunity, that I can catch the ball well.

Talking about opportunities, I read just recently in a draft magazine that you’re the type of back who can’t make it to the outside – make it around the end. Obviously, based on your 40 time, that’s not true. Do you think your offense is maybe geared a certain way that makes you look like a certain kind of back?

I would say that that perception really comes from my junior year, being in that spread offense. A lot of our running was side-to-side, and if you’re in the backfield, you’re in a shotgun, you’re lined up on the opposite side. You know, coming all the way across the formation with the ball, trying to run outside, I mean, it’s the SEC. There’s not too many guys that’s really going to make that corner. I think that perception, you know, came from, definitely my junior year, when a lot of times I wasn’t really getting the corner because guys (were) already halfway there before I was. I think that’s really where that perception came from, a little bit. But this year, as you can see – and if you go back and look at my sophomore and freshman year – that I got the corner a number of times.

Also, do you think going up against SEC defenses every week has helped you, or hurt you?

I think it’s definitely helped me. I think it helps a big deal, that the defenses in the SEC are big and fast, and it’s a lot of the same guys that tend to be successful at the next level. You know, going against those guys week in and week out, I think it just better prepares you for the next level. I went to the Senior Bowl, and I was actually getting to practice against those guys. It’s just amazing to see how fast those guys move at practice and things like that. But then, once we got into the game, I mean, it was just like another SEC game because you’re going against the cream of the crop, but it seems like… after going against the SEC, the guys on the other side still maybe wasn’t as fast as some of those (SEC) guys. You know, I think it definitely can help me get ready for the next level.

Were you always looking at playing in the SEC coming out of high school?

For the most part, yes. For the most part I kind of wanted to play in the SEC, but at the same time, I still liked Maryland and Penn State, those schools that was close to home (in Maryland). But I still felt like I would have an advantage playing in a tough conference.

And what made you decide on Auburn?

Again, it being the SEC, going against the quality defenses week in and week out. And, you know, with the tradition of running backs that they have here at Auburn, I felt if I came out and I performed well in a tough conference, all I could do is just help my opportunity, better my chances of being at the next level.

In high school, you gained almost 6,000 yards in your career, and you averaged almost 11 yards a carry. Was there ever a point where you thought it was kind of easy?

Ah… it was, sometimes. Sometimes, it really was easy. (Laughs.) You know, I’d get to the point where sometimes I would make bets with my father: “I’ll bet you I score two touchdowns in the first quarter, or have 100 yards rushing in the first quarter.” Just little things like that, that still just kept me working hard and kept pushing me. But it wasn’t always like that. There was definitely a lot of tough games I had throughout my high school career. At the same time, there was times when I thought it was a little easy, but I still had to find a way to keep myself going hard, and not really bring my level of play down.

A lot of people might go through kind of a senior slump in high school, but you graduated early to attend spring practice at Auburn, is that right?

Yes, that’s correct.

And what was that like?

Oh, it was a great experience. Coming in, I was a young guy, and, you know, I had to work my way up to the top again. So, it definitely humbles you. And it gave me a little step on the other guys coming in at the same time as me.

What do you think NFL scouts should know about you that they might not see on film?

Just how much of a competitor I am, how much I love the game. Just, you know, my good overall character. I’ve never had any off-the-field problems. I’ve always made a pretty good impression. I think that’s important, too.

What running backs do you watch in the NFL? Do you try to emulate anybody’s game, or is there anyone who you like to watch in particular?

Oh, I don’t try to emulate anyone’s game at all. I think my game is a little bit different than most of the guys that you see in the NFL now. I have some similarities to some of the guys, but overall I think my game is a little different. But, you know, my favorite running back – definitely, I like to watch Adrian Peterson and LT. I like watching Chris Johnson, too, but I just know there’s no way I can do what he does: he’s just way faster than me. (Laughs.) He’s got a lot of speed.

Do you see yourself as more of kind of a grind-it-out, old-school back, or are you just leaving that wide open in terms of all of the things you’re able to do?

I like to leave it wide open, you know, because I think I can do it all. I think I can be a great pass-catcher out of the backfield. I’ve shown that plenty of times. I feel like I can be that guy that gets to the outside and runs inside, and at the same time, pick up – if the linebacker comes up – blitzes, like I’m a complete back. I think you have to be, especially in the NFL. You’ve got to have a complete running back. And I definitely think I’m a complete running back.

Do you think there’s any one thing you need to work on more than others?

Not really. I think you always can improve your game, so I’m always working to improve every aspect of my game, from the technique of pass protect all the way to quick feet, or just holding onto the ball. The little things. Always trying to improve the little things.

Did you get to talk to NFL teams at the combine or at your pro day?

Yes, I got to talk to a couple of teams at the combine.

Which ones in particular?

Oh, you know what? It’s really hard for me to remember right now. (Laughs.)

(Laughs.) I’m sure it must have been – was the combine experience just crazy?

Yeah, it was a little crazy, but at the same time, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so you kind of stay with the moment and go with the flow, and have fun at the same time.

And what are you going to be up to from now until the draft?

You know, just working out now, with a couple of team workouts, and things like that. Just working out with different teams, and going on visits maybe, and trying to stay in the best shape I can.

Do you have any team workouts scheduled as of now?

Yes.

Do you want to say who they are?

No, I’d rather not.

All right, fair enough. Ben, thanks a lot for talking to us today. I appreciate it.

All right.

Email Chris Warner at [email protected]

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