Draft Prospect Review - 3/26/2008

Wed, 26 Mar 2008

Listen to this week's Draft Prospect Review with the writers of Patriots Football Weekly. Hear all about the prospects in the tight end position and even some potential special teams candidates.

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Play from 0:27[0:27] ..." draft prospect preview and I asked an official plaque cast of the New England Patriots it's much to write yet. Gillette Stadium and it is smiling at me over there. Welcome that -- and you know we"...

Play from 0:54[0:54] ..." to put -- draft. But -- seriously with the you know Kyle Brady moving on -- being asked to move on August -- Benjamin Watson. Kind of I guess is what he is at this point in his career David Thomas now injury prone. It would make"...

Play from 1:50[1:50] ..." think is okay but is not going to make his Mark as Kyle Brady like. Third tackle walker Dave Thomas if healthy is certainly not that in any way so I think you're looking at more"...

Play from 4:45[4:45] ..." who can be a blocking tight end in the mold of a Kyle Brady because of his size but he also -- pretty good hands -- into play."...

Play from 6:42[6:42] ..." asking you. They run block in the way for two seconds to Laurence Maroney Inkatha. There's another a physical specimen there 66 I think 260. And that's -- and he -- today who's very athletic very"...

Play from 0:04[0:04]" And it -- podcast victory dot com. For information on tickets or any other patriots -- patriots got time. Himself mentally and the leader of patriots football weekly and we'll leave the reds."

Play from 0:25[0:25]" I am -- welcome to the draft prospect preview and I asked an official plaque cast of the New England Patriots it's much to write yet. Gillette Stadium and it is smiling at me over there. Welcome that -- and you know we have twelve -- X out you know I'm in any high covering the tight -- take LA ND."

Play from 0:43[0:43]" Thank you -- tight and should be a position we should keep an eye on why. Because it feels like the patriots always draft went right well they do. Rarely do they ever stick around -- time to put -- draft. But -- seriously with the you know Kyle Brady moving on -- being asked to move on August -- Benjamin Watson. Kind of I guess is what he is at this point in his career David Thomas now injury prone. It would make sense that maybe you know early but at some point in this draft you'd think they're going to look to bring on a tight and that. Well actually fight for our roster spot have a chance to make the team that trip. I would agree with him as an overall and I think that they often go for -- and I think you look at -- that they have. I think there's talent there with Watson and Tom Hartley yeah bigger question and -- with the help that for bull so. And it makes a lot and hear the question is a double way to think it might. That opening their third fourth that too early -- and while the thing. I think that he walked -- first I would say because you know walk and I think is okay but is not going to make his Mark as Kyle Brady like. Third tackle walker Dave Thomas if healthy is certainly not that in any way so I think you're looking at more blocking tight and tight. And that's not the kind of guy that brings a lot of value actually probably for a diamond in the rough and guys that they just eke out as. We in this guy blocking college and he's the guy that we think can do that -- opera and I would be surprised that the because there's enough for the -- that are that are decent enough -- crop the -- as a late round pick those are the guys just bring to camp. Run around the on the roster. Maybe the practice squad and you know their athletes like linebackers can always use in the -- I wondered if maybe. In the blocking that you brought up and leading colon nine guys that out there I mean I don't know exactly who's on the market right now. This -- become available we almost not talking about street. I I was rivers not even I'm talking about you know I'd Jered Weaver won like that. -- you know and has a reputation NFL veteran as a reputation. It around a little bit you can pick one of those guys up in addition to. Draft you know from the guys that we watched in this class and we all somewhat impressed with the approval all of the talent here -- and I think. But I didn't -- a lot of guys that fit that mold that you describe. Well it's hard to find those guys and they don't get a lot publicity date as they think they're more diamonds in the rough there someone that. An area out target you know he might even be out of school watching someone -- blocking tight and tight catches inside. Let's delve into it our friends over NFL draft scout dot com list about seventeen guys potentially tight -- being drafted. Com and the they actually have tech in -- Martellus Bennett number 1 all projected as a second round pick -- project any first round tight ends on I like brad Davis after watching you know the film on him he he's a guy 63 to fifty. Decent aptly Wednesday team breaker type athlete. Soft hands I think he has far and away the best and I won that. And al all and I like that in well and he was one of the -- guys on those on the film that we watched that actually did have a couple -- I -- him block one lead and the goal won it -- I agree with an overall on the topic and probably not -- the top of god."

Play from 4:26[4:26]" Fred gave -- yet that was but that has all of our I like Davis to about tell you what there's a guy that I know Tom. Loves who if it weren't for his injury history would probably be a first round tied and and that's brad Cottam Tennessee. Who's a monster like 68 to seventy and he's one of those guys who can be a blocking tight end in the mold of a Kyle Brady because of his size but he also -- pretty good hands -- into play."

Play from 4:50[4:50]" Yeah he's -- very well he's someone I the other Steelers took -- space from Minnesota last year. The because he became their second identity BK he was very valuable to the goal line -- catch a -- a passes but the -- important. Blocking type guy so I think if you could -- the patriots to bring a guy like -- he can become that second tight -- for you we'd have to catch 3040 passes. But catches a few that are poor that opens the way upper world Ian helped radiant Matt -- on the edge there."

Play from 5:20[5:20]" I really do with your comparisons based on one time because he's a guy -- we both really like last year at the same time watching these kind of you know. Just a really big target -- we kind of envision him as maybe a guy. Probably won't hit that many passes but might be a valuable read on guy with his eyes and you watch -- you know that the -- from tennis -- And you'll look at him he's so big -- think what can tipoff is eight he can't possibly move. Ton of big plays on film he's in really runs well for that I. But it was deceptively athletic and now it without him the best quarterback either yeah unfortunately we can get him blocked them much. And that will be a question can he do those things and base at a pretty good reputation. For being a blocker and the perfect second tight end what I think if you can do that -- one -- space."

Play from 6:07[6:07]" Lester the -- people are so Paul. If he can now block eighty that -- Minnesota all we do well all right used to block. So he wasn't concerned about it idle Pittsburgh with a minute goal lots sold out there they use the -- capacities I don't get the big problem now and let's be honest. If you're 68 to seventy he built a lot -- but if you have any desire to do it if Arnold really -- yourself you can block. But beyond I mean if you if you get an assist him -- idea I want to block you can block because they're not asking you to you know blocked Julius Peppers for a second they're asking you. They run block in the way for two seconds to Laurence Maroney Inkatha. There's another a physical specimen there 66 I think 260. And that's -- and he -- today who's very athletic very versatile I mean you look like a monster. But he's quick he makes a lot of great catches -- he's another one who has has the potential but. There are questions about I think his work ethic that a little bit that's the thing if -- ready to plate he could beat the best tight end draft this class but the that like you said. There's -- it's about right now but. Physically athletically he could end up being the top tight end called him I didn't like is where were you wanna at the Columbine -- But he was a little punk -- I don't I felt -- Asia you know what. Lose the reputation you know when you're in the probable that their reputation back up it was effort to what is ours physically -- he has all the tools though he gave him. And it makes price of where you might want to -- that it."

Play from 7:45[7:45]" I agree and watching his tape not and now I obvious that you you I did know on the up the guys talking about him you know Michigan date on TV all the time he gets too Big Ten games a lot. But watching him play he is the best maybe the best athlete -- pure athleticism of all these guys. How many passes to be kept away from his body where he just kinda like a -- is all any sort strong and athletic he just keeps it away from people. You know jump ball that he's catching over people you can't teach that as an athletic mold. He has that now it doesn't have the other stuff to go with it he probably that's probably why he waited to be a second day pick all these other guys that are you know on the fringe of the second round so. There's a big difference there and I think that. You probably would say that's not a guy that the patriots would generally gravitate toward but to go."

Play from 8:33[8:33]" And another guy who slipped a little but I come by on -- and Notre Dame yeah I think his reputation was a little higher. Leading into the the offseason process that's a big down arrow on NFL draft yet and Dustin Keller moved up from Purdue had a great -- I didn't like him. He's he's he's that traditional he's like I mean he -- rocker kinda Mark Rucker kind of the same -- where. You're not going to use of a block a lot -- going to be I don't people think she ended sharply Shannon Sharpe was a pretty good blocker for. For you know for the side bet these guys are more traditional receiving tight mentally I have to go to the right system I actually hated -- I mean I didn't get soft hands. I know they used him as a receiver a -- but to -- like inaccuracy I taught at a little funny double caught it you know we've talked about Daniel Graham in practice. And you know sort of the difference between when a receiver catches the ball you don't really hear it. And when a guy who doesn't have great hands catches the ball flat against his palms I thought rocker was the type of guy with a ball on the lapping against the on the double catches it so. And I I didn't love him but. There's definitely sort of a log jam -- tight ends there. You know depending on which team which system where I think a lot of these guys and you drafted and with -- that would give he would be okay can you name give it to meet Joe Jon Finley he can't play worth a darn good but. That they anyone resonate -- You could come here because you have a lot of what that in the headlines he little quirky sayings you realize and no relation to after Michael."

Play from 10:04[10:04]" In the right right out realized Elliott Jimmy the real and he could catch them yet but it -- mean it took forever to get there I thought. I inhabit a time for him I -- think there should be more people wait -- but he looks -- me 489 -- at -- out -- he looks -- watched him play -- tackle that are made for and I would have him out of all the guys I have a forty time for the worst average right so one other note about going to Carlson I think one of the reasons why he might slip during the -- At the end of the season right before the senior bowl he came down with some sort of mysterious virus that with that they they really didn't know how we got it or or. Or you know along it was going to take before it got rid of -- but he end up losing about fifteen to twenty pounds. Didn't really work out in the senior bowl had had a very. You know have to work really hard to get back to his playing weight when he got to the com mine so he might still have some lingering effects from that and that my defenders performance titles -- play with the quarterback -- yeah but he has the Charlie Weis. System he does have -- Harrison you know when the patriots -- willing in the past that take a flyer on a guy whose value dropped for some reason and maybe go by the earlier part of rounded Ralph -- they had to do it I could definitely see them and that -- him which I NFL draft scout predicts him. I mean look you two were the John Carlson there rounds and and Tom you throughout an -- running through that's not on our list and we haven't seen him but he was that the -- the guy. Originally from Hawaii its name is -- happened we. And he he went to USC as a freshman didn't really get much playing time got hurt. -- you know disgruntled with the program decided go to a division two school but. He was -- he's a guy who's who's -- pretty -- about 636 sport that he was at the com line. I think 640 and I think he he got him right there cause of his USC credentials and you know he's he's a guy who has some companies that you know I was that you at the end might have the the ability to -- that level and any got the invite the common so you might be in in this this. Later rounds not -- not not anything five you know you don't priority free agent priorities create yet I'm. We're also going to sneak in here we wanted to have -- they were to bury the specialists and now -- our residents panicking at that you guys tactical because -- dollars in pickers are you know what you were on the same film as the tight and I tell you why stop good -- I tell you what I did the same -- all I didn't even bother watching the film the -- I got -- we did see them at the compliment."

Play from 12:35[12:35]" run down here at that two for Georgia's pretty good yes it Brenda to yeah. Mel -- that -- they have that. Nomar back I have had a heck of it definitely -- over the fifty just that Alex or does weird because I wouldn't take him and I -- anybody -- every kicked in my life he's also smaller than I -- this -- as a freshman against LSU these missiles that extra point -- possibly game that he would. That's great. Who would have your career unbelievable -- that -- last year he fell off the face of the earth again could make it I don't want to have any any."

Play from 13:11[13:11]" And I employ we've ever in time it looked at him. I had nobody else on the roster -- and it still wouldn't take that daycare and had him that's not a chance than yes even if I had an oil experience again -- a NFL draft scout has basically five kickers who could be drafted they rank now half number one as the rounds that potentially in the four guys are commodity elect discern -- longest which. That's great kick -- longest longest. And he was he was the first ever player from saint Xavier that you kind of threw it to the com yes you were you very much in love with that -- to come by and -- seven times Brandon Hutus from Georgia with the last guys think that could get drafted. Terms of punters they -- four guys one guy fourth or fifth round pick which is pretty high for a punter Durant brooks out of Georgia Tech. Then six rounder definitely a lot of money over the North Dakota State's Mike Drago of which he and then a couple seventh rounder free agent guys Toledo's Brett Kern. And that Andrew Larson now but we've talked on the I think there's a chance they could take a punter or bring in a free agent punter which is probably like ever -- Why shall we could expect it I. I tell you what that -- ghost of -- from North Dakota was probably the tallest one of them on -- he looked more like a quarterback and Arthur. You might be a guy. Asthma and Fidelity's if they -- the final world he might be one keep an electrical but he had a slow drop decent leg but -- at a -- drop and local brewery. I really wrote that down I know little -- if I'd -- breakdown the -- Paula you wouldn't believe. Or what do you know about picking your former cheerleader -- that. Oh good so yeah -- don't know about taking a teammate ethical now it -- Anyway that's going to put the wraps on we got our tickets we got our partners a more importantly tight ends the patriots won and -- what. John -- that long snapper. -- gotta be at the end yeah forget about Fuji's. -- that the."

Play from 15:16[15:16]" Right things and that is in -- the program you draft prospect preview and I asked things listening and --"

Play from 15:27[15:27]" downloading this podcast from patriots dot com. Walk on any job. For more news and more podcast from yours favorite team. And patriots dot com"

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