Why the Pats Might Take Larry English or Conner Barwin.

Larry English 2008

Conner Barwin 2008

The Team:

Well Pats fans this could be the dream scenario. Both Larry English and Conner Barwin are still on the board. This is really an example of how average this Draft is. Barwin and English are both developmental prospects, especially Barwin. Barwin has played only one year on the D-Line, and you want to convert him to OLB. That is more than one big change. The same is true for English. He played at lower level of competition in a bad MAC conference. He will have to change position from DE to OLB. Plus, he has a strong history of injuries, including two knee surgeries and a broken thumb last season. That is more that one big change. You really don't want to take a developmental guy in the 1st or 2nd rounds. But both might go in the 1st, and both will be gone by the time the 2nd round ends. This pick will be an interesting one, because there will be a slider or two or five, who teams will really be wanting. However, their maybe a player or two BB wants, and will have a hard time trading out of this pick.

The Pats have a lot of variables at Linebacker. Vrabel left a big hole on the left side, but it was more a matter of versatility, leadership, and experience. His production was not good last season. Adalius Thomas was having his best season as a Patriot before he broke his arm. Getting 5 Sacks in 9 games, and it looked like he was on his way to double figures in Sacks. Thomas played ROLB last season, but he mostly played on the Left side at Baltimore, so getting an edge- rusher like, Jason Taylor to play ROLB, would make since. Otherwise, that leaves Pierre Woods and Shawn Crable fighting it out for a starting role at LOLB. Crable was another guy who really flashed in the preseason last year. He garnered 16 TKL, 2.5 Sacks, 2 PBU, and 1 INT in very limited playing time in 4 preseason games. It looked like the coaches just didn't want to put him on the field, but whenever they did he just made plays. Apparently he is just one of those players that doesn't practice well, but when the lights are on he shins. The coaches seem to trust Pierre Woods enough to actually put him on the field, but he never flashes. He will make the steady play, but always comes up wanting. He is such an invisible player that NFL.com doesn't even have a profile for him on their website. This is the year to grab a OLB/DE passrusher who can play ROLB for this defense.

Here is a quote in regards to OLB/DE, in particular Conner Barwin, Larry English, and Robert Ayers debate:

I have been seeing Barwin going to the Pats at 34 for a long time, but now I'm not so sure. He is the type of ultra versatile talent that Belichick loves. I'm not secure in the Vrabel comparisons, but I see what people are talking about. Plus, he is a safe pick, because he is already a special teams maven, so he is assured to be a contribute as a rookie. I am very suspicious of Robert Ayers. He really came out of no where this season, but he was a monster at the Senior Bowl. In the passrushing practices he was unbelievable. Speed, technique, freakish power, inside, outside, great hands, he was unstoppable in those contact drills at the Senior Bowl. He also had the best highlight of the drill when he just went low, stuck his helmet right into the chest of the OT, drove him back, and actually lifted him right off his feet and threw him into the cone that was suppose to be the QB, it was THE highlight of the Senior Bowl practices. Then more importantly, he translated that skill and intensity to the field with constant pressure during the game. If he is there at 23, I think he is a NEP. My suspicion, Mike Mayock loves this guy and has him rated higher than everybody else. Mayock is buddies with Belichick, and it has been alleged that they have lunch every week together in the off season. So when he has aberration, a player who fits a 3-4 and is much higher rated than everyone else, I pay attention. I don't see Brown making down to the Pats. They will not Draft Larry English.

Larry English:

English ran a 4.69, which was huge. You cannot Draft a speed rusher on the first day who runs a 4.9. I have him firmly planted in the 2nd Round. He has made an interesting rise, but he has a history of injury, two knee surgeries, and he played as a lower level of competition. Went to the Senior Bowl and really played well. Worked out at LB in drills. Showed good instincts in coverage, and changed direction with efficient quickness. Showed he could stick and shadow a T-End. Was very impressive, especially when you consider he had not this in college. Showed he had the athletic ability and coverage skills to switch to OLB. Has a great burst, and just exploded around the edge in passrush drill.

He was the 2-time MAC player if the year. He has a great burst off the edge, and showed he could run the horn and hit the QB. He is a bit of long strider, and doesn't always show the quickest feet. Has had great production in the MAC. He wore a cast on his right arm last season, I don't know if it was a wrist or hand injury. Teams ran purposely away from him, because he was such a force in the running game. Switch sides a lot, sometimes on every other play. Opposing teams would also waggle and roll out the QB away from his side. Which helps to explain why he had better stats as a Junior, but was not necessarily a better player. In 2007, he garnered 10.5 Sack, 17 TFL and 67 TKL. In 2008 he garnered 8 Sacks, 16 TFL, 37 Tackles, and 3 FF. He did not have a bad season, but his stats where effected because of his injury and cast, and because they moved him around a lot last season, and because he was the opposing teams main focus. He plays with a lot of quickness and intensity, and looks like a OLB and not a D-End. Has a history of injury, but stay relatively healthy his last two seasons. Was medical Redshirt as a true freshman. Has lined up as a Stand-up Rusher in Northern Illinois's hybrid 3-4, but really was rusher, and I never saw him drop into coverage. Uses his hands like weapons and has one of the best chops and rips for a LB in this years Draft. A great hand fighter, one of the best I've seen since Tippet. Not just a pure speed rusher, he can stop and read. Smart player, who is very aware of what the other team is trying to do. Reads play action, misdirects, and fakes as well as anyone in this Draft. Excellent at sifting through the confusion and making the tackle. Does a great job Setting the Edge. He will fight to protect the Edge with fierceness and unnatural strength for a player his size. he plays with great strength and balance on his feet. However, he can get caught over-rushing on Draws. Plus it has to be noted that MAC was not very good the past few seasons.

He is an undersized D-End who is more than just a passrusher. He is good against the run, and actually does a nice job setting the edge. He plays unnaturally strong for a player his size. Wants to play D-End, and added weight for the Senior Bowl. However, he didn't look as fast and quick. His game is still speed around the edge, and his great explosion off the line. Terrific hand fighter, who uses his hands like a butcher, and has a great chop-move. Can destroy OTs with his great quickness around the edge. Was great at Senior Bowl, and sometimes looked unblockable in drills.

Conner Barwin:

What can you say about Conner Barwin? What is he? What position does he play? He caught 55 passes as a TE, including 31 Receptions for 399 Yards and 2 TDs as a Junior. Was name All-East Tight End. He actually looks pretty good as a TE. He runs good patterns with unexpected speed. Doesn't lose speed in his cuts, and catches the ball well. He can be a bit of body-snagger, and will sometimes allow the ball into his body or pull it against his body to catch it. To me what separates him from the rest of the 3-4 OLB prospects is that he played TE in high school and at Cincinnati for three years. That gives him such an advantage when dropping back into coverage. He knows what the TE is trying to do, because he has done it. He can recognize patterns and step in front of the ball. He can catch with his hands in coverage. Can dive in front of a player and snag the ball out of the air. He shifted to D-End as a Senior and garnered 53 TKL, 15.5 TFL, 7PBU, and 11 Sacks. He plays defense with terrific speed and change of direction. He uses his long arms well to keep off smaller blockers, but can be engulfed by O-Linemen at the point, but he is a much better run defender that a converted TE should be. He is not just a pure passrusher. He shows up at the Senior Bowl and looks like the second best T-End available. Then he goes to the Combine and tests out as the best D-Linemen athletically. Amazing. Plus, he is smart, at least off the field. I don't know if it was his decision to play TE at Senior Bowl, in front of all the GMs in the NFL, and than test as a D-End at the Combine, in front of all GMs in the NFL, but it was a brilliant move. It showed his versatility to play offense and defense, and showed he understood the process. Like I said, I don't know if it was his decision or not, but it was super smart. So where does he fit? The place all this versatility can be used to the greatest advantage is as a 3-4 OLB. He plays stronger than you would think, and does a good job setting the edge. Is excellent in pass protection where his athleticism and versatility really shines through. Uses his hands well, not just as a pass catcher, but to keep blockers off his body. Very inexperienced as a defensive player, which makes what he did last season all the more impressive. He is guaranteed to make any team that drafts him, because he is a special Team Maven already.