Draft Q&A with Mike Loyko of NEPatriotsDraft.com

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

 
Having a true Strong Safety has become a luxury. With the league pass heavy teams use and need two Free Safeties or combo safties. It's more important that your safeties can cover instead of hit now a days. 

 
Well, this would all depend on how the Patriots view Collins/Mayo, right?
 
If the Patriots think Collins has the ability to cover the better TE's in the league (or Mayo as was the intention when he moved outside a few years ago), then having 2 FS makes a little more sense. But if the Patriots prefer to line their SS up over a TE - as they have in the past - you're going to need a guy that can get physical with players who have several inches and a few dozen pounds on them.
 
While I do think Collins/Browner/Mayo on a TE lends credence to pushing Allen into a hybid safety role, I personally don't like the idea of sacrificing the long term of Logan Ryan for the short term because they have Revis/Browner in front of him. We already made the sacrifice of shifting a potentially good CB into a FS (DMC), and while it panned out, I think most would agree that a solid corner is more useful then a solid FS.

 

[mloyko54]

 
Well, this would all depend on how the Patriots view Collins/Mayo, right?
 
If the Patriots think Collins has the ability to cover the better TE's in the league (or Mayo as was the intention when he moved outside a few years ago), then having 2 FS makes a little more sense. But if the Patriots prefer to line their SS up over a TE - as they have in the past - you're going to need a guy that can get physical with players who have several inches and a few dozen pounds on them.
 
While I do think Collins/Browner/Mayo on a TE lends credence to pushing Allen into a hybid safety role, I personally don't like the idea of sacrificing the long term of Logan Ryan for the short term because they have Revis/Browner in front of him. We already made the sacrifice of shifting a potentially good CB into a FS (DMC), and while it panned out, I think most would agree that a solid corner is more useful then a solid FS.

 
FWIW I was told Bill Belichick wanted to make Logan Ryan a FS before he even drafted him. Injuries didn't allow that last season. Collins can definitely cover Tight Ends. He's the most fluid LB the Patriots have had in a long long time. 

 

[Dogman]

See below.

 

[Dogman]

Wasn't sure if you saw this one or not:
 

Thoughts on UMontana LB's Brock Coyle or Jordan Tripp in a Dane Fletcher/ST type role?  
 
I've seen mocks with Tripp going as high as the 4th but I don't think that is realistic.  I see both as 7th or undrafted guys who can both contribute.

 

[mloyko54]

Wasn't sure if you saw this one or not:
 

 
Jordan Tripp is gone within the first 125 picks.. no doubt about it. Brock Coyle is rising really fast, he had a great pro day and was just as productive as Tripp on film. Neither guy is going undrafted, especially Tripp. 
 

 
 


 

 

[MainerInExile]

 
FWIW I was told Bill Belichick wanted to make Logan Ryan a FS before he even drafted him. Injuries didn't allow that last season. Collins can definitely cover Tight Ends. He's the most fluid LB the Patriots have had in a long long time. 

Sorry to keep coming back, but I'd love some more detail.  You think Ryan will back up DMC & CB?  Ryan will play alongside DMC in 2-deep safety sets, but come off in 1-deep safety sets?  Ryan & DMC will both play safety, sometimes with both deep, sometimes with one close to the line?  The Pats don't play a lot of dime, and it seems clear the most common nickel will have 3 CB.  I think the Pats will draft for the secondary, but I have little feel for where they'll go with it (CB? SS? S?) and what that tells us about the defense they'll be playing.

 

[ElcaballitoMVP]

 
FWIW I was told Bill Belichick wanted to make Logan Ryan a FS before he even drafted him. Injuries didn't allow that last season. Collins can definitely cover Tight Ends. He's the most fluid LB the Patriots have had in a long long time. 

 
If the plan is to move Ryan to FS, do you see them targeting another CB in the middle rounds? There seems to be some good value in the 2nd-4th rounds to give them some more depth. If so, who are your favorite mid round DB's in terms of fit for the Patriots? Do you see them targeting a bigger back to play press man, like a Keith McGill or a smaller, more traditional guy like a Breshaud Breeland? 

 

[mloyko54]

 
If the plan is to move Ryan to FS, do you see them targeting another CB in the middle rounds? There seems to be some good value in the 2nd-4th rounds to give them some more depth. If so, who are your favorite mid round DB's in terms of fit for the Patriots? Do you see them targeting a bigger back to play press man, like a Keith McGill or a smaller, more traditional guy like a Breshaud Breeland? 

 
Sorry I haven't checked in for a few days. I think both McGill and Breeland will be Day Two players. The Patriots are pretty set at Corner right now. Remember they have Justin Green as the #6 CB and they liked his development. I'd never say never because their board could fall a certain way, but I'd be surprised if the picked a corner before the final rounds

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Mike, thanks very much for dropping by, and hope you continue to do so even outside of the chat. Welcome (again) to our neck'o'the woods!

 

[ShaneTrot]

If Mike is continually dropping by I have a few questions. This draft seems to be weak at two positions where the Pats need some help, interior D-line and interior O-line. Do you see them trading up for an Aaron Donald or trading down for more picks and taking some G and C in the 2nd to 4th round range?
 
Is Hightower an adequate replacement for Spikes on early downs? The run defense tightened up the more he played and of course with the addition of Siliga.Thanks!