Finally, an LB
It came much later than most fans had hoped but the Patriots finally took a linebacker with the opening pick of the seventh round, 211 overall, USC’s Oscar Lua (5-11, 245). Considered an overachiever and a bit of a bowling ball build, Lua has an injury history that remains a concern. At best he’s a developmental guy as a two-down run stopper. He reportedly has immeasurable qualities that shouldn’t be overlooked but will be a long shot and certainly didn’t fill the glaring need for a young, playmaking inside linebacker with the potential to start down the road.
Fans, you got your LB.
April 29, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Why the heck has Siler fallen so far? Even the Pats would rather have the next Tully Banta-Cain than him!
April 29, 2007 at 4:36 pm
What happenned to Tom? why is he not blogging? Did he got irritated in not telling anything about the picks. I guess he has not even predicted one pick, did it sulk on him. comeon, tom you are a great guy and we need to know about more details and your opinion on these picks.
April 29, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I don’t mind Andy.
April 29, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I wonder if Siler failed some sort of drug test?
April 29, 2007 at 4:46 pm
toms just getting lazy, thats all. maybe the pats could draft tom as an OL…
April 29, 2007 at 4:46 pm
When you say bowling ball, do you mean he’s rounder? Is he a heavier guy? Pats, you could have had Harris or Woodley in the first but you waited until the 7th round and got a guy who is far from their playing level. I think the pick is okay but they waited so long. They helped the secondary with Merriweather but the linebackers still aren’t getting any help. The Pats needed to add some serious youth and speed to the LBs, especially ILB. Bruschi is great but he has lost speed and just can’t play coverage as well as he could back in 2003. There were times when a RB broke away from Bruschi very easily and went on to catch the ball plus get good yardage. Vrabel is great too but he is getting older. The Pats added youth with Lua but they really should have considered Harris because he would have really helped.
April 29, 2007 at 4:46 pm
What has happened with Brandon Siler? Is he overhyped by alot? Did he only play well because he had that good defensive front in front of him? What is seriously out of shape? Hurt? What is it that has dropped this kid to the seventh rd and possibly free agency???????!!!!!
April 29, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Who is Siler?
April 29, 2007 at 4:48 pm
This is the second LB taken, we took Justin Rogers out of SMU with the sixth pick of the sixth round…and yah, were is Siler?
April 29, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Thanks Brian. I’ve been working my tail off to put this blog out since Wednesday and when I have to go do conference calls for my actual job, I get crap about. it Thanks for the support buddy. Sorry I can’t post something every 30 seconds. I’ll try to do better next year.
April 29, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Hey tom didnt mean to be offensive, I didnt know a damn about any of the late round players, so despite andy blogging, was raring to hear from you. We all like you Tom, so no worries.
April 29, 2007 at 4:53 pm
… kumbaya, my lord…
April 29, 2007 at 5:00 pm
…SEAU!!!!!!!
April 29, 2007 at 5:09 pm
siler must have really done something to turn off alot of people. possibly 2nd round to probably not drafted?
April 29, 2007 at 5:11 pm
To be honest, BB and Pioli have decided not to take a LB early so fair enough they are probably right. Who has better knowledge us or them? They don’t make mistakes. I personally cannot moan about what has happened in the draft. Yes in theory it doesn’t look great, but we have acquired another first round pick for next year which is quite a big thing. Lets just be happy we’re not raiders fans or lions fans or even dolpins fans (ted ginn jnr, really?) As an offseason as a hole, the new england patriots have done awesome things for their fans.
April 29, 2007 at 5:12 pm
I would think we would have heard something, maybe he’ll fall to 247, no matter what he did I’d say that is a value pick. (He’s rated # 7 player left on keipers board…combine screw up maybe?)
April 29, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Siler must be Alan Branch, Marcus Vick x infinite
April 29, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Moss is the cherry on the cake for this offseason, for sure… Still, it’s hard not to wonder why a bit more imaginative use of pick 28 and our third rounder could not have been considered, given that we could have landed Willis and the Zak man. Now THAT would have completed an off season to die for. Maybe it was a salary cap thing. Whatever else, BB ‘n’ Scott have done nothing to undermine their reputation for unpredictability.
Lets hope Junior Seau will come back to give us some run stuffing depth and maybe we can package a couple of our surplus wideouts to get another LB…
April 29, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Damn bolts, Siler to the chargers with the 240th pick, maybe Nate Harris out of Louisville or that running back out of notre dame…
April 29, 2007 at 5:49 pm
BAH some center out of Iowa, this is the only pick so far I honestly agaisnt.
April 29, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Lua is a character guy who has apparently overcome a lot adversity and injuries, but he was good enough to captain a pro-style defense that played pro-style offenses, and won championships. He’s allegedly recovered from the injuries, so the intangibles must have attracted Belichick. Nevertheless. a guy like Lua would have been around as an undrafted FA. Is he good enough to make the roster? They could easily have gotten a legit starter like Beason or Harris, AND Lua. If they’d have gotten Siler (and Lua), they would have a future starter ready, and his backup. I don’t see that the Pats have solved their central offseason problem.