Is Patrick Willis a stretch at No. 9? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Is Patrick Willis a stretch at No. 9?

colmax

colmax

Seasoned Veteran
Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Messages
924
Reaction score
0
Location
Downtown Gulfport
I am a HUGE Patrick Willis fan, and not only because I attend Ole Miss. I have posted analyses in the Draft Forum on Willis and others in comparison. Many here have agreed with me that Willis is the best LB (inside or out) in the nation. He received the Butkus award this year to solidify that notion. Like many of you, I thought Miami would be choosing somewhere in the mid-early/mid-mid range in the draft. I did not think that Patrick Willis would have been too early of a pick between 12-16. I did not forsee Miami picking
this early. My thoughts have changed a little now that Miami is picking at 9. I still want Willis on the team, but I know that there will probably be a BPA guy ahead of him when Miami picks. I still believe he is an 11-20 pick. Of course, the combines, the new head coach, etc., will change everything on what direction the team goes.

So, I ask, is Willis a stretch at 9 right now? I'd like your thoughts. I have read boards from many teams (including some picking ahead of Miami) and their fans are really high on him. I found this article linked at a 49ers board:

In less than four years of college at Ole Miss, Willis is three credits shy of a degree in criminal justice. He's twice been named a first team All-American and the Southeastern Conference's defensive player of the year. This month, he was honored with the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's best linebacker, and named to the prestigious Walter Camp All-American Team.

______________________________


Mike MacIntyre, who was the recruiting coordinator on Cutcliffe's staff at Ole Miss, remembers hearing about Patrick Willis. And he vividly remembers the first time he saw him play.

"It's a good Single-A league that Bruceton plays in, but to sign an SEC player from there? That was a long shot," said MacIntyre. "But, needless to say, I watched Patrick play and was amazed. I distinctly remember being so impressed that I called Coach Cutcliffe at halftime and told him, 'This kid is unbelievable. We need to offer him right now.'

"Patrick was just one of those rare talents. You know special when you see it. I saw special that night."

______________________________


When Willis arrived in Oxford, the star senior quarterback for the Rebels was Eli Manning - Archie Manning's son and the younger brother of Peyton.

"Patrick was different than a lot of guys because of the way he went about things," said Manning, now in his third season with the New York Giants. "But when you learn everything that Patrick's gone through in life, it's easy to understand how 'good' was never good enough for him.

"What I've always respected is you have two choices in situations like Patrick's, and it's obvious early on he made the choice to be successful. He's going to get a college degree, which I'm so proud of him for, and where football's concerned, you have to love his mentality - he's relentless."

Willis recorded 90 tackles in his first two seasons at Ole Miss and broke through in 2005 as a junior under first-year coach Ed Orgeron. He led the nation in solo tackles per game (9) and led the SEC in total tackles per game (12.8). He was a first team All-American and SEC defensive player of the year. As a senior, he finished second in solo tackles (87), fifth in total tackles (137) and sixth in tackles per game (11.42) nationally.

"What he's done speaks for itself," Manning said. "Those aren't numbers of an average college football player."
Click to expand...

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061218/NEWS01/612180307


Patrick's story is a great example of how one can overcome quite a bit and succeed if only given a chance. The awesome thing about Willis is that he is truly sincere and gives back time to his community. This is a guy is a true champion in every sense of the word and will continue to try to make an impact on others' lives. I see a little Derrick Brooks in him when it comes to community works. He is also one hellacious football player.

I encourage you to take a look at the documentary videos of his life on and off the field:

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061217/VIDEO/61216001

And of course, the highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YodiWVGS_8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVaa8NWqync

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVQOmmydIqw
 
I hope hes not a stretch. I am also a huge willis fan and think he could be a big part of our future. I would take him over a qb in the first round for sure. With the amount of qbs in the draft I think we take willis in the first is a definite possibility. Unfortunately lb is not one of our glaring needs, but young talent at that position is. JMO.
 
Right now, he is a stretch at number 9. After the combine and all star games he might not be though.
 
i like posluszny from penn state just as much as willis if not more since he's a true outside LB, plus the fins could easily move down to take posluszny who was last years butkus winner
 
Why on Gods green earth do we need a LB more than we need OT, OC, WR, CB, or DT?
 
paulomac77 said:
i like posluszny from penn state just as much as willis if not more since he's a true outside LB, plus the fins could easily move down to take posluszny who was last years butkus winner
Click to expand...

move down where ???

here we go again with all this talk about trading down...we had the 2nd pick in the entire draft 2 years ago, and no one traded with us.

there is no guarantee you'll have a taker.

and, even if u do, the player you really wanted may be gone by then.

we can't take a chance...#9 pick is pretty high, and we need an impact player.
 
From a BPA point no but from the value of a LB as opposedc to other positions yes. QBs, LOTs, CBs, DEs are more valuable position wise
 
I think Willis is a top 20 pick, but not a top 10 pick, if we are going to chose BPA. I would take Brohm if he is available at the 9 spot.
 
Roman529 said:
I think Willis is a top 20 pick, but not a top 10 pick, if we are going to chose BPA. I would take Brohm if he is available at the 9 spot.
Click to expand...

Bingo!!!!
 
MiamiMan147 said:
Why on Gods green earth do we need a LB more than we need OT, OC, WR, CB, or DT?
Click to expand...

Look at our LB depth chart and tell me who is there that will be a starter for us in 3 years. Crowder and...? Yeah pretty much just Crowder. I'm not saying the other positions you just named aren't important, but LB is JUST as important right now.

My only question is where would Willis best fit in our 3-4-3 scheme.
 
MiamiMan147 said:
Why on Gods green earth do we need a LB more than we need OT, OC, WR, CB, or DT?
Click to expand...

because zach is getting older, and spragen is really just a body on the outside right now, we need to replace him with a playmaker... and our depth at LB is the worst of all our positions...
 
MiamiMan147 said:
Why on Gods green earth do we need a LB more than we need OT, OC, WR, CB, or DT?
Click to expand...

Because LB is arguably one of the top needs of Miami, esp. if they continue with this 3-4 hybrid. Zach is not getting younger. Is Holliday coming back? Donnie Spragan? Please. This team needs to get younger at LB.

I agree on a DB (Whether S or CB), but not necessarily sold on the DT spot or OL. Remember, McKinney is coming back. And although is about average at C, played decently when at G. The O-line may not be the greatest; but with a QB that rids of the ball quickly, can be effective. I have a feeling one of the DTs from the last couple of drafts will be good.

QB? Of course. But I am not TOTALLY sold on the top 3 of this year's draft (Brohm, Russell, Quinn). Although, hey, if one is there, I would not be angry if Miami took him.
 
Caps said:
Look at our LB depth chart and tell me who is there that will be a starter for us in 3 years. Crowder and...? Yeah pretty much just Crowder. I'm not saying the other positions you just named aren't important, but LB is JUST as important right now.

My only question is where would Willis best fit in our 3-4-3 scheme.
Click to expand...

Willis played mostly in a 4-3 at Ole Miss. Earlier in his career, Ole Miss ran a 5-2-4 scheme where he proved effective, but better suited for a 4-3. Also, Ole Miss ran a 4-3 because of the lack of talent up front. Their D-line was not the best. But because of Patrick's athleticism, there was really no need for a 3-4. Think Zach under the Johnson/Wannstedt eras.

Although Willis has proved very effective in a 4-3, his athleticism can enable him to become effective in a 3-4. I do not think scheme matters when it comes to Willis. He is a playmaker and will do well whatever the scheme.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom