Seymour to be moved to end?

[SamBam39]

Seymour to be moved to end? (http://boston.com/dailyglobe2/043/sports/Line_movement_afoot+.shtml)


If the Patriots are able to land a high-quality defensive tackle or two in the draft and/or free agency, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour could be moved to the outside to take advantage of his quickness and address the team's pass rushing shortcomings of last season.

That is an interesting move if it happens. That would allow the Pats to use one of the first round picks on a DT and dramatically improve the DL.

[Peg]

SamBam--
I'm all for this move. It makes perfect sense...
If this is to be the case, which DT do you think that we should/would pick in the first round? I don't follow college ball, so I am always interested in gleaning info from fellow fans that do. :)
So what say ye?... :)

[Ottawapatty]

Originally posted by SamBam39
Seymour to be moved to end? (http://boston.com/dailyglobe2/043/sports/Line_movement_afoot+.shtml)




That is an interesting move if it happens. That would allow the Pats to use one of the first round picks on a DT and dramatically improve the DL.

I would love to see this happen, Seymour would shine on the outside! However, another rookie may not take suffient pressure off of him! I say grab a veteran on the FA market to help Seymour and then a rookie on the DL with our second or third pick! I would like to see BB take a LB with our first pick if there is anyone there who would help!

Matt

[patsfan]

I don't think that would be a good idea. He is not fast enough in my opinion. He does not have that explosiveness defensive ends need to create a pass rush. He would be more of a run stopping end if anything, but I think his strength lies in the middle still.

[SamBam39]

Originally posted by Peg
SamBam--
I'm all for this move. It makes perfect sense...
If this is to be the case, which DT do you think that we should/would pick in the first round? I don't follow college ball, so I am always interested in gleaning info from fellow fans that do. :)
So what say ye?... :)

Peg, I am far removed form being any type of draft expert. However, some (not all) of the names I have heard for DT for the Pats in the draft are William Joseph Miami, DeWayne Robertson Kentucky, Kevin Williams Oklahoma St, Johnathan Sullivan Georgia.

[Hawg73]

Count me as somebody that thinks his strength is in collapsing the pocket from the middle. A skill that not that many posess. When he is on, he is a difference maker and I look forward to him lining up over guard again.

I have heard that we may go more to a 3-4, but think that is best when you lack playmakers up front - but have them at LB. I can't see him being fully effective as a nose tackle in that alignment since there is too much clutter for a NT and we may be wasting his athletic skill, but he would be at least OK at end.

If we can acquire a playmaker at DT in the draft it may make this a moot point. A lot depends on who we can get.

[pookie]

Seymour is definitely fast enough to play DE. If the Pats can pick up a meaty DT to stop the run, then moving Seymour out would be a great idea. In my opinion, that's his natural position....he's fast and has the DE build. My question for the draft/FA experts would be.... To grab a good DT to backfill for Seymour on the inside, should the Pats look for a rookie or a free agent with experience (aka another blue collar BB product)??

I have been an advocate for moving him ever since he joined the club. To me he is a natural defensive end in terms of his body style and playing style. He is too tall to get leverage inside and the Pats waste not only his athleticism but his speed and armspan by using him to tie up blockers. It doesn't take athleticism to tie up blockers it takes good technique and strength.

Put him on the end and you isolate him on a tackle and force the offense to use personnel to account for him. The only reason in my mind that they haven't done it already is they didn't have anyone else who could play tackle. Who are they going to pair up at DT? And they certainly don't have anyone who can play nose tackle. He is the only 300 pounder they have. They sacrificed his athleticism and put him in the middle because they didn't have a choice. He could do a world of damage on the outside. Chances are he could still see a TE or FB helping out but that makes opportunities for someone else.