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Laurinaitis to stay at OU for senior year (1 Viewer)

I thought Pats would be looking at him @ 7 , who do they go for now ? or was my thought process off base from the start?

 
jasonbay said:
I thought Pats would be looking at him @ 7 , who do they go for now ? or was my thought process off base from the start?
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Everything at the moment is pure speculation on our part. Coaches are generally evaluating thier current/free agent players for the first couple of weeks after the season. Teams that are currently in the playoffs have not even truly determined thier "needs" at the moment.
 
jasonbay said:
I thought Pats would be looking at him @ 7 , who do they go for now ? or was my thought process off base from the start?
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That's the (wildly inaccurate, imho) consensus. There are several other players out there the Pats would rather have. For example, there is a small but nonzero chance that Chris Long falls to them; alternatively, especially if they lose Asante this off-season, they could be looking for a top corner. My opinion is that the Pats were never likely to take Laurinaitis.That said, other teams (e.g., the Bengals) might have taken him in the top 10, in which case perhaps he is making a mistake not coming out now. On the other hand, perhaps he's concerned that his lackluster performance in the championship game this year would hurt his draft position.As another poster astutely observed, perhaps he's just interested in another year of chasing college tail, or---HEAVEN FORBID!---perhaps he wants his degree, y'know... just in case?-=kwantam
 
kwantam said:
jasonbay said:
I thought Pats would be looking at him @ 7 , who do they go for now ? or was my thought process off base from the start?
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That's the (wildly inaccurate, imho) consensus. There are several other players out there the Pats would rather have. For example, there is a small but nonzero chance that Chris Long falls to them; alternatively, especially if they lose Asante this off-season, they could be looking for a top corner. My opinion is that the Pats were never likely to take Laurinaitis.That said, other teams (e.g., the Bengals) might have taken him in the top 10, in which case perhaps he is making a mistake not coming out now. On the other hand, perhaps he's concerned that his lackluster performance in the championship game this year would hurt his draft position.As another poster astutely observed, perhaps he's just interested in another year of chasing college tail, or---HEAVEN FORBID!---perhaps he wants his degree, y'know... just in case?-=kwantam
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That may all be true, but IMO he was a strong possibility for the Pats since LB (particularly MLB) is the one (only) position where NE is significatnly old and represents their biggest need.
 
Not a surprise, really. He's never once mentioned going pro this year and most of the rumblings had him staying.

So the Ohio State defense only loses Gholston. They're going to be pretty good again next year.

 
... On the other hand, perhaps he's concerned that his lackluster performance in the championship game this year would hurt his draft position.
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Laurinaitis, a 6-foot-3, 244-pounder from Hamel, Minn., won the 2007 Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker and the 2006 Nagurski Award as the top defensive player in college football.The Big Ten defensive player of the year this past season, he set a BCS championship game record with 18 tackles vs. LSU in the Buckeyes' 38-24 loss, their second in a row in the title game.

Laurinaitis, the son of professional wrestler Animal from the Legion of Doom, led the Buckeyes with 121 tackles for the season.

I didn't see the whole game, but it sounds like he did what he could.

 
Well, ####, there goes the the future All-Pro LB that was going to anchor the Saints defense for the next 10 years.

I think this means the Saints go either DT or CB in R1.

 
His father hinted at this in November. I guess the Road Warrior would never lie?

In all seriousness, this is surprising, especially if Maualuga stays in school. Laurinaitis will play second fiddle to him in next year's draft.

 
WampusCat43 said:
The Big Ten defensive player of the year this past season, he set a BCS championship game record with 18 tackles vs. LSU in the Buckeyes' 38-24 loss, their second in a row in the title game.
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Well how do you like that...I was watching him carefully because of all the buzz regarding the Pats picking him up, and I didn't see a Hawk kind of talent. He did make a few plays, but there were stretches where to my eye he just looked confused. I'm probably too critical since I watch far more NFL than NCAAF.

-=kwantam

 
kwantam said:
WampusCat43 said:
The Big Ten defensive player of the year this past season, he set a BCS championship game record with 18 tackles vs. LSU in the Buckeyes' 38-24 loss, their second in a row in the title game.
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Well how do you like that...I was watching him carefully because of all the buzz regarding the Pats picking him up, and I didn't see a Hawk kind of talent. He did make a few plays, but there were stretches where to my eye he just looked confused. I'm probably too critical since I watch far more NFL than NCAAF.

-=kwantam
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I think this is the best decision for him. Hopefully he'll pack on some more muscle mass and learn how to disengage blockers and fill a hole. Of those 18 tackles he amassed in the bowl game I can just about guarantee you 95% of them were atleast 5 yards down the field.

I'm not saying he's not athletic because he certainly is. I'm just saying at this point in his young life, he's not an NFL middle LB. More like a safety.

Good move on his part. :shrug:

 
saintfool said:
Well, ####, there goes the the future All-Pro LB that was going to anchor the Saints defense for the next 10 years. I think this means the Saints go either DT or CB in R1.
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I have a bad feeling they're going to pay through the nose for Asante Samuel. :whistle:
 
Warpig said:
kwantam said:
WampusCat43 said:
The Big Ten defensive player of the year this past season, he set a BCS championship game record with 18 tackles vs. LSU in the Buckeyes' 38-24 loss, their second in a row in the title game.
Click to expand...
Well how do you like that...I was watching him carefully because of all the buzz regarding the Pats picking him up, and I didn't see a Hawk kind of talent. He did make a few plays, but there were stretches where to my eye he just looked confused. I'm probably too critical since I watch far more NFL than NCAAF.

-=kwantam
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I think this is the best decision for him. Hopefully he'll pack on some more muscle mass and learn how to disengage blockers and fill a hole. Of those 18 tackles he amassed in the bowl game I can just about guarantee you 95% of them were atleast 5 yards down the field.

I'm not saying he's not athletic because he certainly is. I'm just saying at this point in his young life, he's not an NFL middle LB. More like a safety.

Good move on his part. :wub:
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I watched him closely against lsu as well. when he hit that white running back from LSU he always went backwards. If I am going to take a middle lb high in round 1, he almost never should go backwards from the point of contact with a back.
 
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Statorama said:
saintfool said:
Well, ####, there goes the the future All-Pro LB that was going to anchor the Saints defense for the next 10 years. I think this means the Saints go either DT or CB in R1.
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I have a bad feeling they're going to pay through the nose for Asante Samuel. :goodposting:
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I'd be much, much happier with Trufant. Regardless, the more I think about it, the more inclined I am to believe that Safety instead of CB would be the call (if they decide to address the defensive backfield in R1). While the bulk of Saints fans will bemoan the play of Jason David, part of the problem with him was the inconsistent play of the Safeties, most notably Bullocks, in terms of support. Harper was fine, more or less.If the Saints went after Trufant in the off season and coupled that with DT and Lb in the draft, the Saints would be in fantastic shape defensively going into next year.
 
saintfool said:
Statorama said:
saintfool said:
Well, ####, there goes the the future All-Pro LB that was going to anchor the Saints defense for the next 10 years.

I think this means the Saints go either DT or CB in R1.
Click to expand...
I have a bad feeling they're going to pay through the nose for Asante Samuel. :popcorn:
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I'd be much, much happier with Trufant. Regardless, the more I think about it, the more inclined I am to believe that Safety instead of CB would be the call (if they decide to address the defensive backfield in R1). While the bulk of Saints fans will bemoan the play of Jason David, part of the problem with him was the inconsistent play of the Safeties, most notably Bullocks, in terms of support. Harper was fine, more or less.If the Saints went after Trufant in the off season and coupled that with DT and Lb in the draft, the Saints would be in fantastic shape defensively going into next year.
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Agree 100% across the board.Edit: hopefully they don't go in this direction

 
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JimmyD said:
BelichicksRevenge said:
Laurinaititis= Andy Katzenmoyer
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You mean earn a starting spot then suffer a neck injury so that his true potential is never known?If you mean that he's overrated and won't be very good, maybe compare him to "The Boz".
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Actually i mean that I think his stock will drop just like katzenmoyer's did during his last year at OSU. Katzenmoyer was more highly thought of after his freshman and sophmore seasons when he won the butkus award. Laurinaititis won the butkus as well (only 2 OSU players to do so) and i think his stock will drop.he is better off coming out this year. i think Katzenmoyer was a much fiercer and better hitter than Laurenaititis.Edit to add: Katzenmoyer was thrust into the starting job for the patriot because of an injury to Ted Johnson. he did not really earn it.
 
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FUBAR said:
jasonbay said:
Ford Prefect said:
I'm surprised. Wasn't he the top rated LB at this point?
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Yes.
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He was the only LB remotely close to the big 3 from last year, now this will be an off year for LBs. FFwise, some may land in good spots, but they don't appear to have the same game changing ability of Willis, Hawk, Pos, or Beason.
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Connor is seen as being every bit as good, if not better than Poz, so I don't see how he is not remotely close to the big 3 of last year.
 
I don't see why he would go pro early...

His dad made $$ plus still gets $$ from wrestling (I think he has a "legends" deal with WWE which pays him merch $$ and such)...

and even if he gets hurt and misses the NFL, he can study wrestling for 6 months and be the next Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson...

and, quite frankly, I'm pretty sure the Rock has made the most money out of everyone he played DL with at Miami in the early 90s...

 
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01/14/08 - Ohio State All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis told the Plain Dealer this afternoon that he will return for his senior season at Ohio State. "To be honest with you, there was a lot of praying and trying to trust the Lord and there were certain signs," Laurinaitis said. "Talking to my mom this weekend, whenever I talked to her about coming back next year with the Buckeyes, I was more excited than anything about the NFL. I'm having too much fun at Ohio State." Laurinaitis said he anticipated he would have been a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft in April. With his return, the Buckeyes retained five of the six juniors who considered leaving for the NFL, with only defensive end Vernon Gholston going pro. "Money can't give you this experience, especially your senior season with the way this season could go," Laurinaitis said. "I'm excited about my choice to come back." - Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer01/14/08 - "I know I can still improve as a player, and I know there is still much more to me and for the Buckeyes to accomplish," Laurinaitis said in a statement. "There are a lot of things that money can't buy, and some of those things are the experiences of a senior season. Going through those things with my teammates next year is what I look forward to the most." The announcement means OSU will return 18 starters next season. Barring a last-minute change of heart or a big surprise, the only junior to leave early will be defensive end Vernon Gholston. In the past four days, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, receiver Brian Robiskie, linebacker Marcus Freeman and left tackle Alex Boone all announced they will stay for their senior seasons. Laurinaitis was the 2007 Big Ten defensive player of the year, leading the Buckeyes with 121 tackles. He set a national championship game record last Monday with 18 tackles in a loss to Louisiana State. - Ken Gordon, Columbus Dispatch01/12/08 - While pumping gas Friday evening, four days after the end of his season and four days before the deadline for his future, James Laurinaitis didn't know what he was going to do. And that's all that Ohio State fans can ask. Friday, OSU cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, surprisingly, joined receiver Brian Robiskie among the Buckeye juniors who will be back next year, while defensive end Vernon Gholston, not surprisingly, announced his leap to the NFL and a potential spot among the draft's top 15 picks. That leaves Laurinaitis, left tackle Alex Boone and linebacker Marcus Freeman still undecided with Tuesday's deadline to declare looming. "One of the reasons why you want to stay is your friendships with the guys on the team, and it helps knowing he's one of the guys I'm extremely close with," Laurinaitis said of Jenkins' decision. "I think it's good for the school and I think it's good for him." - Doug Lesmerises, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
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