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Foxboro’s Trojan horse?
By Karen Guregian / NFL Notes
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Patriots [team stats] are still going through the exhaustive process of interviewing and working out draft prospects on their respective campuses.
During the AFC coaches breakfast session with the media last week at the league meetings in Orlando, Fla., Pats coach Bill Belichick estimated that the Patriots would attend the workouts of about 215 players. They also had as many as 30 in-house visits at Foxboro planned.
There may be legitimate interest for the Patriots with some of these players. But the Pats may also be playing possum, trying to mislead other teams as to their intentions. It’s hard to tell. That’s the game teams play at draft time.
That said, it could be instructive to look at a couple players of interest from Southern Cal - wide receiver Damien Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy - as the Pats supposedly are looking at both. And, in former USC coach Pete Carroll, we have a good authority to provide a scouting report.
The Pats reportedly met with Williams last week, and another Pats contingent will be at USC’s pro day on Wednesday to review both players, as well as several other Trojans prospects, including defensive end Everson Griffen, safety Taylor Mays and offensive tackle Charles Brown. Given the Pats’ needs at the positions, Williams, McCoy and perhaps Griffen will be the primary focus.
With that in mind, we grilled Carroll at the NFC coaches breakfast last week for a quick primer on his former players.
Naturally, the new Seahawks coach gushed about both the skill-position players. Starting with Williams, the MVP of the Trojans this past season, Carroll rattled off compliments one after the other: “Fantastic kid. Terrific player. Great competitor. Really bright. Excellent punt returner. Big-play guy. Terrific catch-and-run guy.”
While Williams is not a very imposing receiver at 6-foot-1, 197 pounds, Carroll says he’s quick enough to beat cornerbacks down field.
“He’s really a natural, competitive guy. He makes things happen. He’s a playmaker,” Carroll said. “That doesn’t always show up when you’re going through the drills and stuff. I hope, for his sake, that everyone will dig in and see that. I think he’s really unique..”
McCoy, meanwhile, is a physical force at 6-5, 259 pounds. He had 46 catches in three seasons at USC. He’s that rare tight end who can block and catch.
“Anthony is a real good prospect because he’s a real good blocker,” Carroll said. “Most of the (tight ends) you look at, everybody kind of gets attracted to their receiving skills, but Anthony is a very good blocker, as well as a playmaker with the ball. And he’s a big, good-looking kid.”
McCoy may not have been the go-to-guy in the Trojans offense, but he still managed to average nearly 21 yards per catch as a senior.
“He’s going to start for someone very quickly,” Carroll said. “He’ll start early. He really knows what he’s doing.”
By Karen Guregian / NFL Notes
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The Patriots [team stats] are still going through the exhaustive process of interviewing and working out draft prospects on their respective campuses.
During the AFC coaches breakfast session with the media last week at the league meetings in Orlando, Fla., Pats coach Bill Belichick estimated that the Patriots would attend the workouts of about 215 players. They also had as many as 30 in-house visits at Foxboro planned.
There may be legitimate interest for the Patriots with some of these players. But the Pats may also be playing possum, trying to mislead other teams as to their intentions. It’s hard to tell. That’s the game teams play at draft time.
That said, it could be instructive to look at a couple players of interest from Southern Cal - wide receiver Damien Williams and tight end Anthony McCoy - as the Pats supposedly are looking at both. And, in former USC coach Pete Carroll, we have a good authority to provide a scouting report.
The Pats reportedly met with Williams last week, and another Pats contingent will be at USC’s pro day on Wednesday to review both players, as well as several other Trojans prospects, including defensive end Everson Griffen, safety Taylor Mays and offensive tackle Charles Brown. Given the Pats’ needs at the positions, Williams, McCoy and perhaps Griffen will be the primary focus.
With that in mind, we grilled Carroll at the NFC coaches breakfast last week for a quick primer on his former players.
Naturally, the new Seahawks coach gushed about both the skill-position players. Starting with Williams, the MVP of the Trojans this past season, Carroll rattled off compliments one after the other: “Fantastic kid. Terrific player. Great competitor. Really bright. Excellent punt returner. Big-play guy. Terrific catch-and-run guy.”
While Williams is not a very imposing receiver at 6-foot-1, 197 pounds, Carroll says he’s quick enough to beat cornerbacks down field.
“He’s really a natural, competitive guy. He makes things happen. He’s a playmaker,” Carroll said. “That doesn’t always show up when you’re going through the drills and stuff. I hope, for his sake, that everyone will dig in and see that. I think he’s really unique..”
McCoy, meanwhile, is a physical force at 6-5, 259 pounds. He had 46 catches in three seasons at USC. He’s that rare tight end who can block and catch.
“Anthony is a real good prospect because he’s a real good blocker,” Carroll said. “Most of the (tight ends) you look at, everybody kind of gets attracted to their receiving skills, but Anthony is a very good blocker, as well as a playmaker with the ball. And he’s a big, good-looking kid.”
McCoy may not have been the go-to-guy in the Trojans offense, but he still managed to average nearly 21 yards per catch as a senior.
“He’s going to start for someone very quickly,” Carroll said. “He’ll start early. He really knows what he’s doing.”