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Patrick Willis

I think he will be Great. For what most know He's 6'2 232 lbs. runs a 4.6 40. Led the nation in '05 in solo tackles. 2nd in solo in '06. Won the 2006 Dick Buckus Award and the Chucky Mullins Courage award at Ole Miss. He also leads the SEC in total tackles. He is a team captain and a true leader for the team. He was an OLB but got moved to MLB this season. He has the talent to play both.. probably the best tackler in the country.

When Coach Ed Orgeron came over to Ole Miss from being Defensive Coordinator at Souther Cal, he found Patrick Willis sitting on the bench. 'Coach O' stated that if he was at USC, Patrick would be starting...usc later went on to lose to UT in the Nat'l Championship (guess they did need 'P-Willie' to stop Vince. :) He finally found his way into the starting rotation in 2005 (when he led nation in solo tackles). He opted to stay his senior year to finish school, earn his degree, and enjoy being a college student athlete. He played the entire 2005 season with different injuries. He plays every down hard and never quits..never goes easy any play. as you can see in my picture he played with a club on his hand for the majority of the year, had a broken finger.

Besides 'stats' which i'm sure there is more people can find, I fill you in more on his personal life, he has great character, a stand up guy, and is involved in a lot of community service. His mother left him and his 3 siblings when they were younger and left them alone with their abusive father. In the summer of 2005, his younger brother drowned to death while swimming in a pool because his muscles cramped up and his friends couldn't pull him out (218 lbs). He has overcome many hard things in his life and has a good attitude about it..that it makes him stronger and that he's a better person because of it. He grew up having to take care of his younger brothers and sister.

Below are some links to articles and quotes from them if anyone is interested...

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9857361/1?SPID=737&SPSID=12787&DB_OEM_ID=2600

-"I think a Bible verse says, 'In order for God to forgive you have to forgive others,'" Patrick said. "With that in my heart, I knew I still had to forgive him." - on his father.

- In 2005, Willis led the nation in solo tackles. This season he is second. When his highlights were shown Monday at the Nagurski dinner, his were the only ones that drew "oohs" and "aahs."

-At age 6, Patrick was cooking breakfast for younger sister and brothers. At age 10, he was picking cotton around his Bruceton, Tenn., home. The proceeds went to Ernest to pay the utilities.

Even now, Patrick says it wasn't that bad.

"I didn't necessarily pick cotton with my hands," he says. "I chopped."


http://www.olemisssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=12792&SPID=737&DB_OEM_ID=2600&ATCLID=661087

“I’m totally satisfied with my decision to come back,” he said. “I enjoy waking up each morning playing college football. As far as my performance, I’ve done alright so far, not where I’d love to be at. But that’s part of college football; it’s part of the game. You have to keep working and play to the end. That’s where I’m at right now.”


“I think the leadership this year has been outstanding,” Willis said. “We haven’t won as many games as we wanted to so far, but just being able to come out here each Monday after a loss and motivate these guys, talk to them and get them going on the practice field, I think that's been good.”

“(Academics) was one of the main things,” said Willis. “Although I love to play this great game of football, but it’s not guaranteed that I’m going to go pro after this, and it’s not even guaranteed that I’m going to have tomorrow to play another down of football, so you have to have something to fall back on. And we all know the big thing in the world today is having an education, a degree to fall back on. That was one of the most important factors.”

It doesn’t hurt that Willis has dominated opposing offenses and perhaps earned his place in Rebel lore as the most heralded defensive player in Ole Miss football history.

I think this says a little about him if y'all take the time to read it...lol

I will tell you a story. During this season I was walking through campus towards 'the grove' before a football game. I walked be a group of about 12 kids ranging from about 6-13 years old and they were playing a game of touch football. 1 of the kids had on a #10 Eli Manning Jersey..the other 11 kids were wearing #49 Patrick Willis Jerseys. I saw that and kinda laughed..everybody loves him.

I would absolutely love for him to play for the texans. but i think we have bigger needs to address with our #1 pick unfortunately. I wouldn't mind us trading down a few spots to get him but I have a feeling he will definitly go top 15. He would be a great fit for our team though. his heart, desire to play, dedication, leadership, would be amazing next to demeco. we could have back to back DROYs at the lb position!
 
Wow...after seeing that I want Willis and Demeco as two of our linebackers. Mmm mmm mmm, we'd put a hurt onto many a team with that combo!
 
Damn...I havent really seen him play but that play showed me instincts. Is he projected high 1st round? Do you think he could fall to the second?

I wouldnt mind trading down to get him and address satefy or dt in the second round.
 
TexansSeminole said:
He plays Mike and really doubt he could play any other position in the NFL other than MLB and SLB.
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Switch Demeco to OLB, where he played in college? I don't really want to see that happen, but if he could adapt so quickly to MLB, what kind of force would he be if he went to his natural position?
 
I think he'll be a good LB, but not great. He'll flash some highlight real tackles ever now and then, but he lacks the instints to play the position at an elite level. Demeco has some of the greatest LB instints in the game, and that's what seperates him from the rest.
 
Mississipi St. ? I think he is not likely to be an option for us. If he goes in the first round I wouldn't be surprised. 4-6 speed doesn't grow on trees there Miss. St. guy. Either way Meco at MLB ,Willis at the Will I could live with either scenario. Might get a shot at him.
 
What do you mean by Miss St?

I have a question regarding Demeco playing MLB. is it because he fits there better than olb? or is it because we don't have any better person to fit at mlb and allow the lb's to play outside because they cant in the middle. I always figured thats why. Demeco is an incredible player and is good enough to play middle or outside..i always just figured it was more like...well damn these guys can't play inside only outside...so lets just stick boy wonder at mike!

I could be wrong but i always thought that's why he is there. its the best combination we could have out there.
 
I can't see anyone who has watched the guy play banging on the guy. He's not from a top twenty five program so what ? He's a highly productive player. Who most have with a first round grade. Only a Miss. St. guy would bang on him. Instead of sour grapes, rotten eggs ?


Old Miss:
I think Demeeco is the best they got and they put him in a positon to make palys. Sure would like to see what he can do coming off the edge at the Will though. If we're going to be fortunate enough ot land a big time LB prospect going to be fun this summer seeing what they do with them. Who plays were .
 
i love watching Pat play, he is all over the field and never misses a tackle. i always heard that he run faster than 4.6. burce feldman reported he ran a 4.4 in his workout warriors section of his blog. i don't think he will drop to our second but if he is there i hope we take him. both pat and demeco are versatile enough to play together. plus, he is a texans type of guy character wise
 
I would absolutely love to have in him the second round. Doubtfull he falls, but I run to the podium if he is there.

I think is is slightly undersized weight wise for MLB as is DeMeco, and I think Ryans has cemented himself at MLB. I think Willis would make a top end SAM. Good speed and good tackler. Basicly, it's like having two DeMeco's on the field. Willis doesn't have the top instincts of Ryans, but he isn't far behind and has an edge with measurables.
 
1-3 said:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sVaa8NWqync

That's Darren Mcfadden he is running down. And how could you possibly lack instincts after basically leading NCAA in tackles two years running?

edit: Here's Kipers take :"Tackling machine with great football sense." #19 on the big board.
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That is impressive, showed a little get up and go. I would have to think about moving Ryans back outside with Willis on the team. That would be two tackling machines. Sadly the only way that happens is if we trade down. He will not last to the 9th pick in the 2nd round.

McFadden has to be the RB you most want to draft in 2008. Kid just flat out flies.
 
BOSS Willis is one of my favorite players in the college. I would love to see him in the Texans uniform.

Patrick "BOSS" Willis is a true beast and he is also the best LB in this draft. He will get drafted some where in the middle of the first round. When he plays, he plays as if he is mad at the world. Never takes a play off and often plays with injuries.

Off the field he is one of the best guy you will ever meet. In the NFL, he will be one of the top 5 LB in the leagues for years to come.
 
painekiller said:
That is impressive, showed a little get up and go. I would have to think about moving Ryans back outside with Willis on the team. That would be two tackling machines. Sadly the only way that happens is if we trade down. He will not last to the 9th pick in the 2nd round.

McFadden has to be the RB you most want to draft in 2008. Kid just flat out flies.
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we have the 7th pick in the 2nd rd., and 9th in the 3rd.
 
If we drafted Willis, or any other LB that may slip into the second rd. I'd look for us to play them at SLB...I think MLB, and WLB are sewed up...
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
If we drafted Willis, or any other LB that may slip into the second rd. I'd look for us to play them at SLB...I think MLB, and WLB are sewed up...
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I agree :) no reason to upgrade MIKE long as the Texans have DeMeco & use the 4-3.

if I where to draft MLB my favorite in this draft would be Buster Davis, high motor, squat reminds me of Mike Singletary.
 
beerlover said:
I agree :) no reason to upgrade MIKE long as the Texans have DeMeco & use the 4-3.

if I where to draft MLB my favorite in this draft would be Buster Davis, high motor, squat reminds me of Mike Singletary.
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I dunno beerlover, finding a will who can come of the edge with Mario banging on an inside move would be a prety sweet weapon for Smith to play with. They need to upgrade their sacks capablities. Sam is over the TE....just saying might be a cheap way to a more effective pass rush. The guy is a Mike so we don't know yet. But if you have a shot at Lawerance Taylor, don't you pull the trigger on that ?
 
Willis can play any LB position. This year he played MLB at Ole Miss but prior to that he played OLB. This is a weak year for LB and most of the good ones play MLB.
 
What kind of a LB is he? IS he more OLB or ILB in your mind? I was thinking we could trade back and pick him up. Afterall he was the SEC defensive player of the year, and we took that player last year and it worked out for us. Maybe he falls to round 2?

Any thoughts?
 
best linebacker in the draft...i think he is more of an ILB, i dont know if i would trade back to get him, i think we need help at the saftey position...but yeah, there is no way he should last until the second, and if he does we should snag him and he'll be like another demeco
 
I truthfully I see him as an ILB as well more so than an OLB. He easily is the best LB in the draft and will go top 15. Even if we trade back to pick him up..I would guess we would drop too far and he'd be gone. I would love him but think we need more help at FS. If Demeco wasn't on our team, I'd say pick up Willis at our 8 spot.
 
He is generally considered a MLB but I think he has the ability to play SLB for us if we were somehow able to draft him.
 
He is an ILB. He is good enough I think about moving Ryans. That said you have to the look at the group of LBs. If you add Willis to the current group, Willis might fit the SAM better them Ryans. But if you go and get a FA SAM, then draft Willis, you figure Greenwood is gone and Ryans moves back to his natural position.

Willis can play SAM and MIKE, Ryans can play WILL and SAM. Greenwood is only a WILL. So go from there. All this said we would have to trade down to target Willis, and what do we add for the trade down? 2nd? 3rd? It might be worth it.
 
DeMeco is going nowhere. Rufus would be the better pick & we can get him in the 2nd rd. he is a true olb that can rush the qb, provide excellent run support & drop back in coverage :shades:
 
Why would you move Demeco out of the middle ?

A position where he recorded the most tackles for a rookie in the past twenty years, was selected as defensive rookie of the year, team MVP, leader of our defense, and was a borderline pro-bowl player ?

Yeah, lets move him out of the middle....
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
Why would you move Demeco out of the middle ?

A position where he recorded the most tackles for a rookie in the past twenty years, was selected as defensive rookie of the year, team MVP, leader of our defense, and was a borderline pro-bowl player ?

Yeah, lets move him out of the middle....
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Plus he wanted to play MLB in the first place. Why try to fix things that are not broken....:ok:
 
You would only move him outside to get your best 3 LB tandem. That's why I believe we moved him to middle. Because Him being at mike we can plug in greenwood...and whoever. but if you put demeco outside.there probably isn't anyone to put at middle that would be effective (think of this as a 3 person team). If we could get a stud MLB like Willis and have Demeco outside who would most likely still be as stud (maybe not as many solo tackles but they would have so many assists...like most lb's) that would be awesome.

With that said and the position our team is in now. I think we can find a more quality starter in the 2nd like Alexander or Everett(FL.) than some of the other positions. That would let us that the BPA in the 1st..and at a position of greater need for us imo.
 
xtruroyaltyx said:
Why would you move Demeco out of the middle ?

A position where he recorded the most tackles for a rookie in the past twenty years, was selected as defensive rookie of the year, team MVP, leader of our defense, and was a borderline pro-bowl player ?

Yeah, lets move him out of the middle....
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I am thinking more along these lines now. I would be wary of changing his position because he was so productive and has already established himself as a good leader at the position.
 
Ole Miss Texan said:
You would only move him outside to get your best 3 LB tandem. That's why I believe we moved him to middle. Because Him being at mike we can plug in greenwood...and whoever. but if you put demeco outside.there probably isn't anyone to put at middle that would be effective (think of this as a 3 person team). If we could get a stud MLB like Willis and have Demeco outside who would most likely still be as stud (maybe not as many solo tackles but they would have so many assists...like most lb's) that would be awesome.

With that said and the position our team is in now. I think we can find a more quality starter in the 2nd like Alexander or Everett(FL.) than some of the other positions. That would let us that the BPA in the 1st..and at a position of greater need for us imo.
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I agree with everything you said. I was talking about the 3 man tandem, and I was not saying we need to move Ryans, only that Willis is good enough that you consider it. Having three guys with 100 plus tackle potential help us against the run.
 
Willis and DeMeco in a 4-2-5 defense nickel with Dunta in the slot...would be a deadly blitz crazy defense. I'd love to trade down and snag him but if we don't trade I don't see it working out for us.
 
Vinny said:
Willis and DeMeco in a 4-2-5 defense nickel with Dunta in the slot...would be a deadly blitz crazy defense. I'd love to trade down and snag him but if we don't trade I don't see it working out for us.
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A 4-2-5 would be a disaster with our secondary right now.
 
Vinny said:
Willis and DeMeco in a 4-2-5 defense nickel with Dunta in the slot...would be a deadly blitz crazy defense. I'd love to trade down and snag him but if we don't trade I don't see it working out for us.
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I've heard he may fall to the 3rd. It's preposterous, but I didn't think DeMeco would fall out of the top 15, so we could get him in the 2nd.
 
mexican_texan said:
I've heard he may fall to the 3rd. It's preposterous, but I didn't think DeMeco would fall out of the top 15, so we could get him in the 2nd.
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Possible but not likely. He's doing extremely well in senior bowl practices and scouts/coaches are lined up trying to talk to him after practice...he was the last one to leave yesterday and a senior bowl coach had to drag him off.

He's the top rated MLB in the whole draft and probably LB in general as well. Teams that need a LB esp MLB will jump all over him.

His stock is good right now...but it keeps rising.

but again anything can happen. we should only get him if we trade down, i concur.
 
bah007 said:
A 4-2-5 would be a disaster with our secondary right now.
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I dunno about that. Old Miss' mock on the other thread pretty much plugs a lot of holes there. Get a decent pass rush oposite Mario....all things are possible with this defense. Don't know if Kubiak and Smith will do this. But, making the defense this year would be a good thing with the board we got this draft.
 
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