Since the owners and players (no matter who's to blame for this whole mess) can't seem to agree on a deal anytime soon and thus there is not much to talk about I took a look at potential 2012 3-4 OLB prospects in the next draft.

It is my belief that BB and crew very much liked next years group a lot more than all the Brooks Reeds, Jabal Sheards, Sam Achos and Allen Baileys in the world. By purely looking at measurables they might be right...

If there is anyone out there I'd like your view on the following prospects. I don't follow college football in-depth so I have made this list purely based on the size requirements the Patriots generally seem to have:

Andre Branch, Clemson, 6-4 258

Vinny Curry, Marshall, 6-4 255

Jacquies Smith, Missouri, 6-4 250

Malik Jackson, Tennessee, 6-5 265

Frank Alexander, Oklahoma, 6-4 252

Underclassmen:

Donte Paige-Moss, UNC, 6-4 258

Cornelius Washington, Georgia, 6-4 268

Can anyone chime in here?

The only one I know much about is Paige-Moss and he appears to be an early selection and possibly out of our reach. Is Andre Branch the next great Clemson pass-rusher? How about Vinny Curry.

At least height-wise this appears to a class that suits the Pats better. That would explain our draft being focused on offense. I liked the approach but like many others I was surprised that we didn't look more towrds defense. (I have to say it though - I think Nate Solder will be one of the games premier tackles in two years and I truly like what I hear about Shane Vereen).