Mike Gorman: This Celtics team is top-3 all-time
On Wednesday’s Toucher & Hardy radio program, voice of the Celtics Mike Gorman ranked this year’s team among all time greats.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
How Good is This Year’s Celtics Team?
Conversation abbreviated for clarity.
Toucher: Where does this Celtics team rank? Where does this team rank in terms of all-time great Celtics teams?
Mike Gorman: You can ask me that again once the playoffs are over. I mean, what do you want me to say? Best Eastern Conference regular season team ever? You’re probably in that discussion. I mean they have a 32-3 record at home this year. They’ve run away with this whole race. No team is going to catch them.
So, if we’re talking about the regular season, yeah this is one of the greatest Celtics teams. If we’re going to put this team in the conversation maybe win a world championship first. Maybe win 1 or 2 championships before we start crowning them.
Toucher: I’m not talking about that necessarily. I’m just talking about the product you’re watching right now. I’m talking about teams that you’ve watched since you’ve been calling games. I’m not talking about going back to the 50s. From what you’ve seen, you’ve seen the championship games with Larry Bird. You’ve seen the championship with Paul Pierce. I should’ve phrased the question differently. I didn’t want you to rank the teams. How great is the roster this year?
Mike Gorman: I believe that Jayson Tatum didn’t sprain his ankle during the Eastern Conference Championship last year. And this year, I think if they stay healthy, there’s no reason that they shouldn’t win the championship. But you can’t count on everyone to stay healthy. You can’t know who’s going to go down and who’s not.
So, if you to talk about great teams, you have to talk about teams that have won a championship. But, if you’re talking about just great teams period, then this team is probably in the top three.
Segment Audio
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Patriots draft preview 2024: Offensive linemen
Top of the draft/trade down candidates
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – APRIL 22: Joe Alt #76 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring Football Game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 22, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Starting off at the top of the draft, where only one tackle may be out of reach beyond the third overall pick. That’s Joe Alt of Notre Dame, who is viewed by most as a generational prospect. A three-year starter for the Irish, Alt is a two-time All-American who has the prototypical tackle build at 6-foot-9, 321 pounds with the anchor and movement ability rare for a player that big. He’s also incredibly clean technically, having been called for just four penalties in over 2,000 career snaps in college.
If the Patriots trade down, they could still potentially have a chance at Alt assuming they don’t move down too far. His floor is probably the sixth or seventh pick.
There are four other tackles who all project as Day 1 starters with plus-upside, who likely will go too high for the Patriots to trade up from 34 for, but could be candidates to take in a trade down. That group is made up of Olu Fashanu of Penn State, Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State, J.C. Latham of Alabama, and Troy Fautanu of Washington.
Of that group Fashanu is considered the top player. He was originally projected as a top-15 pick last year but in a surprise move returned to school, and now has a chance to be a top 10 pick. He’s not as big as some of the other tackles (6-foot-6, 312 pounds) and less experienced than Alt with just two years as a starter, but has higher athletic upside.
None of the rest of the group are pure left tackles. Fautanu, a technically-sound, athletic, and experienced lineman played on the left side at Washington but wasn’t a blindside protector for a lefty quarterback. Latham and Fuaga are more traditional right tackles. Both are big, mauling blockers (Latham at 6-foot-6, 342 pounds, Fuaga at 6-foot-6, 324 pounds) whose overall skill could see a team try moving them to the left side, but that would represent a real adjustment for both players.
In play around pick 34
Oct 28, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Tyler Guyton (60) at the line of scrimmage against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The next group of tackles should be more in play for the Patriots involving the 34th overall pick. That could mean either selecting the player 34th overall, or trading slightly up or down.
Amarius Mims of Georgia and Tyler Guyton of Oklahoma are the most likely trade up candidates. Mims is very impressive physically at 6-foot-8, 340 pounds with 36 1/8-inch arms, but he’s also incredibly raw. He has just eight college starts under his belt, all at right tackle. He has the length and footwork to potentially move to left tackle, but he is a very developmental player. That could cause him to fall in the draft, but if a team falls in love with his measurables he could also end up being a ‘surprise’ top 20 pick, and his size could carry him through his rookie year as the rest of his game rounds out.
Guyton has a similar makeup to Mims, but more experience. The 6-foot-8, 322-pound tackle is one of the best movers at the position in this class. He has starting experience (14 games) at both left and right tackle (with some of those right tackle reps coming in front of a left-handed quarterback). However, he’s battled injuries during his college career, resulting in inconsistency in his technique.
Kinglsey Suamataia of BYU and Jordan Morgan of Arizona are more likely to be on the board directly at 34. Suamataia is a former five-star recruit who began his career at Oregon before transferring to BYU. He has good size at 6-foot-5, 326 pounds. In two years as a starter he showed flashes of being a high-level tackle playing on the left side, but will need to continue to improve as his NFL career begins. In particular, he’ll need to do a better job of making sure his upper body and lower body are working in sync, so he doesn’t get caught off-balance.
Morgan is one of the tougher players to figure out at the top of this draft. He was a three year starter for the Wildcats at left tackle, culminating in an all-conference season in 2023 as he bounced back from a torn ACL. A well-rounded talent, some project him as a first-round pick.
However, his arm measurement at the Combine came in at 32 7/8-inches, which is just under the 33-inch threshold generally used by NFL teams. Since 2013, only two tackles with arms shorter than 33 inches have gone in the first round and one (Justin Pugh) later became a guard. Given the Patriots’ specific need at tackle, if they think there’s a chance Jordan Morgan will need to move inside that could alter their evaluation of him significantly.
Rest of the Day 2 tackles
Sep 30, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars offensive tackle Patrick Paul (76) blocks Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive end Joseph Adedire (14) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Around the 40 to 50 pick range is where this class starts to drop off. Now, we’re into the best of the pure project players. That group starts with Houston’s Patrick Paul, who at 6-foot-7, 331 pounds with 36 1/4-inch arms is one of the biggest players in this draft. He combines that size with outstanding athleticism, and moves very well with his size to mirror quicker pass rushers. However, he is still suspectable to rushers using his size against him, dipping under and around him too often. His hand placement can also get away from him at times, resulting in rushers able to get leverage on him and push him back. That all needs to be worked out, but his ceiling is tremendously high.
Kiran Amegadjie from Yale has seen his draft profile grow throughout the process, jumping into the picture after playing just four games last year due to a quad injury, which also kept him out of the Senior Bowl and Combine. At the FCS level, Amegadjie was able to overpower most of his opponents at 6-foot-5, 323 pounds. His athleticism suggests he can be more than just a bully, but he hasn’t had to use that skill set as much in college leaving it less developed. The quicker path to a starting role in the NFL for Amegadjie might be right tackle, but he certainly does have what it takes to play left tackle (the position he played in college) as a pro.
Another player who has risen up projected draft boards throughout the process is Roger Rosengarten from Washington, who could end up going late on Day 2. After a rough performance in the National Championship, the bigger picture of Rosengarten’s game has shown through. A two year starter at right tackle protecting Michael Penix’s blindside, Rosengarten is a bit undersized at 6-foot-5, 308 pounds but he looks to have the potential to be a true swing tackle at the next level. His understanding of and ability to counter all kinds of pass rush techniques, and his ability to move laterally stand out the most.
The final projected top-100 tackle is Blake Fisher from Notre Dame. After getting hurt in the first game of the 2021 season when he started at left tackle, Fisher returned as the right tackle opposite Alt the last two years. He’s shown flashes of being an explosive blocker but will need to sustain blocks much more consistently at the next level.
Top 100 interior offensive linemen
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 14: Jackson Powers-Johnson #58 of the Oregon Ducks prepares for a snap against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
As we mentioned above, it seems unlikely the Patriots will take an interior offensive lineman with a premium pick this year. That being said, we’ll cover all our bases and highlight some of the bigger names.
The top interior lineman in this draft is Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson. Aside from having a great football name, he was an All-American in 2023 and has only continued to help his case since. He was arguably the best offensive lineman on the field at the Senior Bowl.
Cooper Beebe is arguably the top pure guard in this class. A four-year starter, he was named all-conference three times and Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year twice.
Graham Barton from Duke is also a projected top-50 pick. He played tackle for the Blue Devils, but because of his smaller frame is expected to move inside at the NFL level. At the Senior Bowl, he worked mainly as a center.
Other top 100 interior offensive linemen include Zach Frazier of West Virginia, Christian Haynes of UConn, Sedrick Van Pran of Georgia, and Christian Mahogany of Boston College.
Day 2 ‘tweeners’
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 03: Dominick Puni #OL59 of Kansas participates in the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 03, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
We already discussed Jordan Morgan as not having a defined long-term position as he enters the NFL. Still, given his talent level he’ll likely at least get a shot to start at tackle then move if needed. Later on Day 2, there are two more players who are truly ‘in between,’ and may be evaluated as different positions by different teams.
The first is Dominick Puni from Kansas. At 6-foot-5, 313 pounds with 33 3/8-inch arms he has a tackle build, but still tends to get overpowered when left on an island. That wouldn’t be as much of an issue if he’s playing inside.
Matt Goncalves from Pitt is the other player here. He’s bigger at 6-foot-6, 327 pounds but barely clears the arm length bench mark at 33 1/4-inches. He has experience starting on both sides, but has struggled to get out and defend the edge on both. There’s value in that true swing-tackle experience though, and NFL teams may see him as a potentially valuable backup with four-position versatility.
Early Day 3 tackles
Oct 21, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Christian Jones (70) in action during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Now we’re entering the range where it would make the most sense for the Patriots to ‘double up’ at tackle. Assuming they take a player at the position in the top 100, these players would be good complementary picks.
The first is Christian Jones from Texas. Jones is a pure right tackle at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds. With four years as a starter he comes in with plenty of experience but has always had a problem with penalties. He took 29 total over the past four years, including eight last year on 907 snaps.
If the Patriots want a project left tackle, Javon Foster would be the guy here. He was a three-year starter at Missouri at left tackle, after starting his career as a right tackle. Foster stands 6-foot-5, 313 pounds with 34 5/8-inch arms and plays with plenty of pop, but his lower body technique isn’t as developed as his upper body. Penalties are also an issue for Foster, who took a career-high 10 last year in 904 snaps. He had 11 total penalties between 2021 and 2022 combined.
Late Day 3 tackles
PROVO, UT – NOVEMBER 18: Walter Rouse #75 of the Oklahoma Sooners blocks Isaiah Bagnah #13 of the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half of their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
At this point in the draft, we’ve moved onto drafting players based on individual traits more than their overall makeup. When new Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf was with the Packers, the team tended to target athletes more than all-out maulers at the tackle position.
Keeping that kind mind, which players outside of the top 150 best fit that description? Names to know include Walter Rouse from Oklahoma, Julian Pearl from Illinois, Frank Crum from Wyoming, and Tylan Grable from UCF.
Day 3 interior offensive linemen
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Zak Zinter (65) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The most intriguing interior offensive line prospect for the Patriots on Day 3 is North Andover, MA native Zak Zinter. A team captain at Michigan and All-American who was originally expected to be a top-100 pick, Zinter suffered a broken tibia and fibula in the final game of the regular season. That injury has held him out of the pre-draft process, and is still working his way back. While the injury may have dampened his initial draft stock, he could be seen as a long-term value pick for a team that wants interior offensive line help early on Day 3.
Staying local, C.J. Hanson from Holy Cross is a player to watch later on Day 3. A three-year starter, Hanson is among the most experienced and athletic offensive linemen in this class. The question will be how his power translates to the NFL.
If the Patriots want to add long-term depth at center there were two players that stood out at the Senior Bowl as Day 3 project picks. Tanor Borolini from Wisconsin looks like a solid rotational player with potential to play center and guard, especially in a zone blocking scheme. Meanwhile, Kingsley Eguakun from Florida plays with the kind of physicality and mean streak that can’t be taught, but his game is a work in progress.
UDFAs
Dec 19, 2023; Frisco, TX, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd offensive lineman Ethan Driskell (52) lines up against the UTSA Roadrunners during the fourth quarter at Toyota Stadium. Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Finally, a couple of projected UDFAs – both who stood out at the Senior Bowl. The first is Ethan Driskell from Marshall. At 6-foot-8, 313 pounds with 35 3/8-inch arms, he has great size which would make him an intriguing player to work with. The other is Travis Glover from Georgia Southern, who the Patriots met with at the Hula Bowl, where he performed well enough to earn an invite to the Senior Bowl.
