Three years out—rate the 2010 Patriots draft - Page 6 - New England Patriots Forums

tonyto3690 · 02-10-2013, 09:28 AM

Mesko single handedly won us the Ravens game a couple seasons ago (in OT?).

Mesko is a great punter. It's just that the Patriots go 3 and out less than any other team in the league so it's rare that he has the opportunity to just rip it and kick it as far as he can (like a team like the Raiders). He usually is punting at best, from his own 40, and it'd probably be just as likely the opponents 40 as his own.

I wouldn't put him top 3, but he's certainly approaching top 5.

CheeseMonkeys · 02-10-2013, 10:20 AM

The Taylor Price pick is the difference of this draft being an A instead of an A+. The Cunningham pick wasn't great but he's still on the team and has made some plays.

I wouldn't say that you have to nail all of your picks to get an A+ but I think all of your top picks should prove to be somewhat productive players.

Hern
Gronk
Devin
Spikes
Mesko

Also, It bugs me that some people here are talking about the "obvious picks". As if they should have been the ones drafting the players since they are so knowledgeable on scouting draft prospects. They weren't obvious back in April 2010.

Patsfanin Philly · 02-10-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

Ask a guy like Tannenbaum how important it is not to blow draft picks. The "could have had...." is a way of seeing blown picks in light of the available talent in that year's draft..

In one respect courtesy of Tannenbaum, you can add Woodhead to that list, even though he was picked up after being cut by the Jets. He outplayed McKnight in training camp but Ryan/Tannenbaum weren't about to cut their 4th rounder in favor of an UDFA when they only had 4 picks....

SyN65 · 02-10-2013, 01:19 PM

A+ draft. Can't expect much better.

Best TE in the league. (Gronk)
One of the best WR/TE/RB hybrid (Hernandez)
Emerging safety (McCourty)
One of the best punters in the league (Mesko)
One of the best run defending LBs in the league (Spikes)

***jmt57*** · 02-10-2013, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claremonster

Ted Larsen should have never been cut either.

While I felt at the time that Larsen should have been retained over Nick Kaczur, on the other hand had that been the case then there would not have been room on the roster to sign Donald Thomas (or Nick McDonald). It's about an even trade-off when you consider the roster opening that releasing Larsen created.

***mgteich*** · 02-10-2013, 01:47 PM

I'd rather have had G/C Larsen than G/C McDonald.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmt57

While I felt at the time that Larsen should have been retained over Nick Kaczur, on the other hand had that been the case then there would not have been room on the roster to sign Donald Thomas (or Nick McDonald). It's about an even trade-off when you consider the roster opening that releasing Larsen created.

***jmt57*** · 02-10-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgteich

I'd rather have had G/C Larsen than G/C McDonald.

A year ago I would have disagreed, but not today; McDonald did not progress as I had hoped in 2012. How much of that was from an early training camp injury, who knows; hopefully he can get back on track in 2013. Would be nice to see McDonald make a step forward the way that Thomas did in 2012; Thomas played the best of the three last year.

On a side note Larsen's base salary for 2013 increased to $1.323 million based on incentives (I would assume playing time) in his original contract. larsen saw plenty of playing time because both Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph went on IR; barring another major injury, Larsen will likely be back on the bench.

Froob · 02-10-2013, 04:49 PM

A+ easily. Gronk will probably become a Hall of Famer if injuries don't ruin him. Hernandez is a top 5 TE at least. Spikes is a very good linebacker who inspires others to play better. McCourty is one of the better cover safeties in the league I'd say. Mesko is pretty good, Cunningham is an okay player just drafted way too high.

patriotsdynasty12189 · 02-10-2013, 09:22 PM

F terrible draft didnt get any big tall fast physical receivers, a big safety who can lay the wood, or 3 darrelle revis's absolutley garbage.

captain stone · 02-10-2013, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob0729

First, you are complaining about the Pats taking a punter in a fifth round and continuing to make a case for a back up WR (your own words) in the second round. I said there are better choices in the second round other than Cunningham (Lee was my choice), but I disagree on Tate.

Second, just because Tate succeeded in a similar system in college doesn't mean he would succeed in the Pros. Prior to the draft, there was a lot of doubt that would succeed in the Pros no matter what system he was in. The Pats could have gotten a better #3 WR in later rounds. Eric Decker (3rd round) and Antonio Brown (6th round) were both drafted after Tate and are better receivers than Tate.

Third, plenty of teams draft a punter in the 5th round or higher. Here are all the teams that drafted punters drafted in the 5th round or higher over the last decade:

This year, the Jags drafted one in the third round.
In 2009, both the Bengals and Saints drafted a punter in the 5th round.
In 2007, both the Steelers and Jags drafted a punter in the 4th round. In 2005, the Chiefs drafted on in the 3rd round.
In 2004, the Packers drafted one in the 3rd round.
In 2003, the Chargers drafted on in the 5th.
In 2002, the Ravens drafted one in the 4th.

DraftHistory.com

So that is eight teams drafting nine punters over the last decade in the same round or higher as the Pats when they took Mesko. Considering teams only have one punter and a punter's career (even for an average one) is over a decade long, that is a lot of punters drafted in the fifth round or higher.

Fourth, Mesko is better than you give him credit for. He does a pretty good job getting the ball inside the 20 and boots it when he needs to. There is no such thing as a coffin kicker in the NFL anymore. Mesko's numbers suffer from the Pats' offense that scores on more drives than most teams and, when they are forced to punt, they are kicking closer to midfield or on the other side of the field more often than other teams.

Fair enough points re Mesko, though I still disagree re Golden Tate.