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From memory, the Pats have only taken four offensive linemen in the top 2 rounds since Belichick has been here: Light, Mankins, Vollmer, and Solder. They've certainly all lived up to their draft position, but the other half of that equation, IMO, is that they don't have to spend high picks on offensive linemen. Since Scar can turn UDFAs into competent players, and late-round picks into good ones, the Pats have little reason to pick a lineman early unless they know that he'll be awfully good.
Adrian Klemm in 2000 (#46 overall), but I think you can be excused for forgetting him. I'd like to.
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I just think it's extraordinary to pick 17th (thanks for the correction, mayo!), take a player who was NOT an obvious pick, and to look back two years later and say "that was the single best possible pick in that spot."
Given the positional value of left tackle and Solder's athleticism and upside, the only guy I can look at and clearly say in retrospect that I would have taken over Solder in the entire draft - if I could redraft and take anyone I wanted - is JJ Watt. Maybe Von Miller, but he was less of a clear schematic fit. Maybe Aldon Smith, but he was a sub rusher his first year. And, as you say, there was no one afterwards who would have been a better pick. That's impressive. Especially when you consider that Solder was considered somewhat raw coming out, and wasn't considered to be ready to contribute right away, which he did.
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To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid
"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi
I know we all know this but it is worth mentioning that this was the Seymour pick. I know it sucked to lose Seymour for "nothing" that year but when we presumably extend Solder we'll be looking at 8-10 years of this guy instead of Seymour who has been a solid but aging player since we traded him.
Given the positional value of left tackle and Solder's athleticism and upside, the only guy I can look at and clearly say in retrospect that I would have taken over Solder in the entire draft - if I could redraft and take anyone I wanted - is JJ Watt. Maybe Von Miller, but he was less of a clear schematic fit. Maybe Aldon Smith, but he was a sub rusher his first year. And, as you say, there was no one afterwards who would have been a better pick. That's impressive. Especially when you consider that Solder was considered somewhat raw coming out, and wasn't considered to be ready to contribute right away, which he did.
So many teams are looking for the physical prototype at a position, and then they see one and often see the flaws that keep him from performing to his talent level.
Here we have a guy who was healthy, and the prototypical specimen of what you want at the elevated important position of LT, and other teams let him pass.
Now I loved Watt, but if the Pats could have somehow traded up for him, we would still have a crying need for a LT, and be missing whatever we had to trade to move up.
Of course, if we knew how JJ watt would turn out the Texans themselves would have had to trade up, because he probably would have gone #1 overall.
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Given the positional value of left tackle and Solder's athleticism and upside, the only guy I can look at and clearly say in retrospect that I would have taken over Solder in the entire draft - if I could redraft and take anyone I wanted - is JJ Watt. Maybe Von Miller, but he was less of a clear schematic fit. Maybe Aldon Smith, but he was a sub rusher his first year. And, as you say, there was no one afterwards who would have been a better pick. That's impressive. Especially when you consider that Solder was considered somewhat raw coming out, and wasn't considered to be ready to contribute right away, which he did.
Watt was the one draft binky I've really gotten right, sigh. The Pats had no chance at him, though. Even if they could have somehow traded up into the top 10 for him, which was extremely unlikely, they wouldn't have known that they had to because NOBODY predicted that Houston would take him.
Almost two seasons later, is there ANYONE you would rather have from pick 19 on in place of our franchise LT?
Solder was a great pick, I wouldn't take anyone for four rounds after him. However, I would consider Round 5-Pick 154-Richard Sherman CB Seahawks.
Solder was one of the best value picks in the draft behind JJ Watt at #11, Sherman at 154, and Ridley at 73, considering Miller was drafted #2 and Smith #7.
Solder was a great pick, I wouldn't take anyone for four rounds after him. However, I would consider Round 5-Pick 154-Richard Sherman CB Seahawks.
Solder was one of the best value picks in the draft behind JJ Watt at #11, Sherman at 154, and Ridley at 73, considering Miller was drafted #2 and Smith #7.
Damn, as much as I hate Sherman, I wish we took him...he could be talking **** for US.
I wanted Jordan or OT Anthony Castonzo; I liked Solder but he was supposed to be a project whereas Castonzo was more "NFL ready". Or so they said.
To be fair, Solder was a glorified TE for a year. Probably wasn't "NFL ready" as a LT his rookie year.
I wonder if there hadn't been a lockout and we'd re-signed Light pre-draft whether we'd have picked Solder. If not, we'd be looking at Riley Reiff or Cordy Glenn at LT and we'd be without either Chandler Jones or Hightower most likely.
I wanted Jordan or OT Anthony Castonzo; I liked Solder but he was supposed to be a project whereas Castonzo was more "NFL ready". Or so they said.
They said Quinton Coples was more NFL ready and Chandler Jones was project too. Jones, before he was injured, was the leading candidate for DROY. Coples, well, he was getting playing time.
Both have been deactivated lately because of injuries..... What?!? Coples has been active and just hasn't shown up in the stats column in the last two weeks? Nice pick Rex.
26Likes
Re: Nate Solder having a Pro Bowl Year
I think he's a solid player, but the Pats were clearly smarter than me, as usual.
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