tanked_as_usual

regarding mayo, I believe it was the plan to have him start ASAP......hobson was jettisoned the first moment that it was realized that mayo will work from the outset........as with any rookie, you have to deal with the higher tendency for 'rookie mistakes', but the point I did not make is that none of these guys made the team regret putting them out as rookies......maybe its their fail-safe plan, but then again, maybe they are too cautious.....

sometimes you have to damn the torpedoes and go in another direction and it works out like you never thought it would........both koppen and wilson were examples of this.....guys who pretty much did not take a snap with the first unit all preseason, but stepped in and fit the scheme very well......koppen sent a probowl center (woody) to OG........

there is a flip-side of being over cautious that way.........the perfect example was eric alexander versus the colts in the 2006 AFCC.....the guy was lost out there.......I'd like to say because he just stinks, but the fact is that if he had gotten any meaningful time during the regular season, he probably would have made a play on 3rd down that he had missed, changing the entire outcome of that game.....it was that close.......the pats could have easily afforded to get him on the field during the regular season....there were 6 blowouts during the regular season and one in the playoffs where alexander could have gotten valuable PT in 2006 and not have to be thrown to the wolves versus the colts.......there was no excuse for that

Seneschal2

Good post, and I agree. Something else to keep in mind are two other factors:

1) Injuries to the rookie crop. In most drafts, there's always a rookie or two who gets hurt, inevitably slowing the learning curve. The NFL transition can be difficult enough, but when you also lose valuable practice reps due to injury, chances are you'll delay and/or limit your opportunities for any game action. And if competing for a starting role, it won't happen by game one.

2) Competition and experience. Let's say our first round pick this draft is a Safety. Obviously Merriweather is set at one Safety position, while Sanders and the rest represent competition for the rookie. No doubt the rook would have more athletic ability than the others, but have zero experience. This is a position IMO where a rookie wouldn't start from game one, but could later on.

If we consider these factors, the idea of rookies starting is possible, but dependent upon their health, competition for the position, and their ability to grasp the offense or defense.

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"What we want to try to do is maximize each spot on the roster; we want to be stronger at No. 1 than the opponent, stronger at No. 25 than they are, and stronger at No. 53 than they are, we're always looking to upgrade the talent level on the team, and play together to be functional."
- Bill Belichick -

mgteich

I would add that I have much greater expectations of a blue chipper than those drafted later in the first round. Depending on the draft that division line somewhere between 8 and about 12. So, I did expect a lot from Seymour and Mayo. And, I viewed Wilfork as a blue-chipper who we were very lucky to acquire when we did. I was disappointed with his progress during his rookie year.

I have much less expectation when we draft at 13 or below.

makoute

Seymour, Mankins, and Mayo are the only people on that list that were starters right away. Wilfork played very little time that hear.

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BradyManny

He started 6 games as a rookie, which isn't too shabby, and he also started in the Super Bowl. So again, he was the starter by the end of the rookie year, and he did start every game the ensuing season.

BradyManny

I agree. Like I said, that's the difference between a guy who starts in year 1 and a guy who starts in year 2. 2nd half of round 1 may be given a year to acclimate himself, first half of round 1 is not. Obviously Mankins was asked to start right away and Maroney pretty much was starter 1B immediately.

BradyManny

Tank and Bru might've been practicing together, but by the first preseason game, Mayo was starter. As you said in another thread, Tank's time at WILB next to Bruschi was more or less a crash course to get him ready for nickel packages, and that the team likely didn't ever intend to use him at WILB in the base 3-4 as a starter. I think, with the ability of hindsight, Mayo was drafted to start. The only other option they would've had was to call up Seau.

mgteich

So, if I need a RG or RT in 2009 to be expected to be able to start in 2009, then the last half of the 1st round or in the second round is where I should look to draft my player.

WhiZa

I agree 100% with the OP. If BB doesn't make a splash in FA (ie AD), expected him to pair a draftee with a washed up vet to replace him the next year if not sooner.

Meriweather - Wilson
Wilfork -Traylor
Mankins - Andruzzi
Maroney - Dillon

This year I'm thinking OLB to replace Vrable, or SS if Harrison comes back.

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DaBruinz

Andruzzi wasn't with the Pats when Mankins was brought in. He's already moved on to Cleveland. Its what precipitated them looking at Mankins for the LG position.