State

Let's be blunt. One of the things that sets the Patriots apart is the fact that they take into account intelligence in a meaningful way at positions where it is important--QB, ILB, OL. One can see how the different positions' Wonderlic scores are outlined.

Here's the list from this year's draft here.

People have sounded off, sometimes attacking the Wonderlic as bogus on this very forum. Tsk-tsk.

That's why two years ago we passed on Keith Rivers (15) for Jerod Mayo (26).

This helps explain why Beatty (22) was overlooked in favor of Vollmer (He's got Einstein's brain in the Russian boxer's http://dlistornot.files.wordpress.co.../ivandrago.jpg body in Rocky IV) or Mayo (26) taken last year but not any of the LBers available to us this year in the first or second rounds.

I think even without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight Belichick does not take Vince Young high in the first round even if we needed a QB. Interesting experiment: type in "Vince Young" on the Google serarch bar and see what comes up for options first.

Wonderlic

Who has time to spend extra time on dullards when time is short? There ain't no time for Individualized Education Plans (IEP) in the NFL.

There is no point in having a Michael Oher (19--good thing he's got a beautiful smile) or a Rey Maualuga (15--way too low) on this team for this very reason, regardless of their physical blessings.

I think other teams are catching on. For example, the best QBs in the game are very, vert smart. No Dan Marinos in the bunch that I can tell.

State

Someone else said it much better: Vollmer at Left Tackle

AzPatsFan

So what was Volmer's Wonderlic vs Beatty's 22 ?

State

Patchick says it was a 32 to Oher's 21. I can't find corroboration for it anywhere, though.

Remember Vollmer wasn't even invited to the combine.

Vollmer at Left Tackle

Her posting is one of the best ones I've ever read on this site.

This guy says the play of Vollmer stood out when he was reviewing the tape to watch another player. Humorously, he guarantees that Vollmer wouldn't be a second round draft choice.

AzPatsFan

He choice that the Pats had was Beatty or Volmer when picking at #58. Oher, I think, was dropped from their list, long ago.

This draftnik "discovered" Volmer while watching tape of another player. He was sure he he was an unknown sleeper pick. But Rich Gosslin's NFL contacts knew about Volmer; and the consensus as interpreted by RG, had him rated as around an early third rounder.

The Patriots scouts un-earthed him, as well. But as an example of the Patriot's scouting thoroughness, they dispatched both Scarnecchia and Belichick to work out Beatty at UConn on his Pro day.

Similarly, Scarnecchia journeyed to Houston, and according to sources was allowed to take over the Houston Pro day as the senior, (or only), NFL representative there. Basically he ran their pro day, assuring that he got to see Volmer in any and all the drills that he wished to see.

There is no better way to judge a couple of players than to be the Coach and have them run through YOUR training drills, assuming both are healthy, as they were.

The Patriots after all that, decided that Volmer was the superior prospect.

It is seldom that a high prospect LOT drops to the late second round; if I were the Pats, I might have traded to get another late second, in 2009, and secured both players. You can never have enough quality Offensive linemen.

patchick

FWIW, I think you're reading too much into the single example of Mayo. Guyton, Lua and Claridge all had very pedestrian Wonderlic scores.

The OL, in contrast, is seriously stacked in the Wonderlic department. Every o-lineman except Hochstein (who wasn't a Pats draftee) outscored Mayo, some by a wide margin.

State

Patchick, you had me at hello.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

I think those "Wonderlic" tests are the most pointless tests around. I think most players could care less and mark anything because that s*** has nothing to do with football. You are becoming a football player, not studying for your SAT's. Why don't they change it up and actually ask football questions? That "Wonderlic" guy can take his test and shove it up his *****. That s*** needs to be banned from the NFL.

DaBruinz

State - again you don't do your homework. If you had, you'd know that there have been plenty of players on the Pats who have scored below a 15 on the Wonderlic. The following are a list of wonderlic scores for some past and present Patriots. I think it shows that the Wonderlic, while a factor, isn't the be all end all for decisions regarding whom the Patriots draft.

Vince Wilfork had a 10
Ben Watson had a 41
Asante Samuel had a 10
Richard Seymour had an 18
Bethel Johnson had a 20
Deion Branch had a 26
David Givens had an 18
Matt Light had a 29
Dan Koppen had a 28
Logan Mankins had a 31
Nick Kaczur had a 29
Eugene Wilson had a 20
Ty Warren has a 15
Jarvis Green had a 18
Daniel Graham had a 10
Eillis Hobbs had a 15

DaBruinz

Spoken like someone who doesn't understand what the Wonderlic is actually about. Great job there...