Relentless649

Here is our Power RB right here. Georgia Tech JR RB Johnathan Dwyer. 6'0 235 Lbs. 1394 yards on 235 carries(5.9 yards per) and 14 tds. 30th Rated player on Mel Kiper jr.'s Big Board. Im not sure about taking him at 22 but maybe he falls to us in the second round.
YouTube - Jonathan Dwyer Highlights
YouTube - Jonathan Dwyer For Heisman
YouTube - RB Jonathan Dwyer Highlights 2009/2008 Georgia Tech

furley

So what they need is another Curtis Martin. I say, you're better off trying to pry Stephen Jackson away from St. Louis than finding a Ray Rice, Kevin Smith, Jamaal Charles, Slaton, Tashard Choice or Hightower. Because, let's not forget, the Patriots can't draft. Or seem to conveniently "miss out" on the steals. Even when the talent is in front of their faces, they typically pass.

A good point was made on the radio yesterday about the Patriots needing to learn to draft linebackers and change their system to fit this player rather than the usual drafting players to fit their system. They've to do something and fast. Change your way of thinking. Because these talented players every draft, whatever the position, offense or defense, are slipping through Belichick's fingers and other teams are prospering.

BelichickFan

I like Dwyer although his YPC is likely skewed based on the triple option offense and he's had to do very little pass blocking. He also hasn't caught many passes, although it is said that he has fine hands.

Nonentity

Almost every player, outside of the top 10, has question marks. Some of those players overcome those question marks or prove that they were unwarrented. Others don't - these are generally busts.

For the last season posters have brought up Cushing, Matthews and Maualuga. And yes, all three had good seasons although they might not have had such good seasons in the Pats scheme (and I appreciate your point about possibly changing the scheme, but for now it is what it is). Yet all three had question marks - Cushing and Matthews over possible size/steroids implications, Maualuga fell to the mid-second because of serious question marks over him over-pursuing and not having the speed to make up for it.

Possible busts after only the 2009 season: Aaron Maybin, Alphonso Smith, Eben Britton, Pat White (or at least he hasn't come close to finding a role yet) - all are players that some people had been suggesting for us pre-draft. Robert Ayers, another 1st round pass rusher, may only now be starting to come good for the Broncos.

Let's not even mention Vernon Gholston, Branden Albert, Derrick Harvey, Glenn Dorsey and Chris Long, all from the 1st round of the 2008 draft.


Simply, drafting is not an exact science. And we're not really all that bad at it - how about Vollmer, Pryor and Edelman this year?

Seneschal2

He may have been a favor to Scott Pioli, who also graduated from Central Connecticut State.

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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 -

furley

I was being facetious... My main point is to say that the Patriots have passed on players that were there for the taking and they chose not to select them because of their system. Again, maybe Belichick needs to reconsider his approach to the draft when drafting in any round. Oftentimes, the character of a player plays into it. But New England has drafted players with questionable characters and/or were involved in incidents possibly detrimental to their draft stock. For instance, they'd drafted Meriweather. Not to mention, trading for Randy Moss.

I'm not saying you draft Maualuga. But Laurinaitis was still available... If you can take the time to interview a player about character concerns. Why can't you reconsider a player who may have to play at a different position or change his role on your team but the talent is there to make your team.

captain stone

That's what I thought at the time, also. Pity; he could've been signed as a UDFA, and that pick could've been used on somebody who could've actually helped.

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Question Authority.

IcyPatriot

Because I think we still will have Maroney, Faulk and Morris i think Bill will go for Anthony Dixon ... he may be able to even get him in a trade down to upper round 3.

What was really nice was when we had Corey Dillon ... he was a great pass blocker ... not just good but great. We don't have that this year outside of Kevin Faulk ... we need a RB who can run and pass block to help this offense work. Maroney sucks at pass blocking - he looks like a pinball out there.

Ochmed Jones

I think changing your system to fit the player is a terrible idea. If anything BB's major problem remains his inability to draft players for the OLB position and coach them up.

Pittsburgh drafts a Timmons or Woodley and stashes them for a year or two while they are coached up and then unleashes them as contributors in the base defense. BB has NO development program for the LB position.It is the only position on the field except kickers that he does not develop players from within.

The sad thing is that the retreads he is salvaging from around the league are low level contributors at best and he is paying top dollar for them.

upstater1

Well, Vrabel and Rosey Colvin fit into this category too then, and they worked out.

The problem for BB is that he needs 260 pounders for that position who can run, and those guys are rarely available in the draft.

That being said, Vrabel, Colvin and Adalius were all to be had by any team that wanted them in the draft.

I'm imagining that BB believes most guys that fit the description resemble Gholston, but every once in a while, a guy that looks like Gholston turns into Brian Orakpo. I guess BB should just take chances on guys like this and if it's a bust (high probability) it's a bust. Look at Michael Johnson last year and Carlos Dunlap this year. Do you take them?