VJCPatriot

"But the Patriots instead selected cornerback Ras-I Dowling, a solid player and solid "character" guy who could form a dynamic long-term pairing with Devin McCourty if he stays healthy. It is my view that the Patriots were banking on either Sheard or Reed sliding through to 56."

That's just his opinion. It's based on his Presumption that the Pats were targeting those two players. The Pats passed on them at #33 and took Dowling instead. The Pats also made the Vereen pick with no hesitation. So it's quite possible the Pats weren't looking to target ANY linebacker in the picks between 33-56 range. They had ammunition to move up (In the form of extra 3rds and a 4th before the Raider trade) if they had really felt like it, which they obviously didn't.

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DW Toys

Great post.
DW Toys

BeauSox

The math here is simple logic!

The pats could have gone and traded down with Cincy to 35 and picked up an extra pick, or another team even lower. The thought was that the Bills were going to select a QB at 34 and the team trading up would get first choice at the remaining ones.

But Buffalo diddnt pick a QB...BB must have figured that out when talking to them about the 33 pick.(when Buffalo wasnt interested in securing that 33 pick for a QB). Buffalo was going to take a DB and Bill valued Rowling better than any other DB, and took HIS GUY!

Does this make sense? If we dont choose Rowling at 33, Buffalo likely does, and we get an extra 6th round pick in a draft BB doesnt like, along with losing out on a player he wants, that now plays against us in our division!

randomk1

I hate the idea of us looking for this perfect "Patriots OLB". Is Cunningham the prototype? They have to be 6'3 260+ pounds,rush the passer,cover the pass,stop the run? At this point i'd be fine if we get a guy that can be just let loose and go after the QB and cause some havoc in the backfield.

Dumervil,Harrison neither have prototypical size for OLB yet they are among the best 3-4 OLB's in the league.

Synovia

How do you know they didn't do exactly that (with Ras-I)?

Sciz

Reiss is nothing short of delusional when it comes to the pass rush. He has no concept of the type of pass rusher than fits the Patriots' scheme. Love him as a reporter, but at least half of the posters here are more football smart than he is.

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AzPatsFan

With no genuine need at D-line and your correct assessment of BB's unwillingness in most cases to spend two or three years grooming an OLB candidate, he addressed the older Offense, and initiated a comprehensive rebuild.

BB has batted 5 for 7 in acquiring OLBs via veteran FA, who can help immediately. He succeeded with Pfifer, Vrabel and Colvin. He had partial success with AD Thomas and TBC and Ninkovitch is an INComplete. BB failed with Carpenter and Burrow, who were both about done when he got them.

TealSox

Agreed.

Personally, I like the vote of confidence by Belichick for his defensive line and have high hopes for the younger guys like Darryl Richard, Brandon Deadericks and Myron Pryor. With Ron Brace, I'm losing faith but I remain hopeful.

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"It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get up."Vince Lombardi


Pats fan since 1993

FredFromDartmouth

I don't of course. Just an educated guess. I think that they figured that either Heyward or Wilkerson would fall to 33. They should have taken one of them at 28 but they gambled and ended up at 33 with no pass rusher worthy of the pick. They even hesitated on Ras-I but I suspect that they did not want to be burned again.

Hopefully they have learned their lesson and draft their guy if he is there although it is too late this year.

Can you imagine if they drafted Heyward/Wilkerson at 28 like they should have and got Ras-I at 33? That would have made this a great draft. Instead it became the most disappointing draft day I have seen long while....

Synovia

Assuming that Heyward or Wilkinson turns out fine. There's a good chance that Dowling is a better player than either, and its almost a certainty that the Saints pick next year WILL BE.