Kiper: Regrading the 2009 NFL draft

[BPF]

Good read. Couldn't post more, Insider artcile.

NFL draft - Mel Kiper: A re-grading of the 2009 NFL draft in December shows the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens in strong situations - ESPN

On April 27, Mel Kiper released his annual grades column for the 2009 NFL draft. A full regular season for those rookies nearly completed, he's at it again.

So how did I do? Was the "A" I gave the Green Bay Packers correct, and was the "D" I tagged on the Oakland Raiders a little too harsh?

I'm surprised at how many of these grades I wouldn't change significantly. Before you filet me for being the ref who refuses to overturn my own calls, a quick explanation: Part of this, I admit, is because many players -- be it because of injury or the realities of the depth chart -- still would be graded as "incomplete." We're still grading an unfinished product. But there have been surprises and moves. When playoff teams get a lot out of rookies, you must be impressed. When guys show star potential even in losing situations, again, you grade up. But in some cases, there's also no reason to believe a player will really emerge. So, to the report card.

....

New England Patriots (Spring grade: B+)
Impressive draft, especially because they've positioned themselves beautifully for the 2010 draft. They need D-linemen and this draft is loaded; they have three second-round picks. (They also have a future first-rounder for Richard Seymour.) What's more, from this draft they have a bunch of guys already playing -- and for a team that's playoff-bound. Patrick Chung, Ron Brace and Sebastian Vollmer are solid picks. Then you get a seventh-round steal in Julian Edelman.
Current grade: A-

....

He forgot to mention Butler and Pryor.

 

[BPF]

Some other teams of interest, recent Pats employees:

Atlanta Falcons (Spring grade: B+)
This grade is incomplete now, but it could become an F. Peria Jerry and William Moore were picks I really liked, and injuries have forced them both out. From there, some backups, but no real impact thus far. You hope those two come back.
Current grade: Incomplete
---------------------------------
Denver Broncos (Spring grade: C)
Knowshon Moreno was a curious pick, and he's really only been productive because they've insisted on giving him carries. You don't see the star potential you want out of a first-round RB. I questioned the trade of a future first-rounder for Alphonso Smith then -- and it looks worse now. Not a bad draft, but not at all an impactful one.
Current grade: C
------------------------------------
Kansas City Chiefs (Spring grade: C-)
I called the Tyson Jackson pick a reach at the time -- and it still seems that way. Classic case of trying so hard to find the player that fits your system, but you end up not trading down and getting lower value based on the position. Jackson has disappointed. They don't get a single serious contributor to a weak roster. Well, save for Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Succop, who handles the kicking. No movement, which isn't a good thing.
Current grade: C-

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Good read. Couldn't post more, Insider artcile.

NFL draft - Mel Kiper: A re-grading of the 2009 NFL draft in December shows the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens in strong situations - ESPN



He forgot to mention Butler and Pryor.

In the last draft, Mel started to display some type of faint recognition that 3-4 defensive players are different than 4-3 defensive players. Maybe Jaws has been working with him.

 

[larryo]

Floyd Reese?

 

[captain stone]

Not being able, or willing, to acquire a single Pass-Rusher is still un-effin-forgivable.

If a team has at least 8 picks in a draft, at least 1 Pass-Rusher, 1 CB, 1 OLman & 1 WR should be taken. Unless, that is, the cupboard for one of those particular positions is completely stocked. That case, however, does not apply to the Patsies at any of those positions.

My grade: B-, and that's being generous (Christmastime, you know).

 

[IcyPatriot]

If Belichick becomes a better drafter than the combo of Belichick / Pioli - that will be very interesting. All the htreads blaming Belichick for not draftin linebackers, drafting poorly for wide receivers ... and all the rest. Think of all the threads here that will have to be amended.

Seriously ... one thing sticks out for me. When Belichick said that he and Scott had to be unamimous on a selection to make that pick. it would be great to see all the drafts - the guy Bill wanted, the guy Scott wanted and we already know who they selected.

If anything ... Kiper hints at Pioli looking more for value. This past draft we see Bill drafting more for upside and flexibility. 2010 and 2011 will be interesting indeed. Perhaps it was a welcome ... a very welcome thing that Scott moved on.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If Belichick becomes a better drafter than the combo of Belichick / Pioli - that will be very interesting. All the htreads blaming Belichick for not draftin linebackers, drafting poorly for wide receivers ... and all the rest. Think of all the threads here that will have to be amended.

Seriously ... one thing sticks out for me. When Belichick said that he and Scott had to be unamimous on a selection to make that pick. it would be great to see all the drafts - the guy Bill wanted, the guy Scott wanted and we already know who they selected.

If anything ... Kiper hints at Pioli looking more for value. This past draft we see Bill drafting more for upside and flexibility. 2010 and 2011 will be interesting indeed. Perhaps it was a welcome ... a very welcome thing that Scott moved on.

We can't draw that comparison, Pioli is in a different place with his current club, his drafting goals are going to be much different from what Bill & his team here will be working on.

 

[IcyPatriot]

We can't draw that comparison, Pioli is in a different place with his current club, his drafting goals are going to be much different from what Bill & his team here will be working on.

Booo to you ... Bah Humbug and a lump of coal to you Box. :nooo::cry2::cry2::cry2:

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Booo to you ... Bah Humbug and a lump of coal to you Box. :nooo::cry2::cry2::cry2:

More coal, I get to pollute with fossil fuels while keeping the house warm, being bad never felt so good.

 

[GostkowSKI]

Good read. Couldn't post more, Insider artcile.

NFL draft - Mel Kiper: A re-grading of the 2009 NFL draft in December shows the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens in strong situations - ESPN



He forgot to mention Butler and Pryor.

Seems odd that he lumped Vollmer & Brace together in the same sentence. Not knocking on Brace but his contributions this year have paled in comparison to Vollmer.

 

[Marqui]

This past draft we see Bill drafting more for upside and flexibility. 2010 and 2011 will be interesting indeed. Perhaps it was a welcome ... a very welcome thing that Scott moved on.

I really hope it's not a fluke and Scott really was the problem. The Pats can't afford to screw up in 10 and 11s drafts.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I really hope it's not a fluke and Scott really was the problem. The Pats can't afford to screw up in 10 and 11s drafts.

I have never doubted for one minute that everything that happens with the Pats runs through BB. And as long as he is watching film of the players, our drafting philosophy will continue.

 

[DaBruinz]

I really hope it's not a fluke and Scott really was the problem. The Pats can't afford to screw up in 10 and 11s drafts.

Hmm.. So, not it is PIOLI's fault that they drafted guys like Jackson, Bethel Johnson, and Kevin O'Connell. What part of "Both Belichick and Pioli had to agree on a player" for the player to make the draft boards?

The 2007 draft was "bad" because the Pats had 4 picks they couldn't trade, had more than a full roster of NFL caliber players prior to the draft, and they missed out on Stewart Bradley. People also calling that draft bad tend to ignore that the Pats added Moss and Welker and picks into 2008..

2005 was an awesome draft. 2006 was good, but not spectacular. 2008, at worst, will be solid. 2009 has the potential to be awesome.

There are certain people on this board who grossly blow out of proportion how "bad" the drafting has been. Those people tend to be the ones who whine and complain because their "binkies" didn't get drafted and then went somewhere else and have had some modicum of success. They also forget that the success that those binkies are having doesn't necessarily translate into success on the Patriots..

 

[sbpatfan]

Not being able, or willing, to acquire a single Pass-Rusher is still un-effin-forgivable.

If a team has at least 8 picks in a draft, at least 1 Pass-Rusher, 1 CB, 1 OLman & 1 WR should be taken. Unless, that is, the cupboard for one of those particular positions is completely stocked. That case, however, does not apply to the Patsies at any of those positions.

My grade: B-, and that's being generous (Christmastime, you know).

You realize that out of the entire draft only two rookies have had been able to put up a sucessful and consistent pass rush this season? Two guys out of 7 rounds of drafting isn't that great. Most pass rushers take awhile to develop.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Lets not forget the injuries have hurt the Pats draft picks. Nobody knows what MacKenzie would have (or hopefully will) bring to the table. Crable is as unknown as anyone, two years worht of IR, I really don't think that BB thinks he can contribute, as he seems to have been quickly shelved, with not so serious injuries.

Do not sleep on tate, he is a superior talent, that once healthy, will be a major factor.

 

[captain stone]

You realize that out of the entire draft only two rookies have had been able to put up a sucessful and consistent pass rush this season? Two guys out of 7 rounds of drafting isn't that great. Most pass rushers take awhile to develop.

Then does Bill not need to start drafting & developing pass-rushers as soon as possible?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Then does Bill not need to start drafting & developing pass-rushers as soon as possible?

Exactly! Draft and develop! Start a pipeline and let these pass rushers play ST until they are ready to step into the base defense.

If BB needs to see film of a potential pass rusher, rushing the passer, setting the edge on runing plays and dropping into coverage; then send him all the tapes of the Clemson games and have him watch Sapp.

 

[WelshPat]

The only 3-4 olbs that got picked in the frist round were Orakpo, English, Ayers and Matthews. 3 were gone and i would have been pretty angry if we had picked Matthews, even though he looks like a player.

 

[captain stone]

Exactly! Draft and develop! Start a pipeline and let these pass rushers play ST until they are ready to step into the base defense.

That's what he did with TBC starting in '03; after him, however...nothing.

Baffling & very, very disappointing.

 

[captain stone]

The only 3-4 olbs that got picked in the frist round were Orakpo, English, Ayers and Matthews. 3 were gone and i would have been pretty angry if we had picked Matthews, even though he looks like a player.

I really didn't want Matthews, either. I did, however, want either Barwin or Sintim at 41, and Lawrence Sidbury with the 4th-rounder wasted on lil' Richie Oburger.