Return of the Blue-collar, passionate "football players"

[patsfan55]

I'm not in love with the fact that we took a corner so early, I'm not in love with the fact that we passed up on more heralded pass rushers like Carlos Dunlap for his less heralded teammate. What I am in love with is the fact that it seems like we got some kids that are tough, physical, and passionate about the game. It reminds me of the picks and free-agent pick-ups of the early part of the decade. In those 05-08 years we were picking the physical beasts that didn't live up to their potential (see: Chad Jackson, Ben Watson, Laurence Maroney...) which kind of reminds me of one of my binkies for this year: Carlos Dunlap. Instead we went with the guys that maybe didn't do so great at the combine (Spikes) or that didn't have a huge name (Cunningham). Seeing the passion that Gronk has really excites me, and everything I see and read about all the others since they've been picked pretty much parallels this. I think we got a handful of passionate kids that love the game of football and are really going to help bring the "Patriot Way" back to Foxboro!

 

[JonVaughnTD]

Spot on post, in my opinion. Passion (and a pass rush) was what this team was lacking last year.

 

[sbpatfan]

I love the game experience that guys like Spikes and Cunningham have too, I think playing time is a vastly underrated stat.

 

[Marqui]

Cunningham >>> Dunlap

 

[patsfan55]

I love the game experience that guys like Spikes and Cunningham have too, I think playing time is a vastly underrated stat.

I really think that we're gonna start hearing about "great team chemistry" vs. last year's "poor team chemistry" very soon

 

[sbpatfan]

I really think that we're gonna start hearing about "great team chemistry" vs. last year's "poor team chemistry" very soon

Speaking of chemistry, Spikes and Cunningham were both roommates in Florida together.

 

[Shockt327]

I agree. I feel like this draft has done quite a bit to change my opinion of where I think this team is heading. I think the Patriots, especially on D, have playmakers once again. I really like Brandon Spikes. Him next to Mayo, with Wilfork up front, Merriweather at S, and Bodden resigned: awesome.

These guys are young and they have a nose for the football.

 

[patsfan55]

Speaking of chemistry, Spikes and Cunningham were both roommates in Florida together.

I heard Kraft is going to demand some gator-chomping in the stands at Foxboro next year

 

[patsfan55]

I agree. I feel like this draft has done quite a bit to change my opinion of where I think this team is heading. I think the Patriots, especially on D, have playmakers once again. I really like Brandon Spikes. Him next to Mayo, with Wilfork up front, Merriweather at S, and Bodden resigned: awesome.

These guys are young and they have a nose for the football.

Things are DEFINITELY headed in the right direction. We can still add some impact guys tomorrow, and going forward once some vets are released. And, don't forget we have four picks yet again in the first two rounds next year!!!

 

[Shockt327]

Things are DEFINITELY headed in the right direction. We can still add some impact guys tomorrow, and going forward once some vets are released. And, don't forget we have four picks yet again in the first two rounds next year!!!

Two of those picks should be top 10 of each round. That's just sick.

 

[patchick]

Speaking of chemistry, Spikes and Cunningham were both roommates in Florida together.

Nice tidbit. How awesome would that be, drafted to the same team in the same round as your own roommate.

 

[BelichickFan]

Nice tidbit. How awesome would that be, drafted to the same team in the same round as your own roommate.

Just listened to his phone call, he said how excited his draft room was when Spikes' name scrolled across the screen after Spikes was drafted.

As to the thread, I'm done with slackers, Adalius Thomas finished me off. If I read about a player who was soft, not hard working, didn't love football, I moved on. I wanted player who love the game, have the burning desire to win, will play to the whistle and maybe a second past it.

Bye Adalius. You, sir, were the problem.

 

[jeffbiologist]

LINEBACKERS!!!! People who LOVE HITTING OTHER PEOPLE!! I am SOOO much more impressed getting these 2 guys even knowing they are situational(not 3 down)LBs. At our height, the Pats had 6-7 starting caliber LBs that rotated through situationally. Getting 2 of these guys is huge. They will certainly feed off each other and we can only hope that what they have is infectious. This team has gotten pretty button down dont you think?

 

[ausbacker]

Having talent is one thing but what most excites me is the draftees all seem genuinely excited to be Patriots players. For me this is the biggest win from the draft.

 

[patsfan55]

Having talent is one thing but what most excites me is the draftees all seem genuinely excited to be Patriots players. For me this is the biggest win from the draft.

Exactly, drive and passion are two intangibles that are SO huge. Helps add to the "will to win," and when you have that it can make the difference between getting/not giving up that extra yard or not.

 

[O'Doyle Rules!]

Key point from Cunningham's conference call:

Reporter: Which position do you prefer (between DE and OLB)?
Cunningham: Either. I'M A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

Jermaine Cunningham = the anti-Adalius.

For someone I haven't heard much about, that's a good start...

 

[Tunescribe]

Speaking of chemistry, Spikes and Cunningham were both roommates in Florida together.

Glad to hear they were both roommates together instead of just one of them by himself.

 

[Leave No Doubt]

I think we got a handful of passionate kids that love the game of football and are really going to help bring the "Patriot Way" back to Foxboro!

That seems to be the commonality and something I think we've been missing over the last few years. Did BB specifically look for that quality or did these guys all just happen to possess it? They may not be the sexy celeb picks but they fill a need in more ways than one. Like he said about Gronk, a fun-loving guy who plays that way too. Intangibles DO matter Great picks and great post pf55.