I'm glad we didn't waste a pick this year on marginal 3-4 DE prospect when next year is stacked with 3-4 DE's.
Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
Marvin Austin, North Carolina
Allen Bailey, Miami
WR & RB are also going to be stacked with blue chippers.
The depth of the 2011 class matches up perfectly with our remaining needs, hmmm coincidence?
I doubt it is a coincidence. But it is pre-planning. This enormous draft class adding to the past two, will need to be absorbed, this season.
When costs for impact rookies come down next year, BB will be into Phase II of his restock/rebuild plan, and ready to stock up on the spice of impact players.
I notice how the typical media clowns are complaining of "errors", and "losing it". They are always just so ignorant.
But just about all the dynastic players are in retirement now; and Bill has been reloading the whole team with good and maybe someday great players, while still winning.
The Defense lost the last three (four) defensive dynastics this past season. Tedy, Mike, and Rodney (and Richard), are gone, but the Pats still played winning, but no longer dominant football. But BB has not gone out of his way to seek superstars, yet. Best to fill-out the Defense and then see where impact spice is needed.
He knows he must deal in quantity first. Now he is letting the quantity season, as it takes about three years together for a squad to jell. For example, the secondary has been rebuilt with 9 youngsters but only Sanders and Meriwether are yet pros in their prime, to join Boddin. All the others are just learning the NFL way.
Even more so for the LB squad. The ILB numbers are only now adequate, and the OLBs have yet to sort themselves out. Meanwhile he patches with older vets. I expect he will use the th Top Ten pick next year for a really fine DE/OLB impact player, as the last piece of the puzzle to complete the new Defense.
The DL was complete, but the could not afford Richard so there is a hole there at RDE, that he is patching with a combo of vets and youngsters. The talent is deep and on paper, fine. Four first round picks for three positions and a few good others for depth too. But replacing a Hall of Famer is difficult. Its easy to see why Damione Lewis and Gerard Warren were signed.
The Pats miss his interior pass rush and his overall ability to make everyone around him better. It would be wonderful, if they can resign him when his contract with the Raiders is finished next year.
Good god would that be insane!
