5 games in, 6 rookies have started

[patchick]

I just wanted to take a moment to marvel over that stat, and what it says about the overall depth and quality of this Patriots draft. 6 different rookies starting already -- not for a scrub team scrounging for spare parts, but for a 4-1 team. And that stat doesn't even count Mesko.

Point to ponder: of all the drafts I've followed on this board, this one got the highest immediate marks from board members, and was the first where the predict-the-draft were full of crooked numbers. So maybe we're not such numbskulls after all.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

So maybe we're not such numbskulls after all.

:snob: Speak for yourself.

 

[Metaphors]

I just wanted to take a moment to marvel over that stat, and what it says about the overall depth and quality of this Patriots draft. 6 different rookies starting already -- not for a scrub team scrounging for spare parts, but for a 4-1 team. And that stat doesn't even count Mesko.

The thing that has impressed me from a player acquisition perspective is that the rookies haven't displaced players for the most part (outside of TE and P)...but they have allowed players to slide into roles that are better suited to their skills:

McCourty - Moves Butler/Wilhite to nickel or inside CB
Cunningham - TBC to a rush specialist
Spikes - Guyton to sub package
Deaderick - Wright to sub package

So the rookies are not only providing production and energy when they are on the field, but they are allowing the vets to have more meaningful (and productive) snaps when they are in.

That keeps the team fresh in the 4th quarter (and over a long season), provides quality depth for the inevitable injuries and gives Belichick some flexibility to put unique groupings on the field (did anyone think Fletcher and Crable would be on the field late in a tied game against arguably the top team in the NFL?).

The team is going through some growing pains now, but if they continue to see the growth and contributions from EVERYONE on the roster, they could be tough to be when the games are win-or-go-home.

 

[rookBoston]

I just wanted to take a moment to marvel over that stat, and what it says about the overall depth and quality of this Patriots draft.

You're right. We haven't seen a draft class remotely like it since 2003, and you know how that season ended.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

The 2010 draft class has contributed a lot more in their first season than the 2009 draft class, and might be the best draft class of the BB era. But depending on Butler and Brace's development, 2009 could also be in the running. Either way, the last two years could end up as the 2 best overall drafts in the BB era.

And the scary thing is the 2011 draft class may beat both of those.