We don't just hoarde picks. We draft players. Tons of them.

[Gon_Trevil]

So, let's see what we have:


2009: 6 players taken in rounds 2-3
2010: 5 players taken in rounds 1-3
2011: 5 players taken in rounds 1-3

Oh, and we have 4 selections in the first 2 rounds next year.

Drafting one guy because the pundits rate him highly does not mean he's the best, or even worth it, for your team. The draft is a crapshoot. The more picks you can get in the early rounds, the higher your chances of coming out of the draft with a few hits.

I'd rather hit on 2 out of 5-6 picks in the first 3 rounds, than move up and risk going 0 for 2 by caving to knee-jerk drafting and panic attacks.

 

[BadMoFo]

So you'd prefer a 3rd and 4th string RB over say a backup DE or OLB, or possible starting guard. Getting picks next year is no problem, if you get some players of need this year.

 

[Gator Mike]

So you'd prefer a 3rd and 4th string RB over say a backup DE or OLB, or possible starting guard. Getting picks next year is no problem, if you get some players of need this year.

Playing Devil's Advocate...

Don't we already have backup DEs and OLBs? What do you know about how the Pats feel about the likes of Deaderick, Love, Eric Moore, Fletcher, Cunningham, etc?

 

[RhodyPatriot]

So, let's see what we have:


2009: 6 players taken in rounds 2-3
2010: 5 players taken in rounds 1-3
2011: 5 players taken in rounds 1-3

Oh, and we have 4 selections in the first 2 rounds next year.

Drafting one guy because the pundits rate him highly does not mean he's the best, or even worth it, for your team. The draft is a crapshoot. The more picks you can get in the early rounds, the higher your chances of coming out of the draft with a few hits.

I'd rather hit on 2 out of 5-6 picks in the first 3 rounds, than move up and risk going 0 for 2 by caving to knee-jerk drafting and panic attacks.

GLARING weaknesseS on defense and an injury prone CB is only defensive player taken in the 1st 3 rounds by your New England Colts.

QUALITY not quantity wins championships. DEFENSE wins championships.
Both lessons have been forgotten down in Foxborough.

 

[TruthSeeker]

GLARING weaknesseS on defense and an injury prone CB is only defensive player taken in the 1st 3 rounds by your New England Colts.

QUALITY not quantity wins championships. DEFENSE wins championships.
Both lessons have been forgotten down in Foxborough.

Exactly. It should read, "we don't just hoard picks that we will trade later, we also select underwhelming prospects that usually amount to camp fodder and McDonald's bathroom cleaners". The funny thing is, other team steal our waiver wire junk after the guy doesnt make it here.

 

[Frick]

I agree completely.

 

[jmt57]

Although I am not at all a fan of the way this draft is unfolding, I would really like to see an example to back up the statement that has been repeated tonight that 'quality not quantity wins championships'.

How many teams have won NFL championships by adhering to that philosophy of trading up whenever possible and spending the bulk of their budget on a limited number of players during the free agency/salary cap era?

 

[Gon_Trevil]

Funny you guys mention quality over quantity. I think quantity increases your chances of striking gold. It also increases your chances of getting more good players.

Look at it this way:

2009
Skinny:
We get 6 players before the end of round 3. Chung and Vollmer receive starter-type playing time, and look like stars in the making. Tate contributes more than your average backup due to his KR ability, and still has a chance to develop as a pass catcher. Brace has shown flashes, and while he may still end up a bust, the jury is still out.
Bottom line so far:
2 guys who have proved they can play at a high level and possibly become stars, and 2 guys that have contributed and have a legitimate chance to make a nice 3rd year jump.

2010
Skinny:
We get 5 players before the end of round 3. One of them redshirted, and the other 4 ended up starting. I'm not even going to discuss McCourty's potential. Ditto Gronk. Spikes was starting and playing very well before getting in trouble. And Cunningham showed enough as a rookie to ignite the hope that we have a strong OLB brewing in-house.
Bottom line so far:
Four starters, and good ones. In 3 rounds. How many teams can even dare to dream of that?

2011
Skinny:
Again, we get 5 players before the end of round 3. If one of the RBs becomes a bust, but the other runs for 1,400 yards, I'd say that RB alone was worth using 2 picks on RBs to see if one hit it. At this point we know next to nothing about what the chances are of this year's picks panning out.
Bottom line so far:
If only 2 of those picks become solid starters, and one more contributes in other roles, then we had a strong draft. Solder looks like a very safe pick. Are you willing to bet that all of the other 4 are busts? Because that's about the only thing that could make this draft a failure.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Funny you guys mention quality over quantity. I think quantity increases your chances of striking gold. It also increases your chances of getting more good players.

Look at it this way:

2009
Skinny:
We get 6 players before the end of round 3. Chung and Vollmer receive starter-type playing time, and look like stars in the making. Tate contributes more than your average backup due to his KR ability, and still has a chance to develop as a pass catcher. Brace has shown flashes, and while he may still end up a bust, the jury is still out.
Bottom line so far:
2 guys who have proved they can play at a high level and possibly become stars, and 2 guys that have contributed and have a legitimate chance to make a nice 3rd year jump.

2010
Skinny:
We get 5 players before the end of round 3. One of them redshirted, and the other 4 ended up starting. I'm not even going to discuss McCourty's potential. Ditto Gronk. Spikes was starting and playing very well before getting in trouble. And Cunningham showed enough as a rookie to ignite the hope that we have a strong OLB brewing in-house.
Bottom line so far:
Four starters, and good ones. In 3 rounds. How many teams can even dare to dream of that?

2011
Skinny:
Again, we get 5 players before the end of round 3. If one of the RBs becomes a bust, but the other runs for 1,400 yards, I'd say that RB alone was worth using 2 picks on RBs to see if one hit it. At this point we know next to nothing about what the chances are of this year's picks panning out.
Bottom line so far:
If only 2 of those picks become solid starters, and one more contributes in other roles, then we had a strong draft. Solder looks like a very safe pick. Are you willing to bet that all of the other 4 are busts? Because that's about the only thing that could make this draft a failure.

Nicely done.

 

[Synovia]

So you'd prefer a 3rd and 4th string RB over say a backup DE or OLB, or possible starting guard. Getting picks next year is no problem, if you get some players of need this year.

What makes you think that DE/OLB/OG is more likely to be a good player than the RB?

 

[Synovia]

Although I am not at all a fan of the way this draft is unfolding, I would really like to see an example to back up the statement that has been repeated tonight that 'quality not quantity wins championships'.

I give you your NFL champion Washington Redskins... errr.....

 

[goz421]

Problem is most see a big pot of money and they take it and think they are rich.

Few bank it and become powerful.