This draft wont make us a better team this year

[MrNathanDrake]

Solder is an alright pick. Somewhat necessary. But we could've got another year out of Matt Light and picked an OT next year.

Mallet sits on the bench unless Brady suffers a freak injury again. By the time Brady declines and Mallet is ready to start, his contract will be up. Either way, Mallet wont be helping the team this year.

Dowling.... can he even stay healthy? History of injuries in highschool and college. I doubt he can survive a pre-season, regular season, and play offs. The last time we picked a DB with injury concerns in the 2nd round was Wheatley. Look how that one turned out.

2 RB's in addition to Woodhead and LawFirm. Both will be situational, back up, special teamers.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Solder is an alright pick. Somewhat necessary. But we could've got another year out of Matt Light and picked an OT next year.

Mallet sits on the bench unless Brady suffers a freak injury again. By the time Brady declines and Mallet is ready to start, his contract will be up. Either way, Mallet wont be helping the team this year.

Dowling.... can he even stay healthy? History of injuries in highschool and college. I doubt he can survive a pre-season, regular season, and play offs. The last time we picked a DB with injury concerns in the 2nd round was Wheatley. Look how that one turned out.

2 RB's in addition to Woodhead and LawFirm. Both will be situational, back up, special teamers.

Solder is an upgrade over Light in my opinion and Vereen adds a ton of speed to the backfield.
Ridley improves ST and if healthy Dowling also adds speed to the secondary.

 

[randomk1]

Solder is an upgrade over Light in my opinion and Vereen adds a ton of speed to the backfield.
Ridley improves ST and if healthy Dowling also adds speed to the secondary.

Well...we're all set then.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

The way I see it, we could've had any player outside of the Top 10.

We had enough ammo to add 2-3 solid players with Pro Bowl potential that could've contributed this year.


Instead, we added a bunch of players that might not play at all. Mallet reminds me of the Kevin O'Connell pick. Dowling reminds me of Wheatley.

 

[Gator Mike]

Solder is an alright pick. Somewhat necessary. But we could've got another year out of Matt Light and picked an OT next year.

Matt Light going to be a UFA, isn't he? Why would he come back on a one-year deal?

Dowling.... can he even stay healthy? History of injuries in highschool and college. I doubt he can survive a pre-season, regular season, and play offs. The last time we picked a DB with injury concerns in the 2nd round was Wheatley. Look how that one turned out.

So, before his senior season, hadn't Dowling started 35 of 37 games at UVA? His senior year was a disaster from an injury standpoint, but prior to that, you'd have been hard-pressed to call him injury prone. I'd say the jury's still out.

FWIW, the Patriots also took a TE with injury concerns in the high 2nd round last year. Look how that one turned out.

The point is that Dowling has nothing to do with Wheatley, who has nothing to do with Gronkowski.

2 RB's in addition to Woodhead and LawFirm. Both will be situational, back up, special teamers.

Maybe, maybe not. I wouldn't rule out Vereen displacing Woodhead. Did you notice in the playoffs that whenever Woodhead was in the game in passing situations, the Jets always put pressure on Brady? Danny's great, but he's an awful blocker. His only value in passing situations is as a receiver.

 

[Wilfork#75]

I think this is a draft for 2012 onwards. Solder has a ton of upside, but he is raw and I question whether he will be able to start from day 1. I think Light will be re-signed to allow time to develop, which he needs. Dowling may or may not contribute right away. With McCourty and Bodden on the roster, I think Dowling's long term position is safety because neither he, Bodden or McCourty have much experience covering the slot, and he has the size and skillset to play FS. I think he is brought along slowly and given a shot at FS in 2012. Vereen will be part of the RBBC and should be a solid contributor. Mallet is a future trade chip, that I believe will get moved to a QB needy team in 2-3 years for a high pick. Ridley I don't get at all. He may be a contributor but he is horrible value at 73 for a #4 RB and special teamer. If BB hated this draft so much I think he should have just moved that pick into 2012 as well. In the end I think the improvement for 2011 from the draft will be minimal, but in 2012 guys like Solder and Dowling should play major roles.

Hopefully we make a splash in free agency because we still need to improve to keep up with the Jets. They may have only added 2 picks so far, but they have gotten a lot better. Adding Kiwanuka and Gallery as free agents would be a good start to making up for this underwhelming draft so far.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

The way I see it, we could've had any player outside of the Top 10.

We had enough ammo to add 2-3 solid players with Pro Bowl potential that could've contributed this year.


Instead, we added a bunch of players that might not play at all. Mallet reminds me of the Kevin O'Connell pick. Dowling reminds me of Wheatley.

This is because you don't like the choices, not because the players have similarities. Kevin O'Connell has very little in common with Mallett. Mallett lit it up in the nation's toughest conference, has the draft's strongest arm, and has character and mobility concerns. O'Connell was a shaky performer at a lower-tier school who was a long time captain and a mobile athlete in the Matt Cassel mold physically. Other than that, they're spitting images. Wheatley was a small, pure cover corner with return skills. Dowling is a big, physical player with versatility to play safety. The only things they have in common are that they are 2nd round defensive backs with injury concerns.

I'll keep saying it: let's not all go jumping bandwagons or bridges. Instead, let's let this play out.

 

[Sciz]

Who did any of you want that would make the team better next year? There weren't a whole lot of guys that fit that description.

 

[TealSox]

As it stands, the Patriots have 3 draft picks left in the 2011 NFL Draft. Since 2005, the distribution of late round picks has gone as followed [fifth to seventh round]:

5 OTs

3 OGs

4 DTs

2 DEs

4 LBs

2 WRs

1 RB

Of course, Belichick will pick some obscure players with no expectations of them making the roster. Should be interesting.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Ridley likely means the end of Kevin Faulk

Maybe Belichick sees a deja vu on a RB coming out of LSU,while the old RB of LSU sees his career end.

 

[supafly]

This is because you don't like the choices, not because the players have similarities. Kevin O'Connell has very little in common with Mallett. Mallett lit it up in the nation's toughest conference, has the draft's strongest arm, and has character and mobility concerns. O'Connell was a shaky performer at a lower-tier school who was a long time captain and a mobile athlete in the Matt Cassel mold physically. Other than that, they're spitting images. Wheatley was a small, pure cover corner with return skills. Dowling is a big, physical player with versatility to play safety. The only things they have in common are that they are 2nd round defensive backs with injury concerns.

I'll keep saying it: let's not all go jumping bandwagons or bridges. Instead, let's let this play out.

Thank God that someone has some common sense. And NO, there is absolutely nothing in comparison with Mallett and Kevin freaking O'Connell--besides the fact they both went in the 3rd rd. Mallett was projected by some to be in the top 20, by even more to by a round one QB.

The Dowling and Wheatley comparison is even worse. Dowling is almost 6'2", Wheaatley was what??? 5'9, maybe 5'10"?

 

[AzPatsFan]

I think this is the first major draft dedicated toward rebuilding the Offense, although some significant pieces had been added before in Volmer, Gronk, Tate, Hernandez, Woodhead, Price and Edelmen. As far as the Defense is concerned it is essentially completed.

Except for adding, a vet FA as BB has done at OLB before in Pfifer, Vrabel, Colvin, and AThomas, (and Ninko and TBC) as that seems the route he prefers.