This season has taught me that drafting BPA is the way to go

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

After the season ends, (hopefully with a smile on February 5th) we'll start fully debating the team needs going into next season. We have a lot of high picks again, so we'll have the ammo to fix some of the issues.

Safety would seem to be a pressing need, even with a healthy Chung. WR could use an infusion of youth, hopefully with Welker coming back.

Regardless of our biggest need come April, we should go with BPA. We thought our secondary was going to be one of the best and deepest in the league this season. Injuries, cuts and some poor play have made it a problem at times. We wondered when Solder would ever see the field once Light re-signed and us already having Vollmer. He's been a very important reason for our offense continuing to play well through all the injuries on the line. We now have 4 DL that were on the roster Week 1 now on IR, and cut a disappointing Haynesworth. We had to throw in Tracy White late in the Giants game because were down to no other healthy LBs.

My point is that injuries happen. Poor play and disappointments will happen. That's why BPA is the way to go. Regardless of position, (besides QB, K and P) if we can get a great player early, that should be more important than worrying about which position seemingly needs the most help.

 

[Ron Sellers]

 

[ALP]

first time i see this gif.....awesome

 

[randomk1]

That's a pretty good idea but i've got my own. Now hear me out on this...instead of taking this best talent available guy how about we trade down for an extra pick? We need another goddamned cornerback!

 

[supafly]

first time i see this gif.....awesome

Sadly, I admittedly watch Scarlett eat popcorn several times a day..even the simplest of tasks seems to do it for me.

 

[Sciz]

This brings up a good point. After McCourty (Bodden) and Solder (both Vollmer and Light)...

 

[supafly]

Even though it may not be the popular consensus here, I truly believe that in many ways it's kind of hard for a rookie to get on the field on this team--at least in many positions (obviously excluding the shift to the TE last yr). I feel as though this team is consistantly set up for the future every yr, and is pretty much 'set' at a lot of positions, at least depth-wise barring major injury (as per McCourty last yr); therefore there are only a handful of true 'needs' every yr--and that is obviously a good thing. On the flip side though, the simple BPA solution does not always bode as the best way to go for this specific team.

In other words, let's look at the BPA position by position:

QB--never
OT--not likely, seeing as how we have Light, Vollmer, and now Solder all under contract next yr
OG--with the re-upping of Mankins, the seemingly successful pick of Cannon last yr, and the potential for a 1 yr extension of Waters, I don't see this either
C--of course we can all agree on this one, but it's not a "BPA" pick...it's a pick of need. We 'need' a center (depending on BB's analysis of course) for the upcoming future
TE--never, not with Hernandez and Gronk here, at least not the "BPA" consideration
WR--of course this is another pick that we can all agree on, but that's because it's a pick of 'need...' NOT BPA
RB--just don't see it, especially with 6 RB's on the current roster and 2 rookies picked in the first 3 rounds last yr

DE--this could be like WR, S, OLB, or C---it is more of a pick of 'need,' not BPA--however this could somehow count as both in some weird way, I suppose
DT--this could also be a pick of 'need' determined by Belichick, and I also suppose that it could be BPA, but we'd never pick this unless there was also a need for it
ILB--I just don't see it with Mayo re-upped, Fletcher showing a future here, and Spikes picked just 2 yrs ago
OLB--again, one of the 3 or 4 positions where immediate 'need' could come into play of course
CB--with many recent high picks at CB, and the wildcard of Dowling returning, we should be fine here with the supposed addition coming through the form of a mid-level cut, free agent acquisition, or lower level draft pick. I don't see BPA coming into play next yr. We already have McCourty, Arrington, and Dowling on the roster; but then again Belichick could surprise us I suppose
S--another pick of 'need,' not BPA

Analysis:

It seems as though the only several positions (C, WR, DE/OLB, and S) are all positions of immediate and future 'need.' These are the 4 positions that one could argue BPA, but it's obviously a position of low-depth and immediate need on a team where it is not exactly easy to make the average position as a rookie on a yr by yr basis

 

[ausbacker]

Hasn't Belichick gone on record as stating roster composition is not about collecting talent but building a team?

 

[Sivy]

I been trying to figure out what position BPA is..is it "Block passing assistant" or maybe "best passing attacker"?

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I been trying to figure out what position BPA is..is it "Block passing assistant" or maybe "best passing attacker"?

I'd say it's Best Pick Available. The guy with the most points with a slight nod to team need.

 

[DarrylS]

Picking @ #31 & #32 with the new CBA in effect, can see going for the BPA... but as we have considerable collateral can see trading for a lower pick for an "impact need" player...

From my view if you trade for a lower pick and go for need player, you run the risk of the unknown, so it comes down to the BPA on the first four picks and maybe 2.5 will have an impact..

It also gives reason for many to whine about how poorly BB drafts, if the 1.5 are not as good as advertised...

 

[aabtec]

Let me offer a different point of view. If the Pats go one and done in the playoffs for the third straight year there will be changes. Fans have been booing half hearted efforts of the Pats when they are playing at home. We even have a thread.

The Pats will begin to look like the Celtics of a few years ago before Garnett and Allen. A playoff team stuck in mediocrity.

The price of parking, concessions and tickets are not cheap. If fans decide it is easier to watch the game from the couch then the Pats have a real problem.

It would not surprise if BB the GM is replaced. The is far too much to loose.

 

[MP-Logick]

Let me offer a different point of view. If the Pats go one and done in the playoffs for the third straight year there will be changes. Fans have been booing half hearted efforts of the Pats when they are playing at home. We even have a thread.

The Pats will begin to look like the Celtics of a few years ago before Garnett and Allen. A playoff team stuck in mediocrity.

The price of parking, concessions and tickets are not cheap. If fans decide it is easier to watch the game from the couch then the Pats have a real problem.

It would not surprise if BB the GM is replaced. The is far too much to loose.

You are insane. None of the above will happen. Nor should it.

 

[DarrylS]

Mediocrity is not a term that I associate with the Patiots..

There are about 25 teams in the NFL right now who would love our "Mediocrity".. talk to any number of fans across the country and see how they feel about our success.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Let me offer a different point of view. If the Pats go one and done in the playoffs for the third straight year there will be changes.

Lets be clear here. BB will not get canned. If they do conclude this year with a "one-n-done" for the 3rd straight year that MIGHT compel the Krafts to do something as they are the caretakers of the team's brand and answer to the fans. The last thing that they want is to have the team labeled a loser.

It could be that they would gently ask BB to focus more on coaching the team come game day and less on personnel matters. Or it could mean that they may change their philosophy and ask BB to hire a top-flight DC, etc. I think BB and the Krafts are on the same page in that space but they may slightly alter their approach. You never know...

Fans have been booing half hearted efforts of the Pats when they are playing at home. We even have a thread.

The fan base is impatient and spoiled but thats besides the point. Fans have been booing teams for poor play since the beginning of time.

The Pats will begin to look like the Celtics of a few years ago before Garnett and Allen. A playoff team stuck in mediocrity.

The NBA and NFL are set up totally different. It's much easier to get better quicker in the NFL. If the Pats lose Brady, but have a solid running game and defense, they could easily have another winning season.

The price of parking, concessions and tickets are not cheap. If fans decide it is easier to watch the game from the couch then the Pats have a real problem.

As long as they continue to go 13-3, 14-2, etc. they will come.

It would not surprise if BB the GM is replaced. The is far too much to loose.

As I said, in order to save BB publically, they will not do what Paul Allen did to Holmgren back in 04. BB may already be transitioning more and more of the personnel responsibility to Reese and Caserio and we just don't know it.

As a whole, fans need to realize that the talent-level on this team back from 2001-2008 was astounding. To refresh that talent in a year or two is not realistic. To go 10-6, 14-2, 13-3 in a "rebuilding" capacity is astonishing.

 

[NEM's GHOST]

Let me offer a different point of view. If the Pats go one and done in the playoffs for the third straight year there will be changes. Fans have been booing half hearted efforts of the Pats when they are playing at home. We even have a thread.

The Pats will begin to look like the Celtics of a few years ago before Garnett and Allen. A playoff team stuck in mediocrity.

The price of parking, concessions and tickets are not cheap. If fans decide it is easier to watch the game from the couch then the Pats have a real problem.

It would not surprise if BB the GM is replaced. The is far too much to loose.

You’re one of those folks who trashes the coach’s lawn after a hard fought loss by your local high school team...

 

[mosslost]

After the season ends, (hopefully with a smile on February 5th) we'll start fully debating the team needs going into next season. We have a lot of high picks again, so we'll have the ammo to fix some of the issues.

Safety would seem to be a pressing need, even with a healthy Chung. WR could use an infusion of youth, hopefully with Welker coming back.

Regardless of our biggest need come April, we should go with BPA. We thought our secondary was going to be one of the best and deepest in the league this season. Injuries, cuts and some poor play have made it a problem at times. We wondered when Solder would ever see the field once Light re-signed and us already having Vollmer. He's been a very important reason for our offense continuing to play well through all the injuries on the line. We now have 4 DL that were on the roster Week 1 now on IR, and cut a disappointing Haynesworth. We had to throw in Tracy White late in the Giants game because were down to no other healthy LBs.

My point is that injuries happen. Poor play and disappointments will happen. That's why BPA is the way to go. Regardless of position, (besides QB, K and P) if we can get a great player early, that should be more important than worrying about which position seemingly needs the most help.

ONE solid pass rusher, and one more than decent corner would change the defense dramatically IMO

 

[patsfan-1982]

IMO this is the way BB Drafts,

first and 2th round it's the best player on the board,
3rd it's the player with the most upside,
4th Draft for dept,
5th 6th and 7th it's all about player that can do more then one thing ST players WR's that can play safety DE's that can play FB and so on,


at the end of the day BB has been rebuilding a team the last 3 years we have not seen any drop off on offense because of Tom Brady as for the defense they missed on a few picks yes but for me it's Trades and FA moves that have set the defense back the last few years,

for me the worst move has been keeping Moss over Samuel at the time it looked good keeping the record seting offense in one piece but looking back on it they signed a ageing WR and let a young star CB go, Moss was gone after a year and a half and samuel would still be the best CB on this team....BOTTOM LINE i can sit here and talk untill i turn blue in the face about what the pats should and should not do but come monday morning the pats will have the #1 seed in the AFC playoffs and that's why im just a fan and dont have a front office job in the NFL

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Isn't that what BB has been doing? For a couple of years now our biggest needs were a pass rushing DE, OLB, OG given Neal's health/eventual retirement, C to groom behind Koppen, and he hasn't drafted any of those with a higher pick in any of the last few drafts. I think most of the time the pressing needs are addressed through FA (Waters, Carter, Ninko a UDFA, all 3 or 4 guys we've tried at C after Koppen went down).

 

[Rob0729]

The best drafts are a mixture of BPA and need. You can't totally go BPA as a route. You could have seven centers that way if you follow that route.

Personally, I think the Pats can have a lot of freedom in this year's draft to do what they want if they are active in free agency. This year, there is something like 25% of the league being free agents because of the uncapped year followed by the lockout year. There will be a lot of opportunities to significantly upgrade a lot of areas before the draft. The Pats don't really have any significant UFAs of their own other than Welker (who will be at least franchised), Branch (who will likely be resigned for a minimum deal or replaced), Carter (might be resigned for veteran minimum because of injury), and Mark Anderson.