32 NFL Draft Guesses

[BelichickFan]

Fun little article from a guy I like to read.

Before you rip it, the disclaimer :

"We are at 10 days and counting until the 2012 NFL Draft. That means it is the peak of mock draft season, but a mock draft can only tell so many stories. Here are 32 bold, fearless, crazy, insomnia-fueled predictions for the upcoming draft. Some do have actual basis in reality from exchanges I've had with various NFL personnel and a couple of agents. Some are fairly educated guesses where I'm reading between some lines I've read or heard. Some are the product of sleep deprivation and an overwhelming volume of draft stuff in my brain. This is meant to be as much about fun as it is informative; I'll be pleasantly surprised if more than three of these actually happen."

RealGM Football: Encroachment -

Here's a Patriots related one :

"22. Last year Detroit stunned everyone by using their 1st round pick on Nick Fairly, a player at their position of least perceived need. This year the team that pulls that stunt will be the Patriots. Last year New England drafted two running backs, Shane Vereen in the 2nd and Stevan Ridley in the 3rd. They still have Danny Woodhead. They have two solid fullbacks in Tony Fiametta and Spencer Larsen. That will not stop them from using a 1st round pick on Boise State RB Doug Martin. It also won't stop them from using a late-round pick on yet another hybrid fullback/H-back/tight end. When you have more draft picks than job openings every year, stuff like this happens..."

 

[manxman2601]

I can actually see that Doug Martin pick happening - he's perfect for what the Patriots want from a RB. I suspect this board will blow up, should he be the pick however.

 

[BelichickFan]

I can actually see that Doug Martin pick happening - he's perfect for what the Patriots want from a RB. I suspect this board will blow up, should he be the pick however.

No position except QB would stun me. Until/unless we trade picks for the future even if we "waste" the first pick on a non need position we still have another #1 and two #2s to fill needs. If we don't trade out then that leaves the opportunity to take the best available player/fit if we think he would be a stud for us at any position. If it's RB then so be it.

 

[mrscruff]

Nice read. Here is last year's for reference:
RealGM: Scoop du Jour - 32 Fearless Predictions For The 2011 NFL Draft

 

[manxman2601]

4. Cincinnati and Minnesota, both in desperate need of QB help, pass on quarterbacks with their initial picks. However, they will maneuver to draft Andy Dalton and Christian Ponder, respectively, before pick #35.

Almost right. Very good prediction.

 

[ATippett56]

I can actually see that Doug Martin pick happening - he's perfect for what the Patriots want from a RB. I suspect this board will blow up, should he be the pick however.

If that is the case, there is no hope for the New England Patriots defense.

 

[manxman2601]

If that is the case, there is no hope for the New England Patriots defense.

FWIW, if he is the pick, Ryan Lownes, a draft pundit I respect has said he'll have a similar impact to LeSean McCoy, ray rice, Matt forte and MJD. If we get that to go with Tom Brady, who needs a defense?

 

[BelichickFan]

If that is the case, there is no hope for the New England Patriots defense.

There would still be a 1,2,2,3,4 available for defense.

 

[ATippett56]

There would still be a 1,2,2,3,4 available for defense.

Since when has the New England Patriots become a running back centric offense? The New England Patriots do not employ a "pound and ground" offensive philosophy unlike the New York Jets.

The New England Patriots will be able to obtain greater value with Cyrus Gray, RB from Texas A&M in the third or fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Cyrus Gray is a fantastic team player and as a bonus doubles as a kick returner. Besides, the New England Patriots just expended a second draft pick and a third round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft on running backs.

Personally, I would rather draft Kevin Zeitler, OG from Wisconsin, with the #31 overall pick, in lieu of a running back, since Zeitler would be the long term replacement to Brian Waters at right guard.

 

[BelichickFan]

Since when has the New England Patriots become a running back centric offense?

That's a totally different argument.

I replied to you saying :

If that is the case, there is no hope for the New England Patriots defense.

However there are still plenty of picks left for defense with #27 used elsewhere.

If you want to argue we don't value the run enough to have Martin, Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead, go at it. But as it stands you're mixing arguments. My point was that if (emphasis on IF) they think Martin would be a stud for us then go at it and take him, that's the benefit of extra picks. You can fill needs and take a luxury pick.

 

[manxman2601]

Since when has the New England Patriots become a running back centric offense? The New England Patriots do not employ a "pound and ground" offensive philosophy unlike the New York Jets.

The New England Patriots will be able to obtain greater value with Cyrus Gray, RB from Texas A&M in the third or fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Cyrus Gray is a fantastic team player and as a bonus doubles as a kick returner. Besides, the New England Patriots just expended a second draft pick and a third round draft pick in the 2011 NFL Draft on running backs.

Personally, I would rather draft Kevin Zeitler, OG from Wisconsin, with the #31 overall pick, in lieu of a running back, since Zeitler would be the long term replacement to Brian Waters at right guard.

One thing that I thought after last years draft where they took two big OL's and 2 RB's was that they were preparing for Brady's later years by aiming towards a more Running orientated offense to take the pressure of Brady. Obviously that didn't happen last year but their pre-draft interest in Martin and their signing of two fullbacks doesn't entirely dissuade me that this is part of the future plan.

Add in, something I read somewhere, that the ground and pound might become the new offensive strategy du jour because defenses are being built to stop the spread offense and are therefore smaller and faster with less in the box help and BB might just be, once again, ahead of the game. Of course, we probably won't draft Martin and this discussion becomes moot.

 

[ATippett56]

If you want to argue we don't value the run enough to have Martin, Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead, go at it. But as it stands you're mixing arguments. My point was that if (emphasis on IF) they think Martin would be a stud for us then go at it and take him, that's the benefit of extra picks. You can fill needs and take a luxury pick.

How do you that Martin would be a stud and not Cyrus Gray, who by the way does it all: rushing, receiving, pass blocking, kick returning?

 

[manxman2601]

How do you that Martin would be a stud and not Cyrus Gray, who by the way does it all: rushing, receiving, pass blocking, kick returning?

I actually like Gray but he wasn't even the go to guy on his own offense was he?

 

[BelichickFan]

How do you that Martin would be a stud and not Cyrus Gray, who by the way does it all: rushing, receiving, pass blocking, kick returning?

I never said anyone would or wouldn't. That is all the team's judgement. I don't watch Boise St., I really don't know. That's why I said IF. IF. Got it ? IF.

If they think Martin is a stud and whoever else, you like Gray, fine, wouldn't be then it's a nice luxury pick to take him.

You can make the same argument on defense, why take a pass rusher or a safety early if there's a good one later.

 

[ATippett56]

You can make the same argument on defense, why take a pass rusher or a safety early if there's a good one later.

You're going to wait to draft a pass rusher in the third round with the #93 overall pick?

 

[BelichickFan]

You're going to wait to draft a pass rusher in the third round with the #93 overall pick?

Not sure why I am bothering at this point.

I am NOT saying I want Martin. However if we take him as a luxury pick we still have a #1 and two #2 with which we can take defense before the 33. Take your pick of late #1, mid #2 and late #2 DL, LB, S, there's still plenty of picks for defense.

 

[ATippett56]

I actually like Gray but he wasn't even the go to guy on his own offense was he?

Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

2011 Season

Earned All-Big 12 recognition for the third straight season as a senior … earned second-team All-Big 12 honors after rushing for 1,045 yards on 198 carries with 12 touchdowns in 11 games of action (five starts) … had a season-high 218 rushing yards on 30 carries against Kansas. It was the second 200-plus game of his career, and Gray is one of four Aggies with multiple 200-yard games to his credit … also contributed 31 catches for 239 yards and three scores … team leader in all-purpose yardage with 1,400 yards … had five 100-yard plus rushing games: 132 vs. SMU , 101 vs. Idaho, 116 vs. Texas Tech, 125 vs. Iowa State and 218 vs. Texas.

 

[BelichickFan]

Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

I have nothing for or against Gray but all purpose yards are misleading for obvious reasons.

He was the second best RB on the team :

Texas A&M Aggies - Statistics - College Football - Rivals.com

He had the most yards but Michael averaged 0.7 YPC more than Gray.

 

[manxman2601]

Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

It's just that whenever I saw TAMU, Christine Michael seemed to get the bulk of the carries. But checking the stats, Gray was the guy. Not a problem for me, I think Gray is really good but having just watched some Doug Martin film, I'm not going to lose any sleep if he's the pick because he's fantastic.

 

[ATippett56]

I never said anyone would or wouldn't. That is all the team's judgement. I don't watch Boise St., I really don't know. That's why I said IF. IF. Got it ? IF.

I'm saying you get better VALUE in the third round with a multi-faceted running back in Cyrus Gray in a running back by committee approach.