Tavon Wilson - Lightning Rod o'Controversy (Poll)

[pdangle]

Tavon Wilson... What can you say. Wow didn't see that one coming.

The facts: Picked mid 2nd round. A reach in selection slot? Yes. A reach in talent? ...uknown.

BB, a master conducter in the draft concerto, where does BB's analysis diverge with the fan-boys? Rumors that SD and other teams liked the kid, some strong pro-day #'s, talk of late rising stock, etc, could all have contributed to a seemingly unneedingly early pick slot, and by definition a waste of draft resources.

Anyway, history shows when BB drafts a player like this early, he's looking for a four down player. So what's he's envisioning? Safety, for sure. How so? Big NIckle hybrid, most likely. Fill in DB as needed, yes. So that's mostly second downs, some thrird, some first. Special teams? Resounding yes. KOs, KRs, PR's as Gunner, maybe some Jammer.

This of course assumes he has the skills to stick.

Usually, on this type of 'reach picks', I go check out the Youtube film and I come back saying wow this kid is good. BB is right! Well not this time. Check it out:

Patriots CB/S No. 3 Tavon Wilson vs Michigan 2011 - YouTube

BB gets a little testy when asked about the pick.

Tavon Wilson seems unique with no Combine and no all-star games. It seems unique and there were fewer opportunities to see him play.
"He played plenty. You can see him plenty at Illinois. You can see him against whoever you want to see him against: all the Big Ten schools, Arizona State, teams that throw the ball. He’s playing corner, he’s playing safety, he’s playing the inside positions, the nickel position, the dime position – Michigan State, they’re a good passing team; Michigan, they’re a spread out offense team. There’s a lot of passing in that conference, Northwestern, all those teams."

This guys progress will be interesing to watch. Without question he'll be a focus point here at Patsfans going forward.

With that all said, get your opinion in now, state your postion, you're gonna be held to it! What to you project for Mr Wilson?

 

[Sciz]

I'll see if I can find a link, but two other AFC teams had a second round grade on him. One was SD, who picked one pick later. The other is believed to be Houston.

 

[JimJohns]

Out of the leauge in three years.

 

[MP-Logick]

Reach or not, I have a hard time believing someone as hyper-sensitive to value as Bill Belichick would've drafted a guy at 48 that legitimately would've been available in the sixth or seventh round. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[aurakilla]

w/e wouldnt be the first wasted 2nd round pick

 

[Bill B.]

Maybe he uses all this criticism as motivation an goes in and kicks butt. The Patriots drafted Dennard in the 7th and he was considered a 2nd. If Dennard was taken in the 2nd and Wilson in the 7th, there would be no controversy. It's about acquiring players, not where.

 

[pdangle]

Agreed, that's why it will be an interesing player to watch.

Maybe he uses all this criticism as motivation an goes in and kicks butt. The Patriots drafted Dennard in the 7th and he was considered a 2nd. If Dennard was taken in the 2nd and Wilson in the 7th, there would be no controversy. It's about acquiring players, not where.

 

[larryo]

This is hilarious. Belichick trolling everyone. Good stuff. What a draft.

Go Pats!

 

[Ivan]

Out of the leauge in three years.

No doubt, just like that Vollmer kid they blew the second on a few years ago, guy wasn't even invited to the Combine and Kiper said he was a reach. Belichick is such a dunce, they need a new coach.

 

[pdangle]

BTW, after watching the film, and I think he's a fringe player at best this year, maybe up and down from the PS. I don't see the skills on film. Hope I'm wrong, but maybe BB envisions him in a more natual postion(s) where he might excel.

Here's a side bar question. Say he struggles or struggles badly, does BB keep him around a bit longer because he is 2nd rounder? We know that if he was a 6th, he'd get the boot. But 2nd and 3rds usually get at least a year to prove themselves.

Anyway, good stuff indeed. It's edge cases like these that let those of us who are so inclned, to examine in a single case, how one like BB behaves differently from the pack.

 

[Ring 6]

BTW, after watching the film, and I think he's a fringe player at best this year, maybe up and down from the PS. I don't see the skills on film. Hope I'm wrong, but maybe BB envisions him in a more natual postion(s) where he might excel.

This is the kind of post I don't understand. I'm not trying to bust your balls but, you looked at a few film clips and don't 'see the talent' and conclude that your You Tube viewing outweighs the exhaustive research by BB and the scouting, personell and coaching staffs, and on top of that your conclusion is better than theirs.

Wouldn't your gut instinct be that you are missing something, noit the entire Patriots organization couldn't look at YouTube film clips and see that he has no skill?

 

[JimJohns]

This is the kind of post I don't understand. I'm not trying to bust your balls but, you looked at a few film clips and don't 'see the talent' and conclude that your You Tube viewing outweighs the exhaustive research by BB and the scouting, personell and coaching staffs, and on top of that your conclusion is better than theirs.

Wouldn't your gut instinct be that you are missing something, noit the entire Patriots organization couldn't look at YouTube film clips and see that he has no skill?

They've been wrong before.

 

[Lampshade]

I have absolutely no idea.

 

[pdangle]

Also, IMO, why BB picked him this early is simple really.

BB goes by his own grade, but he also willingly moves up or down to get the player (or a similar such player) he wants.

So logicaly, BB must of thought (rightly or wrongly; probably wrongly) that Wilson was going to get scooped before he could trade back and out (who knows if he tried) and pick again. And to continue with that, BB probably thinks he has a hidden gem (rated him more highly as such, probably correcly ill give him the benefit until see otherwise, but his film looks pretty bad), and was easiliy spooked into picking him earlier than needed from vague rumors out of SD or whatnot.

In the end if he performs it's moot. If not, BB Draft Trolls assemble!

 

[Ring 6]

They've been wrong before.

Thats a dumb answer. You are saying that you believe that watching YouTube videos makes someone more qualified to assess the talent of an NFL draft choice than a successful NFL organization because in the draft, where more picks fail that succeed..............
.........they've been wrong before.

You seem to have a lot of hate for the Patriots, and their fans, by the way.

 

[patsfan13]

Wilson was the top rated guy on the Patriots board when he was drafted.

How do I know, they selected him.....

 

[JimJohns]

Thats a dumb answer. You are saying that you believe that watching YouTube videos makes someone more qualified to assess the talent of an NFL draft choice than a successful NFL organization because in the draft, where more picks fail that succeed..............
.........they've been wrong before.

You seem to have a lot of hate for the Patriots, and their fans, by the way.

I don't have hate for anyone. Not sure where you got that from. And as for your first paragraph I wasn't saying that either. I was just saying they've been wrong before so questioning a draft pick is completely acceptable.

 

[Deus Irae]

Maybe he uses all this criticism as motivation an goes in and kicks butt. The Patriots drafted Dennard in the 7th and he was considered a 2nd. If Dennard was taken in the 2nd and Wilson in the 7th, there would be no controversy. It's about acquiring players, not where.

One's a reach, and the others a player who dropped like a stone. The comparisons and evaluations should be interesting all offseason long, assuming neither gets cut. It's really too bad that they don't play the same position (I'm assuming Wilson at S and Dennard at CB), because that would have made the comparisons even more direct.

 

[Ring 6]

Also, IMO, why BB picked him this early is simple really.

BB goes by his own grade, but he' also willingly moves up or down to get the player (or a similar such player) he wants.

So logicaly, BB must of thought (rightly or wrongly; probably wrongly) that Wilson was going to get scooped before he trade out (who knows if he tried) and pick again. And to continue with that, BB probably thinks he has a hidden gem (rated him more highly as such, probably correcly ill give him the benefit), and was easiliy spooked into picking him earlier than needed from rumors out of SD or whatnot.

In the end if he performs it's moot. If not, BB Draft Trolls assemble!

I think the desciption on this board of BB being 'spooked into a pick' or 'outsmarting himself' or 'panicking' are curious.
Do you really think that if he didn't feel the player was worth the pick, he woiuld panic and take him anyway?
BB has, more than any NFL HC/GM I have ever seen showed over and over again (through FA and the draft) that he never overvalues a single player. His draft discussions have uncovered that he views players in groupings, and trades into or out of picks based on the group, not one guy. (i,e, trading up for Hightower was likely because he had a few players in mind and it reached the point where he wouldn't get any by staying put. In FA he has consistently made offers and given a take it or leave it, and I'll move on to the next guy apprioach.,
I just don't get why people watching his career can think he makes a decision out of desperation to get one player.

 

[PatsWSB47]

1st ballot HOF