Historic 2012 Draft for Pats?

[BlitzFritz]

All I can say at this point is WOW, the more I think about this draft. I wonder if others feel the same way.

1. End of targeting the 2nd Round for quantity. Clearly new thinking at work in Foxboro on using 1st round picks, the rookie 1st round 5 year contracts etc. One player taken in 2nd round (vs likely 3 players in my mind)

2. Scheme shift in D now bovious and complete. Last year, we saw BB create an kind of sub-package featuring light DEs and pure pass rushers. (Guys who arent really Vrabel, McGinest type OLBs.) Jones and Bequette are really intriguing. And Hightower as a Clay Matthews put him anywhere guy.

3. Five impact players taken for the Defense. Can't say for sure, but we may look back on this 2012 draft in AWE that he took 5 guys on D who start and make plays. Two DEs, one ILB/pass rusher, one safety, one CB.

I tend toward optimism, and know point 3 is conjecture. However, I am stunned at the quality that BB managed to rake in.

Points 1 and 2 are less debatable in my mind.

So, will this be looked back upon as a Historic Draft? And a turning point to the next Great Run?

Thoughts?

-- FRITZ

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I can say without question that this will go down, without a doubt, as the best draft the Patriots ever had in 2012.

Come on man. I'm still waiting for that brutal all-world team anchored by Damien Woody and Eugene Chung.

You just don't know yet. Yes, of course we could all look back at every pick achieving upside expectations. Or we could look back at a year of busts.

Time will tell. Right now I love every one of 'em. Root for your binky, hope for the best, get giddy if you want, but this is now, that will be then.

 

[patsfan-1982]

they did a good job of filling out the roster that about all i can say without ever seeing them play. in 20+ years if at lest two of the player in this draft class make it to the HOF then it will be Historic for now im just hopeing they make the defense a lil better

 

[Triumph]

Nobody knows.

People on this board were dancing on the roof when Maroney, Chad Jackson and Butler were picked.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

You do sense that there is a philosophical shift underway that probably has to do with making the SB with a far cry from the classically Belichickian veteran base 3-4 defense coming off a lockout... As if figuring out how to compensate in 2011 shifted the focus from gradually and often painfully struggling to recreate what we used to do exceptionally well to exploring a variety of things we could be built to do exceptionally well instead...

 

[BlitzFritz]

You do sense that there is a philosophical shift underway that probably has to do with making the SB with a far cry from the classically Belichickian veteran base 3-4 defense coming off a lockout... As if figuring out how to compensate in 2011 shifted the focus from gradually and often painfully struggling to recreate what we used to do exceptionally well to exploring a variety of things we could be built to do exceptionally well instead...

Exactly. My main point is that the draft is historic in terms of the philosophical change. Unclear the exact motivators.

The draft quality is more speculative, and may or may not be historic. Tho I find it well above average in potential for the past 5 years. Agree that only time will tell.

-- FRITZ

 

[TruthSeeker]

I think you can't look at ONE year's draft. It helps when a team strings together 4 or 5 good drafts in a row like the patriots did in 1973-77. Those drafts created a very good to great team.

In 1973: John Hannah G (HOF), Sam Cunningham RB, Daryl Stingley WR, Ray Hamilton DL
In 1974 : Steve Nelson ILB, Andy Johnson RB, Sam Hunt ILB
In 1975: Russ Francis TE, Steve Grogan QB,
In 1976: Michael Haynes CB (HOF), Pete Brock C, Tim Fox S
In 1977: Ray Clayborn CB, Stanley Morgan WR

Now if BB can draft like that for 5 straight years, then that's historic. I believe the 2010-2012 drafts are some of BB's best drafting since his becoming a Patriot's Coach/GM/Dictator.

 

[Uncle Rico]

I think you can't look at ONE year's draft. It helps when a team strings together 4 or 5 good drafts in a row like the patriots did in 1973-77. Those drafts created a very good to great team.

In 1973: John Hannah G (HOF), Sam Cunningham RB, Daryl Stingley WR, Ray Hamilton DL
In 1974 : Steve Nelson ILB, Andy Johnson RB, Sam Hunt ILB
In 1975: Russ Francis TE, Steve Grogan QB,
In 1976: Michael Haynes CB (HOF), Pete Brock C, Tim Fox S
In 1977: Ray Clayborn CB, Stanley Morgan WR

Now if BB can draft like that for 5 straight years, then that's historic. I believe the 2010-2012 drafts are some of BB's best drafting since his becoming a Patriot's Coach/GM/Dictator.

Another example:
1993: Drew Bedlsoe, Troy Brown
1994: Willie McGinest
1995: Ty Law, Ted Johnson, Curtis Martin
1996: Terry Glenn, Lawyer Milloy, Tedi Bruschi
1997: well, never mind


And the current run, which shows potential:
2008: Jerod Mayo
2009: Patrick Chung, Sebastian Vollmer
2010: Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Zoltan Mesko
2011: Solder, Dowling, Ridley, Vereen
2012: Jones, Hightower ... Bequette, Dennard

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

All I can say is that I've never been so excited to watch this defense play. Last year I would cringe at the thought of our D getting out there when we need a stop, but this year I think we can feel good about making a stop when we need it. Man, this is going to be an exciting season. We have probably the best offense and this draft just made our defense easily top 10.

 

[Ivan]

Nobody knows.

People on this board were dancing on the roof when Maroney, Chad Jackson and Butler were picked.

lmao, but you "would have known" had Belichick used the first pick for a WR and traded down with the other first, then Belichick would have destroyed the patriots future and cost them any chance at a Super Bowl ever.

Amazing how you can crap all over them for not doing what you want and then when he does you say "meh," you're ridiculous.

 

[TruthSeeker]

And the current run, which shows potential:
2008: Jerod Mayo
2009: Patrick Chung, Sebastian Vollmer
2010: Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Zoltan Mesko
2011: Solder, Dowling, Ridley, Vereen
2012: Jones, Hightower ... Bequette, Dennard

Wow, I've been critical of BB's drafts, but that really is a nice amount of talent right there. 4 have been to the Pro Bowl already (Mayo, Vollmer, McCourty & Gronkowski) and it should have been 5 (Hernandez last year).

 

[Triumph]

lmao, but you "would have known" had Belichick used the first pick for a WR and traded down with the other first, then Belichick would have destroyed the patriots future and cost them any chance at a Super Bowl ever.

LOLZ Maroney and Jackson.

Amazing how you can crap all over them for not doing what you want and then when he does you say "meh," you're ridiculous.

Quit sniveling axxclown.

Get this: these guys are paid big money to choose the right players. They deserve criticism when they fail to deliver not axx kissing from likes of people like you.

 

[ZoisKing]

Wow, I've been critical of BB's drafts, but that really is a nice amount of talent right there. 4 have been to the Pro Bowl already (Mayo, Vollmer, McCourty & Gronkowski) and it should have been 5 (Hernandez last year).

Hopefully a couple from this draft can add to that number soon. Also, Hernandez not making it as tight end was just dumb, but the Pro Bowl isn't a great measuring stick anyway.

 

[patsfan13]

I alway s looks at the draft as a PART of the ofseason roster building process. Currently it looks like a great offseason overall with both untis being potentially better than last year. Still a few questions about Waters, Carter and so on.

Very excited for camp this year.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

...and offseason -- the whole roster, all 53 -- is only PART of the ultimate prize, the SB. The cruel reality is that the million and one random factors (the first one that comes to mind is injury) always await every team going for that ultimate prize. But the goal of offseason is to get that best 53 you possibly can on the field, including the development tier of the 53. Yeah I like what I see too, and can't wait to see what comes out in september once Bill's been back to the lab

 

[IllegalContact]

I like this draft simply because he did what I've been harping about for the last 5 years. I won't even be critical if these guys bust because it was what had to be done.

The defense did not falter because of the DL because look at who they had in 2001

The secondary did not falter because look at who they had in 2004.

When you see the tapes of success, the consistent factor was the insane level of play achieved by the LB group over that time. LBs dictate the succes of BB schemes. The guys they drafted are relative students of the game. What I see is the hope that they just drafted mcginest bruschi and vrable........a huge stretch, but you gotta try

 

[randomk1]

We have probably the best offense and this draft just made our defense easily top 10.

Way way premature. Personally I'll believe it when i see it even though i am very excited about what we have. The 2011 D (especially the secondary with the future HoF-er McCourty,DROY Dowling,Comeback player of the year Bodden) looked very promising aswell.

What a letdown that turned out to be.

If this D just becomes more effective at getting off the field and applying some goddamn passrush when we need it i'll be happy.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

I definitely feel a whole better than I did before draft nite. Clearly our priorities were on D side of line. Pick ups are promising with alot of potential. I'm lookin forward to seeing our revamped D & youth added in.
I still would have liked to added an above avg/shut down (if any exist now) CB. Hopefully R I Dowling will bounce back, wanna see him at full strength.

 

[RayClay]

I think you can't look at ONE year's draft. It helps when a team strings together 4 or 5 good drafts in a row like the patriots did in 1973-77. Those drafts created a very good to great team.

In 1973: John Hannah G (HOF), Sam Cunningham RB, Daryl Stingley WR, Ray Hamilton DL
In 1974 : Steve Nelson ILB, Andy Johnson RB, Sam Hunt ILB
In 1975: Russ Francis TE, Steve Grogan QB,
In 1976: Michael Haynes CB (HOF), Pete Brock C, Tim Fox S
In 1977: Ray Clayborn CB, Stanley Morgan WR

Now if BB can draft like that for 5 straight years, then that's historic. I believe the 2010-2012 drafts are some of BB's best drafting since his becoming a Patriot's Coach/GM/Dictator.

You need to start with a horrible team to have the picks and the space to develop that many players. Although he was a couple of years removed, I have to credit the great Clive Rush for making that possible.

 

[BlitzFritz]

another perspective on the sharp change in strategy from BB:

- he feels that the roster is now very deep on both sides of the ball. he needs more playmakers....so quality or quantity. (very different from the trade back for value strategy)

- just looking for 2-4 guys who can start.

fascinating stuff. the NEP Draft Room is unpredictable and of course inscutible.

for whatever reason, 2012 was astonishingly different from the past 5 years.

-- FRITZ