One NFC assistant's take on Tavon Wilson (inside info)

[doesntmatter1]

I am going to give tavon a chance just like any other pick we make but the only reason i was mad at his selection is because they skipped, lavonte david, my number one binkie of all time. I honestly didn't like any of the safeties in this draft besides barron who went way too high. I wanted them to take a cb and convert them to s and my short list was kirkpatrick and trumaine johnson. They didn't take the corner convert i had expected but still a convert nonetheless. I am not being a homer whatsoever when I say i like tavon's chances better than harrison smith and many people would of been okay with smith being chosen high.

 

[mayoclinic]

I am going to give tavon a chance just like any other pick we make but the only reason i was mad at his selection is because they skipped, lavonte david, my number one binkie of all time. I honestly didn't like any of the safeties in this draft besides barron who went way too high. I wanted them to take a cb and convert them to s and my short list was kirkpatrick and trumaine johnson. They didn't take the corner convert i had expected but still a convert nonetheless. I am not being a homer whatsoever when I say i like tavon's chances better than harrison smith and many people would of been okay with smith being chosen high.

Passing on David hurt as much as passing on Barwin in 2009.

 

[Water Boy]

Whether they are right or not remains to be determined but they sure as hell deserve the benefit of the doubt.

I'm far from a hater, but I think its fair to acknowledge that BB's record on drafting players in the secondary is less than stellar.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm far from a hater, but I think its fair to acknowledge that BB's record on drafting players in the secondary is less than stellar.

It depends on your standards and expectations, as Andy Johnson has said elsewhere. Of the 8 DBs taken by BB in the first 2 rounds, it works out as follows:

1. Eugene Wilson (2003, #36) - solid safety for the Pats beore leaving in FA.
2. Brandon Meriweather (2007, #24) - never reached his potential or met expectations, but started for 3 years and made 2 Pro Bowls.
3. Terrance Wheatley (2008, #62) - injuries slowed him down, but he never did anything in 3 years. Bust.
4. Patrick Chung (2009, #34) - solid starter for the past 2 years. Not elite, but a very good player overall.
5. Darius Butler (2009, #41) - a bust. Showed promise his rookie season before regressing and losing confidence. Not physical enough.
6. Devin McCourty (2010, #27) - made the Pro Bowl with a stellar rookie season. Regressed last year, but still a better than average CB with safety versatility. Injuries, instability in the secondary and being put on an island too soon may have played a role. He's not Darrelle Revis, but he may still be a top 10 CB.
7. Ras-I Dowling (2011, #33) - started 2 games as a rookie and looked good before going on IR.
8. Tavon Wilson (2012, #48) - too early to tell.

So far, the only 2 that you can truly call "busts" are Wheatley and Butler. Butler, BTW, was an extremely popular choice for the Pats in 2009 and was considered a 1st round talent who dropped. I was one of the few people on this board who were not buying into the Butler coolaid:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/226751-darius-butler-overrated.html

Again, it all depends on your expectations. BB may not be the best in the league at drafting DBs, but he hasn't bombed, either. And every team has had failures.

The expectation in 2009 was that BB had pulled a coup drafting Butler at 41. And he failed. The expectation by many now is that BB reached terribly for Wilson at 48. Maybe he'll end up being a stud.

 

[everlong]

2. Brandon Meriweather (2007, #24) - never reached his potential or met expectations, but started for 3 years and made 2 Pro Bowls.

That was the key piece of evidence in Pro Bowl Gate that led to the game being suspended indefinitely.

 

[mayoclinic]

That was the key piece of evidence in Pro Bowl Gate that led to the game being suspended indefinitely.

Hey, I never said Meriweather was a stud. But, for all those who consider bashing the pick at #24, consider the 3 safeties taken ahead of him:

1. Laron Landry, Washington (#6). Hyped out of proportion after a stellar Combine performance vaulted him into the top 10. Never lived up to expectations, never made a Pro Bowl. Showed some glimpses, especially when Sean Taylor was alive. But missed considerable time due to injuries and was allowed to leazve by the team in FA after his rookie contract.

2. Reggie Nelson, Jacksonville (#17). Had 3 rather pedestrian seasnos for the Jags before being traded to Cincinnati. Was re-signed as a UFA this off-season. Not a difference maker.

3. Michael Griffin, Tennessee (#20). Probably the best of the bunch. A 5 year starter for the Titans, had an excellent sophomore season and made the Pro Bowl. But he's been inconsistent - had great seasons in 2008 and 2010, but mediocre ones in 2009 and 2011. Received the franchise tag this offseason, but that may have been due to market considerations as much as anything.

None of them became a world beater. Eric Weddle (taken #37 by San Diego) has arguably been better than any of the four 1st round safeties taken ahead of him.

 

[everlong]

Hey, I never said Meriweather was a stud. But, for all those who consider bashing the pick at #24, consider the 3 safeties taken ahead of him:

I know but I have to roll my eyes whenever the two pro bowls come up. He needed multiple injuries to even get them and the second one his play was dreadful that year and he only got voted in because of all the hype surrounding his hit on Heap.

No doubt that was hyped as a great safety class and it certainly hasn't been. Weddle and Gholston have been better than the first rounders.

 

[Gronkandez]

I know but I have to roll my eyes whenever the two pro bowls come up. He needed multiple injuries to even get them and the second one his play was dreadful that year and he only got voted in because of all the hype surrounding his hit on Heap.

No doubt that was hyped as a great safety class and it certainly hasn't been. Weddle and Gholston have been better than the first rounders.

He also appeared to have character flaws at THE U. Generally BB's first round picks are decent character guys. This guy has been involved in one incident after another.

He started for a while but any 1st round pick who is flat out cut should be considered a bust in my mind.

 

[Water Boy]

Again, it all depends on your expectations. BB may not be the best in the league at drafting DBs, but he hasn't bombed, either. And every team has had failures.

I don't expect BB to be perfect and therefore I have a healthy skepticism about this pick and whether it was the best value given the names still on the board.

I don't begrudge the Butler or Wheatly picks at all. They didn't work out.

Its kind of paradoxical though to say that all the scouts and pundits agreed with the Butler pick so you can't blame BB, but when BB makes a dark horse pick that goes against the conventional wisdom of the majority of pundits and scouts we have to presume he is right and everyone else is wrong.

For reference, I believe this is the complete list of DBs drafted in the BB era (excluding 2000 and 2012).

2001 Rd3 86 Brock Williams
Rd5 163 Hakim Akbar
Rd6 200 Leonard Myers

2003 Rd2 36 Eugene Wilson
Rd4 120 Asante Samuels

2004 Rd3 95 Gus Scott
Rd4 113 Dexter Reid
Rd7 233 Christian Morton

2005 Rd3 84 Ellis Hobbs
Rd 4 133 James Sanders

2006 Rd 7 229 Willie Andrews

2007 Rd 1 24 Brandon Merriweather
Rd 6 202 Mike Richardson

2008 Rd 2 62 Tyrone Wheatley
Rd 4 129 Jonathon Wilhite

2009 Rd2 34 Eugene Chung
Rd2 41 Darius Butler

2011 Rd2 33 Glass-I Dowling
Rd7219 Malcolm Williams

 

[ZoisKing]

Is there a reason you left out the 2010 class?

 

[Water Boy]

Is there a reason you left out the 2010 class?

Oops.

2010 Rd1 27 Devin McCourty

 

[Metaphors]

Rd5 163 Hakim Akbar

Sorry. Required by law to post this every time he is mentioned.

 

[Defsoul]

Sorry. Required by law to post this every time he is mentioned.

And I thought this guy was the mascot of the Ole Miss REBELS?!

ESPN Ole Miss Star Wars commercial

 

[State]

I am going to give tavon a chance just like any other pick we make but the only reason i was mad at his selection is because they skipped, lavonte david, my number one binkie of all time.

Big Ten fanatics told that Tavon Wilson would be drafted before Still, Worthy, Adams, and Lavonte David would have accused you of being either completely ignorant or on drugs. Or both.

Tavon Wilson wasn't even projected in the seven-round mock or even as a free agent. He was an almost complete after-thought this year. Final mock drafts from McShay and Kiper - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

Wilson will have a good year or two, but Lavonte David will likely have a good career that will make us wish we had taken him.

It's Connor Barwin II.

 

[mayoclinic]

Wilson will have a good year or two, but Lavonte David will likely have a good career that will make us wish we had taken him.

It's Connor Barwin II.

I am optimistic that Wilson will be a good addition and will have more than a good year or two. But I also agree with you - passing on Lavonte David may haunt us for years. I haven't felt as strongly about the Pats passing on a player since they passed on Barwin in 2009. Time will tell.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

And I thought this guy was the mascot of the Ole Miss REBELS?!

ESPN Ole Miss Star Wars commercial

Good Lord! Why didn't I go to Ole Miss????? Beautiful women and no competition from the men as far as I can see... also football and no snowstorms. Heaven...

 

[Ivan]

I am optimistic that Wilson will be a good addition and will have more than a good year or two. But I also agree with you - passing on Lavonte David may haunt us for years. I haven't felt as strongly about the Pats passing on a player since they passed on Barwin in 2009. Time will tell.

The only player's I wanted more than David were Keuchly and Hightower, and Keuchly was never going to be there. I like the Jones pick and can see why they would go there given the premium on that kind of athletic ability and upside, and I love the Hightower pick and think he will be a centerpiece for their defense for years to come. I hoped Belichick would see David as a hybrid safety and take him at #48 but it just wasn't to be. Hopefully Wilson turns out to be the right choice, but i would still rather have David.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Wow, my first Brother from OTG. I have arrived!!!!!

Welcome to the club. This is where life is worth living. Nothing like a little acknowledgement from the PF.com guru's to bounce a little spring into your step. :singing:

 

[patfanken]

Big Ten fanatics told that Tavon Wilson would be drafted before Still, Worthy, Adams, and Lavonte David would have accused you of being either completely ignorant or on drugs. Or both.

Tavon Wilson wasn't even projected in the seven-round mock or even as a free agent. He was an almost complete after-thought this year. Final mock drafts from McShay and Kiper - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

Wilson will have a good year or two, but Lavonte David will likely have a good career that will make us wish we had taken him.

It's Connor Barwin II.

Alright already! We get it. You are angry and bitter. You are smarter than the entire Patriots personnel department, and you never miss an opportunity for every missed draft pick to let us know, how your pick would have been better.

Your 20-20 hindsight is perfect. I'm sure if Wilson fails to start in year 2, you will be there with some other pick that's doing well that you would have chosen. The only thing we CAN be assured of, is if Wilson does become a player worth a 2nd round pick.....you WON'T be there to tell us you didn't know you ass from your elbow. Because guys like you are always there to tout their so called "successes" and pretend they never had a bad word to say about their failures.

 

[DaBruinz]

Big Ten fanatics told that Tavon Wilson would be drafted before Still, Worthy, Adams, and Lavonte David would have accused you of being either completely ignorant or on drugs. Or both.

Tavon Wilson wasn't even projected in the seven-round mock or even as a free agent. He was an almost complete after-thought this year. Final mock drafts from McShay and Kiper - Big Ten Blog - ESPN

Wilson will have a good year or two, but Lavonte David will likely have a good career that will make us wish we had taken him.

It's Connor Barwin II.

It's amazing how your stance on Wilson has morphed. You've gone from saying how he was a horrible pick to at least admitting he might actually have a good year or two. In three years, you might actually be able to admit the Pats knew more about him than you did.

BTW, Mel Kiper isn't all that when it comes to predictions. Guessing which team is going to take which player doesn't mean anything. Guessing which player is actually going to be successful and which wasn't would carry more weight.

Lavonte David didn't get nearly the hype on this board that Connor Barwin did. And I think that the idea that David is going to magically be as good as Barwin is wishful thinking. David is an extremely poor fit for the Pats defense unless you are talking about him at ILB. And since the Pats had already added Hightower there, David wasn't going to be on their radar. David is a much better fit for a defense running a Tampa-2. And that's exactly where he's going. A place where he'll be a better fit.

The Pats will not regret taking HIGHTOWER over Lavonte David. And that's what it boils down to. Not Wilson over David.