The past two years have not been great LB draft classes, esp for 3-4 Ds. I was surprised they let David Harris go this year, but I'd be even more surprised if Maualuga, Laurinaitis or Brinkley get passed up in '08 (if available when NE drafts). I also like Jonathan Goff from Vandy for his potential versatility, though he's been evaluated as a second-round talent.
Before they drafted Mankins, it had been "established" (by me as much as anyone) that the Pats didn't draft O linemen high (Light was a third, Koppen a fifth, Neal a UDFA college wrestler). They saw value in Mankins and got a guy who consistently beats the bejeebus out of opposing DLs.
I also assume that the Pats will trade many of their picks this year for future picks and higher picks, based on the lack of second-day choices sticking.
but I assume a lot of things with this team, without much success.
Light was not a Third, he was a Second. The Pats invested a 1st and 2 seconds and a third in their O-line in the 6 years that BB has been here. That is NOT neglecting O linemen.
They have certainly used Dante's teaching skills to take rejects with raw athletic ability that were not ready to play in the NFL, and "coached them up" and built up their bodies, on the PS. Most took several years and then got to be better than adequate pros starters.
Britt was an injured slip to fifth by SD and cut; Gorin was raw GB seventh and cut; Ashworth a converting TE UDFA by SD? and cut; as was Oldenburg a converting TE by NE this year. Hochstein was a TB 5th who was cut. Remember Sapps' derision? He remembered him as a TB rookie, who simply wasn't ready to play in the NFL. Yates was a NE UDFA project who has evolved into a fair spare G.
We all remember the NCAA champion Wrestler from Cal Bakersfield who never played college or pro football and has become a red chip, just below Pro bowl level RG, in Steve Neal. No one hand wrestles better than him, or pulls with more agility and body control either.
It seems to me BB is doing the same looking for DL depth after spending three early firsts on his DL front line starters. Jarvis is the best non-starting DL in the league. Lekevin opened my eyes this preseason; So has Santonio Thomas. ST has stuffed two big third and shorts this year, forcing punts. Wright came out of nowhere and Cincinnati? Kareem looks like he has the athleticism and size, does he have the heart? There is no more room at the Inn, just like the OL...
I don't think there is much mystery to what BB does with the LBs. He had several good ones when he started to rebuild. He simply needed to spend his efforts on more immediate concerns, and more immediate holes.
There haven't been many great ones that fit his 3-4,
that have been available to him where he drafted, the past couple of years. The only ones that he passed on are Manny Lawson, the OLB that SF took after BB thought Maroney was a better player and was a higher need as he saw Dillon up close and knew he was fading before we fans could. The other was the OLB, Karlos Dansby, that the Cards took after BB decided he liked the talent of TE Watson better, and Fauria was fading.
BB has patched at LB with several fading pros; there are two more such, on the roster now in Jr. and Chad. He has lured a couple ready to play guys in Colvin and Thomas. He saw the opportunities and he took them . But no more than what he did at RB with Dillon, or WR with Stallworth, Moss and Welker, Caldwell, or Gaffney. Or TE with Kyle Brady. Or CB with Chad Scott or Torey James or Artrell Hawkins, et cetera.
Will BB invest in a young LB in the next draft? Who knows? But we do know that he will insure via draft, FA signing or trade, that he has a group of LB who can all play. Meanwhile he has developed some youngsters. Matt Chatham, TBC, turned in to valuable reserves, and is working on Pierre Woods, Eric Alexander and perhaps Mays. (Too bad they lost the SMU kid)