Pats draft QB Jimmy Garropolo from Eastern Illinois in the 2nd round

Am I the only one shrugging at the draft so far as not especially surprising? A penetrating DT was near the top of the fan wishlist and Easley was popularly linked to the Pats, both by fans and the media. And I totally expected a QB in round 3 or 4, with 2 enough of a possibility that I posted an experimental mock with WR in round 1 and QB in 2. Then a totally routine trade down.

Not the most thrilling couple of days, but nothing outrageous.

Rob0729 said:

IDK, he is a far better fit than Mallett is. Garoppolo strengths seem to make him a good fit (quick release, reads defenses well, smart). He needs a lot more polishing, but he seems a better successor than Mallett.

Not a fan of the pick, but because I don't like this QB class. But I think Garoppolo is a decent fit for the system.

We have had Bledsoe Lite backing up Brady for the last three years. I don't think scheme fit is my biggest issue for me with Garoppolo.

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He's a WCO quarterback that has been prone to make some very bad decisions from time to time. He has a cannon arm, is mobile, and his throws are on a frozen rope, but he's going to need quite a bit of work to fit into the Ehrhardt-Perkins. When you take that into account on top of the fact that he may not even be the successor to Brady on top of the fact that there were far more important needs, this is not a good pick. I do agree with you about Mallett, but he's gone next year anyway. They could have looked for a back-up there and filled a much bigger need.

patchick said:

Am I the only one shrugging at the draft so far as not especially surprising? A penetrating DT was near the top of the fan wishlist and Easley was popularly linked to the Pats, both by fans and the media. And I totally expected a QB in round 3 or 4, with 2 enough of a possibility that I posted an experimental mock with WR in round 1 and QB in 2. Then a totally routine trade down.

Not the most thrilling couple of days, but nothing outrageous.

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I like the first round pick. I said all along the Pats needed interior pass rush more than anything else in this draft and they addressed it day one.

I also knew the Pats were going to draft a QB. I was just hoping it would be in the third or fourth. I would have rather had McCarrons in the third or fourth. But then again, I would have rather had Garoppolo in the second than Bortles or Manziel in the first.

I just do not like this QB class. Not convinced there is a franchise QB in the bunch.

yukon cornelius said:

dan connolly - UDFA
ryan wendell - UDFA
marcus cannon - 5th round


the eagles had a highly ranked OL last year: G evan mathis - 3rd round pick G todd herremans - 4th round C - Jason Kelce - 6th round

broncos OL - G Will Montgomery - 7th C Manny Ramirez - 4th Louis Vazquez was a 3rd



i can keep going if you'd like......but interior OL, save for a logan mankins stud pick (of which there's 1 or 2 each year ), is generally a middle to late round pick

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Connolly and Wendell play like late round picks. They suck. Cannon is a backup. Good examples.

Rob0729 said:

IDK, he is a far better fit than Mallett is. Garoppolo strengths seem to make him a good fit (quick release, reads defenses well, smart). He needs a lot more polishing, but he seems a better successor than Mallett.

Not a fan of the pick, but because I don't like this QB class. But I think Garoppolo is a decent fit for the system.

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I agree with much of what you said, but I'm not sure about "reads defenses well". The complexity of the defenses Garoppolo played against was elementary compared to the NFL. The complexity of NFL defenses will also magnified by the complexity of the Pats offense. BB actually brings this up in the post day 2 press conference.

My major concern is that his 3 biggest flaws are so closely related. He's short, his release is very low, and the low level of competition he faced is very short in comparison with bigger schools, nevermind the NFL. That is some serious negative synergy that he needs to overcome.

looking at the highest paid guards in the league:
carl nicks - 5th
jahri evans - taken in the 4th
marshall yanda - 3rd
herremans - 4th
austin howard was a UDFA

looking at just the highest paid skews things towards the high draft picks.....but nearly half of even the top 10 highest paid guards in the league were taken in the 3rd or later

there is no real need to draft interior o-line early unless you really need an anchor.....this OL has an anchor....and good OT's.....they need solid interior OL depth, one that is a possible upgrade.....that is a pick for the mid-late rounds.....there is NO need for this team to over pay/over draft for interior OL help in the early rounds

iapatsfan said:

Connolly and Wendell play like late round picks. They suck. Cannon is a backup. Good examples.

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you need to spend more time watching football, less time posting online


interior OL on most teams comes in later rounds......over half the interior OL starters in the NFL were drafted 3rd round or later

Snake Eyes said:

I'd much rather be more competitive with Brady than maybe competitive afterwards. Elway is the one doing it right, he knows that franchise QBs don't come along often, the smart thing to do it maximize your potential with them than to hope and pray you just get another.

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Are you aware that Elway drafted QB Brock Osweiler 57th overall in 2012, only a month or so after signing that franchise QB of which you speak?

patchick said:

Am I the only one shrugging at the draft so far as not especially surprising? A penetrating DT was near the top of the fan wishlist and Easley was popularly linked to the Pats, both by fans and the media. And I totally expected a QB in round 3 or 4, with 2 enough of a possibility that I posted an experimental mock with WR in round 1 and QB in 2. Then a totally routine trade down.

Not the most thrilling couple of days, but nothing outrageous.

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I think we all want to hope Brady plays into his 40s, so there is a fair amount of denial going on about the need at QB.
I'm not loving the idea of using a 2nd on a QB because I'd rather try to win SBs at the cost of some down years later than take a measured approach to staying near the top.
I was surprised at the pick, because I had seen a report that Garapolo had fumbling issues due to very small hands, so I thought that would rule him out
But people saying that there was no reason to pick a QB are in denial. If you are taking one to be Bradys heir, I agree with taking one high, and the comments that he is not a good fit for the system are just stupid, because some guy who watched him play a couple times (maybe) and watched youtube clips saying that he knows the guy is a bad fit for BBs system when BB feels otherwise is just being stupid.

KontradictioN said:

He's a WCO quarterback that has been prone to make some very bad decisions from time to time. He has a cannon arm, is mobile, and his throws are on a frozen rope, but he's going to need quite a bit of work to fit into the Ehrhardt-Perkins. When you take that into account on top of the fact that he may not even be the successor to Brady on top of the fact that there were far more important needs, this is not a good pick. I do agree with you about Mallett, but he's gone next year anyway. They could have looked for a back-up there and filled a much bigger need.

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I admit I don't know much about the guy than what I read. Yes, he played in a different system, but his strengths seem to make him a good system fit for the system. Quick release, smart decision makings, can throw the passing tree, etc. They may have to revise the offense a bit to make him successful, but not nearly what they had to do with Mallett.

One thing we do have to take into consideration is that once Brady and Manning retire, that type of system may go the way of the dinosaurs. Belichick looks to have finally given in and decided the read and react defense that he ran for decades isn't as effective of a more aggressive defense. Maybe he sees a need for change on offense once Brady hangs up his cleats.

Galeb said:

I agree with much of what you said, but I'm not sure about "reads defenses well". The complexity of the defenses Garoppolo played against was elementary compared to the NFL. The complexity of NFL defenses will also magnified by the complexity of the Pats offense. BB actually brings this up in the post day 2 press conference.

My major concern is that his 3 biggest flaws are so closely related. He's short, his release is very low, and the low level of competition he faced is very short in comparison with bigger schools, nevermind the NFL. That is some serious negative synergy that he needs to overcome.

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As for reading defenses, all we can go on is his body of work. It was a strength at the college level. It could be a weakness at the Pro level. Of course the NFL defenses are far more complex.

Again, I am not a fan of the pick. But most of your listed flaws were the same flaws that were given to Russell Wilson when he came out. Now Wilson is a different player than Garoppolo, but he shows that those flaws are able to be overcome. And I wasn't a fan of the Wilson pick when Seattle made it.

"Being the underdog" and "proving people wrong"

Hmmm.... I think I know a QB that used to (and still) feel like that!

yukon cornelius said:

you need to spend more time watching football, less time posting online


interior OL on most teams comes in later rounds......over half the interior OL starters in the NFL were drafted 3rd round or later

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The reality is OUR interior "3rd round or later" interior OL suck. That is despite having the best OL coach in the league (who's retiring by the way).

zgotts said:

Are you aware that Elway drafted QB Brock Osweiler 57th overall in 2012, only a month or so after signing that franchise QB of which you speak?

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While there was still a doubt about Manning's health.

KontradictioN said:

He has a cannon arm, is mobile, and his throws are on a frozen rope, but he's going to need quite a bit of work to fit into the Ehrhardt-Perkins.

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I've only seen what highlights are on google, but I get a much different impression. He's no noodle arm, but I'm not sure if I'd call it a cannon. His passes often don't have enough zip or velocity. Though much of that is because he rarely seems to really step into his throws. With NFL strength training, better mechanics and improved footwork, his arm could become a cannon. The mechanical alterations to raise his throwing level and get more zip on the ball may slow down his release somewhat.

The thing to me about Garrapolo reading defenses and playing at a lower level of competition is that I think of all of the traits that can be learned, understanding complex defense schemes is probably number 1. For a kid coming out of college, I think it is more a matter of whether the player has the work ethic and intelligence to get there than whether they can do it right now (unless you are looking for a day 1 starter, which we are not). Based on his domination at the FCS level and the way he carries himself in interviews, it seems like he can get there.

Rob0729 said:

As for reading defenses, all we can go on is his body of work. It was a strength at the college level. It could be a weakness at the Pro level. Of course the NFL defenses are far more complex.

Again, I am not a fan of the pick. But most of your listed flaws were the same flaws that were given to Russell Wilson when he came out. Now Wilson is a different player than Garoppolo, but he shows that those flaws are able to be overcome. And I wasn't a fan of the Wilson pick when Seattle made it.

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I hear ya. The difference is, Wilson plays in a much different system.

iapatsfan said:

While there was still a doubt about Manning's health.

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The Broncos had no doubt at all about Manning's health when they made that pick. The money they paid to sign him made it crystal clear they knew he was healthy enough to play at an extremely high level.

What they had was concern for how long he had left playing at that level.

zgotts said:

For a kid coming out of college, I think it is more a matter of whether the player has the work ethic and intelligence to get there than whether they can do it right now (unless you are looking for a day 1 starter, which we are not). Based on his domination at the FCS level and the way he carries himself in interviews, it seems like he can get there.

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The one thing every report agrees on with Garappolo is that he has the right mindset -- intelligent, hard-worker, good leader and unflappable. That last bit, the level head on and off the field, is huge for QBs.

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