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

AndyJohnson said:

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.

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I agree, I was high on Garrappolo (and McCarron, for that matter) because he is the best west coast system QB in the draft and would fit our offense very well. He is quick in his decisionmaking (the most important quality I as a fan look for) and his release is outstanding. He may not have the arm strength of peyton manning and may need to work on a few other areas, but over the next several years he can clean that up. You can improve certain areas, but you can't fix stupid, which Garrappolo is not.

dhamz said:

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.

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In other words, they were concerned about his ability to come back full strength from a serious injury. Translation - they were concerned about his health.

He i

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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He isn't short. That's not a concern. I'm worried about his small hands. I can envision a tony romo scenario where the ball squirts out of his hands or jars free easily. I like that he's mobile. That's one thing I hate about mallet. In fact he's almost the opposite of mallet, better on short passes not a cannon arm, mobile, not a bonehead etc...

TommyBrady12 said:

You can improve certain areas, but you can't fix stupid, which Garrappolo is not.

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One of my buddies in Maine had a neighbor with a dog named Stupid. They apparently had a Vet who did, in fact, fix Stupid.

Gronkandez said:

He i

He isn't short. That's not a concern. I'm worried about his small hands. I can envision a tony romo scenario where the ball squirts out of his hands or jars free easily. I like that he's mobile. That's one thing I hate about mallet. In fact he's almost the opposite of mallet, better on short passes not a cannon arm, mobile, not a bonehead etc...

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6'2" is considered short if you are expected to be a pocket passer in the NFL.

I haven't read all 16 pages of this thread but .... I really don't like the pick. I am a classic "in BB I trust" guy, but I think he made a mistake here.
1. We used a second round pick on a player who is virtually guaranteed never to play a meaningful snap so long as Brady is playing. I would much rather have used the second round pick on someone who might help the team while Brady is still taking snaps.
2. People are saying that Garopollo can learn from Brady. The skills that make Brady the GOAT are a gift and cannot be taught. How did the teaching angle work out with Mallett or any other backup during the Brady Era.
3. Maybe they can now trade Mallett but not for any kind of high pick this year, and even if that is the theory they need hardly to have spent a second rd pick on a backup. If Brady goes down this year or any year (perish the thought) we are in trouble regardless of who is the backup.
4. I am not a draftnik. There are dozens of people on this board ahead of me in that regard. But the one thing EVERYONE on this board said in the days or weeks leading to the draft is that the Pats had several/multiple areas of need. I find it hard to believe we could not have addressed one of those areas...OL, perhaps...with a second rounder.

Look, Nick Caserio said one thing a couple of weeks ago that stood out. He said the Pats could field a competetive football team if the season started now. That means the pats are comfortable in most areas and are looking to build depth through the draft (not add starters). I would say that Easley could probably start right away but that's it. Today's draft picks are going to have to compete to become depth players on the patriots roster. When Ryan Wendell was resigned, it was an indication that he was going to be the starting center. WHen Lafell was signed, it was a sign that the pats were not going to draft any wide receivers. When they brought Dustin Keller in, it was an indication that they didn't like what they saw in the draft.

iapatsfan said:

In other words, they were concerned about his ability to come back full strength from a serious injury. Translation - they were concerned about his health.

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um, no

they were concerned about his age and how long he could maintain his high level of play

they had zero issue with his neck health

Here's a GREAT article on Jimmy Garrappolo. His greatest strength seems to be intangibles and ability to understand what is going on on the football field.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20131113/jimmy-garoppolo-eastern-illinois/

TommyBrady12 said:

Look, Nick Caserio said one thing a couple of weeks ago that stood out. He said the Pats could field a competetive football team if the season started now. That means the pats are comfortable in most areas and are looking to build depth through the draft (not add starters). I would say that Easley could probably start right away but that's it. Today's draft picks are going to have to compete to become depth players on the patriots roster. When Ryan Wendell was resigned, it was an indication that he was going to be the starting center. WHen Lafell was signed, it was a sign that the pats were not going to draft any wide receivers. When they brought Dustin Keller in, it was an indication that they didn't like what they saw in the draft.

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I find it impossible to believe that BB approached this draft or any draft by saying to himself, I am not looking for players good enough to start in this league, I just want players who can sit on the bench most of the game.

Galeb said:

6'2" is considered short if you are expected to be a pocket passer in the NFL.

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No its not. Im sorry but thats just not true.

SeanBruschi54 said:

No its not. Im sorry but thats just not true.

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Guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

Are you Aaron Rodgers?

iapatsfan said:

In other words, they were concerned about his ability to come back full strength from a serious injury. Translation - they were concerned about his health.

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Teams don't give 40 million guaranteed to free agent players who they are concerned might not return to full strength. They were concerned that he only had a couple of years left.

That thought sounds familiar.

There is a much larger chance that we get two more years of quality Brady than four more years of quality Brady.

Seacoast Fan said:

I find it impossible to believe that BB approached this draft or any draft by saying to himself, I am not looking for players good enough to start in this league, I just want players who can sit on the bench most of the game.

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Fact is pretty clear that we don't know how any of these players will pan out. Everyone says this draft is really deep. Well, I also remember that being said in 2009 when we had the three 2nd round picks and came away with garbage. Nobody knows how these guys will pan out. Simple as that. If the Pats feel like Garropolo could be the next guy, I'm all for it. There are no absolute pressing needs on this team as it currently stands so I am all for taking a guy that may need some grooming but could be the next guy at QB. You simply can never have enough talent at the QB position.

AzorianPats said:

I think it's both.

We lucked out grabbing a 6th round pick thst developed into a GOAT. Chances thst happens again are slim, at best.

We have a better chance at developing a franchise QB in the early rounds. Now JG as a chance to slowly develop his game and learn the playbook behind the best.

As long as we have Brady and Belichick we 're never going to get the chance to have a prospect like Andrew Luck that falls in our lap.

Some fans want to be all infor Brady last run, But BB as different plans. Tells me he's here for the long run.

I'm also one of those thst thinks we are in a position to win a championship today, and at the same time develop the successor.

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I think the problem comes when you develop the potential successor at the expense of current team.

The chances that JG will lead the team to a SB victory are very slim, TFB has done it multiple times. If that pick was used to beef up the O-line Brady would be less likely to be injured and have a longer career, we'd also have a better chance of winning the SB.

Teams go through hell to get a franchise QB because they're so rare, when you have one it makes sense to protect the hell out of him and give him lots of weapons to throw to.

You're right, we won't have the ability to get an Andrew Luck-type prospect with Brady as QB, that's why you wait till he's done, let the chips fall where they may, and if that means a few seasons as the worst team in the league so be it, take your medicine and come back stronger.

The end goal of this current strategy is sustained mediocrity.

TommyBrady12 said:

Look, Nick Caserio said one thing a couple of weeks ago that stood out. He said the Pats could field a competetive football team if the season started now.

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Can you tell me with a straight face that we stand a good chance of beating the Seahawks if we played them today?

Snake Eyes said:

I think the problem comes when you develop the potential successor at the expense of current team.

The chances that JG will lead the team to a SB victory are very slim, TFB has done it multiple times. If that pick was used to beef up the O-line Brady would be less likely to be injured and have a longer career, we'd also have a better chance of winning the SB.

Teams go through hell to get a franchise QB because they're so rare, when you have one it makes sense to protect the hell out of him and give him lots of weapons to throw to.

You're right, we won't have the ability to get an Andrew Luck-type prospect with Brady as QB, that's why you wait till he's done, let the chips fall where they may, and if that means a few seasons as the worst team in the league so be it, take your medicine and come back stronger.

The end goal of this current strategy is sustained mediocrity.

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When have the Patriots been mediocre?
You seriously think that is the goal? Open your eyes, you are missing a nice run for this franchise

Snake Eyes said:

Can you tell me with a straight face that we stand a good chance of beating the Seahawks if we played them today?

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Of course, but we don't play them today.

NE_PATS_FAN_54 said:

Fact is pretty clear that we don't know how any of these players will pan out. Everyone says this draft is really deep. Well, I also remember that being said in 2009 when we had the three 2nd round picks and came away with garbage. Nobody knows how these guys will pan out. Simple as that. If the Pats feel like Garropolo could be the next guy, I'm all for it. There are no absolute pressing needs on this team as it currently stands so I am all for taking a guy that may need some grooming but could be the next guy at QB. You simply can never have enough talent at the QB position.

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Agreed the draft is a crapshoot. But, last year we got handled in the AFCCG pretty easily and then Denver got killed in the SB. That tells me we have areas of need. Backup QB in my opinion, was way down the list.