The Most Questionable 2014 Draft Choice

PatsWickedPissah said:

Let's remember that many here & elsewhere criticized 6' 2" NY Jet Sanchez as not fitting the physical requirements of a 21st century NFL QB. Me, I'm a big Russell Wilson fan. As to JAG, I hope he's a Top 10 NFL QB, but none of us including the Patriots coaches know how he'll turn out. They just played the percentages of how well he fit their extensive criteria.

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You don't even have to go back that far. Go back to the Bridgewater thread to find the many people here that disagreed with taking a QB early. That thread eventually boiled down to just a discussion about QB's in general. Not a single mention of Garoppolo. But now most of the forum loves the pick. Go figure.

The problem for the Patriots in replacing Brady is that they are always so good that they won't have a shot at a QB who would be a blue chip replacement for him, so they have to allow a guy they really like to fall to them and take their shot that way, and imo that's all this was. Brady is in the last quarter of his career and they saw a QB they believe could someday take over for him and be really successful for them so they paid the price and took the shot. That takes some gust and i applaud them for it, hopefully they are right about Garrapolo and when the time comes for him to take over he is ready to go and performs at the highest level. Bottom line, Andrew Luck isn't walking through that door because they aren't going to suck bad enough to have a shot at the next one, so you make your move when the player is available. All this comes down to is whether or not they are right on Garrapolo, if so, great pick even though they must wait for the reward, if not it is a huge waste of a pick when they needed more help right now, either way i understand taking the chance, that's what gives them a chance to still compete when Brady calls it quits. And, as i have said before, this is going to light a fire under him the same way getting picked in the 6th did, and we are probably going to see some really inspired play the next few years as a result.

KontradictioN said:

You don't even have to go back that far. Go back to the Bridgewater thread to find the many people here that disagreed with taking a QB early. That thread eventually boiled down to just a discussion about QB's in general. Not a single mention of Garoppolo. But now most of the forum loves the pick. Go figure.

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I was one of those dissing the QB early idea, and i am still shocked they went there, and while i can rationalize the pick now I still think that had they gone for Bridgewater or Bortles in the first, as rumored, it would have been a bad idea. I am still glad it was a 2nd because i wouldn't have wanted them to us e a first on any of them, Garrapolo included. By the time their pick rolled around in the 2nd the top TE's were gone and the board had been pretty much devastated when it came to the guys i wanted most so that made it easier to take the QB pick.

KontradictioN said:

You don't even have to go back that far. Go back to the Bridgewater thread to find the many people here that disagreed with taking a QB early. That thread eventually boiled down to just a discussion about QB's in general. Not a single mention of Garoppolo. But now most of the forum loves the pick. Go figure.

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Abilene Paradox

Not uncommon.

-Jamman

Dragda said:

I don't know anything about Thomas.

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Can play CB and S, physical, takes good angles, good blitzer, Patriot Way style- Hard Worker and Leads by Example, durable (tied GT record for most games played, 54)

If he sticks in camp, plays some ST for a year, progresses over the season similar to how Logan Ryan did last year although probably won't play as much Kyle Arrington will be out of a job next season, especially if they retain Revis.

Brady6 said:

Also it is idiotic to believe that JG will ever be close to the player Brady is, he is late second round pick from a small school, with average at best arm strength, and is undersized but sure lets just assume he just fills the GOATs void.

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That same small school produced another undersized QB named Tony Romo who had most of his records broken by Jimmy Garoppolo. Sure Romo isn't Brady but he's done well as a starter provided who he plays for.

JMC00 said:

Can play CB and S, physical, takes good angles, good blitzer, Patriot Way style- Hard Worker and Leads by Example, durable (tied GT record for most games played, 54)

If he sticks in camp, plays some ST for a year, progresses over the season similar to how Logan Ryan did last year although probably won't play as much Kyle Arrington will be out of a job next season, especially if they retain Revis.

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If Thomas plays CB in the pro's, he'll make Arrington look like Revis. He's strictly an in-the-box, run support safety. Playing him even as a nickel corner would be exposing his weakness (man coverage) and ignoring his strengths (tackling) ability.

In the end, I just hope we're not looking back at this years from now saying that the FO somehow managed to **** up a deep draft.

Jimmy Garoppolo is most controversial pick based on position but most people had him pegged at being selected in the 2nd or 3rd round (at one point some people had him sneaking into the 1st round).

So it's not surprising where he was selected the just the fact that New England went QB that early but then again if he was there guy it was pretty good timing because he wasn't going to last much longer.

I always suspected New England would draft a QB at some point in this draft but like everyone else we had no idea who it would be (I honestly thought Mettenberger based on value).

KontradictioN said:

In the end, I just hope we're not looking back at this years from now saying that the FO somehow managed to **** up a deep draft.

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Could say the same thing about any draft only time will tell

KontradictioN said:

If Thomas plays CB in the pro's, he'll make Arrington look like Revis. He's strictly an in-the-box, run support safety. Playing him even as a nickel corner would be exposing his weakness (man coverage) and ignoring his strengths (tackling) ability.

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So are you saying he has no coverage ability at all?

KontradictioN said:

In the end, I just hope we're not looking back at this years from now saying that the FO somehow managed to **** up a deep draft.

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They've taken 3 Offensive Linemen with the potential to play as maulers. I classify that as a win irregardless of their career development.

The Patriots needed a philosophical change in the trenches and on both sides.

JMC00 said:

So are you saying he has no coverage ability at all?

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Struggling in man coverage =/= no coverage ability at all.

ausbacker said:

They've taken 3 Offensive Linemen with the potential to play as maulers. I classify that as a win irregardless of their career development.

The Patriots needed a philosophical change in the trenches and on both sides.

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I'm on board with the philosophical change on the OL and have said it's what I like most in the draft.

PatsChamp88 said:

That same small school produced another undersized QB named Tony Romo who had most of his records broken by Jimmy Garoppolo. Sure Romo isn't Brady but he's done well as a starter provided who he plays for.

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Tony Romo was an UDFA, nobody invested a second round pick in him.

ausbacker said:

They've taken 3 Offensive Linemen with the potential to play as maulers. I classify that as a win irregardless of their career development.

The Patriots needed a philosophical change in the trenches and on both sides.

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Why do we need a philosophical change? We had the #1 run blocking line in the NFL last season, Solder, Vollmer, Mankins, and Cannon all graded out well. The issue was the 37 QB disruptions allowed by Wendell, and the 34 allowed by Connolly. Fixing that does not require a philosophical change; it requires an upgrade in talent.

PatsChamp88 said:

Jimmy Garoppolo is most controversial pick based on position but most people had him pegged at being selected in the 2nd or 3rd round (at one point some people had him sneaking into the 1st round).

So it's not surprising where he was selected the just the fact that New England went QB that early but then again if he was there guy it was pretty good timing because he wasn't going to last much longer.

I always suspected New England would draft a QB at some point in this draft but like everyone else we had no idea who it would be (I honestly thought Mettenberger based on value).

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I do not think it is even his draft position, I think it is the need, with Brady under contract for four more seasons, Mallett here for one more. Where does this kid even fit, long term what is he Mallett 2.0, or is he the heir apparent to Brady, and if he is the heir apparent how do we handle the fact that he will need to be resigned before he potentially ever starts a game.

I will go on record and say one of the primary reasons I do not like Garopollo pick is that it implies the end of the Tom Brady era is approaching and that is not a time I want to think of.

I like the QB pick. Evidently BB is on the safe side and I'm sure he probably drives his car with insurance too. The good thing is he will learn from the one of the best to ever play the game.

It's pretty much wait and see from here.

I am not a fan of the Easley pick, BUT if healthy, Easley could be a John Randle type of player. It made me feel better that we screwed over Seattle, that were sure we would trade out so some team would take a QB. Easley was BB binkie, evident by how quickly they made the selection with 5 min left on the clock. Its a trick or treat selection.

I actually like the Garappolo selection. Yes Brady has as many as 4 years left, but giving Garappolo the time to learn and to be ready whenever needed is a wise move. I watched his Gruden QB camp and his East West Shrine game after his selection and liked what I saw.

Its a bold move by BB, one that indicates that BB isn't just playing for this year, but for years to come.

JMC00 said:

So are you saying he has no coverage ability at all?

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I think what he's saying is that his coverage ability is not good, and I agree. I certainly hope we never end up in a situation where he's being asked to cover anyone.