You know they say there ere 5 phases of grief - anger, denial, rationalization, depression, and acceptance. When you are a NE Patriot fan you are subject to similar mood swings, every spring when draft season comes to town. There is just no other way to get around it. As an author of several melt downs in the past, I have boldly predicted the beginning of the end of the Pats reign of excellence when they drafted 2 RB's and QB. Now a few days later I was brought back from the edge by wiser fans, but for a day or two I fell victim to the blind rage of a post BB draft. It is one of the interesting ironies of being a Pats fan the last 15 years, that while it might be the most the most envied position in sports fandom, something other fans can only dream bout. During draft time it seems like we go from a "throne of ease" to "a crown of thorns". This year looks like it is no different.
So here is how it looked going in. We had 9 picks with a roster that was stacked enough that only 4 of those picks were likely to make the team. 5 would be a surprise and 6 would be shocking. Many of us were hoping the Pats would use some of the those picks to move up in the draft for higher quality players and wind up with fewer picks. So,, of cours instead we do just the opposite. Throughout the draft Bill lowered the quality of the picks to increase the number like he was trying to collect lottery tickets in a week with a $500MM jackpot So join with me while I attempt to make SOME sense of this annual frustration.
Malcolm Brown -
Well, it started well, anyway. It's been a long time since the Pats were the beneficiaries of a guy falling to them at an obvious position of need. As a matter of fact, the last time I remember it was Vince Wilfork. Now I believe Vince and Malcolm are 2 different players, but this is also 2 different eras. Brown gives us some much needed size in the middle but some push as well. I can't wait to see him and Easley working together. I never expected him to be there and I was very pleased we were able to get him. I expect the glee was pretty much universal. I'd be interested in hearing from disenters
Jordan Richards- DB
I knew something was off when Ali Marpet came off the board just a few picks before 64. And then BB hit us with another 2nd round special. How could it have gone more wrong. Lets see, it was a player most of the "experts" had going somewhere from the 4th to the 6th. It was a player who was at a position of LEAST need. And there were several binkies still on the board we could have taken (AJ Caan, etc). Have I missed anything? I was so disgusted I decided that at that point I was no longer going to participate and waited until now, after the dust has settled, to look at what happened and seek therapy through this thread.
First I have to say after I learned his dad played ball at Tufts, my alma mater, Jordan has a life long fan and supporter. And before we bring on the nightmares of the Tavon Wilson pick.let me state up front, Wilson has been a fairly productive player for the Pats in his first 3 years. The last 2 being a core ST player and capable back up in the secondary. It should be noted that there are a half dozen 2nd round picks who only wish they'd been as productive. Still I wish Bill would stop picking up core special teamers in the 2nd round. At least when Wilson was drafted there was a glaring need at the position.
One other thought on Richards tangentially. I don't think BB looks at the secondary like most of us. He sees less of CB's, SS's, and FS's and more about just DB's in various combinations of skill sets. So while we all are looking a Jordan Richards and looking a S and wondering why we need another, Bill might look at Richards and see a"particular set of skills" that he wanted to add to his mix.
Geeno Grissom - DE
I've since read a lot of nice things about Grissom since his reach of a selection in term of his quickness and acceleration. He might be have been a victim of a lot of too many position switches to reach his potential, and a number of scouts thought he could be a pleasant surprise for someone who selects him in the back half of the draft.....NOT with their 3rd pick!!!!!!!!!!...and then immediately trade off their 4th.
Here's my problem with this pick. Its the fact that we already have Buchannon and Moore on the roster as developmental DE's and both of them have better speed and quickness #'s, plus a year or so experience. Why do we need another
Trey Flowers -
Sounds to me like a repeat of Grissom which is a repeat of Buchannon who is a repeat of Moore, who will be competing with Bequette..... and oh yeah, all at a position that is currently being more that adequately manned by Ninko, Jones, and Sheard.
Tre Jackson OG
FINALLY another name I had heard before, yet about 2 rounds lower than I thought we would have. If HE'd been the 2nd round pick, I doubt anyone would have blinked and most would have been thrilled to get such a "highly regarded" pick at #64. His drop does give one pause as to why, but it does show you who sometimes those "draft experts" get it wrong. But at any rate, here is the LG everyone hoped for, so a sigh of relief
Shaq Mason OG
- cool name for starters - and then a ton of questions - Obviously a great run blocker but because he comes from a triple option system, no one has any idea if he can pass block. He never played C, but we drafted him to be one. Finally he's short and undersized. Sounds like a perfect pick for this draft. Actually he's a nice thought in the 6th or 7th round, but not the 4th where you could have taken a chance on a 6'3 CB like the Ravens did or Nick Marshall, or name your own binky
Joe Cardonna LS -
Fine, we need one, and he's supposedly the best in a while, but in the 5th round? No one's picked a LS this early since.... da da... BB did it a few years ago to mixed reviews
. Was anyone even sure the kid can play for us next year before we drafted him that early?
Max Wells OLB
AJ Derby TE
Darryl Roberts CB
Xavier ****son DE
Now when you get down to this level, I don't think you have a right to bi!ch or moan about any pick because its such a crap shoot. Besides I'm tired of writing about so many players that I can't justify drafting. However if anyone want's to crow about a late round binky that was picked feel free. Unfortunately, I don't remember ever seeing these names linked to the Pats or mentioned on the draft board, and I know none of the ones that I would have loved to see like Nick Marshall or Tony Lippett are there.
But ironically, historically here is one thing we know for an almost certitude. One of these kids will not only make the team, he will become a relatively important contributor down the road. The thing is that you can lose a lot of money trying to bet on which one it will be.
So there you have it. Only 3 players have any shot at providing any real production next year. Brown, (likely) Jackson (a shot), and Cardonna (if he's released to play) You have a right to be angry. It seemed like so many did so much more in this draft. So let it out. Its how you start the process
Now comes the denials. "This happens every freaken' year." "When will BB the GM ever help BB the coach" "Why didn't he do THIS or THAT, or the OTHER"
Now the Rationalizations. "BB has been doing this more successfully than anyone over the last 15 years". "He must know what he's doing". "Just look at the past record". "This is the time of year when the Jets, Dolphins and Bills win the AFCE" "He must believe that we are better at CB than we do, and shouldn't HE have a better idea than us". "We got the guy we wanted in Brown, after that was luxury." He didn't like anyone after 55 and decided to go for quantity and just hope he can win the numbers game since after Brown the next 10 is all such a crap shoot anyway"
Then the depression. While this all sinks in and we move on to the next stage of team building, I will avoid the talk shows and draft discussions on radio just because I know what the complaints are going to be and I'm tired of hearing them over and over again. They simply aren't relevant. It makes no sense to compare the football knowledge and accept that Mel Kiper or Mike Lyoko's opinion of where Jordan Richard's is better drafted is better than Bill Bellichick's
Finally we hope we all get to the ACCEPTENCE - I accept that BB knows more than the "so called experts" that criticize what he's done (or praise him). I accept that the Pats will be a solid, deep, talented and well coached team that will compete strongly for another championship. I accept that 6 or 7 of these draft picks will end up on the PS, or off the roster. I accept that I will listen to other people's would haves and could haves with grace and equanimity. AND I will try my best to spend a little as possible time wondering WTF Bill? '
Well this has helped me I hope its helped you as well. Comments as usual, are actively solicited
