Your thoughts on Patriots cornerback strategy in the draft...

From what I saw and read, this was considered a pretty weak class of cornerbacks. There were articles about it even before FA which suggested the price of free agent corners would spike because of it, which happened. So I don't really get the surprise.

And there might be more to the strategy beyond just drafting Revis and Browner's replacement. Could be a scheme change or maybe different roles or being more aggressive in the front 7. Maybe a healthy return of Mayo frees up Collins to blitz more or lets the safeties help out more with the corners.

There's lots of things to consider, but it was highly doubtful we were going to draft a Revis replacement this year, so why force a draft pick that wasn't there?

rochrist said:

I'm not sure why everyone is ignoring the kid they did get, you know, the one who ran a 4.38 40, has a 39 inch vertical leap, an 11.01 broadjump, 23(!) reps at 225 and a 6.66 3 cone, as well as a rep for being physical with receivers.

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Daryl Roberts from Marshall. Honor student by the way. If he puts in the work, I think he can contribute. If his pro day numbers are accurate, he's got the tools.

The draft is fun, but it's best not to get too excited about it. Few of these guys are anywhere near ready to contribute. We'll see.

Revis is gone and that on its own makes our secondary worse. If you remove that aspect from the discussion overall everything except for #1 CB either improved or stayed the same with what we did in UFA, the development of Butler and Ryan, the (hopeful) return to form by Alfonzo Dennard (since he won't be spending this offseason in jail), and the additions of the players in the draft.

Realistically there was no way to address the hole left by Revis in this draft class. I'm sure they will work the phones and see who is available through trade if not they will go with what they have and play zone more.

rochrist said:

I'm not sure why everyone is ignoring the kid they did get, you know, the one who ran a 4.38 40, has a 39 inch vertical leap, an 11.01 broadjump, 23(!) reps at 225 and a 6.66 3 cone, as well as a rep for being physical with receivers.

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All I'm saying is...

Roberts
Dates: 03/11/15
Height: 5110
Weight: 187
40 Yrd Dash: 4.38
20 Yrd Dash: 2.50
10 Yrd Dash: 1.48
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 23
Vertical Jump: 39
Broad Jump: 11'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.06
3-Cone Drill: 6.66

Revis
Dates: 03/16/07
Height: 5114
Weight: 204
40 Yrd Dash: 4.38
20 Yrd Dash: 2.49
10 Yrd Dash: 1.46
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 10'5"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.08
3-Cone Drill: 6.56

Plus their initials are both DR.

Oh man I'm overly optimistic....

TomPatriot said:

Daryl Roberts from Marshall. Honor student by the way. If he puts in the work, I think he can contribute. If his pro day numbers are accurate, he's got the tools.

The draft is fun, but it's best not to get too excited about it. Few of these guys are anywhere near ready to contribute. We'll see.

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I'm drinking the Kool-Aide on this kid big time. He's making this team.

robertweathers said:

I'm drinking the Kool-Aide on this kid big time. He's making this team.

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I'm ****ing wasted on the **** right now, about to pass out on my keyboard...

Brady6 said:

All I'm saying is...

Roberts
Dates: 03/11/15
Height: 5110
Weight: 187
40 Yrd Dash: 4.38
20 Yrd Dash: 2.50
10 Yrd Dash: 1.48
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 23
Vertical Jump: 39
Broad Jump: 11'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.06
3-Cone Drill: 6.66

Revis
Dates: 03/16/07
Height: 5114
Weight: 204
40 Yrd Dash: 4.38
20 Yrd Dash: 2.49
10 Yrd Dash: 1.46
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 10'5"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.08
3-Cone Drill: 6.56

Plus their initials are both DR.

Oh man I'm overly optimistic....

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Keep it going. Nothing wrong with optimism.

robertweathers said:

I'm drinking the Kool-Aide on this kid big time. He's making this team.

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After watching this highlight vid, I think I'll drink the Kool-Aide too!

Chiuba E. Obele said:

After watching this highlight vid, I think I'll drink the Kool-Aide too!

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He has the skills. 1/2 of those batted down balls should have been picks. Just needs coaching.

Combined effect of a weak CB class and the top four options all gone before the 32nd pick. I think BB saw the writing on the wall WRT the top CB's going early so he doubled down on the front 7 and drafted a project CB late, someone who might pay dividends in a year or two. I'd rather see Belichick spend high draft capital on guys who'll contribute this season and take a flier on a CB who may pan out over time, vs spending those high picks on other CB's who are likely projects themselves.

I don't think a lack of CB picks by the Patriots is necessarily an indication of them being satisfied with what they have either, rather it's an admission that they didn't like what was on the board and went in a different direction. More than one way to skin a cat, the front seven looks dominant and deep, and hopefully Roberts turns into something for 2016 and beyond.

Mr. Roberts for you movie afficianodos.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

After watching this highlight vid, I think I'll drink the Kool-Aide too!

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Looks like he's got a bit of swag and a little nasty to his game, which I LOVE from CB's. Gotta have that ego to brush off those times he'll get burned, and he carries himself like he knows he's gonna beat you. Will take some time to get his game polished for the NFL but he has the right attitude already imo.

robertweathers said:

He has the skills. 1/2 of those batted down balls should have been picks. Just needs coaching.

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With his measurables and skills it is really surprising he didn't go sooner.

He really needs to be coached up on his tackling technique though.

The Gr8est said:

With his measurables and skills it is really surprising he didn't go sooner.

He really needs to be coached up on his tackling technique though.

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Looks like he likes to hit--not necessarily a bad thing, but he goes for the knockout rather than the wrap-up, and that'll get him in trouble against the more athletic receivers in the NFL. Time will tell, I feel like Merriweather was similar in that department and he never quite learned that the knockout punch (sometimes dirty/illegal) isn't the way to make your mark in today's NFL.

FredFromDartmouth said:

That is a flawed strategy; you cannot sack the QB on every play and every time you do not get to the QB, you are inviting disaster.

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Pass completions are not disasters, typically teams give up 20-25 of them every game.
Sacks are not the only value of a pass rush.
Coverage and pressure work together. If you do not get enough pressure, no one can cover that long, and if you consistently get pressure the coverages job is easier.
Every corner on the roster can cover, and if the rush us good they are more effective. No one on the roster or not can cover if there is no pass rush

Another problem with drafting a bunch of sack specialist is first down. What do you do on first down? Put in all your sack specialist and they will run on you. Having a bunch of sack specialists is fine for third and long, but how about the other downs?

Bonzo said:

They don't need to be satisfied with their current roster of corners to not like any of the available alternatives.

The strategy seems pretty clear: compensate for any deficiencies in the secondary with a hellacious front 7.

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FredFromDartmouth said:

That is a flawed strategy; you cannot sack the QB on every play and every time you do not get to the QB, you are inviting disaster.

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Well, it's not like they're leaving WRs uncovered. They have their CBs - just not big names or high draft picks. They have invested in S as an anchor and Belichick likely has a zone mentality in mind. Heck - they've been SB contenders with Troy Brown or Edelman filling in at CB - Belichick will have time to develop his D and clearly has a strategy in mind that's better than having WRs play DBs

My feeling on CBs in the draft is that outside of the top CBs with size or speed, it's a bit of a crap shoot from the 2nd through UDFA (and indeed, there's a guy named Malcom Butler who was a UDFA who managed to find a role on the team last year)

So with the second tier of CBs (again, most of the draft) you're talking guys 5'10" or under who can be good to very good with hard work, proper coaching, or playing a specific role in a specific scheme the way Belichick often approaches those positions.

Expect Belichick to also be examining trades or the waiver wire as veterans and others are cut from camp

He's populated certain positions well in the past through such moves and at the very least has NFL film on such guys to see who is worth the roster spots

But putting pressure up front WILL take pressure OFF the existing DBs, so while you can't just say "we won't cover WRs because of the front 7" you can create a bend but don't break D that still results in few points scored.

FredFromDartmouth said:

Another problem with drafting a bunch of sack specialist is first down. What do you do on first down? Put in all your sack specialist and they will run on you. Having a bunch of sack specialists is fine for third and long, but how about the other downs?

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OK but who drafted a bunch of sack specialists?

Brady6 said:

Revis is gone and that on its own makes our secondary worse. If you remove that aspect from the discussion overall everything except for #1 CB either improved or stayed the same with what we did in UFA, the development of Butler and Ryan, the (hopeful) return to form by Alfonzo Dennard (since he won't be spending this offseason in jail), and the additions of the players in the draft.

Realistically there was no way to address the hole left by Revis in this draft class. I'm sure they will work the phones and see who is available through trade if not they will go with what they have and play zone more.

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What development of Ryan? There is no more development of Ryan; he has gone as far as he can. The Patriots have 2 CBs....

rochrist said:

I'm not sure why everyone is ignoring the kid they did get, you know, the one who ran a 4.38 40, has a 39 inch vertical leap, an 11.01 broadjump, 23(!) reps at 225 and a 6.66 3 cone, as well as a rep for being physical with receivers.

Click to expand...

Personally? I ignore 6th round draft picks until they show something in camp and/or make the 53 man roster. My assumption is that a 6th round pick will end up on the practice squad.

Not that I dismiss the possibility of a surprise (and there are surprises every year), but the odds just don't warrant counting on a 6th round pick.