Tunescribe
PatsFans.com Supporter
PatsFans.com Supporter
2019 Weekly Picks Winner
2021 Weekly Picks Winner
2023 Weekly Picks Winner
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2004
- Messages
- 38,018
- Reaction score
- 48,855
Several points:
1.) People focus on the negative signing, but don't want to credit the good ones. Guys like Brian Waters, Andre Carter, and Mak Anderson have exceeded expectations.
2.) The lockout has hurt a lot of teams in a rebuilding/reload process. Look at the Dream Team... ummm... Eagles, they are 3-5 right now even though no other team was more active in assembling talent to make a Super Bowl run this year. Other teams in the same boat with high expectations and low results include the Rams, Chargers, and Falcons. This is a freak year because of the lockout.
3.) I think Belichick approached the draft thinking that most rookies won't produce this year. Overall it has been a down year for rookies. Few rookies stand out as special. I think Belichick used this draft as a developmental draft.
4.) As for taking two RBs in the the second and third round, I like that better than taking Mark Ingram in the first like many people wanted. Ingram has yet to stand out and the value of the 28th pick is far more than what they spent on Ridley and Vereen.
5.) Some of the draft picks listed haven't really done much. Cameron Jordan has 22 tackles and 0 sacks. Adrian Clayborn has 15 tackles, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble (decent, but not spectacular). Brooks Reed has 5 tackles and two sacks. Jabaal Sheard has 27 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. These guys are not producing at a rate that you think they are going to be anything special as of yet. It is their rookie season so they could break out, but I don't think I look at any of these guys and remotely start another "the Pats could have had Clay Matthews" type of argument.
Excellent, level-headed post. I wish all the Chicken Littles on this board could see it.