Apparently, many have never read many of posts before, so there is little context. In any case, I will clarify my position below.
I missed Chung's special team plays. I have not re-played the game. If he is playing special teams, then it is my bad. That is all that should be expected.
It is NOT me that thinks that Brace and Chung are studs and should be expected to contribute immediately. Read the posts since the draft. Even this week, there is a poster who thinks that Brace was not played in the regular offense so that he could be start against the jets (with Pryor) and surprise the jets and be the difference maker. It was that kind of expectation that the threads are directed.
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CLARIFICATIONS
1) I do not, and have never expected a rookie not drafted in the first round to have an immediate impact, expect when he is drafted to start like Koppen.
2) I am fine with rookies taking a full year plus a second preseason b eefore expecting them to contribute. Sometimes it takes a year longer. My expectations are reduced when a player has been injured. Most never are worth what they were before their injuries.
3) My great preference is NOT to depend on rookies. I greatly prefer to depend on grizzled old veterans for the time in which rookies develop. They serve as mentors and often share time with even the best (e.g. even Wilfork shared time in his rookie year).
4) I pick on Brace and Chung because so much was expected early by so many AND I didn't particularly like the choices at the time. Given the context of a dozen choices, these players make sense, as long as McKenzie is considered a top prospect (now it seems at ILB or OLB depending on the needs of the thread argument).
I am fine if Brace is able to be an option to start at NT next year if Wilfork isn't on the team. I don't expect that to happen. Wilfork should be at least franchised, but it is my HOPE tha Brace gives Belichick more options. I think it more reasonable to expect him to be a starter for the 2011 season, which again is fine.
I am told that we had a critical need for a backup safety (and so we did). I've also been told that Chung wasn't picked to play special teams. The poster said it is enough that Chung is Meriweather's backup. With all due respect, there were much cheaper ways to get a backup to Meriweather. There are always backup safeties available in free agency, especially ones with limited coverage skills. At the time, I was convinced that the safeties available in the 3rd and 4th would have met the need of a backup safety.
HOWEVER, I was well-pleased when I was told by so many that Chung would be a top special teamer. We need that in our backups.
5) I think that Butler could be the nickel right now. I think that Vollmer are capable of starting right now. How's that for "picking on the rookies"? Before the flames, I am NOT suggesting that either of these players be inserted into the starting lineups.
BOTTOM LINE
I am very, very high on this rookie class. We have at least two studs and it looks like there could be more. It is quite possible that this will be the best Belichick draft. It is also possible that this will only be a mid-level draft. We'll see after the 2011 season.
