Check the posts last year; after the 2010 draft I was elated. After this year's draft I feel deflated. Can someone cheer me up and tell me it was a great draft? Ok how about a good draft?
Seems like we drafted a couple of JAGs (at least at RB) and future insurance (Solder and Mallet) but not much in the way of impact players for this season.
Supposedly Solder cannot stop a bull rush; I can see defenses put an NT on him and driving him into Bradys' face
Is Ras-I the answer to the tall WRs that the Patriots face or was he overdrafted because of his super high Boy Scout credentials?
Markell seems like a good pick but is it enough to improve the pass rush?
Lee Smith sounds great but there is a logjam at TE.
- Regarding Solder, people talk about how overly conservative BB is, how he gets JAGs but never takes a chance on a player with real BOOM potential, Solder IS that guy. He has tremendous athleticism and has Patriots-character all the way.
I've been very critical of Solder, but even many top evaluators admit that he is
RAW, which fits into my criticisms of him, with the right coaching/training he could be a beast. I'm a HUGE fan of Jake Long and would LOVE to see him protect TFB for the remainder of his career, I think Solder has Jake Long potential. Also, as for reasons mentioned by DaBruinz, it was the strategically smart move considering Light's status, and added benefit to the Solder pick is that the Colts and Giants
don't get their hands on him, which can help our pass-rush when playing them
- As far as Dowling goes, many on this board HATE Bang-Clock and would love to see him go, count me in that group. If Dowling can give us a solid FS I'm all for it.
- Shane Vereen looks like a poor man's Marshall Faulk with the potential to dramatically improve his wealth. He can help provide match-up issues for defenses because they simply don't know what we're going to do with him. While he might not directly be a superstar I think his impact will be tremendous, allowing for a lot more flexibility in our offense.
- I think Mallett is already an impact player, after we drafted Mallett TFB publically said that he wants to play another 10yrs, I don't think there would have been the same reaction if we drafted Pat Devlin or Greg McElroy in the later rounds, I think BB's selection of Mallett was from a page out of Bill Walsh's book, perhaps BB will use Mallett to light a bit of a fire under TFB's behind. Many people, including myself, have found Brady to have gone to far into celebrity-world, I think the threat of Mallett will bring him back.
That being said, the guy was the top rated passer in this class. He will serve as depth for THE most critical position on the team, he's a potential heir, and we can likely trade him for big loot down the road in an always QB-needy league. In the future this might go down as one of BB's best picks.
- Marcus Cannon, the guy was rated by many as a 1st round talent who fell because of his cancer, which apparently is now gone. This was an absolute
STEAL of a pick, he will be a BEAST on the O-line for the next decade.
- Lee Smith, a potential heir to Crumpler, who I adore and wonder why we didnt grab him years ago.
- As for Carter, picks that late don't really have high expectations attached to them, if he pans out, great, otherwise, he's camp fodder.
If we can just find a way to get Michael Jasper and Jason McCourty I'll be in hog-heaven. Jasper is one of the most intriguing prospects I've seen in a LONG time. One of the biggest/fattest Guards I've seen but with
phenomenal athleticism, I shudder to think of what he's capable of slimmed down, which he's been doing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyWFh3Lp5u8
I can't believe he completely slipped under my radar, take a look at this clip and tell me you're not awed by his physical skills.
- Jason McCourty has become on official binkie of mine, I'd trade Butler and picks for him in a heartbeat. It's tough not to like corners that can actually tackle, and seeing how he's the physical twin of our emerging stud corner I'd say he's a very solid risk depending on the cost.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6poqraQr08I