I never said you made comments about Dunlap, I was using him as a person with "risk" that a lot of people here like in the first round. I'd actually like to hear your take on Dunlap in the first for the Pats b/c I wonder if you would/wouldn't want him based on his DUI. If you do want him, it would kind of be a contradiction of what you are/were saying about Maualuga.
Just curious but how do you know that Maualuga was avoided due to his off field "risks?" During the draft NE had more pressing needs at CB and S and even OLB with Rodney retiring and poor CB play from guys like Delthea O'Neal and Vrabel being traded. They also needed some insurance at NT with Wilfork heading into a contract year. I think at the time NE felt pretty solid about Mayo, Guyton, and Bruschi being the top 3 ILB and felt they could address ILB a little later in the draft after they sured up some other holes, which they did with McKenzie. I don't think off field issues is the reason the Pats steered clear of Rey. They didn't steer clear of Meriweather in 07 with his off field issues. They didn't stay away from Tate in the 3rd with his failing of a drug test. So I don't know how you can definitively say that the Pats weren't interested in Maualuga b/c of his off field "risk."
I'm not "blaming" that offense or the coach for Blount's season, just stating it wasn't the best type of offense to showcase abilities. I don't know how you can even rate his season based on the fact that he played 4 games due to the suspension and missed a lot of time. Even when he came back, he didn't see much action. I'm not a huge Blount lover but if he were there in the 5th or 6th I'd consider him based on what he did in 08-09. I don't consider that a risk at all given the success rate of 5th and 6th rounders. My favorite RB from the Senior Bowl was actually Stafon Johnson who I thought was undervalued b/c of USC's stable of RB's. I didn't see the game but I know he's expected to make a full recovery from his accident, and I thought he was the most complete back on SC. There are plenty of RB's I'd rather have than Blount, like Hardesty or McCluster or Dixon etc., but taking a shot on Blount in the 5th/6th wouldn't be a horrible move.