Metaphors
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2005
- Messages
- 3,670
- Reaction score
- 0
- I've said all along this draft class falls off a cliff at about pick #75. Belichick's willingness to part with his entire draft after that point seems to reinforce that notion. Don't expect the Pats to trade down to acquire later round picks.
- With DeCastro surprisingly sliding into the 20's, the Pats passing on him tells me that Waters isn't retiring and/or they think Gallery is a solid option at OG. Don't expect the Pats to look interior OL Friday since nobody would be "too good a value to pass up"...even at #62.
- Chandler Jones was a fine pick at an area of need. Hightower takes a little more imagination to appreciate. Hightower differentiates himself by his smarts and role flexibility. If Belichick flushes his recent vanilla schemes and gets back to his multiple/disguised defenses, Hightower should be an impact player.
- With that in mind, I look for more defensive options that are smart and flexible to be on the Pats radar Friday. More solid than spectacular. Maybe Kendall Reyes and Trumaine Johnson?
- Add Jones/Hightower to the return of Dowling/Pryor/Barrett and the additions of Fanene/Gregory...and this should be a vastly more athletic and deeper defense than what the Giants saw in the SB. All without changing the core identity (Wilfork, Mayo, Chung, McCourty) of the squad. Not even mentioning the additions Friday. If these guys can gel over a normal offseason program and stay healthy, they should be plenty good enough to complement their still potent offense and not need to be carried most games.
- Quick look at the Pats AFC foes after day 1:
Jets: Have no idea what happened between 2010 and 2011 to Coples, but the Jets better hope he returns to form because he could be a dog of Gholston proportions. Still need a LB (Upshaw is still available) and safety to keep their defense from slipping and forcing Sanbow (Techez?) to outscore opponents.
Bills: Gilmore is a solid pickup, particularly if he can be used to help defend Gronk/Hernandez. OT is still a gaping hole and they need to do whatever is necessary to walk away with Glenn or Martin Friday. If they can do that, pick up a solid LB prospect and get one of the many WRs still available...well the Bills could end up the key AFC East challenger this year.
Fins: Tannehill is fine but is unlikely to be a savior this year. After all, who is he going to throw to in the 10 milliseconds before the front-side rush smashes into his facemask? Still much work to do.
Ravens: You think the Ravens are getting tired of the Pats trading in front of them to get their guy (Hightower, Gronk)? They are getting ancient at key positions (Birk, Lewis, Reed) with not a lick of help in the pipeline. They need a big day on Friday.
Texans: Didn't understand the Mercilus pick for them. Nice to have a rush end rotation but was that a priority over OL, CB and WR? Lucky for them these are the deeper areas of this draft class so they should be able to find help on Friday.
Steelers: Had to take DeCastro and he is an immediate and significant upgrade, but they really need OT help and it likely won't be there when they pick next. They are getting older and more brittle on defense so expect them to target quality depth on Friday.
Broncos: Holes abound and early suspensions won't help. Have a boatload of picks but most fall after the talent cliff in this draft class.
Chargers: Ingram falling to them was a nice surprise. They need upgrades or quality depth at literally every position and not enough picks to fill them all. They still have that underachieving smell about them.
Chiefs: Hate the Poe pick for them particularly with the DT candidates available early day 2. How good would DeCastro have looked tearing open holes for Charles and Hillis? Returns from injury and a solid draft would get them back into the playoffs. Not sure Poe is a good start in that direction.
Raiders: :yawn2:
- With DeCastro surprisingly sliding into the 20's, the Pats passing on him tells me that Waters isn't retiring and/or they think Gallery is a solid option at OG. Don't expect the Pats to look interior OL Friday since nobody would be "too good a value to pass up"...even at #62.
- Chandler Jones was a fine pick at an area of need. Hightower takes a little more imagination to appreciate. Hightower differentiates himself by his smarts and role flexibility. If Belichick flushes his recent vanilla schemes and gets back to his multiple/disguised defenses, Hightower should be an impact player.
- With that in mind, I look for more defensive options that are smart and flexible to be on the Pats radar Friday. More solid than spectacular. Maybe Kendall Reyes and Trumaine Johnson?
- Add Jones/Hightower to the return of Dowling/Pryor/Barrett and the additions of Fanene/Gregory...and this should be a vastly more athletic and deeper defense than what the Giants saw in the SB. All without changing the core identity (Wilfork, Mayo, Chung, McCourty) of the squad. Not even mentioning the additions Friday. If these guys can gel over a normal offseason program and stay healthy, they should be plenty good enough to complement their still potent offense and not need to be carried most games.
- Quick look at the Pats AFC foes after day 1:
Jets: Have no idea what happened between 2010 and 2011 to Coples, but the Jets better hope he returns to form because he could be a dog of Gholston proportions. Still need a LB (Upshaw is still available) and safety to keep their defense from slipping and forcing Sanbow (Techez?) to outscore opponents.
Bills: Gilmore is a solid pickup, particularly if he can be used to help defend Gronk/Hernandez. OT is still a gaping hole and they need to do whatever is necessary to walk away with Glenn or Martin Friday. If they can do that, pick up a solid LB prospect and get one of the many WRs still available...well the Bills could end up the key AFC East challenger this year.
Fins: Tannehill is fine but is unlikely to be a savior this year. After all, who is he going to throw to in the 10 milliseconds before the front-side rush smashes into his facemask? Still much work to do.
Ravens: You think the Ravens are getting tired of the Pats trading in front of them to get their guy (Hightower, Gronk)? They are getting ancient at key positions (Birk, Lewis, Reed) with not a lick of help in the pipeline. They need a big day on Friday.
Texans: Didn't understand the Mercilus pick for them. Nice to have a rush end rotation but was that a priority over OL, CB and WR? Lucky for them these are the deeper areas of this draft class so they should be able to find help on Friday.
Steelers: Had to take DeCastro and he is an immediate and significant upgrade, but they really need OT help and it likely won't be there when they pick next. They are getting older and more brittle on defense so expect them to target quality depth on Friday.
Broncos: Holes abound and early suspensions won't help. Have a boatload of picks but most fall after the talent cliff in this draft class.
Chargers: Ingram falling to them was a nice surprise. They need upgrades or quality depth at literally every position and not enough picks to fill them all. They still have that underachieving smell about them.
Chiefs: Hate the Poe pick for them particularly with the DT candidates available early day 2. How good would DeCastro have looked tearing open holes for Charles and Hillis? Returns from injury and a solid draft would get them back into the playoffs. Not sure Poe is a good start in that direction.
Raiders: :yawn2:
