AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2004
- Messages
- 7,613
- Reaction score
- 853
In one of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, he solved the case by noting something that did not happen. The dog did NOT bark in the night. Likewise we learned something in this draft by what did and did NOT happen.
We fans felt the team needed some DB help, some said safety, some said corner. Others wanted some better, more talented, depth on the interior of the Offensive line. Perhaps another ILB was needed as well. If Gary Guyton with his spectacular athleticism, was not the real thing it would be somebody drafted high. If he was the real thing, only a reserve was needed. Who and where he was chosen would tell.
But the big need we all felt was a quality OLB or two to beef up the pass rush. We knew the Pass rush was only mediocre last season. And the youngsters were unknowns.
But Belichick definitely drafted for Linemen. Both Offensive and Defensive linemen. Non glamorous, but meat and potatoes type drafting. Not that either line was bad, or that the depth was poor, but to fill it over the top with talent, just in case. He took a highly rated NT to finally have a reserve for Wilfork, and a guy to legitimately give him a rotation or two to keep him fresh in the 4th quarter. Playing NT is an exhausting job.
And he took a pair of highly rated DBs, a Safety and CB, and even traded his previous starting CB. He also drafted a marginal starter/good reserve type ILB, to finish the rebuilding there. There was no room left in the Defensive backfield for at least one starter, and Hobbs was traded, for that interior G/C.
But what he did NOT pick, like the dog who did NOT bark in the night, was DE to OLB conversion types.
By that we can deduce the unknown OLBs on the roster are a heck of a lot better than we gave them credit for being, in our ignorance. And we have a full roster of them. At OLB we have the five OLBs he usually carries, and not a one is considered the usual parking place for a special team only player, any more. That is not to say that Woods, and TBC are not noted ST players. They are. But by what Bill Belichick did NOT do, they are also start-able regular defense players, in his eyes as well. As further confirmation, he even traded his aging star OLB, like he did to Hobbs, to make room.
So in summary there is no room at the Inn for any more D linemen. Nor room at the Inn for any more DBs. And there will be some real pushing and a possible retirement, if he imports another OLB. The weaker of the two teams, the Defense is now full up. We always knew the Offense had no room at the Inn for anybody except a better Offensive lineman or two.
The only other place there is a possible opening, is for a veteran reserve QB. Otherwise turn on the No Vacancy sign. And clear some room in the trophy case for another post-season trophy or two.
The 2009 edition of the Patriots looks like the strongest, deepest, most talented, Team in the history of the Patriots. That is saying something since the 2007 team went undefeated, until the last 38 seconds of the Super Bowl.
How do you spell this Team's name? Its spelled J-U-G-G-E-R-N-A-U-T !!
We fans felt the team needed some DB help, some said safety, some said corner. Others wanted some better, more talented, depth on the interior of the Offensive line. Perhaps another ILB was needed as well. If Gary Guyton with his spectacular athleticism, was not the real thing it would be somebody drafted high. If he was the real thing, only a reserve was needed. Who and where he was chosen would tell.
But the big need we all felt was a quality OLB or two to beef up the pass rush. We knew the Pass rush was only mediocre last season. And the youngsters were unknowns.
But Belichick definitely drafted for Linemen. Both Offensive and Defensive linemen. Non glamorous, but meat and potatoes type drafting. Not that either line was bad, or that the depth was poor, but to fill it over the top with talent, just in case. He took a highly rated NT to finally have a reserve for Wilfork, and a guy to legitimately give him a rotation or two to keep him fresh in the 4th quarter. Playing NT is an exhausting job.
And he took a pair of highly rated DBs, a Safety and CB, and even traded his previous starting CB. He also drafted a marginal starter/good reserve type ILB, to finish the rebuilding there. There was no room left in the Defensive backfield for at least one starter, and Hobbs was traded, for that interior G/C.
But what he did NOT pick, like the dog who did NOT bark in the night, was DE to OLB conversion types.
By that we can deduce the unknown OLBs on the roster are a heck of a lot better than we gave them credit for being, in our ignorance. And we have a full roster of them. At OLB we have the five OLBs he usually carries, and not a one is considered the usual parking place for a special team only player, any more. That is not to say that Woods, and TBC are not noted ST players. They are. But by what Bill Belichick did NOT do, they are also start-able regular defense players, in his eyes as well. As further confirmation, he even traded his aging star OLB, like he did to Hobbs, to make room.
So in summary there is no room at the Inn for any more D linemen. Nor room at the Inn for any more DBs. And there will be some real pushing and a possible retirement, if he imports another OLB. The weaker of the two teams, the Defense is now full up. We always knew the Offense had no room at the Inn for anybody except a better Offensive lineman or two.
The only other place there is a possible opening, is for a veteran reserve QB. Otherwise turn on the No Vacancy sign. And clear some room in the trophy case for another post-season trophy or two.
The 2009 edition of the Patriots looks like the strongest, deepest, most talented, Team in the history of the Patriots. That is saying something since the 2007 team went undefeated, until the last 38 seconds of the Super Bowl.
How do you spell this Team's name? Its spelled J-U-G-G-E-R-N-A-U-T !!
Last edited:
