- Joined
- Jul 11, 2005
- Messages
- 15,544
- Reaction score
- 27,606
... just a few post draft thoughts now that I have had a chance to absorb the events of this week end.
1. The fact that we drafted 2 OTs in the 2nd day tells me that the Pats are concerned about the health issues that dogged OCallahan last season, and could be effecting him this off season. It also tells me that rumblings about the Pats not being happy with the development of Nick Kazur could be true. That is the ONLY possibe reason for picking 2 more OTs to a group that already seems to be deep, young, signed, and talented.
2. I will be very surprised in the Pats have more than 3 players on their roster from the college portion of this draft, when they open the season in Septemeber of 2009
3. I found it interesting that Mangini traded 2 of his picks to move up and wound up with only 4 picks. It confirms to me that he TOO thought that THIS draft was weak, and they were better off trading picks THIS year to get 2 guys the KNOW will be immediate starters, than draft with their full allotment. Beoli, did it in a different way, choosiing to defer to next year, but the inference is the same.
4. Based on this draft you can be sure that the Pats WILL sign some Vet ILB before training camp. Seau, Hartwell, Wilson, and the guy SD just cut look like the obvious choices. I'm not sure who it would be, but at least one of them will be wearing the flying Elvis by July.
5. The more I hear about the Moss deal, the more I like it. I have never been one who thought that Moss would be a cancer in the lockerroom. Its been said over and over that his teammates generally like him. My biggest concerns were the possibilities that his skills have diminished, his dedication to the game, and his huge contract.
Well it looks like, given his recent and verifiable sub 4.3 time, we don't have to worry much about diminished skills. I feel better about his love for the game after hearing some of the comments I heard after the trade. He know this will be his last shot at redemtion, so his comments made sense. I think this is the best environment he could hope for. IMO, Moss is a follower, not a leader. In the past he was put in positions were he had to lead, and he just isn't good at it. Her he doesn't have to lead and he has a lot of good people to follow here. What I hope I will see come September is Moss catching his first TD pass....and then hand the ball to the Ref, THEN go join his teammates in the celebration. (I know that might be too much to ask for , but I can hope. ). Finally as news of his restructure comes out, it is better than I could hope for.
BOTTOM LINE, as far as Randy Moss is concerned, all by fears have been addressed...at least for now, and I'm fully on board with this move. I'm sure BB will be pleased when he hears that bit of news One LESS thing to worry about
6. The key thing in the Moss deal isn't just that we added HIM, its that we added him along with Stallworth and Welker. Just adding Moss would have improved the WR corps, but added the other guys as well will create severe Match up problems for every DC we face. Stuff that we will go over in future posts, I am sure.
7. Tom Brady who has gone his entire career with Zero #1 WRs will now have 2 on the field AT THE SAME TIME! It will be an embarrassment of riches. I jsut hope he can adjust to it.
8. BTW- I thinking about what a true #1 WR was. What the definition would be, and I came up with this. A true #1 WR is WR the opposition bases his defense around. Its a guy who HAS to be doubled in passing situations, and even when he is doubled, be able to make plays. That is why Deion was never really a true #1. You could take him out of games by doubling him. He admitted this himself.
9.I still maintain that the Pats SHOULD have gotten MORE value, or at least some protection with conditional picks, on the 2 picks they got in next year's draft. However that being said, with 5 picks in the first 100, the Pats will be in great position to restock the larder, especially since we could have a larger number of roster spots open in 2008.
BTW- I really liked the 2 guys the Jets picked up and if you concider they used one pick to get Thomas, they got 3 sure starters out of this draft (Jones, Revis, Harris). Not bad. I guess the blueprint works.
10. IMHO if you count just the college players we got in this draft, I would have to grade this draft a D. Like I said, I would be shocked to see more than 3 players in this draft, still be with the Pats just 2 years from now. Most of those picks are almost interchangeable with the UDFA's that will be added before camp. However if you count the additions of Welker, Moss, and the 2 picks next year to the equation the grade goes up to a B/B+
11. Finally you have to come to a bottom line, and you CANNOT separate the draft from the FA period, since they all go to the job of improving your roster. So I feel confident in saying the following. With FA, the draft, and guys coming off IR, the Pats roster will be significantly more talented than the team that ended the season in INDY. I caution there is still work that needs to be done, especially at ILB, but so far...so good.
1. The fact that we drafted 2 OTs in the 2nd day tells me that the Pats are concerned about the health issues that dogged OCallahan last season, and could be effecting him this off season. It also tells me that rumblings about the Pats not being happy with the development of Nick Kazur could be true. That is the ONLY possibe reason for picking 2 more OTs to a group that already seems to be deep, young, signed, and talented.
2. I will be very surprised in the Pats have more than 3 players on their roster from the college portion of this draft, when they open the season in Septemeber of 2009
3. I found it interesting that Mangini traded 2 of his picks to move up and wound up with only 4 picks. It confirms to me that he TOO thought that THIS draft was weak, and they were better off trading picks THIS year to get 2 guys the KNOW will be immediate starters, than draft with their full allotment. Beoli, did it in a different way, choosiing to defer to next year, but the inference is the same.
4. Based on this draft you can be sure that the Pats WILL sign some Vet ILB before training camp. Seau, Hartwell, Wilson, and the guy SD just cut look like the obvious choices. I'm not sure who it would be, but at least one of them will be wearing the flying Elvis by July.
5. The more I hear about the Moss deal, the more I like it. I have never been one who thought that Moss would be a cancer in the lockerroom. Its been said over and over that his teammates generally like him. My biggest concerns were the possibilities that his skills have diminished, his dedication to the game, and his huge contract.
Well it looks like, given his recent and verifiable sub 4.3 time, we don't have to worry much about diminished skills. I feel better about his love for the game after hearing some of the comments I heard after the trade. He know this will be his last shot at redemtion, so his comments made sense. I think this is the best environment he could hope for. IMO, Moss is a follower, not a leader. In the past he was put in positions were he had to lead, and he just isn't good at it. Her he doesn't have to lead and he has a lot of good people to follow here. What I hope I will see come September is Moss catching his first TD pass....and then hand the ball to the Ref, THEN go join his teammates in the celebration. (I know that might be too much to ask for , but I can hope. ). Finally as news of his restructure comes out, it is better than I could hope for.
BOTTOM LINE, as far as Randy Moss is concerned, all by fears have been addressed...at least for now, and I'm fully on board with this move. I'm sure BB will be pleased when he hears that bit of news One LESS thing to worry about
6. The key thing in the Moss deal isn't just that we added HIM, its that we added him along with Stallworth and Welker. Just adding Moss would have improved the WR corps, but added the other guys as well will create severe Match up problems for every DC we face. Stuff that we will go over in future posts, I am sure.
7. Tom Brady who has gone his entire career with Zero #1 WRs will now have 2 on the field AT THE SAME TIME! It will be an embarrassment of riches. I jsut hope he can adjust to it.
8. BTW- I thinking about what a true #1 WR was. What the definition would be, and I came up with this. A true #1 WR is WR the opposition bases his defense around. Its a guy who HAS to be doubled in passing situations, and even when he is doubled, be able to make plays. That is why Deion was never really a true #1. You could take him out of games by doubling him. He admitted this himself.
9.I still maintain that the Pats SHOULD have gotten MORE value, or at least some protection with conditional picks, on the 2 picks they got in next year's draft. However that being said, with 5 picks in the first 100, the Pats will be in great position to restock the larder, especially since we could have a larger number of roster spots open in 2008.
BTW- I really liked the 2 guys the Jets picked up and if you concider they used one pick to get Thomas, they got 3 sure starters out of this draft (Jones, Revis, Harris). Not bad. I guess the blueprint works.
10. IMHO if you count just the college players we got in this draft, I would have to grade this draft a D. Like I said, I would be shocked to see more than 3 players in this draft, still be with the Pats just 2 years from now. Most of those picks are almost interchangeable with the UDFA's that will be added before camp. However if you count the additions of Welker, Moss, and the 2 picks next year to the equation the grade goes up to a B/B+
11. Finally you have to come to a bottom line, and you CANNOT separate the draft from the FA period, since they all go to the job of improving your roster. So I feel confident in saying the following. With FA, the draft, and guys coming off IR, the Pats roster will be significantly more talented than the team that ended the season in INDY. I caution there is still work that needs to be done, especially at ILB, but so far...so good.