Draft thoughts ...

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I believe that he was a team captain.

Him and Lewerke (twice)
I might have forgot someone but answered a post asking how many team capt we drafted.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

I honestly think Asiasi has a higher ceiling if he goes the Gronk route of grinding away and absorbing the coaching. No clue if he wants it bad enough though.

He definitely could! I loved the Asiasi pick as well. Something about Keene just jumps out at me... Not sure what it is. Could just be me seeing ghosts of flex tightends in a pats uni. The swiss army knife appeal maybe?

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Just remember where you heard this first ... months ago. GB is trying to convert Degaura into a FB as well. I think Keene will only see a few snaps there. Too valuable in other areas imo but I definitely wouldn't be shocked to see him there. I'm guessing we'll see a lot of things we haven't seen the next time NEP take the field.

Keene and Vitale are both really interesting players. Do you think Jakob Johnson has a shot of sticking?

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Keene and Vitale are both really interesting players. Do you think Jakob Johnson has a shot of sticking?

I do. I'm expecting more emphasis/attention closer to the ball after last year's shortage of options there.

I think this year nothing changes in principle but the whole year will used as an evaluation for 2021. So that will be something to look for. Don't think much changes on defense. More of an evolution.

 

[luuked]

I do. I'm expecting more emphasis/attention closer to the ball after last year's shortage of options there.

This goes pretty much with what Lombardi wrote in his book about BB and the porous goal line defense of 2013. It was one of the first thing BB and the coaching staff addressed after the previous season ended:

“And then I showed up for my first day of work. It was a miserable winter day in Foxborough and an equally miserable setting.

...

Each time the famous coach brought up his team’s horrendous goal-line defense—the one that gave up 13 touchdowns and 2 field goals in 15 “goal-to-go” situations the previous season”

...

“We need a traditional goal-line defense that can also cover three receivers,” Belichick told us, his mind churning through a thousand different possibilities like a gridiron computer.
The only way to do that was to replace the safety in the 6-2 with a third corner who would be a better matchup for a speedy wide receiver. Doing that, however, would take one of New England’s best players, safety Devin McCourty, off the field. Belichick weighed the risks and decided he was willing to take the chance.”

And the rest was SB history.

 

[State]

Joejuan Williams—we gave up a lot last year to move up to get him. His red shirt is off. How will he perform this year?

Supporters of GM Belichick will say this upcoming season will be a breakout one for the former Vanderbilt product.

I hope so. But I have my doubts.

 

[State]

I wish the Patriots were able to draft the head case WR from Michigan Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Excellent measurables. But the three move-ups, which was excessive, cost us the opportunity to do so.

 

[jah]

Joejuan Williams—we gave up a lot last year to move up to get him. His red shirt is off. How will he perform this year?

Supporters of GM Belichick will say this upcoming season will be a breakout one for the former Vanderbilt product.

I hope so. But I have my doubts.

Unless someone gets hurt I don't think he'll play much this year, and that's okay with me. If he's a real player, then limiting his snaps just makes the second contract cheaper.

 

[Mark Morse]

Damiere Byrd 4.28

On grass ... subtract .13 from that on turf! If done on turf he could have broken John Ross all time record of 4.22. And he had 32 receptions last year where not one of these prospects has ever caught a pass in the NFL.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

I wish the Patriots were able to draft the head case WR from Michigan Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Excellent measurables. But the three move-ups, which was excessive, cost us the opportunity to do so.

Nothing wrong with moving up to address the glaring holes at EDGE and TE. Better that than to wait and watch those players you wanted get picked by another team.

 

[mgteich]

Nothing wrong with moving up to address the glaring holes at EDGE and TE. Better that than to wait and watch those players you wanted get picked by another team.

I would note that all but one of the picks were at place higher than we would have drafted without trades. Of course, the one pick that was made lower was Duggar, a player that Belichick might have taken at 23 (I think that Duggar was likely his choice at S). So, yes, Belichick three glaring needs: EDGE/LB, TE and K. He also addressed a position where he saw a great need. That's pretty good for our top 6 picks.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I would note that all but one of the picks were at place higher than we would have drafted without trades. Of course, the one pick that was made lower was Duggar, a player that Belichick might have taken at 23 (I think that Duggar was likely his choice at S). So, yes, Belichick three glaring needs: EDGE/LB, TE and K. He also addressed a position where he saw a great need. That's pretty good for our top 6 picks.

yup, I don’t think anyone fairly can say he didn’t attempt to address most of the team’s needs; the problem was that given the age of the team and the major attrition of overall talent, they had more needs than usual this year (unlike after the 2016 season for example). All that said, none of that matters if they don’t hit on a good number of those guys; let’s hope they did.

 

[captain stone]

Just remember where you heard this first ... months ago. GB is trying to convert Degaura into a FB as well. I think Keene will only see a few snaps there. Too valuable in other areas imo but I definitely wouldn't be shocked to see him there. I'm guessing we'll see a lot of things we haven't seen the next time NEP take the field.

Especially losses...

 

[Jimke]

Especially losses...

Was this draft as lousy as it appears to me? Among other things, drafting two tight ends in the third round ranked 259th and 289th best players.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Was this draft as lousy as it appears to me? Among other things, drafting two tight ends in the third round ranked 259th and 289th best players.

Curious, who's rankings?

 

[Water Boy]

Was this draft as lousy as it appears to me? Among other things, drafting two tight ends in the third round ranked 259th and 289th best players.

Whatever ranking you are referencing is a major outlier.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

If bb gets McKinney instead of Duggar, the whole dynamic of this draft changes.

I think Herron has a chance to put Cunningham out on the street.

 

[Ring 6]

If bb gets McKinney instead of Duggar, the whole dynamic of this draft changes.

I think Herron has a chance to put Cunningham out on the street.

Dugger is better.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Supposedly the Bills & Panthers really liked Dugger as well? Makes sense with Chinn going to Carolina a short time later.
I bet Buffalo would use him as a big nickel. I wonder if Carolina would try to add a few lbs on him, try him as a hybrid?

 

[Jimke]

Curious, who's rankings?

Great Blue North Draft Report. Uche was the only player listed who was not a reach.
Two of their UDFAs had higher rankings.