Indy, San Diego, and Pittsburgh

[NE39]

Yeah, they already said they are using Hester at RB, replacing Turner. He isn't a burner like Turner, but he runs hard inside and is real good in short yardage. It will be interesting to see him in the SD offense, since he is a different type of runner than LT.

The Cason pick was great as well, because it fills a huge need for them with Drayton Florence gone. I was never that impressed with Florence. They will have a very athletic secondary with the addition of Cason and Eric Weddle moving into the starting lineup. They are going to be real young, though, and while Marlon McCree wasn't special in any way, he was a good veteran influence. They are thin and young at S, but they can run with anyone.

 

[Metaphors]

I don't think Hester was so much a replacement for Neal, as he was for Michael Turner. LT isn't getting any younger, and I think he will be a solid backup with a significant amount of reps.

That I will buy, especially on short yardage. LT doesn't need to be getting his bell rung diving into the pile on 3rd and 1. Hester should be able to get the tough yards and keep LT from getting broken at the end of the season.

 

[BradyManny]

Chargers getting Cason is scary. Their secondary is sick. I was never big on the Pats selecting Hester, I don't think he would've been worth a 5th rounder let alone the 3rd.

 

[BradyToMoss]

Same for any team, isn't it?? Funny how Pats moved down, Rivers was selected, and all the sudden Mayo was the targeted guy all along. Your QB, while maybe NFL caliber, is a wasted pick. He'll never see the field enough to add value, and if he truely is a starter, it won't ever be with NE. Pitt did well, IMO. Jax is a wash with what they lost, and I still don't think they have enough talent in their receiving corps. Also, when your first pick is number 59, hard to compare with teams that may have already selected twice by the time you selcted once.

Cartwright I have news for you, Jerod Mayo was their #1 guy for a few weeks now. The Pats knew full well that Cincy was going to draft Rivers, that's why they made the deal down to NO. If they felt Mayo would go, they would have taken him at 7 or DRC at 10. Rivers was never in their plans.

We chose to trade our high 3 for SD's #2 next year, as always we don't mortgage the future like some teams to reach for someone NOW when we really don't need to. So again, we walk into the 09 draft loaded for bear again like usual with 2-2's. It will be us and Philly. Which brings me to them drafting O'Connell and prepping that kid up for a future trade or a future role on this team to spot fill for TBrady and/or eventually receive the torch. He was a great value where we got him and everyone loves the pick, all the experts. I noticed Polian is continuing to bank on 18 staying healthy again for another full season without thinking of the QB future, that's fine, keep thinking that, we're not, we're already addressing it.

You got the top rated center picking late in Round 2, what is so great about that, that's the norm, that's typically where top rated centers are taken. Are we supposed to clap for Bill Polian that this kid was a great pick because he was there as he was supposed to be and he's drafted to play guard to replace Scott? Yippee

 

[Cartwright]

Cartwright I have news for you, Jerod Mayo was their #1 guy for a few weeks now. The Pats knew full well that Cincy was going to draft Rivers, that's why they made the deal down to NO. If they felt Mayo would go, they would have taken him at 7 or DRC at 10. Rivers was never in their plans.

We chose to trade our high 3 for SD's #2 next year, as always we don't mortgage the future like some teams to reach for someone NOW when we really don't need to. So again, we walk into the 09 draft loaded for bear again like usual with 2-2's. It will be us and Philly. Which brings me to them drafting O'Connell and prepping that kid up for a future trade or a future role on this team to spot fill for TBrady and/or eventually receive the torch. He was a great value where we got him and everyone loves the pick, all the experts. I noticed Polian is continuing to bank on 18 staying healthy again for another full season without thinking of the QB future, that's fine, keep thinking that, we're not, we're already addressing it.

You got the top rated center picking late in Round 2, what is so great about that, that's the norm, that's typically where top rated centers are taken. Are we supposed to clap for Bill Polian that this kid was a great pick because he was there as he was supposed to be and he's drafted to play guard to replace Scott? Yippee

Whatever you say. BB doesn't do much wrong, and I am certain that because you heatrd they were on Mayo, that it is so. Drafting the QB was a luxury, and not necessarily a dumb move. Will you go on record now and state that he will take over when Brady is done? Not sure that many teams draft a number two to groom them for a trade. How exactly is that done? How will this kid actually prove himself on the field to increase his stock beyond where he was originally selected? I am quite happy solidifying our O-Line by knabbing the top two centers. I have confidence that Mudd will coach these guys up and they will become an integral part of our O-line. Were you one of the ones that thought our defense would take a stwp back last year, due to the departure of so many starters??

 

[ausbacker]

How many years has it been that Jacksonville is supposed to win that division? It seems like every year. I wonder why they can never close the deal.

I believe once Jacksonville gets over the Peyton and Indy mental barrier, they'll have a nice era of dominance over them.

Much the same happened here with North Melbourne constantly beating Port Adelaide in the AFL (Aussie Rules). Once Port got over the mental barrier, they've started to flog the Kangaroos.

My point is, it's as much mental as a physical thing.

 

[LoganMankinsPancakeBlocks]

I'd put the Jags in there over Indy. I don't think Indy's draft was bad or anything, but they just didn't have the picks that Pittsburgh, the Jags, SD and the Patriots did. Polian can certainly draft, so it wouldn't surprise me if they got a very good player or two out of the draft despite picking so low but right now, you've got to believe they improved the least in the draft.

I really like what the Jaguars did, despite some bashing their draft. They had a comical pass rush that really needed to be addressed and they got 2 of the top 5 pass rushers in the draft. I'm also not sure why people thought they overpaid to trade up, if I can go from 26th to 8th and get my guy without giving up a 2nd rounder then I do it every time. Their pass rush still may not be great, but with Harvey and Groves added, Brady shouldn't have to time to go 26-28 against them again.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Why do people get all worked up over the draft, at best it is a crap shoot.. if you read this post and other posts it is intimated that we did not do well, the reality is that no one really knows how anyone did until at least two seasons from now.. one player might make a huge impact, see Patrick Willis, but in reality he played for a crappy team.. if he was a Patriot he would be in the rotation..

Agreed. i think they should call the Draft festivities and telecast "ESPN gone wild." the "event" that the Draft has become over the last five years is a tribute to the marketing savvy of the nfl and the ability of the media to manipulate viewing habits and create demand for a product.

i think that the patriots success had more than a little to do with this. if a team could build a dynasty around a sixth round pick and other guys about whom most fans knew very little before draft day, then other teams and fans began to think that maybe their management could work magic and transform a franchise on draft day as well.

 

[BradyToMoss]

Whatever you say. BB doesn't do much wrong, and I am certain that because you heatrd they were on Mayo, that it is so. Drafting the QB was a luxury, and not necessarily a dumb move. Will you go on record now and state that he will take over when Brady is done? Not sure that many teams draft a number two to groom them for a trade. How exactly is that done? How will this kid actually prove himself on the field to increase his stock beyond where he was originally selected? I am quite happy solidifying our O-Line by knabbing the top two centers. I have confidence that Mudd will coach these guys up and they will become an integral part of our O-line. Were you one of the ones that thought our defense would take a stwp back last year, due to the departure of so many starters??

No, as a matter of fact, as soon as I saw Harper and Jason David leave, to me, that was addition by subtraction because I always knew those 2 guys were simply system CBs and only system CBs and never were anything special. So I knew right away by plugging in Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden the defense instantly becomes better because they are better players and were just waiting for their time. I'm more suprised about the LB's to be honest. Hagler and Freddy Keiaho were much more impressive and to be honest were guys that I didn't expect much from and they were coached up big time, I tip my hat. You have a solid, lightning quick defense, but you need depth and as you guys found out, when one guy goes down like a Freeney, that will ruin any kind of a playoff run. Which brings me to ignoring have a legitimate backup QB for 18. I watched Sorgy in that last farce of a football game against Tenn, if you're comfortable with having that to step in in case something happens, all the power to you.

 

[Stan Musial Jr.]

I'm with you BradyToMoss, also thought Pittsburgh's draft was phenomenal relative to where they were picking. Sweed I saw in college, and he's the big threat that will allow the Steelers' young franchise QB to reach full potential. Kind of like their Moss. Mendenhall falling to #23 is just plain ridiculous.

Not blown away by Indy's draft -- good but not great as the "draftmeister" Polian is always supposed to have.

 

[workhorse]

I'm with you BradyToMoss, also thought Pittsburgh's draft was phenomenal relative to where they were picking. Sweed I saw in college, and he's the big threat that will allow the Steelers' young franchise QB to reach full potential. Kind of like their Moss. Mendenhall falling to #23 is just plain ridiculous.

Not blown away by Indy's draft -- good but not great as the "draftmeister" Polian is always supposed to have.

Polian's drafts are never fully appreciated until a year or two later. Colts fans have learned to be patient. Most of the so called experts give the Colts draft really crappy grades. They are looking for big names from big schools and Polian drafts guys that fit into the Colts system instead. Many of the guys the Colts draft are guys that other teams don't look at right away because they have a different system and utilize different player types to fill those roles..

 

[Cartwright]

No, as a matter of fact, as soon as I saw Harper and Jason David leave, to me, that was addition by subtraction because I always knew those 2 guys were simply system CBs and only system CBs and never were anything special. So I knew right away by plugging in Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden the defense instantly becomes better because they are better players and were just waiting for their time. I'm more suprised about the LB's to be honest. Hagler and Freddy Keiaho were much more impressive and to be honest were guys that I didn't expect much from and they were coached up big time, I tip my hat. You have a solid, lightning quick defense, but you need depth and as you guys found out, when one guy goes down like a Freeney, that will ruin any kind of a playoff run. Which brings me to ignoring have a legitimate backup QB for 18. I watched Sorgy in that last farce of a football game against Tenn, if you're comfortable with having that to step in in case something happens, all the power to you.

Yeah, I think depth caught up to us, only to the extent that we had a lot of key injuries to some really key players. Not sure what else you can do when so many go down. IMO, depth really wasn't the problem in either SD game. As far as the QB, why did it take NE so long to realize Cassell is NOT the #2 you need? With Sorgi, IMO, he does not get a fair shake, as personnel and game plans are NOT what they would be if the game had meaning. Sorgi seemed to pass just about every down versus the Titans. Eventually, the Titans just brought the pressure. I think the Colts and Sorgi are good enough for short term success, but I would not want to see him start more than a few games. What team out there has a QB that they would be comfortable starting for a full slate??

 

[Tunescribe]

Polian's drafts are never fully appreciated until a year or two later. Colts fans have learned to be patient. Most of the so called experts give the Colts draft really crappy grades. They are looking for big names from big schools and Polian drafts guys that fit into the Colts system instead. Many of the guys the Colts draft are guys that other teams don't look at right away because they have a different system and utilize different player types to fill those roles..

Wow, sounds like Polian is trying to learn from the example set by Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli. "When you can't change the rules, try to beat them at their own game." -- Bill Polian

 

[VJCPatriot]

The Steelers probably had the best draft of any team without a high choice. Mendenhall and Sweed were steals to me. Oh and hey, Big Ben can finally shut up about wanting a big WR, eh? I hear Heinze Ward was not so happy about that comment going public... LOL.

I don't bother watching the Pats on draft day. It seems whatever they touch is usually gold rounds 1 - 3. They have a way of reloading, every year, and addressing needs each season. I'm sure they'll be right there, winning the AFC East...again...and right there in my way come playoff time.

As for the guys complaining on how Hester should be a Pat... The dude's a fullback. The Pats don't draft fullbacks early. We sign them as UDFAs. I'd much rather have the future 2nd round pick in 2009 we're getting from SD, then Jacob Hester the fullback.