Did we draft 4 starters?

[Metaphors]

Agree that "starter" isn't really a good benchmark, but it seems like each of these guys will have opportunities:

Gronk steps into the best spot for an immediate impact. It all depends on getting comfortable with Brady and staying healthy. He should get starter snaps.

McCourty probably doesn't get too many CB snaps early, but should make a difference early as a return guy. I look for him to be in certain sub packages to get his strengths on the field (zone, read+react) while allowing him time to work on technique (turn and run) and his ball skills. He could be huge if he hits his stride after the bye for that Ravens/Chargers/Vikings/Steelers/Colts stretch. The Pats need a strong nickel corner patrolling the middle of the field for those games.

Cunningham is a high-energy guy that I think will grow on people. Not explosive but doggedly persistent. Not sure that he is a "base" guy just yet but he could be that pain-in-the-backfield guy that takes advantage of tired blockers late in the game.

Spikes is the most interesting to me. Good value where he was picked. I think his playing time will be determined by how well his game complements Mayo.

Absolutely love the Price pick. Was panicking that he would go in that WR run. Having Armanti Edwards go 1 pick before him was a gift. He has the skills to attack all over the field and always seems to be open in the limited chances I've seen him (vs. Tenn, bowl game and Senior Bowl). If he clicks with Brady, watch out.

Interesting thing about McCourty and Spikes. Both seem to do exceptionally well as zone pass defenders. I'm wondering if we are going to see more disguised coverages this year instead of the turn-n-chase that hasn't worked so hot in the 4th quarter recently. Just a thought.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

My guess before the draft was that we were going to have 7 rookies make the team and all would play this year and many of them would be starter quality.

I haven't changed my mind on that.

 

[Metaphors]

There is no doubt Spikes is a 1st and 2nd down player. I truly hope he is able to work on his coverage skills. He could be a great player for years to come.

Couple of points:

1) Don't think the Pats would have drafted Spike if they thought he was a liability in pass coverage. He doesn't have the skills to chase TEs or slot receivers, but I doubt the Pats will expose him like that.

2) Teams pass too often to have traditional 2-down players. A whole bunch of teams mix pass and run to give themselves workable 3rd down yardage, where either a run or pass is viable.

3) Spikes seemed to be able to patrol the middle of the field fairly well. I know the NFL has much better QB play than the SEC the last couple of years, but Spikes has shown he can drop, read, react and he has great hands.

The Pats have been inconsistent in the intermediate middle of the field for a few years now. Spikes is a smart, sneaky defender who could benefit from a scheme designed to confuse the QB.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Devin McCourty, will see a lot of playing time at ST and some dime back. he was a good value pick.


Rob Gronkowski, shoud be a starter. ther is no one on the roster to beat him out. and he should catch a few TD's from brady.



Jermaine Cunningham, is more of a read and react LB then he is a pass rusher. so he should play a lot like 20 to 30 snaps a game.


Brandon Spikes, the best of all the picks IMO he is just a football player. who will get the job done i see him playing 30 snaps a game.


Taylor Price, will play on ST and maybe in a few years become a good #3 WR.




i say the pats got 2 future starters Gronkowski, and spikes,

 

[PatsFanInVa]

We won't even have a clue until at least training camp. But that's the problem when christmas is in April and all you get is stuff to go skiing with, basically. You open your presents and then wait for a few months.

Brace and Chung last year are still wait and see. Butler and Vollmer look like they immediately contributed. Edelmann looks like a steal. But are we even sold on this general lay of the land after 1 season?

Soooo... yeah it's possible we drafted 4 starters, though I agree that at CB, McCourty is a special teamer and a sometimes-fill-in. A project, in fact. The other guys all stand a chance to be that field-ready by the start of the season, and we just don't know how they'll compete in camp.

I can tell you this about Spikes - if he's this tough bad-***** ILB we like to think he is, I would love to see him leave Tomlinson writhing on the ground a time or twelve. It would be great to see one of these guys exploding out of the gate. We got that w/Mayo... but that was a high first rounder.

 

[TheComeback]

There is no doubt Spikes is a 1st and 2nd down player. I truly hope he is able to work on his coverage skills. He could be a great player for years to come.

Spikes might be slow, but that doesn't automatically make him poor in coverage. He had six interceptions in college and returned four of them for touchdowns. He can't match up with tight ends one on one, but he's very instinctive dropping back--sort of like Bruschi. Still, his lack of speed could impact his playing time on 3rd and long. Guyton would likely step in for him there. You never know, though... Mayo is fast but I don't remember him making a lot of plays on passing downs.

 

[bigfandan]

Not arguing with you, but don't LBs have to pursue backside occasionally on misdirection plays or screens?

Someone else put it best- if he has to run 40 yards in game someone screwed up badly...

 

[NEGoldenAge]

The Pats seemed to have put a lot of emphasis on toughness and leadership qualities this year.

I don't think Spikes is as slow as people make him out to be. If you watch BB's press conference from 4/23, he says Spikes plays as fast and covers as much ground as any ILB draft prospect in years... including Mayo. BB is pretty high on this guy.

 

[Northside]

Starter is a bad term, because playing time means more but;

I think McCourty is at least the nickel (starter in my book) and will compete with Butler to start in the base
Spikes has a fair chance to start alongside Mayo
Gronko may or may not pass the vet Crumpler by the start of the season, but I'd bet he plays the most snaps of any of our TEs.
Cunningham would seem to have a decent shot at earning a starting job if he come in and picks it up quickly.

Andrew is correct, this draft is not going well.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Well, I'll give him his first nickname
McChicken has a row to hoe. The last 2 first round players to wear #21 drafted by the Pats were Chris Canty and Reggie Dupard-simply put the worst 2 draft busts not named Sims in Pats history! Sorry guys, had to do it!

Gronk should be a starter by midseason, as soon as he is trusted to block for TB. He has his learners permit but no license yet....He cant drive #85

Mr.C.-the next coming of Bruschi guys! Infectious and always around the ball! Another poster put it well, between him and Spikes you have 1 starter. Personally I prefer LB specialists rather than 3 down LBs. #49--get used to it!

Spikes-another great name for a Linebacker! Likely our biggest hitter since Ted Johnson so why not give him #52?

Price-I honestly dont know much about this guy other than at U of Ohio I bought a round of beers for the whole bar in every bar on main street one night...like 20 of em! And I only spent like $800!! NO FRIGGIN CABS in the whole town, man that was a long walk to the hotel.

In total, maybe 1.5 starters....or just about whats expected every year from these rounds. Cross your fingers they dont get hurt and the guys that did last year can compete in camp. Our next problem will be where to put Guyton though.....maybe OLB.....

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Well, I'll give him his first nickname
McChicken has a row to hoe. The last 2 first round players to wear #21 drafted by the Pats were Chris Canty and Reggie Dupard-simply put the worst 2 draft busts not named Sims in Pats history! Sorry guys, had to do it!

Eugene Chung.

Spikes-another great name for a Linebacker! Likely our biggest hitter since Ted Johnson so why not give him #52?

Thought Roach went pretty well with Bruschi, name-wise. Don't give him 52, make him earn it and change it in 2 years if it's true.

Price-I honestly dont know much about this guy other than at U of Ohio I bought a round of beers for the whole bar in every bar on main street one night...like 20 of em! And I only spent like $800!! NO FRIGGIN CABS in the whole town, man that was a long walk to the hotel.

Spending 800 bucks on a bar tab at U of Ohio, and not even having a football scholarship? Priceless. For everything else there's Visa.

In total, maybe 1.5 starters....or just about whats expected every year from these rounds. Cross your fingers they dont get hurt and the guys that did last year can compete in camp. Our next problem will be where to put Guyton though.....maybe OLB.....

Fortunately, you can use LBs in rotation

Seriously, it looks like we're planning to have good competition in the mix at LB, drawing from a pool of younger guys. Our big veteran FA move in that regard didn't pan out so that just added to the need. LB is an ongoing need, so we're responding w/ongoing "stocking." Willie Mac was a "bust" for like 3 or 4 years. RBs explode on the scene. A lot of the time, LBs emerge over time. The only truly NFL-ready prospects are at the top of Round 1, and even those aren't locks. Not a very secure feeling, and hence the need for veteran FAs to pan out as well. But there it is. We don't know exactly what we have, but we're gonna find out. The Mayo part seems to be going okay, sophomore slump and all.

PFnV