Nine rookies made the team

[Deus Irae]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

The Steelers are very good at drafting players.

The Steelers just cut two low end draftees, and kept another of whom it was observed:

Summers did little to play his way onto the team, and Tomlin said last week the former UNLV player needed to show more. Summers had one carry for 4 yards against Carolina on Thursday.

They also cut their 3rd round pick from last season.

Steelers cut Redman, put McHugh on IR | AP | 09/05/2009

Their entire draft slate from last season combined for 21 games played, and 1 start.

Acting as if the Steelers are kicking the Patriots' ass in the drafting department is just ignorant.


Oh, and people acting as if the Patriots 2006 draft was some epic disaster could take a look at the Steelers' draft in that same year.

 

[Lampshade]

And as it stands, Ingram aside, none of the rooks are likely to be relied upon too heavily. Brace should get time in the rotation, Butler and Chung maybe, Vollmer likely, but if they all have quiet rookie years it shouldn't be that big a deal.

 

[efin98]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

Oh, and people acting as if the Patriots 2006 draft was some epic disaster could take a look at the Steelers' draft in that same year.

Oh, you mean the draft class that saw a third round draft pick wasted on a punt returner that couldn't do the job and saw three lower rounders get cut, a fourth get cut the next year, another become the laughingstock of the country...yeah, that was a bad draft year.

Only two keepers for them from that draft, Santonio Holmes and Willie Colon.

 

[BradyFTW!]

And as it stands, Ingram aside, none of the rooks are likely to be relied upon too heavily. Brace should get time in the rotation, Butler and Chung maybe, Vollmer likely, but if they all have quiet rookie years it shouldn't be that big a deal.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see a whole lot of Brace.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I wouldn't be surprised if we see a whole lot of Brace.

Edelman, too, on PR duty . . .

 

[DarrylS]

Without regard for the rhetoric of who is better, 9 rookies are interesting.. big turnover and we got a whole lot younger, very quickly...

 

[lurker1965]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

yeah, just imagine how many we would have kept if Belichick didn't suck so bad at drafting, and wasn't thoroughly out-drafted by the Steelers every year?

Have you read how they are disappointed in Mendenhall's fumble problem.

 

[lurker1965]

Wouldn't expect much since the Patriots can't draft properly after the first round...

Yup, Brady and Cassel sucked.

 

[lurker1965]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

The Steelers are very good at drafting players.

Scout.com: Lolley: Mendenhall's fumbles give pause

Mendenhall has fumblitis.

 

[lurker1965]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

Oh, you mean the draft class that saw a third round draft pick wasted on a punt returner that couldn't do the job and saw three lower rounders get cut, a fourth get cut the next year, another become the laughingstock of the country...yeah, that was a bad draft year.

Only two keepers for them from that draft, Santonio Holmes and Willie Colon.

There is more to special teams than returning.

The TV camera follows the ball, but supposedly Slater was supposedly an AWESOME blocker on kicks, and he was a good gunner. Mental mistakes like running into the returner are correctable mistakes. He beat the double team to get in position. I'd be more concerned if he could not get there and the returner did not have to call for a fair catch.

 

[patchick]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

Mental mistakes like running into the returner are correctable mistakes. He beat the double team to get in position. I'd be more concerned if he could not get there and the returner did not have to call for a fair catch.

Yep, I've seldom seen a gunner more consistently arrive at the returner before the ball does. IIRC, both of the interference penalties happened when the returner initially misjudged the kick and had to make a last-minute adjustment, only to find Slater waiting around between him and the falling ball. Kind of odd-looking plays, vs. the classic case of the gunner just not putting on the brakes.

 

[efin98]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

There is more to special teams than returning.

True, but this guy couldn't get the job done to the point where they had to trade to get someone who could. In retrospect, the Steelers wasted that pick on him.

The TV camera follows the ball, but supposedly Slater was supposedly an AWESOME blocker on kicks, and he was a good gunner. Mental mistakes like running into the returner are correctable mistakes. He beat the double team to get in position. I'd be more concerned if he could not get there and the returner did not have to call for a fair catch.

Hard to think of many plays where he wasn't a factor in in some form or another...either as the tackler or being the focus to free up another Patriot player to make the tackle.

 

[maverick4]

It's very impressive.
This could be the best draft of the Belichick era.
A few years down the road, Vollmer, Brace, Chung, and Butler could be the anchors of their respective groups.

 

[mgteich]

Tate could also be a solid starter.

It's very impressive.
This could be the best draft of the Belichick era.
A few years down the road, Vollmer, Brace, Chung, and Butler could be the anchors of their respective groups.

 

[maverick4]

Re: Eight rookies made the team

Yep, I've seldom seen a gunner more consistently arrive at the returner before the ball does. IIRC, both of the interference penalties happened when the returner initially misjudged the kick and had to make a last-minute adjustment, only to find Slater waiting around between him and the falling ball. Kind of odd-looking plays, vs. the classic case of the gunner just not putting on the brakes.

About Slater, I was watching him closely the past few games. He is an absolute beast on special teams. He regularly breaks through two-three guys trying to stop him. If he ever corrects some mental errors at the spot of the ball carrier, he could be a long time Patriot here just for his ST skills.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Actually the first round has been a trouble area(watson maroney) thats why I like trading down

Actually it was a touch of the lowest form of wit in reference to a previous crazy thread.

Knew I should of put a smiley...