With a little less than 2 weeks to the draft, I feel like the Patriots will take a CB in round one. I didn't consider CB a strong possibility at either 23 or 34, but with Jenkins, and Davis visiting Foxboro and BB attending UConn's Pro Day, I have changed my mind. I don't think any of the 3 will be available at no. 34 and the drop off after those 3 CB's significant in my mind. I am not sold on any of the 3 CB's as an elite player, though Jenkins as a Safety does interest me. Butler going an entire season without an INT and Davis' character concerns are red flags for me.
On the flipside, I don't see any indication that the Patriots are seriously considering an OT with one of their first two picks. Obviously, it could be a smokescreen, but we have probably heard about fewer Tackles that the team has worked out than Quarterbacks. This is slightly disappointing to me as Tackle has become a very difficult position to fill and teams are willing to overpay to get one. It would be a lot less painful to take one this year than it would be in a year with only 2 day one picks, especially if we had to trade up to get one.
I listened to a very interesting Patriots Podcast that talked extensively about Pat White. The hosts made the point that BB has been infatuated with the multi-dimensional players in the league and has spent a ton of time at the University of Florida talking with Urban Meyer. BB talks a lot about the single wing and wildcat formations and the hosts think he wants to implement some of that in New England. The hosts speculated that BB has taken the extra time in the offseason to explore these formations and now is looking for his guy to run them (which would be White in theory). The hosts also speculated that White was coming to New England to re-check his hands, to make sure he didn't just have a good day catching the ball when New England worked him out previously. I am usually not swayed by others arguments for a player, but I did find their line of thinking interesting on White. I still feel like any play that takes Brady out of the QB position is a win for the defense, but the extra practice time that a Wildcat formation would require of an opponent would be a positive. I also think that a large part of the reason Brown was effective in the Wildcat was his ability to break tackles and I am not sure a sub 200lb White would be as effective running out of what is essentially a power formation with no FB.
As we get closer to the draft, I become less and less interested in the likely OLB candidates: English, Mathews, Barwin, etc. I think this defense badly needs a pass rusher, but I am becoming increasingly discouraged that any of the above could fill that role in year one. I am also concerned that English, Mathews, and even Everette Brown (who I do like) would change the complexion of the defense long term. How long has the Patriot defense been described as "big and physical"? If we drafted any of the above 3 we could start a linebacker quartet that features nobody over 6'3. On the roster right now we have Crable, Woods, Redd, and Craig who are all listed at 6'5 or taller. I think the Pats want at least one LB with that kind of height on the field. We already went shorter and smaller than normal with our ILB's in Bruschi and Mayo, and I'd like to stay one of the bigger more physical defenses in the league. That said, I certainly would sacrifice that size for a pass rushing demon who could contribute in that role in 2009.
As a general comment, I am bracing for disappointment with the draft and I suggest most of my fellow draft enthusiasts do the same. It looks so pretty when you fill out a mock draft with 4 day one picks and 6 in the first three rounds. You can fill your needs on defense, add a playmaker and ol depth on offense, and maybe take a shot on a guy with measurables that are off the charts. The reality will probably be that the Patriots trade up at least once for a guy most of us think "would have been there anyways" and probably trade away a pick for something in 2010 (which I'd probably be happy about).
On the flipside, I don't see any indication that the Patriots are seriously considering an OT with one of their first two picks. Obviously, it could be a smokescreen, but we have probably heard about fewer Tackles that the team has worked out than Quarterbacks. This is slightly disappointing to me as Tackle has become a very difficult position to fill and teams are willing to overpay to get one. It would be a lot less painful to take one this year than it would be in a year with only 2 day one picks, especially if we had to trade up to get one.
I listened to a very interesting Patriots Podcast that talked extensively about Pat White. The hosts made the point that BB has been infatuated with the multi-dimensional players in the league and has spent a ton of time at the University of Florida talking with Urban Meyer. BB talks a lot about the single wing and wildcat formations and the hosts think he wants to implement some of that in New England. The hosts speculated that BB has taken the extra time in the offseason to explore these formations and now is looking for his guy to run them (which would be White in theory). The hosts also speculated that White was coming to New England to re-check his hands, to make sure he didn't just have a good day catching the ball when New England worked him out previously. I am usually not swayed by others arguments for a player, but I did find their line of thinking interesting on White. I still feel like any play that takes Brady out of the QB position is a win for the defense, but the extra practice time that a Wildcat formation would require of an opponent would be a positive. I also think that a large part of the reason Brown was effective in the Wildcat was his ability to break tackles and I am not sure a sub 200lb White would be as effective running out of what is essentially a power formation with no FB.
As we get closer to the draft, I become less and less interested in the likely OLB candidates: English, Mathews, Barwin, etc. I think this defense badly needs a pass rusher, but I am becoming increasingly discouraged that any of the above could fill that role in year one. I am also concerned that English, Mathews, and even Everette Brown (who I do like) would change the complexion of the defense long term. How long has the Patriot defense been described as "big and physical"? If we drafted any of the above 3 we could start a linebacker quartet that features nobody over 6'3. On the roster right now we have Crable, Woods, Redd, and Craig who are all listed at 6'5 or taller. I think the Pats want at least one LB with that kind of height on the field. We already went shorter and smaller than normal with our ILB's in Bruschi and Mayo, and I'd like to stay one of the bigger more physical defenses in the league. That said, I certainly would sacrifice that size for a pass rushing demon who could contribute in that role in 2009.
As a general comment, I am bracing for disappointment with the draft and I suggest most of my fellow draft enthusiasts do the same. It looks so pretty when you fill out a mock draft with 4 day one picks and 6 in the first three rounds. You can fill your needs on defense, add a playmaker and ol depth on offense, and maybe take a shot on a guy with measurables that are off the charts. The reality will probably be that the Patriots trade up at least once for a guy most of us think "would have been there anyways" and probably trade away a pick for something in 2010 (which I'd probably be happy about).
