Reiss: Patriots pick 23rd in first round

[PatriotsDaily.com]

Patriots picks by round in the Belichick era:

Making The Rounds

 

[makoute]

We all went 11-5 so why should we pick first in every round? excpet that we didn't make the playoffs which they don't care about. but if all 11-5 teams made the playoffs and none made the SB it would only be fair that they rotate.

That would make sense, except that it didn't happen that way.

 

[Seneschal2]

The complaint that Vrabes has lost a step on the pass rush may have some validity, but I think there are at least two mitigating factors:
1.
2.

You forgot #3. AD was off in coverage many series while Vrabel was the only pass rusher. Much easier to block only one edge rusher. This was a situation that caught my eye when I wondered why we weren't getting much pressure. In a 3-4, it's like flying with one wing.

 

[redsox33]

You forgot #3. AD was off in coverage many series while Vrabel was the only pass rusher. Much easier to block only one edge rusher. This was a situation that caught my eye when I wondered why we weren't getting much pressure. In a 3-4, it's like flying with one wing.

This is something that I noticed too. And it didn't stop when AD went down because then we tried using Vrabel in coverage.

This past weekend I was reminded of it while watching the Steelers defense. Both Woodley and Harrison get to rush the majority of the time (occasionally they need to drop one back to cover a tight end or someone else) but for the most part both of them need to be accounted for along with the defensive line. I say its because they have strength in their secondary and don't have to worry about covering up to help them.

 

[Deus Irae]

This is something that I noticed too. And it didn't stop when AD went down because then we tried using Vrabel in coverage.

This past weekend I was reminded of it while watching the Steelers defense. Both Woodley and Harrison get to rush the majority of the time (occasionally they need to drop one back to cover a tight end or someone else) but for the most part both of them need to be accounted for along with the defensive line. I say its because they have strength in their secondary and don't have to worry about covering up to help them.

Pittsburgh is similar to the Giants, in that both teams use a pass rush to protect subpar corners. The difference is that the Giants are better along the line, whereas the Steelers are better at safety, so that changes the dynamic of how a team would attack.

New England took a different approach this season, because the Patriots didn't have the safety talent of Pittsburgh or the pass rushing lineman of the Giants, and the linebacking corps was devastated and couldn't be expected to make up the difference.

 

[RayClay]

Didn't see this posted and I was curious...

the Chargers did not advance to the Super Bowl, they would pick in the 16th spot of the first round, based on their 8-8 record.

So now that the Chargers have lost, the Patriots' selection in the second round is in the middle of the round, not at the end.

Additional 2nd round pick in solid spot - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

That's sweet, a lot better than people thought when we made the trade. No matter what happens with Cassel, a 3rd for Asante gives us 5 picks in 3 rounds in a deep draft (so I understand).