Youth by unit and the 2011 draft

[fester]

<a href="http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/544133-your-2010-patriots-roster-cutdown-deadline.html#post2090082">CTPatsFan</a> has an excellent post in the main forum concerning the composition of the current 2010 active roster. In it, CT has identified what first and second year players are on what unit. This is very useful as a potential hint to the 2011 draft class, as some units have more than half their players as first or second year guys and other units have minimal young guys on them.
Half or more 1st or second year guys:
QB, TE, WR on offense
CB (counting Arrington as a 2nd year guy)
SS
ILB
NT
ST specialists
That leaves the O-line, 3-4 defensive ends, OLB and running backs as being veteran/2nd contract guys dominated. That is where next year's phase of the rebuilding will be in the draft.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

OL, DL, and possibly OLB seems to match-up with scouting visit reports we've learned about, RB not so much. I wouldn't be surprised to see NE picking through the older RB discount bin again.

 

[MaineMan]

OL, DL, and possibly OLB seems to match-up with scouting visit reports we've learned about, RB not so much. I wouldn't be surprised to see NE picking through the older RB discount bin again.

I'd agree. The RBBC thing (vs. feature back + JAGS) has worked out well enough (and their last early RB pick has worked out poorly enough) that it seems unlikely they'll draft an RB before the 4th/5th round for quite a while. That said, I think they still might chance a late-round pick to tryout some fresh legs within the RBBC structure if there's a guy they really like.

Meanwhile, I'll probably be skipping over posts that begin by recommending/predicting that the Pats take Ingram with the Raiders 1st rounder in 2011.