McComb: Patriots Draft Grades
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Posted Under: 2000 Patriots Season
HOME > Patriots Blog > 2000 Patriots Season
Draft Expert Kerry McComb breaks down this weekend’s draft, and gives his grade on how well he feels Bill Belichick did during his first NFL Draft as coach of the New England Patriots. Here is his commentary below:
Well the first draft of the Bill Belichick era is now complete. How did he do ?
DAY ONE PICKS
Round 2 – #46 overall. Adrian Klemm. OT. Hawaii
Round 3 – #76 overall. JR Redmond. RB Arizona State
Entering the draft, I (and countless others in Patriot Nation) had RB and LT pegged as the priority needs for the Patriots in this draft. With no #1 selection (gone for Belichick), the Patriots first day one selection didn’t happen until the 15th pick in round 2 – pick #46 overall. It was felt by many that – barring a trade-up into the late 1st/early 2nd, getting one of the top LT prospects (Samuels, Klemm, Smith) was going to be a tough go. It looked as though getting a top flight RB would be a better possibility.
As it turns out, Klemm fell down to pick #46 and he was quickly grabbed by Patriot braintrust. At #46, Klemm is tremendous value for a team screaming for a young, tremendously gifted LT with a ton of upside. In Klemm the Patriots get a kid who has seen extensive time starting over his 5 years at Hawaii. A former TE, Klemm has played tackle on both sides of the line the past 3 seasons. Make no mistake about it however, Klemm is a LT prospect. He has all the tools you want to see in a LT prospect; athleticism in open space, proper utilization of arms to keep the much speedier DE’s in check with, the ability to move the feet in reaction to the DE, good body control so he won’t trip over his feet as he adjusts to the moves of the DE, good hand/eye coordination in reaction to arms and shoulder movement of the DE, a keen understanding of angles in order to lengthen or shorten the path to the QB, solid fundamentals, and above all else, the right attitude to succeed. This kid may need some time to fine-tune his craft but the needle is pointing straight up for this guy. Very good selection if this had come at the Patriots pick in round one. Great selection at #46 in round two. I grade this pick an A+
With LT now out of the way, it was time for Belichick to look at priority need #2 – RB. It has been reported that the Patriot draft brass was ready to select RB JR Redmond with their pick at #76. Apparently, Redmond and the Patriots were on the phone as that #46 pick was being introduced. As we now know, the selection of Redmond didn’t happen at #46 but it did happen 31 picks later at pick #76. Based on pure talent alone, Redmond is a steal at #76. However, I suspect this comment will upset more than one of you out there. I have to be honest with ya here, I’m not happy about this selection. I really did not like this pick at this place, for this team, for this year.
I badly wanted to see a RB drafted that could pound the ball down the defense’ throats on a consistent basis. I wanted to see a RB drafted who could be used to tire out defenses by the end of the game. I wanted to see a RB drafted who could be counted on to carry the ball in the pouring rain and driving snow of fall. I wanted to see a RB drafted that could be durable doing all of this for a full 16 games season. I wanted to see a smashmouth RB taken by the Patriots in this draft! I worry that Redmond isn’t such a RB. At this point in time I view Redmond as more of a 3rd down type RB who will have problems staying healthy for an entire season if he is asked to carry the load as the featured back. I worry that Redmond doesn’t have the frame to take the punishment in this league. In many ways I see Redmond as a taller, slightly heavier version of current Patriot RB Kevin Faulk. Considering Faulk is already on the team I really didn’t see the need for someone like Redmond. I felt that a player like Travis Prentice was a much better fit for this offense and he would have been available with a simple trade-up (ala what Phily did moving up from #68 to #61). As expected, Cleveland took Prentice at 63. The Patriots had the ammo to move ahead of Cleveland for Prentice and they should have, in my opinion..
Having said this, no denying, Redmond is one heck of a talented football player who has the skills of a 1st round player. He is a heck of an athlete. He has breakaway speed and the shiftiness to elude would be tacklers. He has excellent hands and is a big play waiting to happen. He has quick feet, can change direction on a dime and shows excellent ability to burst through a hole into the defensive backfield enroute to the endzone. Now obviously Belichick and company don’t share the same concerns as I do – and they should know the limitations and abilities of this kid much better than I do, so perhaps I’m totally off in this criticism. I hope that I am wrong and that Redmond tears the league up for the next 10 years. I grade this pick a C-
Kudos go out to Belichick for using his first two picks on guys who have a shot at filling the teams two biggest needs. I only wish he had gone a different way about getting the RB though.
Draft grade on day one is a B-
DAY TWO PICKS
Round 4 – # 127 overall. Greg Robinson-Randall. OL Michigan State
Round 5 – # 141 overall. Dave Stachelski. TE. Boise State
Round 5 – # 161 overall. Jeff Marriott. DL. Missouri
Round 6 – # 187 overall. Melvin Antwan Harris. CB. Virginia
Round 6 – # 199 overall. Tom Brady. QB. Michigan
Round 6 – # 201 overall. David Nugent. DT. Purdue
Round 7 – # 226 overall. Casey Tisdale. LB. New Mexico
Round 7 – # 239 overall. Patrick Pass. RB. Georgia
Well, I was totally wrong mocking Belichick’s day two draft board.
I had Belichick pegged as a grab the most talented kids that underachieve for weight, dedication and motivational reasons and then turn them around with a hard nosed, no nonsense coaching attitude and program. Boy was I ever wrong!
By the end of day two it was very apparent that Belichick totally avoided such uninspired, underachieving but talented players and instead focused on the other extreme. He grabbed the lunch pail guys. The theme for day two .. grab the hard working, dedicated but athletically challenged types and go to war with them. That was a similar theme for all teams throughout day two actually. Must be a new trend!
As such we saw immensely talented (but questionable work ethic) players like Darnell Alford, Johnathan Gray, Robaire Smith, Na’il Diggs, Jerry DeLoach, etc) players unexpectatantly fall well down in this draft. Conversely, we saw the great attitude/not as talented guys rise up the charts. For the most part, Belichick seemed to follow the later styled players.
In Greg Randall the Pats get a pure project pick – a guy that has only played 2 years of major college ball. He has excellent run blocking skills but has very limited pass blocking ability at this point in time. As such, I see him as strictly a right side player likely best suited to RG because of his limited range. He’s a gamer which Belichick loves. He also has some nasty about him which is always a great trait to have in an OL – especially a guy who projects to RG in the pros. He could excel at such a spot if he is able to acquire some pass blocking ability at the pro level. I thought this pick was a reach at this spot. I personally had Randall rated no higher than a 7th round prospect who, because he projects to OG in the pros probably goes undrafted. I have a very tough time believing any other team was going to grab Randall anytime soon. This kid isn’t so good that the Pats couldn’t have risked losing him by waiting around for one of their 5th rounders. Heck, they probably could have waited for the 6th rounders! At this spot I thought that Tutan Reyes or Falemao Tosi were much better and in my opinion safer selections. The more I read about Randall the more I suspect that Belichick was swayed to reach for this kid at this spot by MSU’s former coach – and good friend of Belichick from the Browns days, Lou Saban. I hope that Lou is right! I grade this pick a C
In Dave Stachelski, the Patriots have a talented guy (good hands, deceptive speed) with very little proven football ability. He does come from a pass happy offense so he might be further along than many believe. I had Stachelski rated as a 5th/6th round talent so he went about where I though he should go. Maybe a little early. Jay Tant – a TE I had rated similarly went 23 picks later. At 6-3 and a little under 250 lbs., he’s not overly big for a TE. He might be better off as a H-Back than as a pure TE type. My big question involving the drafting of Stachelski is .. do the Patriots plan on keeping 3 TE’s on thier 53 man roster or will they cut one of either Rutledge or Bjornson? Will they risk losing Stachelski by trying to slide him onto the practice squad? I hope this guy can contribute on special teams. This was a very bad year for TE’s in the draft and I question whether this pick was a need or not. In my opinion, a much bigger need at this spot was on the DL and soon after Stachelski was drafted by the Patriots, two promising DL – Earnest Grant and Chris Combs were selected. I’d have preferred to see these guys taken instead. I grade this pick a C.
In Jeff Marriott, Belichick gets his lunch pail warrior type of guy. Marriott has the intangibles a guy like Belichick loves; great motor, football smarts, and complete dedication to ones craft – including I suspect, no problem lining up as a suicidal NG in a 3-4 and banging heads with everyone in sight. This guy isn’t the most athletic around and he doesn’t have a lot of upside. What you see is what you get with this kid. He is a very good run stuffer type who saw a lot of top RB’s and excellent offensive lines while playing for Missouri. This should make the transition easier for him at the pro level. This guys fills a definite need at NG or as a 2 gap 4-3 DT. I grade this pick a solid B.
In Antwan Harris, the Patriots get a small, tough corner who is a Jekyl and Hyde type. Sometimes great – sometimes very bad. Tough to say what this kid will do at the next level. He’s been injured a lot which might have contribued to his inconistancy. Has the tools to be a very good player. I’m hoping Belichick sees a little (a lot) of Aaron Glenn (similar size and quickness) in him and this is why he picked him here. Nice upside. I grade this a B-
In QB Tom Brady, the Patriots probably get a guy who’ll provide cap relief for a cap strapped team like the Patriots. I suspect the Patriots will seriously consider releasing John Friesz now that Brady has been added. The Patriots could use the cap relief. I see a lot of U-M games and I feel Brady is a capable QB who is a great leader. I look at him as nothing more than a possible capable backup NFL QB at this stage in his career. He does has some upside if he’s used properly. Still, I didn’t like this pick and at all but perhaps something positive will come out of this selection someday. I grade this pick a D
In David Nugent, Belcihick gets an almost exact replica of Mariott. Great run stuffer who works his ass off and comes ready to play at 110%. I suspect he’ll be thrown into the NG mix. At this spot, a need position. I grade this a solid B.
I have no idea what to make of Tisdale. I haven’t seen nor read anything on this guy. I also am having a very tough time getting info on this guy from others. Until I do get some more info on him I’ll give him a no grade.
Getting Patrick Pass in the 7th is no big deal. At this spot we are talking likely camp fodder anyhow. A LB probably would have made more sense at this spot and given our need for an ILB. I grade this pick a C+
Draft grade on day two is a C
Overall, I have very mixed feelings about Belichick’s first draft as Patriots GM. The Klemm pick really excites me and makes me view this thing in a positive light. However, the picks after Klemm really don’t impress me at all. Obviously, they are the experts and are the guys that go out and personally work these guys out and interview them. As such, I will give them the benefit of the doubt here and wait for a couple of years before I give them my final grade. Until that time, I have them tentatively grading out with a C+ overall – based primarily on missed opportunity (to trade-up).
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April 2 - April 17 (Through 26yrs)
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