NFL Draft 2010

[Cman]

While im not sold on Bill being the best talent evaluator.  He certainly is incredible at asset acquisition.  To enter the draft with no third round picks and then trade a third round pick for a second rounder next year?  Hes solid

Agreed on both points.

I'm pretty happy with how the Pats did in the draft.  Some needs were addressed (TE, P), some players picked later that were expected to go higher (A. Hernandez, T. Larsen), some players picked that the Pats clearly had an eye on (McCourty, Gronkowski).  It remains to be seen how it all plays out, though.  The DE/OLB area still needs addressing.  Some of this should shake out during the camps/ practices.

[Cman]

LeGarret Blount....I hope the Pats get him. I wanted him earlier

Staphon Johnsons...I hope the Pats get him. But I don't think he'll be good. Why? he wasn't that good before the injury

I think TEN signed Johnson.  Haven't heard anything on Blount yet.

Here is who the Pats have signed so far:
RB Pat Paschall, North Dakota St.
DE Dane Fletcher, Montana St.
S Sergio Brown, Notre Dame
S Ross Ventrone, Villanova
WR Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan
DL Kyle Love, Mississippi St.
(courtesy http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/)

[Eja117]

Ross Ventrone.  A very Patriots name. I think this is the third time we've signed a Ross Ventrone

[Donoghus]

I'm pretty happy with how things progressed.  I love both TE's.  Gronkowski has the injury concern but he is an absolute stud.  Hernandez is a very solid pass-catching TE and should transition quite well into the Pats offense.

Not sure how I feel about the McCourty pick although they were addressing a need on the roster.  I wasn't enamored with any of the projected LBs/DEs sitting at 27 so I'm glad Belichick didn't reach there.  

Spikes isn't the most athletically gifted LBs but he was an anchor on that FL defense for years and a young defense like the Pats (D-Line excluded) can always use another very cerebral and vocal leader. I'm very intrigued by a Mayo/Spikes inside.

Evidently, Belichick wasn't as sold on addressing the OL as I was, although he did take some late round projects.  

[Eja117]

I'm trying to figure out what Millen did. I was watching but I guess I either wasn't paying attention or need to educate myself

although this is sorta funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWV9HFNNVzM

did anyone catch it? I remember a comment about fried bologna sandwiches, but I don't know if that's bad or not

[Eja117]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Millen_apologizes_to_Jaworski_for_ethnic_slur.html

Oh so that's what he did that people didn't like.

I have to admit I'm surprised this guy keeps getting work.  I mean hey, he's the worst GM ever and he offends people. Quick. Let's hire him and put him on tv

whateva

[Cman]

Ross Ventrone.  A very Patriots name. I think this is the third time we've signed a Ross Ventrone

Ray Ventrone.  The special teams/safety.

[Donoghus]

With the Campbell trade to Oakland, when can we officially start the "Which was a bigger bust? Ryan Leaf or Jamarcus Rusell" debate?

How much more time do we give Russell?

[Eja117]

I'd throw Tim Couch in there too Dons.

Hard to say. Tim and JaMarcuss were #1 and Leaf was 2. Leaf has the embarrassing disadvantage of having gone after Peyton with people actually arguing over who would be better. I was a college kid. I admit I thought Leaf would be better. Stronger arm. Bigger. Earned what he had instead of getting the benefit of a last name. Went to the Rose Bowl with a non-traditional football school. More fiery.

oops

[looseball]

I'd throw Tim Couch in there too Dons.

Hard to say. Tim and JaMarcuss were #1 and Leaf was 2. Leaf has the embarrassing disadvantage of having gone after Peyton with people actually arguing over who would be better. I was a college kid. I admit I thought Leaf would be better. Stronger arm. Bigger. Earned what he had instead of getting the benefit of a last name. Went to the Rose Bowl with a non-traditional football school. More fiery.

oops

The Colts looked at the psychologists reports that stated neither Manning nor Leaf ever had to deal with losing growing up.  They would both be facing it for the first time in their early years in the NFL.  They predicted Manning would handle it better, so the Colts went for Manning over Leaf.

(There were other factors, of course, but they would only detract from this story.)

[Eja117]

I loved the draft cause it did what it was supposed to do which is give us a real good chance to get better.

You can't look at it as one draft. We got like 13 guys and 12 last year. You gotta kinda see two drafts.

In the last 2 years we got 5 OLs, 5 DLs, 2 TEs, 3 WRs, 2 QBs (I'm counting Hoyer), a Punter, 3 LBs, 3 DBs (to go along with two the year before and I think a 1rst the year before that), and a LS

Then we added Tory Holt, Gerrard Warren, Davi Patten, and Damoine Lewis.

So on the DL last year we added 3 DL's then let go Jarvis Green and his one sack and 35 tackles go this year, brought in Gerrard Warren and Lewis (both of who had slightly better stats last year) and two more young guys.

So I think the DL will be a little better this year

The LBs lost Adalious Thomas (who?) and I guess Burgess and bring in 4 young guys (Spikes, Cunningham, T Mckenzie, S Crable) so I think we could be better there

The secondary gets McCourty who only has to beat out T Wheatley to make us better there, but will quite possibly beat out Wilhite and 35 year old Springs too, if not Butler and Bodden so

the whole defense gets better at least by the end of the year

The WRs get worse (at least till Wes W comes back) at first but towards the end of the year with Torry Holt, T Price, B Tate, maybe Patten, and an older Edlemen the WRs stand a chance to be better, if not this year, then next year

But if they aren't better Brady may actually have better TEs. 2 young guys and Crumpler.  Baker and B Watson weren't getting it done.

The OL will get a little better with Vollmer probably moving in for the old and highly paid Matt Light.  Koppen has a protege or two now seeing as how he's not a spring chick any more. The young guys (Bussey, Ohrenberg, the 7th rounder, Larsen) get a chance to learn for a year and compete to go after Kaczur and Stephen Neal's spot and gives us more insurance in case Logan Mankins throws a hissy fit

Hoyer and Robinson can fight to be the new Cassel (I think Hoyer wins that)


and Maroney breathe's a very deep sigh of relief not feeling a huge challenge from a college free agent, old man Morris, or old and hurt man Taylor....that is till a coach walks up and says "Why do you think we got two firsts and two 2nds next year? You may want to step up"

New punter. McCourty and B Tate to challenge Matt Slater at returns especially while Welker is out

Then there's still free agency and the waiver wire

The team is better

[Cman]

TP for the positive attitude.

Especially liked this bit:

and Maroney breathe's a very deep sigh of relief not feeling a huge challenge from a college free agent, old man Morris, or old and hurt man Taylor....that is till a coach walks up and says "Why do you think we got two firsts and two 2nds next year? You may want to step up"

[Eja117]

these combine results are a tad bit interesting

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/combine?year=2010&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft%2fcombine%3fyear%3d2010

[RebusRankin]

Couch isn't quite on the Jamarcus Russell/Ryan Leaf bust level.

[Donoghus]

Couch isn't quite on the Jamarcus Russell/Ryan Leaf bust level.

I agree.  His numbers were mediocre but he was better than either of those two and I think its pretty clear..  People also forget he help lead the Browns to a playoff appearance.