Bill's Propaganda got us Mallett.

[Rondo2287]

BB can't draft any more. I don't really care Mallet might be good 4 years from now. We need a pass rush last year. And the year before.

He used to draft starting QBs in the 6th and 7th rounds when there was no need. Now he takes them in the 3rd. And misses. Rohan Davey (4th) Kevin O'Connell and now Mallet.

He also drafts DB excessively and misses on most of them too. Tyrone Wheatley. Donald Butler. Jason Wilhite. Gus Scott. Dexter Reid. Now Ras I.   Hey Belichek. You'd be amazed how good Kyle Arrington can be if you can rush the passer. Oh but you can't.

And its the exact same thing about drafting pass rushers.  If he drafts a pass rusher who he doesn't think can do the job just because he is a pass rusher he is going to have to do the same thing next year.  

This team was the youngest in the league especially on defense.  Why do you want them to take projects on the defensive side?  If you want them to win now shouldn't they be looking to fill those holes with veterans?  

This is who BB is and he had a hell of a draft last year.  It is complete and utter hyperbole to say that he cannot draft.  I'm not saying you can't criticize.  But it is pointless to get up in arms every year about him trading down and getting picks for next year.  It is his draft philosophy, he will always do it.

[Eja117]

BB can't draft any more. I don't really care Mallet might be good 4 years from now. We need a pass rush last year. And the year before.

He used to draft starting QBs in the 6th and 7th rounds when there was no need. Now he takes them in the 3rd. And misses. Rohan Davey (4th) Kevin O'Connell and now Mallet.

He also drafts DB excessively and misses on most of them too. Tyrone Wheatley. Donald Butler. Jason Wilhite. Gus Scott. Dexter Reid. Now Ras I.   Hey Belichek. You'd be amazed how good Kyle Arrington can be if you can rush the passer. Oh but you can't.

I'm a Broncos fan.  I'd love Belichek to come run my team tomorrow.  Or yesterday.  You've got a great thing here.

We do have a great thing. But other teams have great things too. Take the Saints. they busted on a #2 overall pick, still won a super bowl, then got agressive and traded to get Ingram and Cameron Jordan. Then they turned around in the 3rd and got a top rated LB and Db.  The Saints: Good today. Good tomorrow. Good yesterday.

The Patriots. Good a lot of yesterdays ago before they got too cute in the draft. Good yesterday till they played against Mark Sanchez at home in the playoffs.

[Cman]

BB can't draft any more. I don't really care Mallet might be good 4 years from now. We need a pass rush last year. And the year before.

He used to draft starting QBs in the 6th and 7th rounds when there was no need. Now he takes them in the 3rd. And misses. Rohan Davey (4th) Kevin O'Connell and now Mallet.

He also drafts DB excessively and misses on most of them too. Tyrone Wheatley. Donald Butler. Jason Wilhite. Gus Scott. Dexter Reid. Now Ras I.   Hey Belichek. You'd be amazed how good Kyle Arrington can be if you can rush the passer. Oh but you can't.

I'm a Broncos fan.  I'd love Belichek to come run my team tomorrow.  Or yesterday.  You've got a great thing here.

And i wouldn't want anyone else coaching my team as a Pat's fan, i think he's one of if not the best coach of all time.

What gets to me and EJA is that when you make legitimate criticisms of him, you get met with a wave of "you can't question him, he's BB" posts.

Being a great coach does not make you immune to criticism 

TP, well put.  As I've said before, what I don't like is when people want to prove a point about BB and use a single example as proof positive of the point (whether you want to argue that BB is good at drafting or not).

[Eja117]

BB can't draft any more. I don't really care Mallet might be good 4 years from now. We need a pass rush last year. And the year before.

He used to draft starting QBs in the 6th and 7th rounds when there was no need. Now he takes them in the 3rd. And misses. Rohan Davey (4th) Kevin O'Connell and now Mallet.

He also drafts DB excessively and misses on most of them too. Tyrone Wheatley. Donald Butler. Jason Wilhite. Gus Scott. Dexter Reid. Now Ras I.   Hey Belichek. You'd be amazed how good Kyle Arrington can be if you can rush the passer. Oh but you can't.

And its the exact same thing about drafting pass rushers.  If he drafts a pass rusher who he doesn't think can do the job just because he is a pass rusher he is going to have to do the same thing next year.  

This team was the youngest in the league especially on defense.  Why do you want them to take projects on the defensive side?  If you want them to win now shouldn't they be looking to fill those holes with veterans?  

This is who BB is and he had a hell of a draft last year.  It is complete and utter hyperbole to say that he cannot draft.  I'm not saying you can't criticize.  But it is pointless to get up in arms every year about him trading down and getting picks for next year.  It is his draft philosophy, he will always do it.

Great. Then use a pick on a need already instead of a 4th RB. Instead of having a horrid horrid pass rush year after year actually do something about it.

What I can't shake is the feeling BB almost makes FU picks. Would it surprise a single one of us if his next 4 picks are a combo of something like QB, TE, K, DB?  

What is the point of that?  

I refuse to believe there hasn't been pass rushing value in the last 3 drafts and I refuse to believe for the moment that Jermaine Cunningham represents such great value at that position. Nor Myron Pryor. Nor Kade Weston. Nor Ron Brace. Not till I see it. You say it wouldn't make sense to draft a project on defense. What do you call those guys? A veteran? You mean like Gerard Warren and who was it last year? Damoine Lewis?

Just make the Gooooodddd dammmmnnnneeeddd pick at a frickin position of need. It's the NFL draft. Not monopoly.

[elcotte]

BB can't draft any more. I don't really care Mallet might be good 4 years from now. We need a pass rush last year. And the year before.

He used to draft starting QBs in the 6th and 7th rounds when there was no need. Now he takes them in the 3rd. And misses. Rohan Davey (4th) Kevin O'Connell and now Mallet.

He also drafts DB excessively and misses on most of them too. Tyrone Wheatley. Donald Butler. Jason Wilhite. Gus Scott. Dexter Reid. Now Ras I.   Hey Belichek. You'd be amazed how good Kyle Arrington can be if you can rush the passer. Oh but you can't.

I'm a Broncos fan.  I'd love Belichek to come run my team tomorrow.  Or yesterday.  You've got a great thing here.

And i wouldn't want anyone else coaching my team as a Pat's fan, i think he's one of if not the best coach of all time.

What gets to me and EJA is that when you make legitimate criticisms of him, you get met with a wave of "you can't question him, he's BB" posts.

Being a great coach does not make you immune to criticism 

Nor does being a blog-poster.

[Eja117]

BB can't draft any more. I don't really care Mallet might be good 4 years from now. We need a pass rush last year. And the year before.

He used to draft starting QBs in the 6th and 7th rounds when there was no need. Now he takes them in the 3rd. And misses. Rohan Davey (4th) Kevin O'Connell and now Mallet.

He also drafts DB excessively and misses on most of them too. Tyrone Wheatley. Donald Butler. Jason Wilhite. Gus Scott. Dexter Reid. Now Ras I.   Hey Belichek. You'd be amazed how good Kyle Arrington can be if you can rush the passer. Oh but you can't.

I'm a Broncos fan.  I'd love Belichek to come run my team tomorrow.  Or yesterday.  You've got a great thing here.

And i wouldn't want anyone else coaching my team as a Pat's fan, i think he's one of if not the best coach of all time.

What gets to me and EJA is that when you make legitimate criticisms of him, you get met with a wave of "you can't question him, he's BB" posts.

Being a great coach does not make you immune to criticism 

Nor does being a blog-poster.

I'm waiting for BB to prove me wrong. Any day now would be nice.

[Donoghus]

I think the Mallet pick is an intriguing one.  The off the field stuff scares me but from what I've seen, he certainly has the physical tools.  For a 3rd rounder?  Why not?  If it works out, you have a solid #2 QB and possibly longterm Brady successor.  Go for it.

People keep whining about the pass rush situation.  Drafting for position of need rather than taking BPA at a position is a strategy that keeps you in the middle of the pack or bottom rung, IMO.  I like the Pats strategy.  Its not an FU, its "we're not gonna reach for something that we don't necessarily like because it fills a need".

[footey]

I think the other criticism is that he had the slowest times for a QB in 22 years at the combine.

Pretty irrelevant when it comes to quarterback play. Look at Brady (very slow) and Peyton Manning (also slow).  This is where the Mel Kipers of the world are kind of stupid, harping on all the irrelevant measurements as a source of concern. He noted that Mallett had a very low vertical jump, like 22". I mean, come on, when does a 6'7" quarterback need any vertical jump?? Just plain dumb. I can still hear Gruden snickering. He totally undressed Todd McShay last night too!!

[Donoghus]

I think the other criticism is that he had the slowest times for a QB in 22 years at the combine.

Pretty irrelevant when it comes to quarterback play. Look at Brady (very slow) and Peyton Manning (also slow).  This is where the Mel Kipers of the world are kind of stupid, harping on all the irrelevant measurements as a source of concern. He noted that Mallett had a very low vertical jump, like 22". I mean, come on, when does a 6'7" quarterback need any vertical jump?? Just plain dumb. I can still hear Gruden snickering. He totally undressed Todd McShay last night too!!

Don't keep me started on Kiper or McShay.... 

[KCattheStripe]

Ryan Mallet is a 6'7" Drew Bledsoe.

[nickagneta]

Sorry but I really like what Belichick has done over the last couple of years in the draft. Let's not forget he did draft Cunningham and Spikes as speed LBs that could get after a QB. He's still developing them and so far they look real good. Ty Warren will also be returning this year as will Leigh Bodden. Belichick has every reason to believe that his youngest defense in the league that had 4 Pro Bowlers will develop further and get better.

Last year Belichick drafted two TEs that have Pro Bowl talent and futures(Hernandez and Gronkowski), a Pro Bowl CB(McCourty), a heck of a young punt(Mesko), the two aforementioned talented LBs(Spikes and Cunningham) and a project with athleticism and skills at WR(Price).

This year, Solder is a giant of a man with off the charts athleticism for a man his size, Dowling is a big tough DB that has first round skills but slid because he missed half the year, the RBs(Vereen and Ridley) will be great young replacements for the third down specialists and special teams that are getting old and Mallet, though a supposed drug using punk that thinks he's Eminem, is easily the 2nd or 3rd most talented QB in this draft class and not one single scout had a bad thing to say about his skills(except his speed) or his ability and desire to bring it on game day. On the field the kid is a warrior.

I don't get the pessimism. I fully expect Belichick to pick up a 3-4 DE in the coming rounds and an OLB. I also expect him to sign free agents in these areas that might understand his schemes and assignments better than the rookies that would give the Pats a bit more push up front.

[clover]

Sorry but I really like what Belichick has done over the last couple of years in the draft. Let's not forget he did draft Cunningham and Spikes as speed LBs that could get after a QB. He's still developing them and so far they look real good. Ty Warren will also be returning this year as will Leigh Bodden. Belichick has every reason to believe that his youngest defense in the league that had 4 Pro Bowlers will develop further and get better.

Last year Belichick drafted two TEs that have Pro Bowl talent and futures(Hernandez and Gronkowski), a Pro Bowl CB(McCourty), a heck of a young punt(Mesko), the two aforementioned talented LBs(Spikes and Cunningham) and a project with athleticism and skills at WR(Price).

This year, Solder is a giant of a man with off the charts athleticism for a man his size, Dowling is a big tough DB that has first round skills but slid because he missed half the year, the RBs(Vereen and Ridley) will be great young replacements for the third down specialists and special teams that are getting old and Mallet, though a supposed drug using punk that thinks he's Eminem, is easily the 2nd or 3rd most talented QB in this draft class and not one single scout had a bad thing to say about his skills(except his speed) or his ability and desire to bring it on game day. On the field the kid is a warrior.

I don't get the pessimism. I fully expect Belichick to pick up a 3-4 DE in the coming rounds and an OLB. I also expect him to sign free agents in these areas that might understand his schemes and assignments better than the rookies that would give the Pats a bit more push up front.

It's Boston.  For years he focused on unglamorous defensive players and everyone was clamoring for him to take offensive skill players higher up.  Part of the problem is that all the Boston teams are competitive now, so people get stuck whining that Rondo's not a good enough PG, Doc's not a good enough coach, and Belichick's not a good enough drafter.

[Eja117]

I think the Mallet pick is an intriguing one.  The off the field stuff scares me but from what I've seen, he certainly has the physical tools.  For a 3rd rounder?  Why not?  If it works out, you have a solid #2 QB and possibly longterm Brady successor.  Go for it.

People keep whining about the pass rush situation.  Drafting for position of need rather than taking BPA at a position is a strategy that keeps you in the middle of the pack or bottom rung, IMO.  I like the Pats strategy.  Its not an FU, its "we're not gonna reach for something that we don't necessarily like because it fills a need".

Not going to reach three years in a row to fill a need means maybe it's time to reach.  It's not like we're winning Super Bowls

[Eja117]

Sorry but I really like what Belichick has done over the last couple of years in the draft. Let's not forget he did draft Cunningham and Spikes as speed LBs that could get after a QB. He's still developing them and so far they look real good. Ty Warren will also be returning this year as will Leigh Bodden. Belichick has every reason to believe that his youngest defense in the league that had 4 Pro Bowlers will develop further and get better.

Last year Belichick drafted two TEs that have Pro Bowl talent and futures(Hernandez and Gronkowski), a Pro Bowl CB(McCourty), a heck of a young punt(Mesko), the two aforementioned talented LBs(Spikes and Cunningham) and a project with athleticism and skills at WR(Price).

This year, Solder is a giant of a man with off the charts athleticism for a man his size, Dowling is a big tough DB that has first round skills but slid because he missed half the year, the RBs(Vereen and Ridley) will be great young replacements for the third down specialists and special teams that are getting old and Mallet, though a supposed drug using punk that thinks he's Eminem, is easily the 2nd or 3rd most talented QB in this draft class and not one single scout had a bad thing to say about his skills(except his speed) or his ability and desire to bring it on game day. On the field the kid is a warrior.

I don't get the pessimism. I fully expect Belichick to pick up a 3-4 DE in the coming rounds and an OLB. I also expect him to sign free agents in these areas that might understand his schemes and assignments better than the rookies that would give the Pats a bit more push up front.

It's Boston.  For years he focused on unglamorous defensive players and everyone was clamoring for him to take offensive skill players higher up.  Part of the problem is that all the Boston teams are competitive now, so people get stuck whining that Rondo's not a good enough PG, Doc's not a good enough coach, and Belichick's not a good enough drafter.

I know. Seriously. Stop making stupid moves and saying things like "Well I trust BB." or "I trust Danny" and win a ring already. How long do I have to wait? Either you win a ring or as a Boston fan I will let you know you didn't and why.

Danny Ainge and Bill Belichek walk into a bar. One says to the other "I like to ruin championship teams with awful trades." The other says "Really? Me too!"

I'm wrong? Then go win a ring and stop telling me these guys are geniuses. It's 2011, not 2004.

[shookones99]

Sorry but I really like what Belichick has done over the last couple of years in the draft. Let's not forget he did draft Cunningham and Spikes as speed LBs that could get after a QB. He's still developing them and so far they look real good. Ty Warren will also be returning this year as will Leigh Bodden. Belichick has every reason to believe that his youngest defense in the league that had 4 Pro Bowlers will develop further and get better.

Last year Belichick drafted two TEs that have Pro Bowl talent and futures(Hernandez and Gronkowski), a Pro Bowl CB(McCourty), a heck of a young punt(Mesko), the two aforementioned talented LBs(Spikes and Cunningham) and a project with athleticism and skills at WR(Price).

This year, Solder is a giant of a man with off the charts athleticism for a man his size, Dowling is a big tough DB that has first round skills but slid because he missed half the year, the RBs(Vereen and Ridley) will be great young replacements for the third down specialists and special teams that are getting old and Mallet, though a supposed drug using punk that thinks he's Eminem, is easily the 2nd or 3rd most talented QB in this draft class and not one single scout had a bad thing to say about his skills(except his speed) or his ability and desire to bring it on game day. On the field the kid is a warrior.

I don't get the pessimism. I fully expect Belichick to pick up a 3-4 DE in the coming rounds and an OLB. I also expect him to sign free agents in these areas that might understand his schemes and assignments better than the rookies that would give the Pats a bit more push up front.

It's Boston.  For years he focused on unglamorous defensive players and everyone was clamoring for him to take offensive skill players higher up.  Part of the problem is that all the Boston teams are competitive now, so people get stuck whining that Rondo's not a good enough PG, Doc's not a good enough coach, and Belichick's not a good enough drafter.

I know. Seriously. Stop making stupid moves and saying things like "Well I trust BB." or "I trust Danny" and win a ring already. How long do I have to wait? Either you win a ring or as a Boston fan I will let you know you didn't and why.

Danny Ainge and Bill Belichek walk into a bar. One says to the other "I like to ruin championship teams with awful trades." The other says "Really? Me too!"

I'm wrong? Then go win a ring and stop telling me these guys are geniuses. It's 2011, not 2004.

I really can't tell if you're being serious right now. 

What pass rusher should we have taken over Mallet or one of the RBs?

Also, what don't you like about Ras-I Dowling?