Pats Pulpit on the Draft

It's hard to get objective thinking from Pats Pulpit. It is a 1 man operation that gives the Pat's management's viewpoint on all issues. I read it because I'm a homeer but I'd prefer something that puts the players, team, issues etc. in a more balanced perspective.

I know PFF has been a controversial source for info but they are a fairly impartial source.


www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/04/29/draft-5-best-picks-from-day-2-of-the-nfl-draft/


2. Joe Thuney, T/G, New England Patriots
After grading among the nation’s best guards in 2014, Thuney kicked out to left tackle last season and finished fifth in the nation —
fourth in the draft class — at +35.6 overall. He moves well and locks onto blocks in the run game (+24.1, fourth in the class) and he’s only surrendered 14 pressures on 843 snaps in pass protection over the last two years. Thuney is a nice fit for New England as his position versatility will allow him to back up starters Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer at tackle while competing for a starting spot at guard in the meantime. Throw in New England’s love for moving players in and out along the offensive line and Thuney should see the field early on.


www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/04/30/draft-2016-nfl-draft-grades-for-all-32-teams/

New England Patriots, B-
2 (60) Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
3 (78) (via New Orleans) Joe Thuney, G, NC State
3 (91) Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State
3 (96) Vincent Valentine, DT, Nebraska
4 (112) (from New Orleans) Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia
6 (208) Kamu Grugier-Hill, CB, Eastern Illinois
6 (214) Elandon Roberts, ILB, Houston
6 (221) Ted Karras, G, Illinois
7 (225) (from Dallas via Seattle) Devin Lucien, WR, Arizona State

Day 1: No picks

Day 2: With no pick in the first round, the Patriots went with two solid options in Jones and Thuney in the second round. Jones played outside cornerback at Alabama but he has the skills to play in the slot, and he’s strong in both man and zone coverage, leading to a +12.6 coverage grade that ranked eighth among cornerbacks in the draft class. Thuney ranked as a top-20 guard in 2014 and a top-5 tackle in 2015, and he’s only given up 14 total pressures in two years while bringing strong run-blocking and scheme versatility. Brissett is more of a developmental option at QB after posting the No. 24 overall grade in the draft class, and Valentine is more of a hold-the-point run-stopper at nose tackle.

Day 3: Mitchell should compete for snaps on the outside with his sharp intermediate route running that led to a +17.5 receiving grade (16th in the class). Lucien is another intriguing option on the outside and one of our draft sleepers at No. 92 on the PFF Draft Board.

The Pulpit is homer central, and Rich Hill is the homer poster child. When I used to post there he was just a regular poster who occasionally did a special piece. Just another wannabe blogger.

I'm thinking Thuney might be a good pick. The rest are typical BB head scratchers.

Cyrus Jone and Mitchell are not head scratchers. Mitchell was a good pick at that point. Some pundits had an end of the 2nd round grade on the kid. Cyrus Jones was a legit 2nd round pick. 


I'll agree the QB was questionable/head scratcher and Valentine was the ultimate risk reward BB pick. The end of the 3rd round compensatory picks should be where those gambles are made.

I think Jones will be a good CB and return guy. We have a lot of turnover on the D, with expiring contracts. I mean Butler, Ryan and Coleman are all up in short order. You have to invest in CB early which BB did to offset that. 
I get what you are saying on # of draft picks dedicated to D vs O, but BB also used FA to get some pretty good O talent. (Bennett, Harbor, Hogan, etc.). 
And, he drafted a very good, versatile OL in Thuney that at the least should start at Guard and the best replace Vollmer at RT. he's going to be a stud I think in the way Mankins was. Solid pick. So he did spend some capital to beef up the OL and used FA to add to his skill positions. 
The only knock I will hand out is at RB. That to me is a big question mark. He did add DJ Foster via UDFA and this kid has some skills, but I would have liked him to add a pounder which he still might. Off season isn't over. Plenty of teams have a surplus of RBs. We could still be buyers here. 
Yes, BB doesn't have a good history at drafting WRs. We all know that. I think this year might be different in Mitchell and Lucien. Both are legit and, we have a full stable ahead of them so they don't have to be thrown into the fire the same way Dobby was. Dobby for whatever reason was a tease of a pick. He's got skills, but he's fragile and not a fighter. Lucien is a fighter. 

To me, thuney, Jones and Mitchell(if he can stay healthy) look like they'll be solid contributors or hopefully better. The rest, I agree with you. But if we can get 3 good contributors, who eventually start or better, ill take that every year. Rds 4-7 are often crapshoot. Sure you can find great players there, but cant expect too, is what I'm trying to say

Well, when 7 of your last 8 first round picks were for D you're probably going to have a number of contracts and extensions on your plate for one side of the ball.

When you keep screwing up, there is a steep price to pay.

You're right, I could be a Bucs fan and not have Brady, lol.

7 of 8 first round picks? You mean first picks? ...or are you taking a page form the NFL and just throwing out false info and hoping it sticks? Cyrus Jones was a late 2nd Rd pick. Jamie Collins also a 2nd Rd pick.  So that would be 5 first round picks not 7. Was it ok when your model franchise the Seahawks spent 6 of their 7 years in a row using 1st picks, 5 of them in the 1st round, to try and build their defense starting in 2003? I didn't bother to look but I'm sure you can go through all the various teams and find similar stretches on both sides of the ball throughout draft history.

I don't appreciate being called a liar when I'm 100% correct. Don't start your mindless kool-aide guzzling homer BS with me.


7 of BB's last 8 FIRST ROUND PICKS have been for defense. That's 88%

5 of Seattle's last 8 first round picks were for defense. That's 62%


Yeah, you may find some team that weighed heavily to one side of the ball, because THEY SCREWED UP and had to fix that.

Yep Babe my interpretation of what you were saying with how you worded it was wrong. I thought you meant in the past 8 drafts.

McKenzie was 3rd round. I didn't list busts, I listed misses. A guy like Spikes, taken in the 2nd round who wasn't a 3 down guy anyway, was booted after the rookie contract; that's a miss. And Chung is at best a warm body filler type. He is a classic homer overrated type guy. Wilson was taken WAY too early like everybody on Earth knew except BB. Harmon is another nothing. Ryan is vastly overrated by the homers and just plain sucks overall and at his best is filler.

I never said he was terrible. He has made terrible decisions, but he is just another guy guessing and missing, A LOT. Mediocre. I've called him an idiot, not because that is his sum total, but because a good number of things he has done were idiotic. I actually have gone easy on him.




 

I would say a one pick swing over the last 8 first rounders is pretty typical of nearly any team you might check on.

The Seahawks aren't beloved by me, lol. I really don't like them much. Neither are they a model franchise. I think Carrol and Co, did a good job getting them to the top rung and I predicted Carrol would do well when he came from USC because he did well for us.