The Patriot’s defense is a mess right now, and it has been a topic of discussion on ESPN and NFL Network. Most people attribute the struggling defense to the departure of most of the veterans that helped them win three championships (Seymour, Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison, and Samuel). I disagree with these remarks and believe the Patriot’s struggles are more-so due to their low success in the draft. Belichick wouldn’t have been in this position if he was able to do a better job in the drafts, specifically in the recent years.
2008
Belichick’s defense was aging fast and many of the players were at the end of their career. The Patriots started addressing their defense with the 2008 draft which was a year too late. Out of the Patriot’s seven 2008 draft choices, six of them were on the defensive side of the ball. This draft class included 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jerod Mayo, but the other five players didn’t turn out as well. The Patriot’s two cornerback picks were Terrence Wheatley who has been a complete bust and hardly sees the field, and 4th round pick Jonathan Wilhite sits at 3rd on the depth chart. Third round pick outside linebacker, Shawn Crable, was rated as having tremendous upside as a pass rusher, but was placed on injured reserve for both the 2008 and 2009 seasons and has yet to play a down in a regular season game. On a bright note, undrafted inside linebacker Gary Guyton has been a very pleasant surprise and is the other starting inside linebacker with Mayo.
2009
Again, in the 2009 draft, the Patriot’s focus on defense was evident in their 2009 draft class and their first three picks were defensive players. Even though it’s not fair to be overly critical of rookies in the NFL, there haven’t been any superstars and none of the defensive rookies have earned a starting spot on the roster. Chung and Butler have seen regular playing time, but they still have room for improvement. Defensive tackle Ron Brace has been the target of many questions because he is a second round pick that has barely seen playing time and is behind sixth round pick Myron Pryor on the depth chart. Fourth round pick, linebacker Tyrone McKenzie, was another highly rated player but a preseason ACL injury sent him to IR.
Veterans
Now, was Belichick foolish by clearing the roster of the veterans and Pro-Bowlers this defense used to carry? In my opinion, no he wasn’t. Harrison and Bruschi needed to retire and they both had very successful careers. Mayo and Brandon Meriweather have stepped into their shoes and filled in admirably. Asante Samuel continues to be a shut down corner for the Eagles and he would have made a substantial difference in the Patriot’s secondary. However, it would have been nice to see Wheatley, Wilhite, or Butler come in and earn a starting corner spot. Furthermore, Richard Seymour was unexpectedly traded to the Raiders for a 2011 1st round pick. It was his contract year, which he shared with Vince Wilfork, and it would have been very unlikely for the Patriots to resign both defensive linemen. Also, the 2011 1st round pick should be under the rumored “rookie salary cap” system which would make a 1st round pick very valuable. The Patriot’s pass rush was pedestrian in 2008 with Seymour on the roster and I don’t think he would have made a very big difference. Given the scenario, I agree with this trade completely. The one move that I don’t completely agree with is the trade of Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs as part of the Matt Cassel deal. It wasn’t in the best interest of the Patriots and I believe it was more of a favor to give GM Scott Pioli a veteran player on the abysmal Chief’s Defense.
Future
I can’t blame Belichick for most of the moves he made with the personnel. Would Vrabel have helped the defense? Probably. But, on the flip-side, injuries and poor play from draft choices have just exposed the restructured defense. The Patriot’s defense finished with a respectable 11th best in yards per game. However, when your team leads the NFL in time of possession (as the Patriots do), your defense isn’t on the field often and should be ranked highly. The Patriots are transitioning to a younger squad and we may be seeing the next wave of a Pro-bowl laden team, but it’s as if it’s still a few years away. If the Patriots had hits on their draft picks the defense could be in a different situation. They saw these holes developing and tried addressing them with the draft but didn’t get success they wanted. The Patriots found two starters (Mayo and Meriweather) from the last 17 defensive players they’ve drafted since 2007. They have four picks in the first two rounds of the 2010 draft and I will say with no exaggeration, the Patriots need to draft well. There are holes on this defense that need filling, the most obvious being the lack of a pass rush. Winning games starts in April; Remember, the Draft Matters.
Patsrule,
I agree the Patriot’s defense needs help, but Belichick has never drafted a rush linebacker in the first round and I don’t expect him to this year. Because the players don’t play the 3-4 standing up outside linebacker in college, it’s a big gamble. Besides a rush linebacker and defensive end depth, the Patriot’s biggest needs are at the skill positions on offense (running back, wide receiver, and tight end). Kevin Faulk, Sammy Morris, and Fred Taylor are all well in their 30s and fresh legs would do the offense great. Welker will be out for most of the season and Moss hinted at walking next year. Lastly, tight end Ben Watson is in a contract year and has hired a new agent making his return to the team doubtful.
Is this a joke no way the Pats are taking best at that spot. That would be the biggest waste of their number 1 pick, Best is injury prone and has had 2 many concussions already those are injuries you don’t want to mess with. Besides the Pats need def help that is a must and if BB doesn’t see that or address it then he should start packing his stuff and go into early retirement cause he is done.
Looks good to me, I would love to see a mock from you with trades. I think with the draft being 3 days now, team will have more time to think about trade ideas. There will be several, and Detroit Lions will be majore players with trading. They have a lot of holes to fill, and they are in a good position at #2 depending on if a qb is gone at #1
Renegade, we completely agree. The idea with drafting a tackle is that it would allow Jeff Backus to slide inside and play guard, which he probably would do a better job at. It depends on who is available; Idaho guard Mike Iupati would be real hard to pass up on at the top of round two if he’s available.
I look at these mock drafts as a footabll fix between the SB and the draft. This sight is well thought out, looks great and the insite on teams is really solid. I’m a Cowboy fan and your thoughts on Dallas are spot on. They cant afford to mess two drafts in a row. Not a single player made a contribution to the 2009 squad and that goes double for Williams!
Jag Fan, After Tebow’s performance at the Senior Bowl (game and practice) I don’t think there’s any way he’ll be drafted in the first round. This will be reflected in the next update.
Seriously, please understand that WAYNE WEAVER NEVER GUARANTEED ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO TEBOW. He stated that if GM Gene Smith thought that Tebow was at the top of the team’s big board then that would be fine. That got misconstrued into saying that he would draft him. Not true. Gene follows his big board and selects big guys before 3rd round talent QB’s.
The Lions are actually more in need of an OLG than OT.
Dirty Waters, It’s true that Stewart Bradley had a terrific 2008 season and was on his way to being a mainstay in the Eagles linebacking corps. However, after tearing his ACL there is no guarantee that he will maintain the explosiveness he previously possessed. A versatile linebacker like Brandon Spikes can give the eagles another option at MLB, as well as an option at OLB where they are weak.
The Eagles will not take a LB with their first pick….Andy Reid doesn’t draft linebackers in round 1, well, ever. Plus, your analysis of need is way off on this pick. They had all those different starters at the MIKE because their up and coming future Pro-bowl MLB Stewart Bradley was lost for the year with a knee injury that he has already fully recovered from. The Birds will go D-line, DB, or maybe RB depending on what they do in free agency.
sooner or later, maybe after the senior bowl (which suh will avoid like the plague) and/or the combine, people who do mock drafts will realize that the best dt’s this year are products of the sec and not the big 12 OR the pac 10. thank you very much!!!
Ummmm How is D’Qwell Jackson not listed on Cleveland’s Key Free Agents?
Seriously, Mike Furrey and Michael Gaines??? How about Brodney Pool and Jerome Harrison.
With that said you listed DT as a need. Shaun Rogers and Atyba Rubin are very good NT in the 3-4 that the Browns have in place.
Oh and a minor Note you said Jay Ratliff was brought over, you meant Brett Ratliff. Minor Mistake.
As a fan, but also someone who studies the draft throughly for college, this mock isn’t bad. Just many errors throughout.
As mentioned above for the Dolphins – for the Steelers NT is also a need that wasn’t listed. Casey Hampton is an unrestricted free agent and is 33.
John Peter,
Thanks for pointing that out. I should have said “with their next pick.”
If you guys knew anything, you would know what draft picks each team has and what round they have them in. The Jaguars don’t even have a 2nd round pick…you should do your research before you write something.
You list the Dolphins needs as WR, TE, DT. Although we’ll see if they bring Fasano back, all are true.
What’s missing fom that is NT (Ferguson is 35, ws put on IR this year and we have no solid replacement) and FS (Gibril Wilson was an absolute bust last season). So folks like Cody, Dan Williams or Taylor Mays becme possibilities for them with the 12th pick.
No way that oakland drafts Tebow the draft czar appointed by obama would not let thaat happen Taylor Mays is the pick here just because he is a freak and the ugliest man in the world Al Davis loves his freaks..
Tebow that high? The Raiders WOULD do that!