In honor of the first day of April I am making my first post in over a month and a half. While my break from Pats-related writing was mostly due to the overwhelming nature of my real job, I continued to keep a close eye on all things Pats.

But now that Draft month has arrived I will be easing back into things, starting today. So first, a quick hit catchup on my thoughts of the off-season so far...

The Vrabel/Cassel Trade: It seems pretty clear that the Pats had to open up some cap space in a hurry to make the number of free agent signings they wanted to. Vrabel probably still has a couple years of solid play left in him, but clearly he had lost something, and on the Patriots you can't lose anything.

Throughout 2008 the nagging question was who was more at fault for all third down conversions that were given up: pass rush or coverage. I think the trading of Vrabel and the signings of Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs answers what Bill Belichick thought. It was more due to a lack of playmakers in the secondary. This brings us to the second big off-season storyline...

Continue reading "Back in the Patriots-Blogging Saddle"

"We really need let L.T. go, he's on his last legs," as opposed to "the Chargers have to get rid of L.T. because he sucks now and I am sick of watching him suck."

Can fans really say "We?"

They're not on the team. They don't score touchdowns. They don't block anybody. The only thing they're kicking is a can down the street. 

Plus, who is so bold to qualify his or her comments as the voice of the team's collective fan nation?

We're obviously drafting Reggie Bush. Mario Williams is a workout wonder.

We are going to unleash Vernon Gholston on Tom Brady!

Continue reading "It's Okay Patriots Fans, You Can Say "We""

It's been a long void but alas the draft is upon us and with 11 picks Bill Belichick will be like a kid in a candy store with a fistful of cash. Who knows what the Pats will do this weekend, I don't even think they do but one thing is for sure and that is that they will be active.

One thing I learned last year was that a lot of info gets leaked in the final week leading up to the draft. I thought the Pats would take Branden Albert with the 8th overall pick, then all of a sudden everyone started talking about how much they loved Jerod Mayo and bada bing, guess who they picked.

So it wasn't much surprise when Don Banks mentioned this morning in his latest mock draft that he has it on good authority that the Patriots love UConn cornerback Darius Butler and will take him at #23 overall.

Continue reading "Draft Week is Here Patriots Fans"

As I've been saying for the past year re-signing Vince Wilfork should be priority one for the New England Patriots front office and from this article in today's Boston Herald it looks as if things are headed in the right direction.

Nose Tackle is the most important position in the 3-4 defense. It's Wilfork who takes on the majority of the double teams and allows the inside linebackers to fly around untouched and make plays. It's not a position that gets much praise but is one that is absolutely vital to the success of the defense.

Seeing stars depart is nothing new for Patriots fans but Wilfork is a star that cannot be allowed to leave. Players of his size and ability are hard to find, just ask any team trying to run a 3-4 defense without a quality nose tackle.

Clearly the Pats are focused on the draft at the moment, but at the very least have had preliminary talks with Wilfork that are positive. This is good news for the future of the Patriots defense.

Continue reading "Vince Wilfork Happy How Talks Are Going With Patriots"

The countdown to draft weekend is a long and tedious one from the moment your favorite NFL team's season finishes.

For most of us, the season comes crashing to a bitter and disappointing end. While the start of Free Agency and the release of the NFL season schedule are dates to look forward to, it's the draft that is the ultimate start of the new season, and the first gold star day to put on the calendar.

For those fans lucky enough to witness their team win the Super Bowl, the draft is a chance to remind the other thirty-one how last season ended. Pittsburgh fans can look forward to plenty of highlights and constant praise for their team.

And for Cardinal fans, constant kicks in family jewels as they see James Harrison running back that fumble for a touchdown over and over again.

Continue reading "Draft Day is Christmas For NFL Fans"

Peter King reports this morning that the New England Patriots are trying to get to the 8th or 9th pick in the draft by packaging their first round pick (23rd overall) and the middle of their three second-round picks. King floats the idea that the Pats could be targetting LSU DE Tyson Jackson but admits he does not know for sure.

Clearly with the number of roster spots the Pats will have available this summer (not a lot), it makes sense to try and get and get a top rated talent rather than a collection of lesser talented prospects. Not to say the Pats wouldn't make good use of all 4 picks in the first two rounds should they decide to hang on to them.

Another name to throw out there that they could be looking at is Malcolm Jenkins from OSU. Jenkins is the top rated defensive back on everyone's draft board and has versatility to play safety as well.

Continue reading "Peter King Reports Pariots Looking to Move Up Inside the Top-10"

It was yet another long and anti-climactic draft weekend.

The Patriots again did what no one thought they would and selected a collection of solid players. Only a couple will be in any position to help the team immediately but the rest will restock the depth at the positions that good football teams value the most: along the lines.

As expected the Pats were frequent trade partners. In fact, only two of the Pats twelve picks were even their own non-compensatory picks. The rest all came via trades.

When the dust settled the Pats had 4 picks in the first two rounds of 2010, and a number of uniquely talented prospects. 

Patrick Chung: He's a good complement to James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather. Sturdy, plays with an edge, and should excel playing close to the line of scrimmage. With Sanders and Meriweather both signed thru 2011 and now the addition of Chung, the Patriots have a solid young corps of safeties.

Continue reading "Notes on a New England Patriots Draft Weekend"

In weeks and months leading up the NFL draft a fan is overwhelmed with the possibilities of who their team might add. Everywhere you look there are prospects who would be exciting additions to the team, however once the draft is over you're left with a handful of draftees, a few of whom may be exciting, but the majority of whom are considered boring depth-adding projects.

The Pats are no different, even with 12 new members of the team added over draft weekend. Sure I'm excited about Patrick Chung, he was one of my favorite prospects leading up to the draft. And Darius Butler makes the third rookie CB in the last two years to join the team, hopefully he can make some plays.

Other than those two guys we probably won't see much out of the rest at least until 2010. Of course, that's still a good thing. Alot of teams won't see anything out of their draftees at all. At least with Belichick making the picks you trust a couple of them will contribute somewhere down the line.

Continue reading "New England Patriots Post-Draft Depression Thoughts & Observations"