Draft Review

After seven rounds and 252 picks, one thing stands out. 41 defensive linemen were drafted and 39 offensive linemen were granted employment.

Did someone say monkey see, monkey do? They always said the NFL is a copycat league and it couldn't be more obvious.

For all those claiming that the Patriots' offensive line was exposed, I ask them if N.E.'s men in the trenches were so bad, why did they give up just 21 sacks? The Pats didn't have the league's best offense in spite of Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, and Nick Kaczur. Quarterback Tom Brady doesn't throw 50 touchdowns without time in the pocket.

The truth is, the New York Giants had a one of a kind defensive line package. No one else could trot out a D-line consisted of three defensive ends (it would had been four if Mathias Kiwanuka was healthy). New England's interior line couldn't handle the quickness of Justin Tuck after shutting down slower defensive tackles. The Giants created the mismatch and it worked to perfection.

The Giants showed a dominate a four-man pass rush can negate even the best offenses.

The rest of the league saw that and are hoping to replicate that. That's why Jacksonville trades up to select Derrick Harvey and later draft Quentin Groves. Chicago, already with a productive pass rush, added a DE and DT. Cincinnati fortified their inside with two DTs and an end. Cleveland added one of each, as did Kansas City, Detroit, and Seattle. Miami picked up three (two ends, one tackle) while Arizona made it a triple threat of ends.

On the flip side, teams don't want to be the next Patriots: Chicago invigorated an aging unit with three new arrivals. Carolina assembled a threesome of their own. The Chiefs, Dolphins, Ravens, nabbed a guard and tackle. Even Indianapolis, one of the better units in the league, got in on the action with two additions.

The funny thing is, the Patriots didn't get in on the action on either side of the ball. Not one O-lineman, no fresh face at D-tackle, not even an end to convert to linebacker. While New England's O-line is far from perfect, they are more than capable week to week. And with DT Richard Seymour likely to be healthy to begin the season, the D-line will be complete from day one.

As the Patriots draft, they addressed needs at linebacker and corner back and a developmental pick at quarterback. One thing all players have in common is speed. Terrence Wheatley is the freak with a 4.37 40 time. On his heels is Matt Slater with a 4.4. Two clocked in at 4.5 and the remaining three a very respectable 4.6.

While I'm not big on grades, I would give the Piolicheck-led staff of coaches and scouts a B-. They filled needs with players with the physical atributes they want (not easy finding big LBs nowadays) and created competition. Hopefully they found more keepers than last year.