The Visitors Part 2

The Patriots are taking a serious interest with some of the available punters. This is something that is long overdue. Chris Hanson had a decent average in ’07 and ’08, but it dropped to 39.7 last year.

Punting average isn’t as important as net yards, and that’s where he hurt the team. Hanson and the coverage units had about a 36 net yards average in ’07 and ’08, and it got worse last year when it dropped to 34.1.

Having a big leg isn’t as important as hang time or placement in head coach Bill Belichick’s opinion. Hanson did a good job dropping punts inside the 20 and forcing fair catches. But being a finesse punter only gets one so far. Hanson was costing the team field position.

New England checked out the top two punters in this year’s draft. Here’s a little about one of them, along with four other players the Pats reportedly met or will meet with:

P Zoltan Mesko, Michigan

He finished with the best average in college last year. New England hasn’t drafted a punter since Pat O’Neil in 1994. I know nothing about Mesko, but I would like to see the Pats draft him just so us fans can compliment him with a rendition of one of Adam Sandler’s movie: Don’t mess with the Zoltan.

LB Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State

I never heard of him until The Boston Globe said the Pats checked him out. He’s considered a coverage ILB with great speed. Chaney was measured at 6’1” 242 pounds and ran a 4.54 40. Maybe not a future starter, but he could find a role if drafted in the fourth round or later. P.S. Two more vids of Chaney (blitz and vs. run) are available.

WR Damian Williams, USC

A good sized receiver with deep speed and great hands. Williams is projected to be a second round pick. Williams sounds like the total package, but the flag goes up because Williams is an USC receiver. There have been more busts (Dwayne Jarrett, Mike Williams, Keary Colbert, R.J. Soward) than successes (Giants’ Steve Smith, Keyshawn Johnson).

DE/LB Ricky Sapp, Clemson

Sapp completely fits the mold of what New England is looking for as an OLB: Tall (6’4), big (252 pounds), and fast (4.7 in the 40). But the video I saw of him was disappointing. He looked like a man in space most of the time. And Sapp stops cold when the offensive tackle gets their hands on him. Sapp is considered a second round pick.

C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida

The top-rated player at his position that is capable of moving to guard. That’s the kind of versatility New England likes. The Pats appear set at the interior line positions, but if Pouncey surprisingly lasts until 22, the Patriots might find him too hard to resist.

Questions? Comments? Send to talktome@randolphc.com