I think Bill Belichick has the draft all wrong. You don’t win anything by having the most picks. As expected, the head coach of the Patriots traded down multiple times in the first round, and continued to do so in the second and third. But he did break the routine by going the aggressive route in the second. A quick look at the first two days of selections:
CB Devin McCourty, Rutgers - I figured the Pats would take a corner, I just didn’t expect it to be this soon. With the receivers coming to the division (Santonio Holmes to the N.Y. Jets, Brandon Marshall to Miami) as well as questionable depth, They picked McCourty. First time New England selected a corner in the first round since Chris Canty from Kansas State in 1997. Tebucky Jones was a college safety at Syracuse when selected in ’98 that failed to convert to CB with the Pats.
TE Rob Gronkowski, Arizona – They traded up for Gronkowski, like they did for Daniel Graham. He’s a huge target (6’6” 264) that missed last year with an injury but will be ready for 2010. His enthusiasm after getting drafted makes me optimistic. My only problem is I still haven’t figured out Stephen Gostkowski’s name. Now I have another lengthy something-something-ski name to teach myself.
OLB Jermaine Cunningham, Florida – This came from out of nowhere, as I heard his name maybe once or twice before Friday. My concern is Cunningham is another Gator defensive end. That last one New England drafted, Jeremy Mincey in 2006, didn’t work out well and was cut before the season. Hopefully history doesn’t repeat.
ILB Brandon Spikes, Florida – Spikes has “Belichick kind of Player” written all over him. Huge, physical, and intelligent, he’s the thumper the ILBs lack. So what that Spikes didn’t time well in the 40? He can play football. And like Mayo, Spikes will play early and often. Two University of Florida players in one draft. Will Urban Meyer become an assistant coach next?
WR Taylor Price, Ohio – I never heard of him. But the book on Price is he’s a deep threat with good size (6’0” 204). He’s still rough around the edges because he does come from a smaller school. He’ll run downfield routes until he understands the offense.
One note: Philadelphia traded up to select DE Daneil Te’o-Neishem in the third round. Allegedly, the Pats were interested in him and he was plucked just four picks ahead of New England. When it was the Patriots turn, they traded out of the round. This is the third time the Pats traded down after a LB/DE was selected several spots before New England’s turn. If they want DE Chris McCoy, they might have to be aggressive and go get him.
Questions? Comments? Send to talktome@randolphc.com
