NFL Draft Info - New England Patriots

Each year in the Patriots off season is a new chapter of “what will Bill do.”  If you look at all of the years Belichick has done things different, one year it is barely doing anything and picking up a few no names of “washed up” veterans, then another making a huge splash by trading for Randy Moss and Wes Welker.  2010 was restocking and keeping the veterans that have always produced on the field and in the locker room, which was lacking last season, even Tom Brady mentioned the lack of leadership.

Offensively, the Pats were very up and down looking great sometimes and extremely poor other times.  They lacked the consistency in the play calling that they had with Josh McDaniels and Charlie Weiss.

Offensive Changes/Additions- Tight End

Losses

Benjamin Watson-TE- Signed with Cleveland.  Since Watson has been with the Patriots he was the definition of inconsistency.  Coming out of college Watson was highly touted as an athletic and gifted tight end.  Whether it was the Patriots not using him correctly or Watson not living up to his potential, we will always remember him for chasing down Champ Bailey in the AFC playoffs.

Chris Baker-TE- signed with Seattle.  One year was apparently enough for this former Jet.  He was used primarily as a blocker in New York, also getting some goal line routes.  In the preseason it looked like he was going to be a valuable addition to the team, catching multiple touchdowns in a game with Brady throwing to him, but that was preseason.  He is an aging veteran, but can block with the best of them, and will valuable to any team.

The Replacements

Alge Crumpler- Other than Vick, Crumpler has been the most affected by Vick’s legal troubles, he production has been non existent since Vick left the Falcons.  Last year he was with Tenn, who had a lackluster passing attack.  Crumpler is still big and had proved he can catch, the Patriots are hoping he can get back to the form he had with the Falcons.

The Rookies- Aaron Hernandez and Ron Gronkowski, will be contributors the day they walk into training camp.  Many believed that Gronkowski was the most complete tight end in the draft, losing his last season to injury only dropped him to the second round which is impressive.  Hernandez was consistent throughout his career at Florida and can be used in many different ways.

Wide Receiver

Losses

Other than Wes Welker’s knee injury, there were no major losses at wide out.  Even though Welker was amazingly productive, when he was not healthy, there was a drop off in the offense.  Sam Aiken and Julian Edelman were nice complimentary players, but together their stats can’t add up to Welker’s.

Additions

Tory Holt- The former pro bowler has had two very tough seasons, one with the Rams and one with the Jaguars.  Last year the word was that Holt just didn’t care during the season and it showed with his stats, just 51 catches for 722 yards and not one touchdown.  So what does a receiver do when his talent is in question?  Sign with the Patriots and have one of the best QBs of all time throw you the ball.  Unless he gets hurt, this signing should help both parties.

David Patten- A former Pat realizing the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.  Honestly, I do not know the reason for this signing other than maybe for depth and someone who is familiar with Brady.

Taylor Price- As I once mentioned in my draft recap, this kid can play.  He has the tools to make a difference now, but may benefit from being behind some good veterans.

Offensive Line

Potential Loss

Logan Mankins, the two time Pro Bowl guard, who is considered one of the best in the NFL is still without a long term deal.  He is only 28 and has played in 80 of the games that he was dressed for, if that isn’t consistency I don’t know what is, and he is a lineman, a left guard, who protects Tom Brady.  We have all seen the Patriots deal with contract issues before (Deon Branch, Lawyer Milloy, Richard Seymour), and other than Vince Wilfork, it never ends pretty, lets hope that Bill gets this one done.

Key Return

Steven Neal, the one time college wrestler and non drafted free agent has been a consistent player on the Pats line for quite some time.  This is a great resigning, but they do have to look to get a little younger on the line in the next few seasons.

Additions

Ted Larsen, 6^th round pick, NC State.  There is a reason I did not recap all the late round picks.  This guy is a converted defensive tackle who played offensive line for two years at NC State.  He is 6-2 and 304, a bit shorter than most linemen, but he is athletic and has shown sign of becoming a good linemen.  He has the tools; he will just need a few years to develop.

Thomas Welch, 6^th round pick, Vanderbilt.  This guy is huge, 6-6, 307, a converted tight end, he has the body to be a linemen, but not the tools yet.  He is a project according to most scouts.  We have seen the Pats pay a project well and keep them on the practice squad until they are ready.

John Wise (6-5, 260), undrafted free agent, Illinois.  Another former wrestler and Belichick is 1-2 when signing former wrestlers.  They good news is that Wise did play football at Western Illinois before transferring to Illinois, so there is some knowledge there.

Running Backs

Key Return

Kevin Faulk- This guy is so underrated and forgot about more than any player I have ever seen in the NFL.  He has been so consistent for the Pats throughout his career, need a third down, pass it to Faulk in the flats, punt returner not producing, put Faulk back there, honestly if Troy Brown didn’t beat him to it, I think he could have played cornerback, just because.  He isn’t a spring chicken anymore, but continues to produce, and adds a dimension that they do not have in the other running backs.

Undrafted Free Agent

Pat Paschall, North Dakota State, 5-11, 206.  He runs a 4.5 40, so not lighting quick but he produced enough in school to be invited to the combine and be projected to be a late round pick.  His senior he doubled his carries and yardage, carry the ball 207 times for 1397 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.  He also caught the ball 12 times for 186 yards.  The Pats have a lot of veterans that are on the roster, and some of them (Morris and Taylor) get hurt often, the Pats should keep him on the practice squad.

Quarter Back

Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer are still there.  They have keep two QBs on the active roster for some time, but look for them to carry a third and another on the practice squad.

Additions

Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State, 6-2, 214, 7^th round pick.  He played in the Big 12, getting less press because of Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford, but Robinson produced throughout his career.  He is athletic and mobile, recruited as both a QB and Wide Receiver, he ran for 1858 yards and 22 TDs, but did more damage in the air passing for 8317 yards, 66 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.  He has the tools, the smarts, and the drive.  The only “weakness” he has is arm strength and downfield accuracy, but showed improvement in the Senior Bowl and his pro day, but that was a knock on Tom Brady too.

Mike Teel, free agent signee from Seattle Seahawks.  Teel was Seattle’s 3^rd string QB last year seeing no action as a rookie.  If you read my draft recap you will understand why he was brought in, he played at Rutgers, one of the two schools that Belichick spent some time at and watched their practices.  A three year starter at Rutgers, he did put up decent numbers throughout his career, throwing for 9398 yards and 59 touchdowns, he will compete with Robinson for a roster spot.

It wasn’t an exciting off season for the offense, which leads me to believe that 2010 was for the defense and 2011 (baring a lock out) will be the year of the offense.  They still have a great nucleus with the offense, the Pats will have to incorporate some younger talent or find a good free agent in the off season to continue to make this great offense potent for years to come.

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