The Future is Now or Will Be Soon

Another trademark Bill Belichick draft is in the books. If you didn’t already know, Belichick doesn’t care what you or Mel Kiper or Mike Mayock or Todd McShay or Matt Miller or Nolan Nawrocki or anybody else thinks. You think Dominique Easley is a risky pick just because he’s got bionic knees? Well, that’s your opinion, man. You think Jimmy Garoppolo has tiny hands? Bill will fix his steely pale blue gaze on you and ask, “If hand size is so important, do you think maybe I should draft an orangutan to play quarterback?”

My advice? Don’t make eye contact.

 

Hey, I’m the guy who suggested the Patriots draft Cornell QB Jeff Mathews in part because New England still had time to get it wrong in looking for the heir to Tom Brady’s throne. Ryan Mallett will be around to backup Brady in 2014; why not take a flyer on a big strong QB with upside. Granted, I was giving up the 7^th round pick for Mathews. Still, I should be unhappy with Jimmy Garoppolo?

Yes, I checked out ACL reconstructions using the Google Machine. No, I don’t feel that much better about Dominique Easley.

As per usual following the NFL draft, Patriots fans ask themselves, what does it all mean?

The Patriots went into the draft with the consensus view of pigskin cognoscenti that the Patriots needed help at safety, tight end and with the pass rush in some order, along with depth at linebacker, help on the interior offensive line and a long-term replacement for Vince Wilfork as important but lesser priorities. With Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen entering their contract years, a running back seemed likely to be drafted on Day 3. And if a big X receiver who could play outside the numbers and win 50/50 balls fell into their laps, why not?

New England did not draft a tight end or a safety (sorry, I’m not buying Jemea Thomas at safety). They took a small school/huge upside guy in Concordia DE/OLB Zach Moore who may one day play up to his impressive measurables (6’6” and 270lbs) but is anyone penciling this guy in for DROY? Okay then, no help with the pass rush and no depth at linebacker. No long-term replacement for Vince Wilfork, either.

The Patriots did load up on the interior offensive line with plus-sized FSU center Bryan Stork, Stanford rocket-scientist/offensive tackle Cameron Fleming and road-grader Gator guard Jon Halapio. Stork and Halapio are bigger and cheaper than incumbents Ryan Wendell and Dan Connolly. Fleming puts veteran swing tackle Will Svitek on the street and could allow the Patriots to kick Marcus Cannon inside.

And New England picked up Wisconsin running back James White, who looked a little bit like Stevan Ridley’s younger, smaller brother on his highlight reel. They also took a wide receiver but not the big X receiver type. Instead, they took Michigan slot machine Jeremy Gallon in the 7^th round.

I find the Gallon pick intriguing. Small, yes, but a playmaker who could shake up the depth chart at WR. I also liked hearing that RB White would like to be the next Brian Dawkins. I’d like him to be the next Brian Dawkins, too. The draft class was peppered with team captains; players known for their smarts – yes, one of them is literally a rocket scientist – and their commitment to football.

The Patriots did sign a couple of UDFA tight ends, including East Carolina’s gigantic Justin Jones, who stands 6’8” tall and weighs in at 274lbs. Incredibly, Jones ran a 6.88 in the 3-cone drill and (say it with me now) Bill Belichick loves him some 3-cone drill. Also impressing in the 3-cone drill was Michigan’s Cameron Gordon, with a 6.74. Gordon could provide special teams help and linebacker depth.

Back to the question; what does it all mean?

It’s easy to forget that before the draft one of the main story lines was that the Patriots were young (excepting Brady, Wilfork and Mankins) and the depth chart was stacked. Aside from a couple of positions (tight end, I’m looking at you), there wouldn’t be many opportunities for rookies to earn a spot on the final 53. Aside from tight end – where they never had a shot at Eric Ebron, the lone sure thing in the draft – New England did a pretty good job addressing the interior offensive line. The defining image of last year’s AFC Championship wasn’t a play from Peyton Manning; it was Terrence “Pot Roast” Knighton sacking Tom Brady. If Brady was clean in the pocket on that 4^th down play, does that game end differently?

Maybe we’ll find out in January.

As for tight end, Signing Dustin Keller in the next few days would come as no surprise. If Gronk and Keller are healthy (admittedly a big if), the Patriots will be just fine at TE. In fact, they’re doing fine just about everywhere on the depth chart (I found this Bleacher Report breakdown by James Christensen quite reassuring), without even considering how this year’s UDFA class will contribute.

What does it all mean?

It means the AFC East still runs through Foxborough.

I heard this song on the radio the other day and found this version on YouTube. For those of us of a certain age…