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The Patriots have been receiving mediocre grades nationally for their moves on NFL draft weekend, but I don't see how New England fans could possibly be unhappy with what the team accomplished.
Going into the draft, the Pats needed to get help at two areas: linebacker and secondary. Done and done.
After working out a trade with the Saints to move into the No. 10 slot, the Patriots picked Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo, one of the top defensive players in the SEC last season. All told, five of New England's seven draft picks were either linebackers or defensive backs, a telling number. And UCLA wide receiver Matthew Slater, who also plays safety, would make it six of seven if that's where he figures into the team's plans.
New England's linebacking corps has been getting older and older, with Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Junior Seau and Adalius Thomas all on the wrong side of 30.
Mayo can play both inside and outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 defense, so he fits perfectly into Bill Belichick's defensive system. Any time the experts on TV were asked about Mayo, one of the first adjectives used was "smart." You hear that about several of the Pats' picks, and it's no accident.
No team understands the value of smarts and character better than the Patriots, and they make those qualities top priorities on draft day. Mayo, with his speed and athleticism, should give the linebacker corps a fresh look next season. New England also picked Michigan LB Shawn Crable in the third round and Nebraska LB Bo Ruud in the sixth.
In the defensive backfield, the team is hoping second-round pick Terrence Wheatly of Colorado and fourth-round pick Jonathan Wilhite of Auburn can help make up for the loss of free agent corners Asante Samuel and Randall Gay. There are going to be growing pains at that position, but the Patriots have signed several stop-gap veterans this offseason to help ease that transition.
The choice of quarterback Kevin O'Connell of San Diego State in the third round surely raised some eyebrows in the Matt Cassel household. It was a clear sign that the Pats aren't completely sold on Cassel as the backup to Tom Brady. O'Connell, at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, is an athletic, big quarterback who is not afraid to scramble. It will be interesting to see where he fits in the team's plans over the next couple seasons.
Overall, there are two big reasons why Pats fans should feel confident about the results from this weekend's draft: Belichick and Scott Pioli. Nobody knows the players better than them, and they've easily earned the fan base's trust at this point.
Posted by Frank Coppola at April 28, 2008 11:44 PM
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