Jonathan Wilhite analysis

Another freaking l5-9 cornerback in a game that is going through change and WR's getting taller....and better...and the Pats are stuck in 1990's mode when it comes to drafting CB's. Hobbs is the prime example of a CB that is totally out of his league in today's NFL at corner. And now, two more. Un fricking believable. What a wast of draft picks. This will go down as the worst draft in the BB/Pioli era.

Mike, Yet another undersized CB to go with the other undersized CBs we've drafted or signed. If you had to take a stab at it today, what 4 or 5 CBs of our current collection would you see making the opening day roster? Who would start of that group? And what will they do differently this year to break up all the passes completed over their heads to 6'+ receivers last year?

This whole draft is a massive disappointment. None of these picks make any sense. Why not draft John Greco instead of that stupid trade with the chargers ? We need OL not small CB This is the end of what could have been great.

Mike Allen,

Your obsession with Hobbs is a disturbing as it is tiresome.

geez people, don't get all in a twist before these players have done anything yet. The entire point of this draft is getting younger on D, and clearly they are loading up the secondary and are going to have some competitive training camps to get the best starters of the bunch, then release the rest. There pretty much not drafting a player to BE on the team like most teams do. The pats are drafting players to TRY OUT for the team to see if they can make it. They wouldn't be afraid to cut any of them if need be.

What astounds me is that people STILL question Belichick and Pioli. Every year it is the same tired people barking about the Patriots poor drafts...and yet every year we are competing for super bowls. I think you need to shut your pie holes, be grateful for the years of joy that the Patriots have brought us, and have some faith!

Mike, unlike you, these guys are athletes, and have some impressive verticals. How they play the ball is more important than their height. Additionally, the shorter and quick receivers are the ones that give teams fits: Welker, Steve Smith, Santana Moss, etc. You need guys who are quick and fast to stay with them until the help arrives, if it is coming at all. Get off the bridge and enjoy the ride.

Following up on Ray Nichols comment, everyone the Patriots drafted last year is still in the league (except Lua, who will probably be signed by someone.) They were all NFL caliber players, but were not good enough to earn a spot on the Patriots roster (except Meriweather and Richardson, obviously.) This year's draft will likely produce the same result.

This has been an awesome draft for the Patriots. The Patriots needed to infuse youth at linebacker and with Mayo and Crable they have added two stud linebackers who get to learn from Bruschi and Vrabel. Losing Samuel and Gay they needed to add depth at cornerback and this draft helped add depth with
Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite. I must admit I was surprised they took a Quarterback in round three but Ron Jaworski raved about Kevin O'Connell and
god forbid Brady gets hurt this kid looks like he could like he has great potential. And dont forget how the Patriots added a second pick from the Chargers next year so once again the Patriots get quality young players and extra picks in the future.

I agree with Howard. This draft is just what the pats needed. We weren't getting beat deep last year. We were getting STOMPED midfield with 8-17 yard passes. Offensive Line would have been good to help add youth, but I bet the Pats didn't feel that at their picks from their evaluation the O-Line were any better than adding depth and youth to the Defensive Backs. Just because we added veterans doesn't mean they can stay healthy or be fast enough. Name one team in our division that has a dominant 6 foot + threat lining up at wide receiver. Moss...of the Patriots.

Lighten up a little - Bill and Scott are just havin some fun "Varble and Crable on the outside with Mayo in the middle" ... seriously, they are just adjusting their plan, last year they drafted good players (as previously noted - most still in the league) who couldn't make their team, now they are making sure that their draftees have either outstanding speed or athletic talent . That way if a few have the smarts, guts, and drive to be patriots - they'll also have NFL talent. And don't worry about the CB size (did you see the combine video of Wheatley - smoooooth), I'd rather have opposing QBs throwing jump balls all day than hitting wide open WRs.

First of all yall, some of yall are judging a book by its cover and I hope that all your comments to bite you were it hurts. hes a damn good foot ball player and might be exactely what this teams need for a change. I went to school with him and I know what he can play some football! So I ask that you just sit back and watch. keep in mind, some of the the best NFL playeres most of them are under weight!

Yeah, Mike Allen's obsession with Hobbs is frightening, scary even. Reiss, can you make sure this guy is locked up in an institution and posting on a public computer? Would hate for Hobbs to need constant police protection because of some nut case. I think he started these posts immediately after you opened your blog up for comments. Thanks

Neither of these cornerbacks will make the roster. Both will be in the hospital long before they make it to the NFL. Sorry, BB and Pioli, for all the good things that they have done, and they are much appreciated, IMO were out to lunch in this year's draft and are not infallible.

I think the plan is to use a stack defense. Wilhite will be sitting on Wheatley's shoulders.

clearly this draft was about speed, if they could get size too that was a bonus.. Pats fan should look no further to the turnaround on D that the Indy Colts have made over the last two years.. They've done it with speed not size, if the Pats had Indy's defense they would've won the SB last year!!

I Don't have a problem with the corners.I have a problem with the pats not drafting an impact offensive player like Caldwell or Monk.Somebody to add to an offense that will see a lot of aggressive defeneses this year.

ty law and asante samuel are both uder 6'foot dipshit.

I have to agree that Mike Allen's obsession with Hobbs is not only irrational but borderline psychotic. Any objective review would reveal that Hobbs is average and sometimes plays slightly above average but it clearly not the pond scum that Allen portends him to be. So why Mikey? You guys didn't get locked in a prison cell somewhere together and something bad happened? Could you hear the little lambs screaming? Tell me Mikey? Quid pro quo Clarice?

anyone know how tall bob sanders is? yeah. 5 91/2 is good enough if you can hustle every play and really know your position. maurice jones drew is like 5'6 sanders 5'10...althought he'sa safety its the same thing he's covering TEs and WR's and laying them out. if this dude was 5'7 id be worried. with cleats he's 5'10 an some film on this guy he gets inside an disrupts the play..he has no fear and he keeps good distance between his body an the recievers. i hope he developes well under the pats system. asantes not 6 ft an he had 10 picks for us..

The main objective to this year's draft was to add youth, speed and athletism to the LB and DB corps. Looks like a success (so far) to me. Even O'Connell can run.

I really wanted that kid Dominique Rodgers Cromartie. He's gonna be a stud NFL corner like his cousin Antonio.

Great height long arms, great speed. They seemed to have added 2 more Ellis Hobbs to the roster, wonderful.

Mayo is a great pick though. I would grade their draft B.

I agree with all the commenters about 5'9 corners. They need a corner (s)
who is like 6'2, great athleticism, leaping ability. 5'9 corner in the nfl is obsolete in the NFL

Just

HAVE ANY ONE WITH THE NEG COMMENTS EVER PLAYED ONE DOWN OF FOOTBALL. I WOULD BET NOT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE 6'2 TO PLAY DB. IT YOUR DRIVE THAT ON THE INSIDE AND THESE GUYS HAVE I'VE WATCHED THEM BOTH.

I think most of the comments about undersize DBs are ridiculous; evidently these are people who know very little about playing football. To play the DB position, you have to be fast, quick & have excellent cover skills. Height is a plus but it's not a necessity, and most of the taller players don’t have the speed & agility to play DB. A WR knows where he's going, while a DB has to react. Here are some "short" DBs that I don't think anybody would turn down if they have a chance to sign them, by the way they are all Pro Bowlers as well: Rhonda Barber- 5'10, DeAngelo Hall- 5'10, Troy Polamalu- 5'10 and the Defensive Player of the Year....Bob Sanders-5'8.

Wheatley and Slater will be great in their roles but Whilhite will be lucky to make the practice squard..