Bo Ruud analysis

Hay guess what, another late round draft pick that dosen't play a snap, yet people in this forumn get excited when we trade out of the first round to pick up an extra 6th or 7th round selection. Whoppi

We have very few opportunities to find out what BB thinks about various players on the roster. This move probably shows that BB believes the other ILBs have more potential to make the team and that keeping Ruud will hinder BB's ability to "coach up" the other young players at that position.

I think the Vrabel trade and the decision not to draft an OLB this year represent a similar hint about the OLBs on the roster -- BB must believe that he already has the players who are ready to step up and play effectively at that position.

Hey Mike;

Be honest that's not the most impressive group in the world. They gotta do something, I've been saying it for 5 years now.

Especially after Ted Johnson retired. They tried to fill outside with Rosie and Thomas. They just don't go after rookie linebackers except for Mayo the grand exception

Hi Ben. I think this group is one you can win with. Mayo is the ace, with Bruschi/Guyton combining at the other spot, with McKenzie hopefully developing. I think they kept 3-4 ILBs last year on the roster -- I'd have to look closer -- and it looks to me like those 3-4 would be the keepers this year. Don't think they have to do anything there.
--Mike

BB has a deal cooking to trade Seymour to Carolina for Julius Pepper. Given Seymour subpar performance the last 3 years, this is probably a good move.

"realist pats fan" is yet another idiot who thinks he knows better than the professionals about what goes into player evaluation, drafting and trading. I'm so sick of these clowns. He paints himself as a "realist" in contrast to those butt-kissers who actually think a coach who has brought this team to the Super Bowl four times this decade might actually know what he's doing.

Where do these people come from?

"ben" has been saying for 5 years that the Patriots "gotta do something" - exactly what, he doesn't say. But they "gotta do something."

Mike, you're a Saint for dealing with these nitwits on a daily basis.

Mike,
Are you serious? Bruschi has been mediocre to poor at best for the past 2 years. Why else did BB feel the need to go get 38 yr old Seau...

Tedy is a great guy and will always be a great Patriot but they need some serious help at LB---

MM

Hi MM. He got Seau because they had a string of injuries, one to Bruschi. I'm not saying he's All-Pro or anything, and obviously he's declined, but I think you can still win with him in the role they'd given him. He's an early down player now, not a three-down guy (50 percent playtime last season). But his smarts and knowledge of the defense still have value.
--Mike

Time to see what develops in during these minicamps. Too early to tell.

Reiss. Hope the Globe pulls through. I would pay for this blog if I had to. It is worth every penny.

BB spelled it out already but you guys won't listen...
1) He said he won't pick a guy just because there is a need, or else he'll come back the next year having the same need. No complete OLBs is within his reach.
2) He prefers stout OLBs that can set the edge and defend against the run over pass rushing midgets. Many high picks that were supposed to be great pass rushing prospects turned into busts. Mathews is far from stout as he got pushed around even at the college level.
3) Woods, Redd and Crable were not stout either but they are 6'4" or above and runs in the 4.6s. In his 3-4 defense, the OLB has to have long arms to play agains OTs. Hence he picked them in late rounds (i.e. smaller gambles) and
wait for them to grow stronger. You can't fault BB for believing that these puppies are more likely to grow bigger and stronger, than taller or faster.
4) Ever since BB came, I have been waiting for having our own LT, Carl Banks. But they were 2nd and 3rd overall picks! BB knows linebackers than any other positions. He was right with Golston and Keith Rivers last year, and he will be right with Matthews, Laurinaitis, Everrett Brown, Connor Barwin this year.

wait for them to

I know its been a whole three days, "realistic" (a lot of nerve there), but as I recall, trading out of the first round on Saturday directly led to the following:

Pick 41 - Darius Butler
Jacksonville's second round choice in 2010
Tennessee's second round choice in 2010
Pick 232 - Julian Edelman.

Otherwise, very accurate post.

One of the reasons I thought they would take a chance on Maualuga (sp?) is the fact that he could actually fill that Ted Johnson void - strong down hill run stopper. Perhaps he just wasn't strong enough in that area to justify the pick - or they just missed him because they were certainly big players in the early part of the second round.

I actually think McKenzie is going to make or break this draft class. If they can get value out of 3 or 4 of their draft picks from this year it is going to be big in the long run. if you consider his story, he obviously has a strong work ethic and he started at Michigan St. before transferring twice. Give this guy a year and see what he has to offer.

Oh, yeah, one other thing I wanted to mention:

Prior to this weekend, the Patriots under Belichick had never traded out of the first round.

Otherwise, your "realistic" post just keeps getting stronger.

I think they have some good young talent at the ILB position with Mayo, Guyton, McKenzie, and maybe even Appleby. Bruschi's role will probably diminish even more this year, but you can bet he is coaching up the young guys to take over.

How can anyone seriously complain about Belichick trading current draft picks for future picks and later picks in the draft when Tom Brady(rd 6) and Matt Cassel(rd 7) are from those rounds and the only reason we have this success.

This year's draft was weak, and we just saved a boat load of cash getting out of the first round. Not like there was any talent wasted anyway. I'm sure Patrick Chung and Darius Butler were on top of BB's draft board to begin with.

But yeah, keep being armchair coaches.

Now that I think of it... why does BB even draft in the first 2 rounds anyway? I mean come one! Chad Jackson?!?! Laurence Maroney?!?!!

Nice picks Belichick... loser

barryj voices the opinion of the vast majority of the people who regularly read Reiss. Still reading some of the idiotic posts does give me an occasional chuckle.

They need another Mayo to play next to Mayo. Bruschi should have retired last year. And they need another OLB.

Seymour for Peppers would be great.

BB definitely picked too many people in 2009. Quality over quantity would have been a better strategy.

#16 MR stands for Major Retard

Maroney is a great back who plays terrific when he is not injured. Jackson was a bust but what team doesn't have a few 1st round busts over the years. Major Retard go back to your pathetic Jets blog and make nice wth your fellow homos

BB is a bottom line value kind of guy. He would much rather bring in 3-4 people considered mid level players at one position and hope for one to step up and stand out, than bring in one high level player who could be a bust. That later situation happens again and again around the league. So he digs in the dirt looking for gold and gems. Many a man has gotten rich doing so.

He’s an odds player, and while he hasn’t gotten it right enough times to satisfy everyone, bear in mind he’s gotten it right plenty of times. Can you guys seriously expect every draft pick, trade, or free agent to to work out? Gimme a break...

Yeah. Some of you people are just... wow.

If Belichick is a "loser" then people around here are either seriously spoiled by the recent success of the franchise or just plain stupid.
First, Belichick is probably the best judge of talent in the NFL, want proof? The Patriots the last five years have won 77 games the most by any team in a five year span in NFL history. Look back to the team 5 years ago, and now look at it. Most of the names have changed. As for Chad Jackson, he was very highly regarded coming out of college not just by BB but by the rest of the "talking heads" on ESPN. The WR spot is the most difficult to predict on how their performances will translate into NFL experience. Maroney has struggled with durability issues, there is nothingg wrong with his skill set. Everyone thought he was the answer done the stretch and in the playoffs two years ago when he had all of those 100 td games, or did you forget that conveniently also.

Mike, of the ILBs they have, do they have anyone besides Bruschi who can play the Sam? Did Mayo play the Sam at all last year? Ted Johnson was the last "true" Sam they had. Bruschi had to bulk up to move to that side if I recall, and it hasn't seemed to be as natural a fit for him as when he played the Will all those years. Do any of the younger guys have the bulk and technique (and a desire to get a couple concussions a year) to play the Sam?

WOW Steve - Maroney had some 100 td games? Let's give him a 15 year extension & big fat raise....we can get rid of Faulk, Morris & Taylor to help cover the cost & Maroney will get the additional playing time he needs to carry the team - win-win all around...
yeah, yeah, yeah - I know it was probably a typo, but if you put as much stock in ESPN as it sounds like - maybe it wasn't?

For people responding to my SARCASM:

I'm shocked at the lack of reading comprehension going on. I made a post saying it's stupid to call the later picks in the draft a waste because we let Bo Ruud go.

My next post after was a sarcastic punch at "realist pats fan" for saying the picks are worthless because they can produce duds.

I then decided to show examples of a second round bust, and a very high probability of a first round bust. Maroney is not a solid back. If you say otherwise, you're an idiot. Just because a guy "can run in open field" does not make him good. It means he needs open field to run in and can't get there himself in most cases.