Sebastian Vollmer analysis

I'm just stunned at that pick. I don't get it. A free agent by most everyone's standards in the 2nd Round?

We need other areas filled before picking up a major project.

This draft was a huge disaapointment. Not one impact player and in fact just a bunch of trash. We needed a pass rusher and ended up with a group of development players. Great!

seems like a reach in the 2nd round.........with that height maybe he can block field goals

Vollmer might develop into a good player, but there's no denying this was a massive reach and poor value. Don't really like this pick, especially with Beatty, Meredith and Cadogan still on the board.

This is ridiculous. What a waste of a valuable 2nd rounder. This guy was rated a 7th rounder/free agent. This draft has been very disappointing.

great pick, with 4 third rounders the pats will be able to fill of their needs in the draft, if olb is not addressed, expect taylor to sign, and lets not forget we have shawn crable.

what the heck ??, who was making these picks ???!!!

He was supposed to be coming on strong. Rated as a 3-4th rounder by CBS
sports. Remember Dante and the Pats scouts looked him over.

I thought they did O.K. in the draft. They solidfied their defensive backfield,
found a good backup for Wilfork and insurance in case he leaves, and
got a good developmental offensive tackle.

Rated a 7th round pick? So what! The Patriots obviously thought highly of him...and possibly many other teams did too.

Kick his ass Sea Bass!!!!!

Mel Kiper said he was rated by some as a 4th to 6th, some undrafted, and some 2nd to 3rd so....you guys are dumb. If he developes into a starter who cares where he was picked, stop complaining just because your mock drafts didn't work out.

don't underestimate the picks..you don't know anything about these guys, the pats do...trust me

This pick seems like a big reach but to call the entire draft a, "bunch of trash" is going overboard......"no impact players drafted"???....well gee, who did you have in mind?......Rey Maualuga?......why ? because every pundit was talking him up before the draft?........I don't care for this pick but the Pats first 3 picks were fine......

Logan Mankins was slotted to be a 3rd or 4th round pick as well. Look, Vollmer does not need to be a starter this year. The team has done quite well in the draft...2 soild DBs and some depth on the OL and DL. Tomorrow with 4 picks in the 3rd round, look for the team to add a OLB/DE type player and maybe even a WR. I wouldn't be shocked to see 1-2 of those picks traded for 2nd or 3rd rounders in 2010.

This is the 4th aweful draft in a row. If it wasnt for signing veteran free agents our team would be falling apart right now. Who puts their draft boards together?? We desparately need help at LB and they are drafting "propect" OL that might amiunt to something in 3 years. Im baffled.

i don't know much about vollmer, but i would certainly hesisate to call this draft a dissapointment. belichick could easily come out at the end looking like a genius. while everyone (including me) was getting so incredibly worked up about a first round full of bust-potential, he focused on early-mid second round, where the real value is. he gets patrick chung, whose skill set replaces rodney (and the dude hits like a MAN by the way). he gets an absolute steal with darius butler at 41 (many experts had them getting him at 23, others thought he wouldn't even be around THAT late) and ron brace will be an effective run stuffer. My only criticism is no linebackers yet, and i would have taken a different OL. But remember, Crable was doing very well in preseason before getting hurt. and we get adalius back who can hopefully put together a healthy season for once. Remember people this team went 11-5 with a backup QB and a secondary much less effective than the one they will have in ’09. Calm down!

i dont agree with this pick and also butler... we have too many DBs especially after last year and the pickups... I was really hoping we pick up Beanie wells or even laurinitis when we had couple of chances but I guess BB knows what he's doing.... Yeah we can say the picks are horrible but BB and company did do their hw on them so we shall see...

He was rated as a 3rd-4th rounder by many sites. He kept rising since the east-west shrine game.

These other posters must be employed by other NFL teams. BB knows what he is doing...you guys stick to drinking beer and scratching your......

Vollmer is good. Really played well last year, is absolutely enormous with a frame to get even bigger.

Combine stats are impressive for a guy that size:

Ran a 5.1-second 40-yard dash, had a broad jump of 9 feet 3 inches and registered an impressive 36˝-inch vertical.

I seem to remember Russell Westbrook having the same vertical leap.

We could have had Vollmer at the end of the 3rd round easily, most likely in the 5th. Jamon Meredith is a much better pick, will be a better LT, and - BTW - younger.

Vollmer is not a 'younger' prospect - he is actually 25 years old.

And probably cannot even speak English....I hope Mankins punches him in the mouth, just for being such a bad pick at 58. And being German.

OK, one good thing - he has not played that much - still very raw so maybe there is something there. And he is from a pass-happy offense. I hope you didn't pull another Bethel Johnson or Chad Jackson, Bill.

This is so funny. Ypou all no so much more than BB. If you hate the draft, it's probably good. Check out the video and analysis on this guy at draftguys.com and then think agian. It's not all about names, The Pats are good because they scout and they know players. Nobody knew Mankins when he was drafted in the 1st roudn - and he's a pro-bowler. Vollmer could be the steal of the draft. And if he's a bust BFD - they have too many picks anyway. But he won't be - and they need a replacement for Light in the next 1-2 years.

Reminds me of the Logan Mankins pick a few years ago...this guy has a huge upside. Do you have any reason NOT to trust Dante & Bill's expertise?

we still have tomorrow's 4 picks in 3rd round... I am hoping we get a WR/TE,RB and LBs. I also think we should pick up the "best" punter as well... hanson is getting old

I love it when guys who just happened to pick up draft magazines a couple of weeks ago believe they're trained professional NFL scouts. GET A FREAKING LIFE! None of us know how this draft is going turn out for at least a couple of years. Quit with this "they reached" BS! You don't know anything!

Will somebody please lock BB out of the warroom tomorrow! What an absolute waste of draft picks! Two more little guys for the secondary, a back-up nose tackle, and an OT who was rated a late rounder-FA at best. No pass rush was and still is the biggest problem and today's picks didn't do squat to fix it. So - it appears that Patrick Chung (who will likely be playing behind Merriwether and Saunders) is equal in value to a starting NFL Quaerterback (Cassel) and a starting outside linebacker (Vrabel) who is one year removed from the Pro Bowl and who provided some semblance of an outside pass rush? JEEEEESH!!!

I love all the idiots on here who say the 2nd round pick on Vollmer was a waste, using Pro Football Week's analysis of the player as evidence. Any of you ever wonder WHY the guys who scout for Pro Footbal Weekly work for a magazine, and not an NFL team? None of you are experts on evaluating players either so calm down.
Interesting pick, we'll see in 3 years how it pans out.

Look, lots of mock drafts had Rey M going in the top 15. He didn't go until the early-mid 2nd. They also had Butler going around 23...but he was there at 41. What does this tell you? IGNORE the "Draft grades" given out by "experts". They don't know nearly as much as the teams. If they did, they'd be working in the NFL instead of being on the outside looking in.

Do not discount players just because they didn't come from Florida, LSU or the like. He was overlooked and didn't get the hype because he didn't come from a BCS conference. Vollmer kicks butt. I am from Houston and have seen him actually play unlike most people who are already dogging him here.

Was hoping they picked up White as a WR/QB/whatever utility guy, but I'm not going to cry over it.
Pats need more linemen, and a faster pass rush in general so any picks there help out. Will be interesting to see what round three brings.

Pats drafted someone to replace Wilfork if he wants too much money and a guy that could take over RT or LT when the Kaczur goes.

They added more to the secondary which we all know SUCKED last year. Rodney Harrison is done and you can expect Hobbs and Springs to be gone after this year. They could have 3 young CBs with Bolden if he works out (and he wants to stay) and 3 young Safeties.

The Pats really need Taylor though since they did nothing to address the OLB position.

OTOH, they must think that Crable is ready to step up and that Guyton will make a largert impact in 2009.

Don't rule out Meredith in the 3rd.

So far the PATS draft get a big fat (F). We needed a pass rusher, We are going to need somene to replace Teddy. We got no impact players, Mike what are the PATS thinking ? It was not like the players were not there when it was our pick ! I just dont understand. What a big disapointment Mike.

Looking at this kid's frame at 315 lbs., you can see him playing comfortably at 340 in a few years. Jonathon Ogden-esque.

If you had told me prior to this draft that the Pats would have Butler, Chung and Brace on the first day I would have called you crazy. The fact that they come away with one of the top corners, one of the top safeties and insurance in case Wilfork leaves next offseason makes me happier than a clam at high tide. Cant wait to see what we add on to the team tomorrow!!

Nothing wrong with a 6-8 lineman in my book...

Idiot Patriot fans pretending to be NFL scouts... the gift that keeps on giving.

You cannot label a draft a failure when none of the players have played in a pro game yet!!! My goodness you people need to wake up. And as for Vollmer, BrianH, he speaks English fluently and won't need a punch in the mouth from Mankins..you clown. This could also be huge for the Patriots organization in attracting a German market maybe as well, but regardless I think it's pretty cool that we'll have a European on the roster. And give the kid a chance. He can play.

I agree with everybody who both hates and loves this draft. These newly-drafted Patriots haven't even attended a practice yet, and somehow people on this forum feel qualified to look back on the draft with hindsight. I wish I owned one of the crystal balls that all of you possess!

BrainH you're an idiot. Do some homework,. The guy speaks English just fine. This guy is a great pick. I just don't get everyone thinking they're better talent evaluators than BB and co. When the Pats start sucking, then feel free to question what they're doing. But you're NOT Lions fans!!!!!!

It's absolutely amazing that so many "experts", who know better than BB, come out of the woodwork on draft day....if any of them paid attention to what BB said earlier this week, they might see that BB is looking at how an individual may fit into the PATRIOTS' roster, not some other team's...and he looks for guys that will develop, maybe in a year or two.....he's not into "instant gratification", like so many who are posting here are.....that's why we TRUST IN BILL !! That's why he's ALWAYS a step ahead of the competition !

How did the Pats earn so many loyal (?) and fair weather fans? You people never cease to amaze me with your knowledge of the game, NOT. On one hand, you listen to all the so called experts when it's convenient, but God forbid if you disagree with one of the Pats choices. Unless most of you have been professional scouts, what a joke, why don't wait to see what happens. More often than not, the Pats scouts do a very good job of identifying prospects.

As it pertains to idiotic Chad who stated "This is the 4th aweful draft in a row" (good spelling, by the way), I'm surprised that Jerod Mayo, Brandon Meriweather, Logan Mankins, Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, etc. are such AWEFUL draft picks!

I love all the wannabe scouts criticizing BB and Pats. All you armchair drafters seem to forget the same thing: SALARY CAP.
That's why it was either Cassell or Brady. Only a fool would pay starting QB pay for TWO QBs. There was no slaary cap back in the days of Montana VS Young.
And that's why "impact players"--1st rounders who may or may not be busts who are commanding 10-20-30-40 MILLION $$$ in signing bonuses do not interest BB. He builds TEAMS under a SALARY CAP. It's very different than picking the college player Boomer sez is a great kid, etc...
Anybody remember where Tedy was selected in his draft???

Wow! What does his accent have to do with his ability to play BrianH?.... not only that but people are acting like they know more than BB... hey idiots how many superbowls did we win before BB was here?.... stop complaining, the world won't end with one pick which by the way was a decent one....BB actually studied these guys unlike those who are crying because we didn't get an overrated athelete...

BrianH - most Germans learn English from an early age. While not the case with Vollmer, English is a "Germanic" language - deriving mostly from Greek and German (surprisingly not Latin directly) so it is relatively easy for Germans to pick up and Vollmer deserves IQ points (which BB loves) for learning a language in 2-3 years. BrianH: how many languages do you speak?

Checking in to state that I love what the team has done so far in this draft--tremendous value and outstanding prospects.

Butler--A
Chung--B+
Brace--B+
Vollmer--B

right on!

What round was Brady drafted in again????? It'd be interesting to look back and find what all the "not-working-in-professional-football" arm-chair GMs had to say about that pick.

What do you call a guy who always surprises the pundits on draft day, and then wins with the team he builds? Bill Belichick.
What do you call the guys who just go with the pundit/hype consenus picks? You call them losers in the salary cap NFL. Losers who get jerked around by agents and overpay for so-called players who are often busts.

all of you jackasses complaining about these picks please just start supporting the bills or jets and leave the rest of us alone....

Mike,

I was wondering if there was any chance the Patriots "reached" for this guy whom others had as a late 3 -4 round pick or priority free agent was because by drafting him where they did, they can get him to sign a longer year deal and actually get something from or for him after developing him. I know BB believes it takes a few years to develop lineman so if they waited on him or signed him as a priority free agent he would probably sign for the short term, just long enough to become good and then be a free agent, but by drafting him in the second round they can try for a 5 year contract as they seem to like.

why won’t he be asked to protect Tom Brady’s blindside?

Vollmer was the 80th best prospect in this draft according to Scouts, Inc/ESPN. To take him at 58, especially considering he is a left tackle prospect is not a real big reach if he is your guy. Clearly he is BB's guy. Check out some video of his pro day online..he is very athletic, well built. That is what i like about the pick. I hate when the "projects" are huge lumbering fat guys. This guy has Stephen Neal written all over, but taller w/ Tackle potential. In fact, in comparing him to the video of the tackles I watched, he is very similar to Beatty (UCONN) except stronger and more aggressive.

At first glance seems like a reach, but obviously BB must have thought someone else had him on their radar. More importantly, the guy looks like a potential monster. Watch those clips mentioned above.

i lie the first 3 picks, and maybe Vollmer will turn out to be a good pick. Worked with Stephen Neal. I just felt the Pats passed on some good talent at LB where we could really use some more young help, especially if Bruschi retires after this season.

Mike, great comments as I believe as you do that here is a 25 year old OL with great raw upside who will have his best five years for cheap money as a Patriot. If you analyze the Patriots in the past, the let Woody, Ashworth etc go and developed new offensive lineman. Don't be surprised if they pick a versitle C/OG with the next four picks and as far as linebackers, they are much more willing to extend LB"S to a second contract and thus I suspect they will pick a developmental LB and have a beat on Taylor. All of a sudden, case is closed and they have insured their future. I think this draft will take time to evolve but will be successful in the end. Note that all have great character.

Another great pick.....I don't understand what all these people are talking about. Clearly they aren't college football fans and haven't seen these guys play. Chung is one hell of a safety and him and Butler will be starting in our secondary for years and years to come. I'm surprised so many people are bashing this draft. Even if you know little about college football you have to have faith in BB. Remember that Mankins was considered a reach back in the day and that turned out pretty well.

what a bunch of nimrods..and whiney ass be-atches.how many superbowls you complainers won? lucky you aint pickin or wed be goin back to the days of bobbie grier and sam jenkovitch oh wait half you nims probably dont go back that far...
good corner could be shut down we will see.. knock your head off saftey best nose in the draft 2 seconds next year...hello wake up come on people lots of those picks that are rated high dont even make it and people dont pick the best qb in the nfl (except us) till the 6th round three bowls shoulda been 5 ima say it again come on people

this never ceases to amaze me!! It is actually embarrasing to read all these idiot postings with people offering their own opinions like they actually think that they know better than the Belechik brain trust in Foxboro!! If these are truly NE fan postings....oh ye of little faith (and/or little intelligence!!!) when will you ever learn!!!

All you bashers are the same guys who were ready to call the Sox dead after 8 games. So calm down, come down off the bridge and see what happens. The Pats will be fine with the LBs they have, if the USC LBs are so great then why did their D look so weak at times last year?

Great pick!
A real diamond in the rough.

Wow....some of the commenters here are the same ones that wanted to run Matt Cassell out of town before the start of the season last year. Look....Tom Brady was picked when....6th round. He is the best in the business. Remember Curtis Martin? Another late round pick that was the best in the business for 10 years.

Guys/Gals....let's see what happens here. We all know that the pats have a great track record of finding no name (not sexy) picks and pluggin them into the system.

Relax...

Mike,
Love BUTLER & CHUNG! They are both "great athletes" who can run and who play postions of need (CB, S). I think BRACE can become a very good player, but it may take 2 years?
I cannot understand Vollmer??? Very perplexing. Too high for him. I would have rather traded the #58 pick and a later pick to move up to #46 and get Conner Barwin. Our new Mike Vrabel.
Moreover, I love trading 3rd rounders for 2nd round picks next year! Great job BB!

What a bunch of whining babies. No impact players? Do any of you whiners (Mike K) have any knowledge of the players you're talking about?