Post-draft thoughts

*they wanted to move Smitty around.
Two posession players on the field means a TE or a FB, which means we can use those players more situationally. Zone blocking is easier with six on six, which is nickel.
In general, the Pats' offense didn't have burners and they were always productive intermediately. Bigger guys, who weren't this talented.
Jarrett and Keyshawn on the line. Smitty in motion. Very solid. And with Smitty in motion, third down gets a lot more interesting. Not saying this is our base O, but we can run or pass out of this. This is a mismatch -

*I really lamented last year and this year, that we didn't have a better impact weakside linebacker. We have that player now. Diggs wasn't it, I don't think Anderson's it. Anderson will be good depth, but Beason is our impact weakside linebacker. That's a big upgrade for our front seven, and while he might play some inside, I'm guessing they put Shaw there initially and that he'll be good enough.

I didn't think that we would upgrade at WLB, so I put it out of my mind. I think this is where Beason ends up, and I'm glad we made the move. I also don't think he'll hold up inside as much.

*we added a lot of speed, and a lot of competition. Jarrett isn't especially fast, but he's very useful. Will he have to run down some punts? maybe, to humble him. But Robinson will, the two LBs will. That helps. Robinson will add speed to the return games we haven't had other than Smitty.

*I didn't think we'd make a play for a lineman, and didn't figure it'd be an interior player. Kalil is a perfect fit for this new scheme, probably better than any other player in the draft honestly. He's a little thin for guard, though. Either way, we really needed something along the line, as much as I've defended Mathis. I didn't figure it, I expected we wouldn't, and I'd have never figured two first day picks on O. This really was a best player available pick,and I think it improves us. Would be fun, if he's not starting, to see him at TE for a few snaps.

 

Awesome weekend, I don't yet know how some of the picks fit but we're a much better football team.

curious to know what plan B is at safety, or I guess I shouyld say I hope they have a plan B.

I'm homerly excited about the Charles Johnson pick. Beason looks like a badass.

 

I like adding the two linebackers. Beason should start right away and upgrade our linebacker significantly. That alone will soften the blow when/if Morgan goes down. I like adding Shaw to back up Morgan, he is good value where we got him and should be good enough to keep us from totally faltering if he has to start.

I like getting a dedicated return man, we have needed that for a couple of years. I wonder if we are going to carry five active wide outs per game now, seems like we almost have to.

I like Jarrett, the clips I saw of him make it look like he has great hands. He doubt he gets a lot of seperation but should be a valuable possession guy and heir to Keyshawn.

Getting the best center in the draft is always a good thing and I like this pick too. I wonder what the plan is for Hartwig now though. Maybe he can play guard.

The DE seems like a good guy to groom for a Rucker replacement too. At the least he should be able to pair up with McClover to give us something decent should Rucker be out for a while.

Kind of surprised that we did not take a safety at all. There were some guys there on day two that might have been decent. I hope we bring in somebody like Sammy Knight or Lance Schulters now.

 

I would think Beason would start at WLB, giving us a pretty damn good LB corps. Thomas Davis started to come along last year, and hopefully Morgan can stay healthy but I doubt it. I'm still intrigued by Anderson, and when Morgan goes down i'm gonna guess Beason moves inside and ANderson fills his spot.

I didn't like the Robinson pick initially, thought we could have gone with someone like Josh Gattis or a safety who could help, but in the end PR was a def. need and hopefully his collegiate success will translate.

Kalil was the suprise pick for me. He's a good player and was great value, not sure how we will shuffle the line to accomodate him. I'm thinking Hartwig moves over to RG, but its still way too early.

Rosario, Shaw, Wilson, whatever. Shaw was good value and will be nice on special teams.

 

The Beason profiles I read suggested that his lack of optimal quickness meant he was better suited for MLB than WLB at the pro level.

 

Maybe he will take on the role Spoon had a few years ago, starting at WLB but sliding inside when Danica goes down.

 

I read he was very quick somewhere. Its speed that seemed to be the issue. He ran a very poor combine time, and improved at his Pro Day, still not 100%. Fox said he played fast.

I went back to look. 2 said he had stiff hips, which can be the same as not quick. 1 said he had good short area quickness. Sportsline said he had fluid hips. So hard to tell.

 

Except Beason is suited for MLB, while Spoon isn't.

 

Everything I've read points to the same conclusion.

Yesterday I gave our picks a C- based on the fact we missed out on some needs. After picking up a great return man, an athletic TE from Oregan and what looks like a nice tweener at CB and Safety....I would bump our full draft grade up to a B+ to possible A- depending on how well the rookie return man pans out.

 

i think chipshot made a damn fool out of himself.