Patriots draft review

Disclaimer!

Now. I know that 98% of you who read this website will not care/know/both, on what I’m going to write about in this post so Baa Humbug to you! Sometimes you should know, I write posts that I actually like to read. So I don’t want to hear any complaining about how mean I was to write something that you care nothing about. So Baa Humbug, and go Patriots!

Awwww…. NFL draft day! A great day for both Humans and NFL fans alike… After weeks and months of speculation and guesswork, homework and tape review, finally, the shadows are cast aside! “Experts” are shamed! Self appointed NFL draft pundits – credibility thrown in garbage can… Yes!

Oh yes – and root, root, root for the home team to make some good picks…. Or it would be a shame. Because there’s 1! 2! 3! 4,5,6,7 rounds till the end of the game!!!

Lady’s and Gentlemen! My 2006 New England Patriots Draft Review!

1st Round, 21 Pick: Laurence Maroney, RB, Minnesota – The best running back in this draft – should have been drafted ahead of Reggie Bush… I was really hoping the higher ups in the Patriots organization would use this pick on him and not some defensive project. I really also like this pick here because Laurence was the player the Indianapolis Colts wanted most! Take that for stealing Adam Vinatieri!!

Well anyways, he should be the starting running back by the 2007 season if not sooner. I believe he actually will have the effect of helping Corry Dillon by giving him a breather - and Corry benefiting him by softening the defenses with his pounding style of running. Expect at least 700 yards and a handful of touchdowns in his first season.

2d Round, 4 Pick: Chad Jackson, WR, Florida – Some “draft experts” had Mr. Jackson rated as the best wide receiver in the draft – everything I read/heard pre draft from the Patriots suggested that they believed the same. He was unquestionably a big time steal with the Patriots picking him early in the second round. I think he will become the #1 receiver in the next couple of years and just when he’s at his greatest – he’ll become to expensive to keep and we’ll have to trade him to the Raiders for a third round pick.

With the Wide Receiver situation as it is Chad Jackson should start immediately. I’m thinking that he’ll have 64 receptions for 839 yards and 5 touchdowns – plus a 27 yard reverse run…

3d Round, 22 Pick: David Thomas, TE, Texas – Anyone who watched the Rose Bowl had to notice David Thomas. Just about anytime Texas needed a big first down – Vince Young threw to Mr. Thomas.

You wouldn’t find him caching any 80 yard bombs anytime soon, but you can count on him to make the short yard plays consistently 100% of the time. He should become a Tom Brady favorite quickly. He may not have the greatest statistics this season due to the fact that there are four quality TE’s on the Pat’s roster but he’ll probably end up in the 15 to 20 catch range for 300 yards this season.

4th Round, 9 Pick: Detroit Garrett Mills, TE/FB/LS/HB, Tulsa – What will he play? Tight end? Fullback? Backup Longsnapper?... He led all college football TE’s with 82 receptions – so we know he can catch. He’s not much of a risk since due to his versatile nature. Bill Belichick will find some place to use him. He had a 3.91 grade point average in business management…

4^th Round, 21 Pick: Stephen Gostkowski, K, Memphis – Practice squad, or starter? Adam Vinatieri was one bad kick away from being cut by Bill Parcells… Hopefully, Gostkowski (long last name!) will have better luck his first season. He may not play this season if the Patriots don’t think he’s ready –but regardless of if he plays or not - he’s going to be a long term project.

5th Round, 3 Pick: Ryan O'Callaghan, OT, California - Patriots rule #46, never pass up a good offensive lineman in the 5^th round. I really don’t know a thing about him… other then he’s big - 6-7, 344 – and plays through injuries.

6th Round, 22 Pick: Jeremy Mincey, DE/LB Florida – Mr. Mincey at 6-3, and 263 pounds is much too small to play defensive end in the NFL and will most certainly play linebacker. He’s supposed to be the eventual replacement for Willy McGinest in the future so this is more of a project pick, although he can expect to see his share of time on pass rushing downs this season.

6th Round, 36 Pick: Dan Stevenson, OG, Notre Dame – Was Notre Dames best offensive lineman, and that means something. He provides depth to an area that last year was sometimes one injury away from having Bill Belichick fill in… Plays special teams.

6th Round, 37 Pick: Le Kevin Smith, DT, Nebraska – Will be Vince Wilfork backup this year. And may have a shot of playing when the Patriots go to the occasional 4 -3 defense. He has o-k size at 6-1, 307 pounds – not traditional nose tackle size.

7th Round, 21 Pick: Willie Andrews, S, Baylor- He’s very fast but way to small to play safety in the NFL, Willie will have a chance to make himself a backup spot at cornerback and kick returner. Will have to really star on special teams to have a chance to make the team.