You guys are underestimating oakland. That team can run the hell out of the football and their special teams has been pretty clutch. I could see 8-8 for them with some Upsets mixed in. That'll mean like a 20th pick or so Black hole is tough place to play and these guys are playing with assloads of confidence. I think they beat kc this week
The last couple of games have created a little cause for concern. Improving rookies on D like McCourty, Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon Spikes & 7th round find Brandon Deaderick. Plus Ron Brace from last year is playing better. Add in the Dustin Keller clone Aaron Hernandez on the offense and its a lot of rookies getting increased playing time. And the team is 6-1. Meanwhile, Rex indicated that Kyle Wilson's role is "shrinking" due to continued poor play, Vlad Ducasse hasnt dressed for a game and Joe McKnight is a mess. Granted John Connor is playing, but again......its created a little cause for concern. Not trying to be a constant pessimist, but while our recent draft trade-ups have gotten us blue-chip athletes, they have also left us w/limited draft picks.
They have 4 or 5 picks from this year starting on a 6-1 team (Cunningham, Spikes, McCourty, Hernandez, Gronkowski. Deaderick is also contributing. Mayo is Probowl bound this year. Merriweather seems to have gotten his shit together... and Brace may end up the nose tackle with Wilfork at end. I think the Pats are retooling on fly very well.
I really could careless what the Patriots do come draft day. The Jets need to worry about their players and picks. Some believe Gholston was drafted at #6 so the Patriots wouldn't take him a couple of picks later...that kind of thinking gets Teams in trouble. Never draft scared worrying what your opponent will do, do what's best for your team. I can understand trying to trade up to get a "Blue-Chip player", to get that player before your opponent has an opportunity. The Pats have been medicore in the last 5 years drafting players with the amount of picks they had. I'll give them credit for some good selections in 2010.....it's still early let's wait ans see how things look in another year or two. I've read them some people are already writing off Wilson and claim McCourty is a much better player.....crazy. Wilson and McCourty are very close in ability and both should have bright futures. IMO, if the Pats drafted Wilson.....the Jetswere ready to draft McCourty.
This, I acquiring a lot of talent is good but has anyone really developed into a superstar. Mayo has been good but he gets hurt, but with Tanny we have drafted arguably the best Center and Cornerback along with an elite Tackle and Inside linebacker. Have the Patriots had good players sure, but I cant think of anyone who I would start a team with Also we have to worry about our own players The only thing I wouldnt like the Patriots to do would be to draft Patrick Peterson, not just for talent but for personal reasons as well
I agree with everything except the bold. McCourty is a much better player than Kyle Wilson, period. That's not necessarily a knock on K-Dub; I think we're going to be very pleased with Wilson in the long run. But the bottom line is that Devin McCourty has been on the field for all but one defensive snap this season and he's playing corner at an extremely high level. I don't remember too many rookie corners who have been as effective as McCourty has been this season. I know he didn't have a lot of competition for the #1 corner job, but I don't think that's relevant. If Kyle Wilson were playing effectively at dimeback right now, I might temper my comparison. But he's not, so I won't.
First, my comments are coming from someone who wanted the Jets to draft McCourty, just didn't think KDub would be available. Your statement is so final, like Wilson doesn't have a chance to be better. It's early, let's see how things turn out in a couple of years. McCourty is better now, doesn't mean he's "better player than Kyle Wilson, period". McCourty is getting playing time and improving week to week. I'll give McCourty credit he's doing well, especially now, 2 INTs in the past couple of games, earlier in the year he was just OK. I remember Sanchez making a few plays against McCourty, he wasn't terrible but made some coverage errors. Darius Butler was the true "goat" of the Jet's game, he was taken out to the woodshed. I can understand your POV...just think it's waaaaay too early to call MCourty better as a final statement, he's better as of OCT/NOV of 2010.
Lets say the Pats hit the motherload next draft. Then you factor in this draft what do they do in 5 years when all these contracts come due? You can't pay Brady 20 million a year and still keep all these players. They are all going to want to be paid on their next contract. This team would have to retool yearly just to keep up with the players they will lose to free agency. I think Bill knows this as well and will do alot of wheeling and dealing to future drafts so everything doesn't come due at once.
I'm sure the Patriots are worrying their asses off right now about what they're gonna do in 5 years when they have too many great players to pay! :rofl: BTW, they won't need to retool for 5 years using your logic. And they'll be looking for a young QB in 5 years anyway...
Jeez ---- just checked the upcoming draft order as it stands today. The PATS have the #1 pick of the 2nd round. Its Carolina's pick, but somehow, someway back during the 2010 NFL draft, the dumb schmucks traded it to New England so that they could acquire the 25th pick in the 3rd round (yes --- the 25th pick of the 3rd round (#89 overall)) and select who ------------- Armanti Edwards (WR) from Appalachian State. Carolina basically gave away a 580 point pick to acquire a 145 point draft pick. All this for a player who is active for only 1 game this season. Some teams just deserve the misery that they find themselves in. Great move, Marty Hurney (Panthers GM) --- something that Matt Millen would have done.
This has been their strategy for quite some time -- they have a list of the dumbest GMs in the league & then they phone them at the time they are about to draft.
that would be bad. but i don't think they will. they trade around and take players they like, not the best available. it makes it hard to anticipate what they will do.
