Lazy Man and Sports

I’m confused about all the questions about the Patriots trading down in the draft lately. Matt Williamson’s takes the Patriots draft pick trading strategy to task in a recent article. He mentioned that it leaves them “short on pass-rushers” and having the “same stable of ordinary running backs.”

I wouldn’t blame this on the Patriots trading down. When the Patriots trade down they are able to fill more holes. The Patriots started the draft with very limited options for Brady to pass to (no TE depth and no #2 receiver) and questionmarks at nickel CB (who plays a lot nowadays), pass rushing LB, defensive end, running back, and punter. One could argue that Guyton may not be a game-changer and can be upgraded as well. I count a need for 8, maybe 9 players.

The Patriots entered the draft with 4 picks in the first three rounds and 5 picks in the first five rounds. Without trading, the Patriots would have been lucky to fill 5 of those 8-9 needs I think the critics are overlooking that the Patriots brought in 7 players in the first 5 rounds to fill most of those needs… while setting themselves up next as early favorites to control the 2011 draft.

It seems that analysts should be rewarding Belichick with praise for squeezing every ounce of talent they could out of the draft. Criticism should probably come from missteps of moves outside the draft… trading too much for Burgess, Joey Galloway debacle, Adalius Thomas, losing all TEs at the same time, etc. Add in a little bad luck, Brady and Welker missing large parts of seasons (assuming that Welker isn’t going to be ready this year) and it’s not too hard to see why some of the luster is gone from the Patriots.