The New England Patriots Rookie Eyeball Test
By (Senior Analyst) on May 1, 2009
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The best way to get over your draft hangover is to see what the new rookies look like in their new uniforms. Well, maybe just in their new helmets/facemasks and what numbers they choose, but it's still fun to make a snap judgment .
Even the small details such as these can give you an impression of what kind of player the rookie might turn out to be.
It's called the "Eyeball Test" and here's our review of the newest Patriots after today's Rookie Mini-Camp.
By the way, Belichick is only rocking a B+ in this shot for his Eyeball Test. His sleeves are rolled up instead of cut off. What the heck is with that!?
Brandon Tate
Brandon Tate didn't participate today since he's still recovering from his ACL/MCL injury. Instead, he took "mental reps" on the sideline.
Mike Reiss said Tate passed the eyeball test for him and I tend to agree. I like him in No. 19 and he looks like he could be a dangerous NFL receiver... someday.
But Chad Jackson looked like a future Pro Bowler on his first Eyeball Test, so take it for what it's worth.
No comment on all the green in the picture and how it relates to his off-field issues.
Eyeball Test Grade: B+
Ron Brace
Brace definitely looks like a Vince Wilfork-esque nose tackle to me, and overall I think he appears like he will fit right in on the Pats. He looks solid overall, but the double knee braces are always a tad disconcerting. No. 60 is a solid choice of number.
Personally, I'd like to see a little more of a porker belly on him, but there's time for him to work on that.
Eyeball Test Grade: B-
Darius Butler
Hey, is that Ellis Hobbs? Oh wait, that's right, Hobbs is an Eagle now. It's Darius Butler,
The jury is out for me on Butler from this pic. He looks a little lanky to me, but from the impressive right leg it looks like he might have some speed.
We're all used to a No. 27 cornerback who tended to get noticeably burned, so hopefully Butler doesn't follow in Ellis Hobbs III's smoking foot steps. And if he lacks Hobbs' showboat qualities that would be a plus.
Eyeball Test Grade: B-
Patrick Chung
Though I'd much prefer Chung in No. 20, I am okay with No. 25. I am very happy with his facemask choice—I'm not a big fan of the Revolution facemasks that Oregon uses.
There are a couple of pics of Chung and he looks solidly built, and should fit in looks-wise with James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather. By all accounts he looked the part of an intimidator on Day One.
I don't think we'll know Chung's true awesome-ness until we see him unload on an unfortunate preseason receiver.
Eyeball Test Grade: A-
Julian Edleman
Just from the look of how low "JuJu's" knee is to the ground, it seems pretty apparent that he's either running or about to run really fast.
I also find it ironic that the quickest guy of all the draft picks is wearing Drew Bledsoe's number. Edleman is rocking the Wes Welker facemask, which seems appropriate.
I think we need to see this guy in motion to give him a more accurate Eyeball Test.
Eyeball Test: B
Brian Hoyer
I think Hoyer needs a smaller helmet. While I am a fan of No. 8, (it was my college hockey number), that's about the only thing Hoyer's got going for me here, and it looks like the toss is going at somebody's head.
Would it be too much for him to button up his chin strap? Not even Matt Cassel looked this bad last preseason.
Hoyer looks like camp fodder.
Eyeball Test: D
Tyrone McKenzie
Sadly, the only picture up yet of my personal favorite draft pick, Tyrone McKenzie, is this "learn-to-defeat-a-block" butt shot.
He's also visible in the background of Patrick Chung's slide, so from those two I think we can put together a grade for Tyrone.
First off, I like No. 53—Larry Izzo had it for too long. Second I think the Mayo-esque facemask is a solid choice. He even looks like he's built like Mayo. They would look good playing together in the middle of the Pats defense. M & M in the middle...I like it.
Eyeball Test Grade: A-
Sebastian Vollmer & Rich Ohrnberger
This is the only shot of the two big lineman the Pats liked the most this year, so it's hard to grade them on this alone, but it does look like Ohrnberger's got his hands full with Seabass.
Eyeball Test: Incomplete
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