"Rooter" Analysis: A Breakdown of the 2008 New England Patriot Draft Class

 In both playoff loses, the Patriots have been unable to get the other team off the field in the most important drive of the game. Defense- something that used to be the hallmark of Patriots football- has failed the boys in red, white, and blue. Slow, aging, and unable to keep up, the lovable but clearly vulnerable core of New England’s defense has let us down against both the Manning brothers.

But hope springs eternal, especially for us rooters, and the April NFL Draft is a time for every football fan to dream of rebuilding, of rebirth, of new fate and new hope. Some teams have more to build around, some teams have more needs to fill, but every team gets to add at least one projected impact player and optimistically look forward to the coming season.

For Pats fans, this Draft meant the opportunity to get younger and faster on defense. We could have drafted zero offensive players, and that would have sat fine with me.

Watching Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli run the Patriots draft operations over the last 7 years has been a treat. They always seem to trade down to get more value, they almost never waste picks on guys they know they won’t be able to financially afford, and they are two of the best at assessing whether or not a college star will be able to adapt to the schematic difficulty and demanding versatility inherent in New England football.

Coming into this year’s draft was a bit, uh, different. A top 7 pick for the team that was 2:00 from 19-0? Okkkkk. I could hardly remember the last time the Pats picked in the top 10. That said, I and many other “rooters” knew that the Pats would more than likely trade down to save cap space and would be wheeling and dealing all weekend.

What  Belichick and Pioli managed to lock up from what was, by all accounts, a fairly average 2008 draft class both excited and confused me. Here’s my take on the Patriots 2008 Draft class:

1^stRound: LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee: With Teddy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel aging, and Adalius Thomas clearly more effective on the edge as a rusher as opposed to in coverage, the Patriots primary need entering the draft was fresh legs in the line-backing corps. I like everything Mayo brings to the table: versatility within the position, film room intelligence, top-notch SEC competition in college, and sound tackling technique. He will be able to stabilize the middle of the field and should bring an element of closing speed and athleticism not seen in a New England line-backer in a long while.

2^ndRound: DB Terrance Wheatley, Colorado: Defensive back was another glaring need for the Patriots entering the draft. With Asante Samuel departing to Philly and not a lot of proven talent remaining in the mix, the Patriots clearly needed to assess secondary depth through the draft. But Wheatley- by all accounts- was a bit of a reach in the 2^ndRound. Under-sized and a bit soft against the run, Wheatley was someone I thought they could have gotten later in the draft. His blazing speed attracted Belichick, and the Patriots do indeed need to get faster in coverage. But I view this pick as a reach, one that might not yield production in the next two years. In essence, I was surprised that the Patriots went so early on a guy who didn’t stand out in college and would have been available later in the draft. That said, Wheatley and 2007 1^st Rounder Brandon Meriweather could develop into a lethal speed/power combination down the road.

3^rdRound: LB Shawn Crable, Michigan: I love this pick. Crable is an under-valued, athletic linebacker who should fit nicely into the Pat’s 3-4 schemes. I thought this was a steal at #78 overall and I view Crable as a guy who could step in and contribute as a rookie. If not, he will be able to offer a lot on special teams with his strength and explosion through blocks. This pick filled a position of need and targeted a player who will be able to adapt to the Patriots system.  Mayo and Crable could form a very nice line-backing duo for years to come.

3^rd

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