NFL 2011 New England Patriots: In Bill We Trust; Did We Forget?

Geniuses think differently than the rest of us. Why should we be surprised that the New England Patriots resident genius, Bill Belichick, saw things differently in the 2011 draft than the pundits did?

If he saw things the same way the pundits do, he would be like the rest of us, and the New England Patriots would be 8-8 if lucky.

John Stuart Mill, the English philosopher, may have said it best, "A man will admit he can be wrong in the general case but not on a specific occasion."

That reminds me of the pundits, with me at the head of the list!

Post first 2011 NFL draft day, we are barking like dogs for a pass rusher, our little 8-8 crowd (on a good day...).

Belichick scoops up the man from the small town in the Rockies, Nate Solder, a bit like the Logan Mankins scoop from a few years ago. I remember the picture at the time of Bob Kraft with Mankins; a lonely not high test moment. But an All-Pro pickup.

At least this time Jonathan Kraft joined the picture with Solder. But, it wasn't a fancy pickup; just solid.

Over the last few days most of us have been getting used to the fact Belichick, as usual, was right. Right for the Patriots. Right for our quarterback who will be 34 in August, who has priorities other than football pressing in on him; and, at best, he has a few good years left in him.

One of the Kraft family differences, as Jonathan is apt to say, is "We learn. We learn from Bill and others." That's what makes them such a powerful ownership team and why the New England Patriots are doing so well, in my opinion.

Nate Solder will be stout as the left tackle to cover for Tom Brady. Brady has had shoulder and foot problems, and will have more if he is hit more than a few times per season. So, everything in New England starts with Brady.

To give Brady chances, the next pick was Ras-I Dowling, to pair up with Devin McCourty to shutdown the passing lanes. Who do they throw at? McCourty? Bad idea. Downing? Another bad idea.

This should help Brady get on the field more often as well as have additional shorter fields with more picks.

Then Belichick selects two hard nosed running backs to block for Brady, make special team tackles and complement BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead, not out-shine them.

Then Belichick selects Ryan Mallett, the steal of the draft. Unlike most star quarterbacks, he won't be both a rookie and on a really bad team. Mallett has time to develop like a great wine.

Brady had some time; he was the fourth quarterback in 2000 before emerging No. 1 in 2001 through the NFL famous moment of Drew Bledsoe going down on a tough fair hit.

Mallett is not a run around quarterback, apt to get nailed. He is a big tall 6'7" prototype pocket passer with all the throws. With those talents and a first class offensive line in front of him, bolstered in this draft by Solder in particular, Mallett has tremendous potential to become a starting quarterback. In the short term, he can take pressure off Brady in practice, preseason and mop up duty in games.

And Belichick set the table for 2012 with two first round and two second round picks.

If we pundits had it right, we would be NFL coaches too. Whoops. Our comments are fun, entertaining and often informative. But remember, Bill is Bill. Doesn't make him always right.

But I like the odds.