Everybody Pat Chung Tonight: Patriots Draft Day One Analysis

Round Two

Patrick Chung, Safety, Oregon

There is no doubt who is having fun tonight. 

The New England Patriots, long discussed to trade up with their hoard of picks, traded down twice, and "settled" on safety Patrick Chung out of Oregon. They did so with linebackers Rey Maualuga, Everette Brown, and James Laurinaitis still on the board. 

Chung was a four-year starter in Oregon, never coming off the bench in his 51-game career. He enrolled in the 2008 NFL Draft, only to return to school to complete his degree. 

Chung ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, had 25 reps on the bench, and had a vertical leap of 34 inches at the combine. 

Why He Fits

Chung is a very Patriots-esque player. Coming to Oregon at the ripe age of 16, Chung was impossible to get off the practice field, due to his love for special teams play. Now at 21, Chung is known as one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league, and was second on the team with 91 tackles. 

The Patriots' have depth at safety, but there have been plenty of concerns about their quality of play. James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather have shown they belong on the roster, and Rodney Harrison still has a chance to return, but all three have troubles covering down the field. Tank Williams is also slotted at safety, but he is working at linebacker, so his down-field coverage skills are debatable.

Ironically, that is the negative analysis on Chung. He is said to be best around the line of scrimmage, running down-hill, playing the run and rushing the passer.

The pass-rushing skills plays an interesting role in this draft. All spring, the focus has been on the Patriots selecting an edge-rusher at the linebacker position with their first pick. Instead, the Patriots opted to further the "youth-enizing" of the secondary, grabbing a Rodney Harrison-type player at a bargain price. 

Pre-pads Grade

A-

It will be very interesting to see how he plays in the Patriots' complex coverage schemes. There is no doubt he has a football mind with his deep experience playing in the Pac-10. He is an outstanding talent, but does not really fit an immediate "need" area on the Patriots. 

He will bring an intimidation factor that the Patriots' secondary has been missing lately, however. His hard hits make receivers think twice about going over the middle, and his football IQ will only help him get on the field. He has the look of a future full-time starter on this team. 

Ron Brace, DT, Boston College

So much for a linebacker next, huh? After trading up to the Raiders' spot, the Patriots decided they needed another anchor on the line.

At 6'3" and 330 pounds, Brace already can be considered a force on the defense, and should give teams headaches when they give Vince Wilfork a breather. The scary thing would be Brace and Wilfork together when the Patriots decide to play a 4-3 alignment. 

Brace's statistics are minimal, but as a DT next to B.j. Raji, that can only be expected. Scouts love his ability to use his hands and get off the snap quickly despite his massive size. He has shown the ability to dominate a guard one-on-one, as well as the ability to draw a double-team.

Why He Fits

Although most Patriot fans would have loved to see a linebacker go here, no one can deny Bill Belichick's love for depth on the line. Brace will be able to clog the holes on the run game and open things up for linebackers behind him. 

While a pass-rusher is rightfully discussed as a need for the Pats, adding a 330-pound man on the line certainly will help their current linebackers find a place to rush. With Wilfork on his final year of his contract, Brace also gives the Patriots an emergency player if Wilfork decides to leave. 

The Patriots will hope Brace does not still have the lingering back problem that hampered his career in BC, but in the second round, his size and skill is a steal at this point.

Pre-pads Grade

B-

Brace is obviously a big man, but will be a big player? With Wilfork currently sitting at the nose tackle spot and doing a great job, Brace will be regulated to backup duties. If he can stay healthy and gets stronger (32 bench reps at the combine), Brace should give the Patriots even better depth at the defenses most important position. 

Darius Butler, CB, UConn

With back-to-back picks, and after Brace was selected, everyone and their mother was thinking Connor Barwin. Instead, the Patriots opted to go with more youth in the defensive backfield. 

Butler had to be a top player on the Patriots' draft board, because he was considered a first-round talent. He was considered the top cornerback in the Big East, and despite his size (5'11"), Butler can defend the jump-ball with his impressive 43-inch vertical leap. 

What has Patriots fans applauding the selection is his flexibility. Butler not only played at CB, but showed his inner-Troy Brown by playing significant time at wide receiver. 

Why He Fits

The Patriots know that the secondary was their weakest link last year. What Patriots fans thought, however, was that with Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite selected in last year's draft, a cornerback was not needed this year. 

Apparently, Belichick thought differently. Butler will have time to gel, with Ellis Hobs, Shawn Springs, and Leigh Bodden definitely ahead of him on the depth chart. 

With his experience at WR, he should quell the fears Patriots fans have of defensive backs drafted: ability to intercept the ball. The Patriots have consistently seen interceptions drop off the hands of defenders the past few years, but Butler should capitalize given the opportunity. 

Pre-pads Grade

B+

I like Butler as a player, but the Patriots should have gone linebacker here. With Barwin and Clint Sintim still available, it is very surprising the Patriots drafted a guy who plays primarily in a spot they seemed to have filled. 

He has a lanky frame and little strength, which means he should get bullied around by bigger receivers. He is athletic, and should be comparable to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie once he develops. 

He had a knee injury in his time at UConn, but he proved it is behind him after strong play at the Senior Bowl this year. Hopefully, he will have a chance to rest his knee, learn the position, and boost his strength his rookie year. 

Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Houston

An interesting selection here, because Vollmer spoke limited english when he signed with Houston (Vollmer hails from Deutscheland). But at 6'7" and a two-time national champion in Europe, Vollmer presents an interesting project for the Patriots.

Vollmer is a very raw prospect due to his lack of experience, but he does do a good job moving side-to-side and preventing inside blitzes. Scouts are excited about his upside, but ESPN's Mel Kiper pointed out that Vollmer could have slipped to the seventh round.

Vollmer has a tough time staying with defenders when quarterbacks scramble, but unless Tom Brady gets hurt while Vollmer plays, that is something the Patriots don't have to worry much about for now.

Why He Fits

Vollmer has plenty of men in front of him, so his time as a project lineman should be lengthy. However, there is no denying the Patriots always find themselves looking for depth at the line.

Vollmer is a natural lineman, and with some coaching and patience, he could develop into a strong tackle in the NFL.

Pre-pads Grade

D

The Patriots always like to grab a physical beast to turn into a starter, but was Vollmer really coveted so much they had to grab him over UConn tackle William Beatty? Beatty would have been the much safer selection, particularly in the second round.

The motto in New England is "In Bill We Trust," so for now, let's try and give him the benefit of the doubt.