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Archives for February 20, 2013

Five things to know about how the Patriots approach the combine – WEEI | Christopher Price

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Five things to know about how the Patriots approach the combine – WEEI | Christopher Price

Good stuff from Chris Price…

Like every other team in the league, the Patriots look closely at a prospects physical skill set, but when it comes to wide receivers and defensive backs, they pay particular attention to quickness, agility and footwork. That’s why the 3-cone drill can be a good indicator of whether or not a potential prospect is on New England’s radar screen: lots of the relatively under-the-radar receivers (for purposes of this story, let’s call them non first-rounders) the Patriots have gone after in recent years have all excelled in the agility drills. Edelman had a 6.62 second time in the 3-cone drill as a collegian. Deion Branch was 6.71 (at the 2002 combine), Chad Jackson (at the 2006 combine) was 6.74 and Wes Welker was 7.06. (For some perspective, those performances would put them in the Top 10 at the combine most years.) That also translates to the defensive side of the football, as Devin McCourty’s 6.7 in the 3-cone drill at the 2010 combine put him second among all corners.

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If the Patriots’ plan, though, is to replace the focal point of their offense with a pieced-together alternative, whatever resources that would have been allocated to Welker would best be put toward a player on the outside who gives a new dimension to their offense.

Hey, Don’t F*$% This Up: The New England Patriots and the Wes Welker Situation – The Triangle Blog – Grantland

This.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/if-the-patriots-plan-though-is-to-replace-the/

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https://www.patspropaganda.com/13474/

So if not Tavon Austin, which wide receiver would you want us to draft?

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Woods out of SC in the early second maybe. The more this draft lines up I think they’ll be ready to ditch the 29th overall slot and go for multiple second rounders. I’d hit defensive tackle, defensive back and wide receiver depending on the best value pick between those three positions. Pick up an OL late, maybe a QB or Special Teams LB who can run. They went surgical last year, I think they’ll do the same this year only trading down.

There has been a lot of talk about Tavon Austin being on the Pats radar and that he’ll be an excellent fit in our system. A lot of draft experts expect the Pats to pick him in the first round. What do you think about all of this?

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Glad you asked this, was meaning to write on him. My problem with him is that it’s simply refreshing the same Patriots offense we’ve seen since 2010. So you let Welker walk, maybe re-sign Edelman and draft Austin and you’ve got the same underneath, middle-of-the-field offense that the book is out on.

So yes, if you’re trying to recreate that offense, Austin could be a good fit. But what I’d prefer is that the Pats evolve their offense and look to bigger, more physical outside threats in the draft instead of more slot receivers. That’s what they need most. Until they stretch the field and force teams to address their outside threats they’ll keep running into the same problems against the better defenses.