PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

Mike Dussault

Patriots select RB Stevan Ridley and QB Ryan Mallett

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Welp it wouldn’t be a Patriots draft weekend if I wasn’t blown away at least once and here I was blown away on back to back picks.

First we have Ridley who is very much a Pats style running back, even though they already selected Vereen. That makes for a very crowded backfield and that’s even if Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris don’t return.

Ridley was on my big board in the bottom 20 and unranked.

Mallett is very much a prototypical passing quaterback who physically reminds of Bledsoe meets Brady. But the true question is whose decision making he’s closer to.

Patriots select Cal RB Shane Vereen 56th Overall

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Vereen was a popular player on a lot of Patriots pundits lists. I had him at #37 on my Patriots big board. He’s a versatile back who runs hard. Perfect Pat. Here’s the description:

Shane Vereen (RB, 5-10, 210, CAL) shifty, sudden back with good awareness, could eventually contribute on third down. NFL.com: compact runner with a low center of gravity. Patient back that shows the ability to find holes and cutback lanes. Runs hard and fights for extra yards after contact. Possesses great hands and instincts as a receiver. Can split out wide and shows good effort and technique in pass protection.

Pre-draft thoughts on Ras-I Dowling

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Here’s what I had on Ras-I on my big board:

28. Ras-I Dowling (DB, 6-02, 205, Virginia): tall, playmaker, could project to FS eventually, projected as high round pick before battling injuries in 2010. NFL.com: A monster of a cornerback who seeks out contact in run support and is a sound tackler. He really excels in zone coverage with terrific instincts and has the ball skills to make plays on underneath routes.

And the description in my Patriots only mock where I had him going at the 74th slot… only 41 spots off!

74. Ras-I Dowling (CB/FS): Dowling was considered a top corner prospect before battling injuries in 2010. He immediately would add a potential presence in the slot and could eventually move to Free Safety which will most likely be a major area of need for the Patriots in 2011. The value of getting Dowling in this spot is huge, filling a future need is just icing on the cake. Robert Sands could be another similar option.

Patriots select Ras-I Dowling at #33 overall

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Welp, I said earlier today that the Pats could take a DB early today and that’s just what they did. And yes I had both Solder and Dowling on my Patriots only mock, granted much lower.

Dowling is another great value pick, before having an injury plagued 2010 he was the top corner on many draft boards. So I’m sure some Pats fans are beating their heads against the wall right now, but it’s exactly the kind of pick the Pats make. Still plenty of picks to address OLB and interior offensive line.