An Independent Patriots Blog
Fitzy Goes to the 2011 NFL Draft!!
A day too late, if not for computer problems this would’ve been up yesterday. And if you missed him on our Saturday podcast you can check it out on the blogtalk player in the right column.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/fitzy-goes-to-the-2011-nfl-draft-a-day-too/
Listen in live using the player a couple posts below or immediately afterwards on Itunes.
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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUDcKqcHuK8
Ras-I Dowling highlights y’all. I’m excited, the Patriots secondary is going to be filthy.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/ras-i-dowling-highlights-yall-im-excited-the/
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.
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.
Nate Solder meets the press in Foxboro.
https://www.patspropaganda.com/nate-solder-meets-the-press-in-foxboro/