How long before the rookies help the Pats?
by shake n bake
on May 10, 2008 11:58 AM EDT
*I tried to lead MaPatsFan into answering this one for me on Stampede Blue since I didn't have the time to research it when it first popped into my head, but he didn't either so I did it once I had the time.*
The Patriots spent all but one of their picks in the 2008 draft on defenders, but how long before this influx of youth brings young starters to an old D. Here's a breakdown of the Patriots starters last season and how long it took them to become starters.
06/07 no defensive starters, Meriweather (round 1) the only defender from those drafts on the roster.
2005
Ellis Hobbs (3rd round), full time starter in his 3rd season, Games started by year- 8,9,16
James Sanders (4th), starter 3rd year, GS-2,5,15
2004
Vince Wilfork (1st), starter 2nd year, GS-6,16,13,16
2003
Ty Warren (1st), starter 2nd year, GS-4,16,16,15,16
Eugene Wilson (2nd) starter 1st year (lost starting job in 2007), GS-15,14,16,4,6
Asante Samuel (4th) starter 3rd year, GS-1,8,15,15,14
2002
Jarvis Green (4th), 6th season, GS-4,7,1,5,4,10
2001
Richard Seynore (top 10), 1st season, GS-10,16......
2000-1997
No defenders currently on roster drafted
1996
Tedy Bruschi, 4th season, GS-0,1,7,14,16....
Picks by other teams
Rosevelt Colvin signed by Patriots after 4th season in the league. Became a Pats starter in 3rd year on team/7th in league.
Mike Vrabel signed after 4th season. Started in 1st season with Patriots/5th in league
The only current defenders to start for the Patriots as rookies were a 6th overall pick and a safety who later lost his starting job. None of the current LBs were starters before their 4th year in the league and Colvin needed two years of experience in the Pats system in addition to 4 with the Bears before he became a starter. D-linemen find there way into the lineup the fastest with Seymore starting as a rookie and Vilfork and Warren starting in their second year. 3 of the 4 starting DBs drafted by the Pats started in their 3rd season. LBs took the longest with none of the starters seeing the majority of starting time before they had been in the league for 3 or more years.
The Patriots' future on D might have been improved, but it will probably take 3-4 years before this draft has any real effect to make the Pats D younger. Mayo is a fantastic player, but the demands of Belichick's defense will likely keep him on the bench for one, two or maybe up to three years. Wheatley might be able to work his way onto the field in a secondary depleted by free agency, but he'll likely follow the path of Hobbs and Samuel before him and spend 2 years learning before he's ready. Crable is an even surer bet to take years to be ready to play LB since early round picks made their way into the Pats lineup faster (really?, who'd have guessed that). The Pats have found DBs in the 4th round so Wilhite may contribute eventually. After the fourth round the majority of Pats draft picks especially on defense are cut and disappear off the map or spend their careers on the bench.
*I'm sure you guys will be able to point to a few mistakes and wrong assumptions I made here. I used Pro Football Reference for the games started info and NFL.com's draft history for the draft history.*
0 recs |
4
comments
| Add your comment
EmailComments
Thanks shake n bake...
...for taking the time to put this out there. I managed to get in a pretty good car wreck yesterday – car towed away and probably totaled, emergency room visit. Noone was hurt but it could’ve been worse. I will NEVER own another car that doesn’t have side airbags; I’m pretty darn sure my head would’ve gone through the driver’s side window.
I’ll take a look through your FanPost and comment today. Thanks again for writing this up.
by MaPatsFan on
May 10, 2008 2:34 PM EDT
reply
0 recs
My thoughts...
I think that both Mayo and Wheatley will see some action this year.
Mayo it totally depends on Junior Seau. If Seau does NOT come back, he will be thrust into action quicker, and be part of the rotation from the start. If Junior DOES come back, I think Mayo won’t be a huge part for the first couple of games, until we are up by a couple touchdowns. Either way by the end of the season, he will be cemented in the ILB rotation.
Wheatley on the other hand I think will see action in the nickle role early in the season. If he can do well, he might get the nod to start opposite Hobbs toward the end of the season… we will see.
ohh 1 last thing… the QB thing… I think Cassel gets traded during the pre-season, for a late second/early third round pick, as long as Gutierrez performs as well as he did last year. We will start the season with 2 QBs again this year on the roster, and O’Connell will be on the practice squad
by Ogor on
May 11, 2008 1:07 AM EDT
reply
0 recs
QB's
Cassel isn’t worth a 2nd/3rd rounder.
Matt Schaub was traded for 2 2nd rounders. Schaub was more experienced and had played better in the time he had gotten.
Charlie Frye for a 6th rounder or Ryan Fitzpatrick for a 7th or more in the ballpark for Cassel.
A player on a team’s practice squad can be signed to any other teams active roster. If the Pats cut O’Connell from their active roster to put him on the practice squad he will be signed by another team. O’Connell was a 3rd round pick almost every team would jump at the chance to grab him as a free agent. I’d hope the Colts would sign O’Connell and carry him as the 3rd QB if he was cut.
my blog http://shakennbaken.blogspot.com
by shake n bake on
May 11, 2008 2:01 PM EDT
up
reply
0 recs
not a chance
if O’connell works out the way bb hopes, bye bye Matt, Kevin will be here to stay. He will be no. 2 right after Brady then Guiteiriez 3rd. Again, if he lives up to bb’s expectations.
by melagrano on
May 11, 2008 2:20 PM EDT
up
reply
0 recs
New FanPost
