What was Hoodie thinking with Devin McCourty at 27th?! Value, value, value.

Plus now Hoodie has a lot of extra picks, time and reason to trade all over the second-round draft board to get all those OLBs and DEs he needs to make a pass-rush.

The Patriots now have three solid corners in Bodden, Butler, and McCourty, plus a corner whom the jury is still out on in Jonathan Wilhite (who will continue to be a solid slot corner). They can also rotate in Shawn Springs at free safety, and play him in press in goal line/short yardage situations.

When the Patriots go out against teams like the Colts next year, look for them to come out in sets of six, even seven defensivebacks. McCourty just adds to what the Patriots could do, and he should get a lot of playing time as a rookie.

one just doesn’t fit. He is Bust-proof? I get versatility, but players in the 2nd and 3rd rounds offer versatility. Heck, we have players on the roster now that offer versatility. Also, he is just as unproven as the other guys the Patriots passed on. Perhaps he had better coaching or what have you, but the question is still there. Can he cover an NFL receiver? I agree that a player like Thomas, Odrick, Bryant or even Hughes is a gamble and you could swing and miss. But you will never hit a home run if all you do is bunt.

2009 Season
Earned All-American and All-Big East Conference first-team honors from The NFL Draft Report, becoming the first conference player to earn that honor at two different positions in the same year by that scouting information service (cornerback and special teams) …

Also listed as the most underrated weak-side cornerback and top special teams coverage defender in the country by The NFL Draft Report … First-team All-Big East Conference choice by Athlon Sports and Lindy’s magazine … Lindy’s also rated McCourty as the Big East’s “Special Teams Demon” according to Lindy’s … In addition to his duties at weak-side cornerback, the senior also handled kickoff return duties, and served on both the kickoff coverage and punt coverage units … Started all 13 games, recording a career-high 80 tackles (49 solos), as an eye injury on the first possession of the St. Petersburg Bowl prevented the defensive captain from becoming the first cornerback in school history to lead his team in tackles (posted 78 hits during the first 12 games and linebacker Damaso Munoz inched past him with 81 tackles for 2009) … Also collected 9.5 stops for losses totaling 20 yards … Intercepted one pass and deflected 10 others … Rerouted receivers away from 41 pass attempts, as the opposition completed 36-of-92 throws he was involved in (39.13 percent) for 212 yards and one touchdown, an average of 5.89 yards per pass completion and 2.30 yards per pass attempt (pass attempt total was the lowest for any major college starting cornerback in 2009) … Those statistics do not tell the true story of his shutdown ability, as 38.89 percent of his tackles made on pass plays came from missed assignments by other teammates … Against his main pass coverage assignments, the right cornerback limited those receivers to just 14 catches on 41 passes targeted to them (34.15 percent), good for 96 yards, an average of 6.86 yards per completion and a miniscule 2.34 yards per pass attempt … Made 19 third-down stops vs. the aerial attack and two others vs. the ground game, as he posted 31 hits in run support, stopping those runners twice at the line of scrimmage and 11 other times for loss (both solos and assists) while holding those ball carriers to 84 yards (2.71 yards per catch) … Added 10 tackles for the punt coverage unit and three more for the kickoff coverage squad, as he blocked three kicks and caused a fumble on another punt return … Averaged 25.43 yards on 14 kickoff returns for 356 yards and a 98-yard touchdown … His 98-yarder ranks third on the school record list.

Like you pointed out Rich he’s a patriot type player. If hoodie took him over Kyle Wilson Im sure there is reason for it. Love the versatility and the fact that we picked up a 3rd rounder…..Pass rush will be addressed tomorrow, sorry to see Hughes go to the Colts though….plenty of OLBs around…and I can still have my dream of a Mayo/Spikes interior (the fact that we have a 3rd rounder might make this more likely, we should address TE then.)

Hopefuls for day 2
Golden Tate
Ricky Sapp/Sergio Kindle
Brandon Spikes
Rob Gronkowski
Jonathan Dwyer

McCourty was probably in the radar of the Pats in the second round but the run of CB prob forced BB to draft him early. If the Pats select a 3-4 DE, 3-4OLB along w. a WR in the 2nd round….i’ll be happy

I was surprised, too, and McCourty is not a sexy pick like Bryant would have been but remember, we need to improve the pass defense as well as the pass rush. McCourty gives us another good young corner. And all the trading down lets us move us 6 spots in the 4th round and gives us a 3rd round pick we didn’t have before. Now we’ve got 4 picks today, 3 of them in the second round so we can address other needs. If we get a passrusher or two today, I think we’ll all feel a lot better about drafting a CB in the 1st.

I think it’s a solid if unspectacular pick, and if we add some more pieces today, it will shape up as a really good draft.

there is still time. I just really wanted a front seven difference maker and was hoping they would make the leap use the ammo and trade up…

Pats spent last year getting faster and more athletic in the draft, this year they’ve already moved back gotten more value and can do the same, along with filling positions of need.

But realistically I don’t think any of us felt any pick at 22 or then at 25 was a slam dunk must have guy. There were guys that fit needs, so perhaps we all were stretching their value based on what the Pats need in our eyes – I sit here now and thank Jeebus BB doesn’t do that LOL.

Sure getting Dez Bryant at 22 would have been pretty special for the O, but if McCourtney plays (and I think he’s immediately a dime package player) and either the 3 or 4 they grabbed in moving back also get 20-30% of snaps by December, this is really a tremendous move.

The impact player will come next year, with the Raiders pick (should still be top 10) and with a potential rookie salary cap, that pick will be even more valuable (so a great chance to trade down again, ;) )

But for this year, amassing as many picks as you can in a good, deep draft and adding BPA talent with each pick…it’s really helping to re-arm the balance of the team.

I think Richard had a point about sub packages earlier here, from my end:

More and more 3 -4 wide sets mean that OLBs could be 2 down players, depending on their skill set maybe 3 but really in terms of percentage of snaps..it’s probably decreasing.

The likeliness of having five, six and possibly 7 DBs on the field is ever increasing. And with McCourney, Butler, Chung, Merriweather and the wonder twins…each of these guys was a capable returner in college. That translates into the kicking game but that also shows they have the acceleration and quickness to rotate into a nickel/dime blitz schemes.

Instead of OLBs coming in on 3rd down, it’s complex coverages and the Peyton Manning defense all over again. 2 DBs go in to make it a 6 man rush and 5 guys are staying back, only problem for the O is ANY of the DBs could be coming in, and any could be staying back.

Getting edge rushers, line movers to help on the DL would be great today, also Ben Tate

That doesn’t mean starter. Just rotation time.

Since were in nickel around 50% of defensive snaps that’s playing time. Since he can contribute in every special teams formation, that’s playing time as well. If he moves up to one of the two starting spots this year or next, he will be filling his end of the bargain, and living up to a low first round pick.

The big thing here is game day roster. He fills many roles with one guy. That’s value on game day as players go down. That’s actually the same thing Pouncey brings to the table. He can fill 4 out of the five offensive line spots. That’s fewer guys you need on game day. When I did “Who Stays and Who Goes?” last year, getting down to the 53 man roster usually means who can fill multiple holes. If you are the number 1 starter, your job is secure. After that, it’s how many roles can you fill.