Bill Belichick addresses the media during his Draft press conference at Gillette Stadium on Friday.
It's a day of preparation all the way through just trying to go through the second and third round and take a look at the players and the teams and so forth, putting it all together. We had a number of conversations prior to the draft. We really felt like Ras-I Dowling was a good pick for us there. Big corner, good tackler, been in a good program there in Virginia with coach [Al] Groh and Mike London this past year. [He's] a guy that's played in a system pretty similar to what we've run. Very impressive kid.
Then we had a little movement down there, took [Shane] Vereen and then traded back and ended up taking [Stevan] Ridley and [Ryan] Mallet. It seemed like there was some conversation on just about every pick. I can't really remember what all of it was, but again, in the end, we just felt like moving back and picking up the extra pick would enable us to make the Oakland trade, which was kind of ongoing. That's something that we've been talking about here for a little while with them that finally got consummated.
Coming out of the draft with the five players that we have - a lineman and three skilled players on offense and a corner on defense - and a couple of high picks next year, I feel like we had a pretty decent couple days. And then we'll just go back tonight and try to take a look at what's left on the board and what we have left in the way of picks and keep plugging away and try to find players that can contribute or maybe we think develop on the football team. Still got a long way to go here, but this is where we are for right now.
Cold Hard Football Facts (SI) Draft Analysis: Round 2.
No. 33: CB Ras-I Dowling (Virginia) The Patriots nailed their pick of CB Devin McCourty last year, but struggled to find someone to play opposite him. Dowling, a physical talent with 4.4 speed, could fill that void, and go a long way toward giving New England the elite pass defense it enjoyed in its Super Bowl-winning glory days. The downside? Dowling suffered numerous injuries last year at Virginia.
No. 56: RB Shane Vereen (California) A smallish runner but one with the great pass-catching skills (74 career receptions) so coveted by a Patriots organization that values versatility overall. In that effort to get a dual threat, they may have reached for Vereen -- most observers had the junior projected as a third- or fourth-round pick.
TEAM TALK
- Eric Scalavino recaps New England's action on Day 2 of the 2011 NFL Draft.
- Paul Perillo analyzes the draft so far and wants to know, what about the defense?
- Bill Belichick Press Conference (4/29/11) - (13.34 min. video) plus Transcript.
- Conference Calls: Stevan Ridley - Ryan Mallett - and Shane Vereen address the media Friday.
- College highlights: Stevan Ridley (5 min. video), Ryan Mallett (5 min. video) and Shane Vereen (5 min.)
- Patriots Today - Solder arrives at Gillette. (1.43 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Mallett headlines surprising Day 2. (2.40 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Ras-I is the guy. (2.09 min. video)
- Patriots Today - The moment Vereen was selected. (1.16 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Fans take part in draft festivities. (3.13 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Greg A. Bedard notes that if the first day of the 2011 NFL draft left Patriots fans frustrated , they may also feel perplexed and possibly angry after the second and third rounds last night.
- Mike Reiss wants to know, 'Where's the pass-rusher?'
- Shalise Manza Young reports Belichick stayed true to form at the Draft yesterday, by selecting the unexpected.
- Karen Guregian reports Bill Belichick threw a curveball with his 3rd-round selection of QB Ryan Mallett and his refusal to pick up a pass-rusher.
- Ian Rapoport recaps the second night of the Draft and the surprising selections made by the Patriots.
- Mike Reiss offers some of his quick-hit thoughts from Day 2.
- Mike Rodak highlights Bill Belichick's wrap-up of Day 2.
- Monique Walker analyzes the Patriots' third round picks, noting Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett is a surprise choice.
- The Boston Globe profiles each of the Patriots' Day 2 draftees.
- Zuri Berry summarizes in list form what the Patriots did in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the NFL Draft yesterday.
- Christopher Price says that in the end, Bill Belichick saw a kindred spirit in Ryan Mallett.
- Tom E. Curran says that while other teams ran from Ryan Mallett like he was a house ablaze, the Patriots head coach wades in and takes a damaged talent.
- Danny Picard notes Ryan Mallett was surprised to get drafted by New England but always thought he'd be a good fit.
- Greg a. Bedard offers his analysis of yesterday's draft picks: RB Stevan Ridley (LSU) and QB Ryan Mallett (Arkansas) - RB Shane Vereen (Cal) and CB Ras-I Dowling (Virginia).
- Dan Ventura points out that had it not been for injuries, CB Ras-I Dowling would have been a first-round pick.
- Mike Rodak resets the Patriots draft picks after the Patriots' trade with Oakland yesterday.
- Monique Walker reports Nate Solder arrived at Gillette Stadium yesterday for introductions and a tour. He is eager to learn and prove himself.
- Christopher Price gives his thoughts on the Patriots first-round pick, OT Nate Solder (Colorado).
- Rich Thompson reports Nate Solder plans to make a big impact at left tackle.
- Chris Gasper reports Tom Brady explained he took on the role of lead plaintiff out of responsibility as a leader, not from any personal conflict with the Krafts.
- Ian Rapoport notes Tom Brady spoke for the first time on the labor dispute that bears his name, and how he wants to be part of the solution.
- Ian Rapoport posts a clip of Tom Brady at Chelsea Piers in NYC for an Under Armour event, talking about football. (2.17 min video)
- Karen Guregian reports that according to team spokesman Stacey James, several players showed up at Gillette Stadium to work out for the first time this offseason.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Tim Graham (ESPN) 'Mallett 6' script waiting to be written.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots not afraid of Ryan Mallett at No. 74.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Ryan Mallett in New England could work.
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) A stunning pick, but Mallett makes a ton of sense for Patriots.
- Mike Freeman (CBS Sports) Drafting Mallett might be one gamble Belichick regrets.
- Don Banks (SI) Bowers, Mallett get lucky bounces, and more from Friday's action.
- Dennis Dillon (Sporting News) Long wait works out for new Patriot Ryan Mallett.
- Jason Cole (Yahoo! Sports) Mallett's slide ended by unlikely team.
- Matt Bowen (Nat'l Football Post) Breaking down the Day 2 quarterbacks.
- AP (Fox Sports) High-profile QBs selected on Day 2.
- Clifton Brown (Sporting News) Winners and losers from NFL Draft rounds 2 and 3. Patriots in the winners column.
- PFW editors (Pro Football Weekly) Best trade of the draft's first two days. Eric Edhom says it's the Patriots.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) NFL Draft day 2: Winners and losers. Pats & Mallett are in the winners column.
- Howard Ullman, AP (Yahoo! Sports) Patriots focus on offense and trades in draft.
- Rob Rang (CBS Sports) Top 10 surprises through first three rounds.
- NFL Draft (NFL.com) Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks about drafting Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett and other picks and trades he has made. (4.03 min. video)
- NFL Total Access (NFL.com) Is New England the best place for Ryan Mallett to grow? The "NFL Total Access" draft crew thinks so. (4.13 min. video)
- ESPNBoston posts a Sport Science segment that shows just how strong Ryan Mallett's arm really is. (2.11 min. video) Impressive, for sure.
- ESPNBoston posts the video of Jon Gruden's QB Camp with Ryan Mallett. (4.20 min. video)
- Elizabeth Merrill (ESPN) Ryan Mallett focused on the future. (April 15, 2011)
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots end mystery with Dowling.
- Tim Graham (ESPN) Patriots add Shane Vereen to backfield.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Best available for day three.
- Gil Brandt (NFL.com) Still some top-tier talent left from Hot 100.
- Russ Lande (Sporting News) Top 20 players left after three rounds.