Belichick Leaves Pats Fans Scratching Their Heads!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

If you have been a fan of the New England Patriots during the Bill Belichick era then you should be conditioned to expect the unexpected on draft day. That was the case again last night as the Patriots surprised us all with what they did in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

New England was the only franchise with two first round draft picks (17th & 28th) and had a desperate need for a legitimate pass rusher entering round 1. That need still exists.

With the 17th overall selection, the Pats grabbed Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder. Solder was considered one of the top offensive tackles in the draft. At 6’-8” tall and 319 lbs, he possesses great size and athleticism and has quick feet. Some say that he will need to get stronger to be an effective starter in the NFL.

The selection of Solder addresses an immediate need for the Patriots. He will likely replace Matt Light who just completed his 10th season with New England and will be a free agent once the NFL settles its labor issues.

In somewhat more predictable fashion, the Pats traded their second selection (28th overall) in the first round to the New Orleans Saints who used the pick to take Alabama running back Mark Ingram.

In return, New England received the Saints second round pick in this year’s draft (24th in the second round, 56th overall) and the Saints first round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Patriots had only 5 picks in next year’s draft and now have 6, including two first rounders, as a result of the trade.

New England also now has three second round picks when the draft resumes tonight at 6pm in New York.

While it’s hard to argue Bill Belichick’s success in manipulating the draft on a yearly basis, he has to be questioned for his tactics this year.

Start with the premise that Tom Brady’s window of opportunity is closing rapidly. How many great years are left in that right arm of his – 2,3, maybe 4? For that reason, this team needs to fill its holes now.

Grabbing a tackle like Solder should provide protection for Brady but the offense hasn’t been the major problem for this team in recent years. The Patriots have morphed into the Indianapolis Colts of last decade. They are known for having an explosive, finesse-type offense but are lacking on the defensive side of the football. They did nothing to address those glaring needs in round 1 of the draft and had better hope that they can today in round 2.

Furthermore, many believe (myself included) that Mark Ingram will turn out to be a great running back in the NFL. They could have had him at 28 but elected to trade the pick to New Orleans so that the Saints could select him. Will we look back at this as a tremendous mistake 3-4 years from now like we do their decision to pass twice on Clay Mathews?

NFL drafts are not won on paper but rather on the field. Only time will tell how the Patriots and every other team made out in this 2011 draft.

But the fact remains that New England could have come out of the first round with an impact pass rusher and Heisman Trophy winning RB Mark Ingram which would have been viewed as a huge success.

Instead, Belichick decided to fool us once again. Let's hope that he’s right.