As I get older, thankfully I start to pick up on some patterns surrounding the draft style of my favorite NFL team-the New England Patriots. That keeps me from going insane when they never, ever select who I want.
Head coach Bill Belichick adores stockpiling picks and going for safe choices rather than trading up or reaching for someone that might be more of a question mark.
This has worked handsomely to the tune of say it with me, three Super Bowls in four years. Well guess what? This team hasn't won a playoff game in three seasons so maybe it's time to change things up a bit.
If you're asking Coach Hoodie, the answer is no. The first round of the 2011 NFL draft took place last night at Radio City Music Hall and naive Patriots fans were pumped for two picks (at No. 17 and 28). They blatantly disregarded the fact that New England ALWAYS trades back. Always.
So yes, a bunch of teams ahead of them reached for mediocre quarterbacks, leaving a bunch of defensive ends/outside linebackers (their biggest need) available. Obviously, the Pats ignored that and went with offensive tackle Nate Solder from the University of Colorado.
From all accounts, he's a solid guy and with Matt Light hitting free agency, it makes sense to get his replacement that they can slide to right tackle with Sebastian Vollmer going to left tackle.
That was predictable and so was the next move: trading the 28 pick to the Saints. New Orleans promptly took Mark Ingram-running back from the University of Alabama. The fact that the Saints snagged both Cameron Jordan (DE from Cal) and Ingram was a kick in the pants. Sure, New England got a second round pick and 2012 first round pick for No. 28 but it doesn't matter. Having multiple first round picks just means they'll keep trading forever and ever.
We can't jump off the ledge yet since there's two more days of the draft but for a team desperate for elite talent, gamebreakers, it would be nice to see Belichick and the Patriots take some more risks.
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