Thanks for the feedback Jetsrule and Cato. Sounds like they are developing as planned. Rockefella. I hear they are recruiting over at JI. Based on your brilliant and informative post, you'll fit in fine.
:rof :rofl: Rockefella ow3n3d I'm not happy with these "project" picks myself. But as a Patriots fan, who's team perennially has 8 picks in the first 3 rounds, who more often than not don't pan out, how can you comment on "failed" picks?
Wayne was very good last season in games he was going to start. The only times he did poorly (I.e. houston game) when was he in got thrown in there due to injury. Woody actually had a pretty bad year last year even when he on was on the field. his pass protection broke down quite a bit. it's not shocking he retired
Wow, that was wishy washy! To me he played well enough to earn the spot this year. I think line depth may be a bigger concern this year with Hunter now starting and Vlad getting mixed reviews.
Its just that Hunter has only managed to start a handful of games despite already being in the league 8 years (and only now becoming a starter on merit in his 9th year). He did a solid job late last year but I just have not seen enough of him. I'm not sure he played "well enough" against the Steelers in the playoffs last year but then again, most of our team was abused during the first half. Again, he has "earned" the job but is he a classic mauler RT? Has he shown himself able to play consistently at a high level over the course of a full season? Woody started 32 games his first two years in the league. Hunter didn't start a game until his 7th year in the league and then it was only just one game. He may turn out great but I'm just not totally sold on him, hence the wishy-washiness on my part. Its one thing stepping up over the span of 4 or 5 games. Its another thing altogether over a full season.
Ducasse was the only one who was supposed to be a project. Wilson was overloaded to the point where the CS actually apologized for it. Nickel is practically a new position for those who never played it, as Wilson had not while at Boise St. Some of it was also typical rookie growing pains but he wasn't exactly in the best position to succeed, either. McKnight's faults were entirely on his shoulders; he just wasn't prepared to do the job. Mentally, he's improved. Hopefully he can start contributing in the offense now.
Most OL take time to progress and develop in the NFL. Ducasse is developing and is going to be a long term starter on this line.
That just not true. Take last season for example Here are the Pats picks. I think some of them my seem familiar McCourty- strarter- 8 picks Gronkowski- starter -10 TDs Cunningham - Starter- at a position he never played, after missing TC Spikes - Starter on running downs Price- no impact rookie year, but stock is rising this preseason Hernandez- used regularly in passing groups -6TDs Mesko - Starter - punter Ted Larson- late cut in #'s game - ended up starting G for TB Welch - an OT - cut - bad pick Deadrick- DT ended up starting several games Weston - DT= PS last season - w/the additions, likely there again. Robinson QB - Bad pick Thats 12 picks 6 were good enough to start multiple games. (7 if you count Larsen :wink plus Hernandez who had more TD's and almost as many catches and yds as Keller despite being the 3rd TE and playing 2 fewer games. The point being that he's good too. Now this was a particularly good draft, others are more hit and miss. For example in 2008 the Pats had 4 picks in the 2nd round and wound up with 2 real keepers, (Chung and Volmer) and 2 guys who were JAGs (Butler and Brace). The Point being that BB has been in rebuild mode the 3 years. He creatively accumulated four of five extra picks and used them to rebuild the team on the fly, minimizing any down time. You can't argue with the results. Adding just a few FA's the Pats rebuilt their roster and never had more than 6 losses.
So, it's OK for Ducasse to not even be able to compete for a starting job in his 2nd year because he was a "project" pick. Meanwhile, Mo Wilkerson was widely considered a project pick, but everyone is sure he'll be a quality starter from day one.
