Cape Cod Sports Desk

Big, Fast, And Dumb

February Blues

I've never liked February... especially this past one.

 If that Super Bowl wasn't bad enough...well, that'd be a bad If/Then proposition, because the Soup actually WAS bad enough. I'll probably be feeling that until just before the NFL Draft in late April.

This week saw the NFL Scouting Combine happening. This is the event where they get all the NFL hopefuls and run them through all kinds of tests to see how strong/fast/smart/agile they are. This where fortunes are made and lost, as a bad workout can turn a million dollar payday into a hope-somebody-calls-me career buzzkill.

Likewise, people with marginal skills can go from nobody to Somebody with one 4.2 40 yard dash or by busting out 40 reps of 225 on the bench press in a minute. Both of those above stats speak of a Freak, someone so strong or fast that you pretty much bet millions of dollars that no one will be able to consistently catch or stop this man on a level playing field.

It's not an exact science. There are many Intangibles that can't be measured. Tom Brady was just some kid at the Scouting Combine after his senior year, ignored by (almost) all. Plenty have guys have shown that 4.3 speed, but it turns out that they can't catch the ball or remember plays in the NFL. The bench press can be offset by the truth- often spoken of in pro wrestling- that the weights don't fight back.

The Patriots hold a high draft pick this year, as our Spygate penalty only hit the lower of our first round picks. We pick 7th in the first round, which is where you get franchise players. We're either drafting a stud or trading down for multiple picks. If we keep it, look for us to draft a linebacker, a defensive back, or an offensive lineman.

I'm not that into college ball, but I read enough Hype to guess that we're looking at a choice between:

• DBs Mike Jenkins, Aqib Talib Leodis McKelvin, or Kenny Phiilps... with KP being a safety.
• DE/LB Vernon Ghloston, Calais Campbell (6'8"), Keith Rivers, Derrick Harvey, or Howie Long's son (if he drops to us).
• OT Jake Long, Ryan Cady, Jeff Otah, or Chris Williams.... average size, 6'6",  325 lbs.

What New England neeeds 
New England has three seemingly apparent needs. The offensive line took a terrific beating in the Super Bowl,and teams will be blitzing Brady like that all next season. Drafting a mammoth right tackle- or a left tackle good enough to force Matt Light to the right- would solve that.

Of course... our linebackers are getting old. One can see Bruschi and his strokes retiring, taking ancient Junior Seau with him. Roosevelt Colvin is oft-injured. Mike Vrabel isn't getting younger. Adalius Thomas is returning, and we have a contract on the table for Zach Thomas.... but he  JUST signed with Dallas.

Besides... cornerback Asante Samuel wants like a jillion dollars, and we won't give it to him. That leaves us with Randall Gay and Ellis Hobbs as our starting cornerbacks. That's just not tolerable.

So... I'd keep an eye on Jenkins, McKelvin and Talib, who should all be available when we draft. That would be option 1. Option 2 is moving down for more picks (Dallas has two late first rounders). Option 3 is Belichick drafting someone I don't know, which looks like a pretty good Option 1 upon reflection.

Most mock drafts I read have us picking Gholston or Jenkins. That will change after the combine.

Anywho... that's pretty much it for the NFL until the draft... unless we make a trade or something. This may change if someone does a 4.2 40, or gets a 5 on his Wonderlic test.