Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. I watched a local interview with Bill Belichick---the Pats' HC--on Boston TV last night. He was asked what his drafting philosophy is, and here's a summary of what he said:
A. We do not draft for need. What we have found is that when we draft for need we often wind up with players that don't fit our system or our short and long term plans and thus, we have to start all over again addressing that need the following year.
B. We have a belief that we draft players who we think will be very productive for us over a four year span, and hopefully beyond. This ties into our philsophy of not drafting for need, because your needs can change from year to year. What we might think is not a need this year, can turn out to be a need due to injuries or free agency defections.
C. He pointed out that when he was with the Giants, when he had Lawrence Taylor and what was considered to be the best LB unit in the NFL, the Giants got blasted by the media and pundits for drafting LB Carl Banks. As it turned out, he said, that pick turned out to be pretty good. Yeah, Carl Banks was one of the major reasons why the Giants went on to win a Super Bowl.
D. He said that the only time he considers need at all is when two players on the board are equally rated. But even then, he said, we still draft the player whose physical and mental strengths match what we look for in young players.
I would just add that if you look at Belichick's draft maneuvers, he is a master at trading down to acquire extra picks...and when he really really wants a player, he is more than willing to package some picks to move up, as he did last year to draft WR Chad Jackson.
Belichick plays the odds as well as any drafter...he knows there's good value across the board and he knows that the more picks you have the more flexible you are, and the more likely you are to take players who will help the team.
The Patriots have 10 picks heading into the draft. The Cardinals have six. And the Patriots have won three of the last six Super Bowls, and were in the AFC Championship last year.
2. The Alan Faneca situation in Pittsburgh is an intriguing one. Rumor has it that he is lobbying hard to get the Steelers to trade him to the Cardinals. He loves playing for Russ Grimm.
The question is: would the Steelers be willing to get something in return right now for Faneca who is sure to bolt for Arizona after this season? If so, what would the Steelers want?
Faneca is 31 years old, and he's heading into his 10th season. He's been a perennial Pro Bowler. My guess is that barring injury he's got three or four very good years left in him.
Some ASFNers have said why not just wait for Faneca next year? That's a great question. My feeling is the Cards should acquire him as soon as possible. This offensive line needs a leader in the worst possible way. Having Faneca in the players' ears along with Grimm, this o-line could go through an amazing metamorphisis.
Would I offer a swap of #5 for #15 and Faneca? Without any hesitation whatsoever. To me it would symbolize that the Cards are focused on winning right away.
We know there are other Ts in this draft that Grimm likes...he's lauded the depth.
Plus, at #15...the Cards could take LB Paul Posluszny...who, like Faneca, brings toughness and attitude.
OR--they could trade down again and add more picks,
OR--T Joe Staley...if they like him enough to take him there.
OR--at #15 it's very possible, even likely that one of the top defensive linemen will be there: Anderson, Branch, Okoye, Carricker...because it's hard to imagine that 5 of the top 14 picks will be defensive linemen.
3. If the Steelers wanted the Cardinals' #38 pick for Faneca...would you take the deal? To me, it's a no-brainer. Faneca would bring so much to the organization in terms of skill level and leadership...plus, the team would sign him to a 4 year deal...and whomever the Cardinals take at #38 would only be signed for 4 years as well...and I guarantee you, there is no one in this draft available at #38 who could play at a Pro Bowl level for the next four years...certainly none of the second-tier offensive linemen.
4. My favorite players in this draft: (based on skill, character and/or difference making, not taking projections into account)
1. RB Adrian Peterson
2. S LaRon Landry
3. LB Paul Posluszny
4. WR Calvin Johnson
5. DT Amobi Okoye
6. DE Adam Carriker
7. T Levi Brown
8. WR/PR Ted Ginn, Jr.
9. DE/OLB Anthony Spencer
10. G/T Justin Blalock
11. LB Patrick Willis
12. RB Brian Leonard
My all sleeper picks: (Day Two Steals)
QB: Jared Zabransky, Boise St.
RB: Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois
FB: Deon Anderson, Connecticut
WR: Derek Stanley, Wisconsin-Whitewater
TE: Kevin Boss, Western Oregon
T: Chase Johnson, Wyoming
G: Cameron Stephenson, Rutgers
C: Doug Datish, Ohio St.
DE: Marquies Gunn, Auburn
DT: Keith Jackson, Arkansas
OLB: Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas
ILB: John Abbate, Wake Forest
CB: Daniel Francis, LSU
S: Andrew Shanle, Nebraska
A. We do not draft for need. What we have found is that when we draft for need we often wind up with players that don't fit our system or our short and long term plans and thus, we have to start all over again addressing that need the following year.
B. We have a belief that we draft players who we think will be very productive for us over a four year span, and hopefully beyond. This ties into our philsophy of not drafting for need, because your needs can change from year to year. What we might think is not a need this year, can turn out to be a need due to injuries or free agency defections.
C. He pointed out that when he was with the Giants, when he had Lawrence Taylor and what was considered to be the best LB unit in the NFL, the Giants got blasted by the media and pundits for drafting LB Carl Banks. As it turned out, he said, that pick turned out to be pretty good. Yeah, Carl Banks was one of the major reasons why the Giants went on to win a Super Bowl.
D. He said that the only time he considers need at all is when two players on the board are equally rated. But even then, he said, we still draft the player whose physical and mental strengths match what we look for in young players.
I would just add that if you look at Belichick's draft maneuvers, he is a master at trading down to acquire extra picks...and when he really really wants a player, he is more than willing to package some picks to move up, as he did last year to draft WR Chad Jackson.
Belichick plays the odds as well as any drafter...he knows there's good value across the board and he knows that the more picks you have the more flexible you are, and the more likely you are to take players who will help the team.
The Patriots have 10 picks heading into the draft. The Cardinals have six. And the Patriots have won three of the last six Super Bowls, and were in the AFC Championship last year.
2. The Alan Faneca situation in Pittsburgh is an intriguing one. Rumor has it that he is lobbying hard to get the Steelers to trade him to the Cardinals. He loves playing for Russ Grimm.
The question is: would the Steelers be willing to get something in return right now for Faneca who is sure to bolt for Arizona after this season? If so, what would the Steelers want?
Faneca is 31 years old, and he's heading into his 10th season. He's been a perennial Pro Bowler. My guess is that barring injury he's got three or four very good years left in him.
Some ASFNers have said why not just wait for Faneca next year? That's a great question. My feeling is the Cards should acquire him as soon as possible. This offensive line needs a leader in the worst possible way. Having Faneca in the players' ears along with Grimm, this o-line could go through an amazing metamorphisis.
Would I offer a swap of #5 for #15 and Faneca? Without any hesitation whatsoever. To me it would symbolize that the Cards are focused on winning right away.
We know there are other Ts in this draft that Grimm likes...he's lauded the depth.
Plus, at #15...the Cards could take LB Paul Posluszny...who, like Faneca, brings toughness and attitude.
OR--they could trade down again and add more picks,
OR--T Joe Staley...if they like him enough to take him there.
OR--at #15 it's very possible, even likely that one of the top defensive linemen will be there: Anderson, Branch, Okoye, Carricker...because it's hard to imagine that 5 of the top 14 picks will be defensive linemen.
3. If the Steelers wanted the Cardinals' #38 pick for Faneca...would you take the deal? To me, it's a no-brainer. Faneca would bring so much to the organization in terms of skill level and leadership...plus, the team would sign him to a 4 year deal...and whomever the Cardinals take at #38 would only be signed for 4 years as well...and I guarantee you, there is no one in this draft available at #38 who could play at a Pro Bowl level for the next four years...certainly none of the second-tier offensive linemen.
4. My favorite players in this draft: (based on skill, character and/or difference making, not taking projections into account)
1. RB Adrian Peterson
2. S LaRon Landry
3. LB Paul Posluszny
4. WR Calvin Johnson
5. DT Amobi Okoye
6. DE Adam Carriker
7. T Levi Brown
8. WR/PR Ted Ginn, Jr.
9. DE/OLB Anthony Spencer
10. G/T Justin Blalock
11. LB Patrick Willis
12. RB Brian Leonard
My all sleeper picks: (Day Two Steals)
QB: Jared Zabransky, Boise St.
RB: Garrett Wolfe, Northern Illinois
FB: Deon Anderson, Connecticut
WR: Derek Stanley, Wisconsin-Whitewater
TE: Kevin Boss, Western Oregon
T: Chase Johnson, Wyoming
G: Cameron Stephenson, Rutgers
C: Doug Datish, Ohio St.
DE: Marquies Gunn, Auburn
DT: Keith Jackson, Arkansas
OLB: Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas
ILB: John Abbate, Wake Forest
CB: Daniel Francis, LSU
S: Andrew Shanle, Nebraska
Last edited:
