Yeah the Sox bats were just that, garbage. Beckett and Buchholz both pitched really well, but the Boston bats stayed home in Boston. Sucked, sucked, sucked. To steal a line from the genius of Tim McCarver, “A team that can’t score runs, can’t win games.”
So that’s all I’m touching on the Sox. You were swept by the Rays. The fucking Rays!?! Go sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done.
The Celtics didn’t offer anything better Saturday night but I doubt I’m alone in thinking that shenanigans were abound in Atlanta. You mean to tell me when the Celtics come back to tie the game the shot clock “mysteriously” goes out. Or the fact that that stupid broad ref was doing this game? No fucking way! David Stern, the manipulating fuck, absolutely had a hand in making sure that Atlanta won this game.
I would rather Tim Donaghy ref a game for the C’s than this stupid broad. She has no fucking idea what’s going on.
So we’ll get to the good news from the weekend and that’s the Patriots draft.
Overall I’m very happy with the draft. They addressed their needs and they picked up an ILB, two corners, and 2 OLB. They also grabbed a QB & WR that help the depth charts.
(1st Round. 10th Overall)
Jarod Mayo – OLB/ILB Tennessee
Everything I’ve read says he’s fast and very versatile. His upside is rumored to be higher than Keith Rivers who went a pick before him to Cincinnati. I’ve heard it was a stretch for him to go at #10 but at the same time I don’t think the Pats were going to slide down any further. He is 22 years old and that immediately helps the aging linebacking problem.
(2nd Round. 62nd Overall)
Terrence Wheatley – CB Colorado
Another short corner for the Pats. More importantly this guy couldn’t stay healthy in college and is coming off an injury. The injury list on the guy is pretty scary though. Four wrist surgeries in four years, a broken foot, concussion, and a knee sprain round out the injuries. A five foot nine corner doesn’t spark excitement in me. The good news is that the scouts rate him a good return man and he knows when to turn his head for the ball. He also knows how to wrap up his man and rarely misses an open field tackle. Good to know when Hobbs goes for the pick and this guy is going to have to cover his ass and make the tackle when Hobbs gets burned.
(3rd Round. 78th Overall)
Shawn Crable – OLB Michigan
Projected as a 4th round pick may have been a reach in the third round, but hopefully Scott and Bill know something we don’t. This guy has 6’4″, 245 and will help with the aging linebacking situation (if he makes the team). He was a special teams standout at Michigan, look for the same with the Pats.
(3rd Round. 94th Overall)
Kevin O’Connell – QB San Diego State
Projected as a 5th Rounder, we could assume this a stretch as well. This guy has all the tools to be an NFL QB with size (6’5″ 225lbs), fast feet in the pocket and the strength to release the ball even with a defender draped on him. Could he be a backup? Likely he’ll compete for the 3rd string job and possibly develop into a backup. Or he could go Mike Bishop. Time will tell.
(4th Round. 129th Overall)
Jonathan Wilhite – CB Auburn
Another short corner at 5’9″ you can’t feel to confident when reading the scouting report and it starts out with “is susceptible to getting flagged for pass interference and defensive holding” but the report goes on to say that if this guy can be disciplined that he could develop into an effective press corner. The good news on that is that he’s with the Pats and they don’t like mistakes. If he can’t stay under control he won’t be employed too long.
(5th Round. 153 Overall)
Matt Slater – WR UCLA
This guy is very interesting. He was a WR, got hurt, then moved to corner. So right off the bat he shows the Pats that he’s versatile. Again I look for this guy to be a Special Teams guy, if he’s smart, he could be a contributor on the defense or offense. But we’ve gotten excited about busts like PK Sam, so if this guy gets cut, I wouldn’t be shocked.
(6th Round. 197 Overall)
Bo Ruud – OLB Nebraska
This guy was projected as a late round pick, or a guy that wouldn’t get drafted. He’s said to be very undersized as a linebacker, but has room on his frame to add more bulk. He tackles well and is good in zone coverage but has difficulty changing direction and matching up with running backs. I don’t expect this guy to make the team especially after last years awful draft, but I could be wrong.
So after reading all the breakdown I think the Pats had a decent draft. If I had to give a letter grade I would go with a B-. They addressed their needs, but in many cases they reached to make their picks. I would’ve liked to see them make a better trade for the #7 (like Baltimore did fleecing Jacksonville for the #18, two third round picks and a fourth with the #8).
It should be an interesting camp on deck. Hopefully this Mayo kid is the real thing and helps the front seven get enough pressure on the opposition so that our inept secondary won’t be too exposed. It worked for the Giants in last years Super Bowl, so we shall see.
