5 Questions with NE Patriots Draft

by Ed Valentine on Sep 1, 2009 4:00 PM EDT in New York Giants News

Yeah, you might even get the idea this post was a glorified excuse for showing off a photo of a New England Patriots cheerleader showing off the 2010 swimsuit calendar. Am I really above that?
via cachemediasrv.patriots.com

Trading questions with bloggers from rival teams is always enjoyable. We do that a lot around SBN. Today, though, we are going outside the network for a Q&A session with NE Patriots Draft. I take no credit -- they approached me. Anyway, here is the result of our Q&A.

Big Blue View: Are you worried about Tom Brady's shoulder? Or, are you buying the company line that he just has a bruise and that everything is wonderful?

Patriots Draft: I'm sure that Tom Brady will be listed as probable until the end of time, but I really don't think it is a big problem. He might be hurt, but since he was practicing on Monday, he doesn't seem to be injured.

BBV: Another Brady question (the last one, since I am making myself ill asking them). From what you can see is he fully recovered from his knee injury, or will there be any lingering effect on his mobility, willingness to get hit, anything like that?

PD: Luckily, Brady wasn't that mobile to begin with. Rather than relying on running, he uses small shuffles in the pocket that even my grandfather can duplicate. Judging by his statement that he "wanted to get blown up" in the pre-season, he is ready to get hit.

BBV: Tedy Bruschi just retired. Not really a question, but give me some thoughts on what Bruschi meant to the Patriots the last several seasons. Also, some thoughts on whether this team will miss him on the field.

PD: Tedy has been instrumental in keeping this team focused over the last few turmoil-filled years. While his skills were waning, his coaching career was just beginning. His leadership and intensity (along with Mike Vrabel) will be missed greatly, although Gary Guyton and Jerod Mayo have proven to be superior players on the field.

BBV: Obviously, the starters won't play much -- if at all -- Thursday night. Give us some players we should watch for during the game, particularly guys we might not really be familiar with.

On offense, take a look at WR/KR Julian Edelman -- the 7th round former QB has been channeling Wes Welker in the preseason, and should make the team as a special teams player and 5th WR. Defensively, Pat Chung can really hit. I would imagine that Chung will see some significant time in the safety role on Thursday night. The Oregon grad has been a bit tentative in coverage, but has been good in run support.

BBV: Here is one my favorite questions. If you could take one player off the Giants and put him in a Patriots uniform who would it be? Why?

PD: At first blush, I would take Eli Manning and give him a clipboard. All joking aside, I think that Mathias Kiwanuka would be a terror as an OLB in the Patriots 3-4, and a SLB in their 4-3. His low center of gravity and versatility would be a great fit in New England.

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This is off topic...

but i’m sure all of us watched the Giants / Jets game the other day and I have a question for everyone.

on the Jet’s first touchdown…the 1 yard TD run after the interception….

Did anyone watch D. Clark on that play? the whole line converged and for a hot minute I had flashbacks of Gary Reasons shooting over that pile to make a huge stop.

Instead…nope…no flashbacks…Clark stayed on his feet and avoided pretty much all contact…i did however think is was commendable that he at least tried to push the RB behind the plane after he landed on top of the pile (yes, I’m being sarcastic)

That play has been on my mind the past few days…i know Clark is no spring chicken…but that was a pretty lame attempt at defense. K. Mitchell used to just hurl himself over that pile…I remember in the SB when NE scored he transformed into an anvil and went flying over the heap…didn’t make the tackle but i appreciated the effort.

Damn you buffalo!

I’m not trying to start a “cut Clark” movement or anything…but I feel like i’m taking crazy pills watching him out there…like, why is he out there?!?!

by andiamo708 on Sep 1, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions

Clark is just here until we get some decent linebackers.

He actually played fairly well last season considering he is a bit ancient. It says something about the Giants linebacking situation if he is good enough to start on our defense.

by giant fan since 57 on Sep 2, 2009 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Cute line about Eli...

…and we’ll take any member of New England’s swiss cheese offensive line for backup depth.

Or, before he retired, we could have taken Bruschi to fill a LB spot on our practice squad.

by New York Sports Jerk on Sep 1, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

Bruschi just retired heh heh

I do remember 2 years ago the entire line pretty much made the pro bowl though haha.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Sep 1, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's the first time

I’ve seen someone covet Kiwanuka over any other defensive player on the New York roster. If you slide Tuck inside and play Kiwi outside, he sorta helps the Giants mimic an aggressive 3-4 alignment.

by rzor on Sep 1, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

He would take Kiwi?

What the hell… They have 35 year old corners… Take Webster, dummy. Must not watch any Giants games.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Sep 1, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

Webster

still flying under the radar.

by potroast on Sep 1, 2009 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

eh..

I’d take Kiwi too.. if you can get consistent pressure off the edge you can make up for a weak secondary..

President of the Ramses Barden Fan Club

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Sep 1, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

True, but...

I agree and certainly the GMEN believe the same thing, but it does work both ways. A good secondary can make mediocre pass rushers better by forcing QBs to spend more time checking off WRs option.

by losangelesmets on Sep 1, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

If I were the patriots...

I would have taken Bradshaw. He is young, dynamic playmaker that would provide Brady an amazing option. Dont get me wrong, I think Jacobs is more valuable to the Giants, but Bradshaw seems like the type of player NE would want to add as a weapon.

by losangelesmets on Sep 1, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

To be honest if I was a patriot fan I would take brandon jacobs…

by nycity on Sep 1, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

Absolutely

they could use a dominant back. Fred Taylor??? I can see how in a 3-4 (yes, I know they’re switching up a bit) the D-Line personnel doesn’t match up well.)

You play to win the game!

by Simms-McConkey on Sep 2, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't know what your talking about

with Kiwi having a low center of gravity, his problem to me is he plays too upright (he’s like 6"14 so its excusable….)

I agree with Joe D, there’s no way the #1 player the Patriots would grab from the Giants D would not be Webster. Tuck and Osi probably would be terror’s on the edge, but the Patriots have a few pass rushers of their own, but no corners.

And if I was taking a player from teh Pats D, Jerrod Mayo without wasting a second would be my choice.

GODZZIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Sep 1, 2009 7:19 PM EDT reply actions

Plus

You can’t get a good pass rush every down. There’s going to be plenty of plays where the corner has to play well cause the pass rush isn’t going to be there in 2 seconds.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Sep 1, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Our secondary is young..

But their playing like 80 year-old men..Our D-line isn’t doing anything..and our linebackers aren’t either..If they don’t fix this crap it is going to be a long dismal season..On offense they need to run Jacobs right up the gut..wear them down then have Bradshaw tear them apart with his speed along with Ware’s…As far as recievers go, I’d like to see Nicks and Barden..more and more..Smith and Hixon aren’t going to cut it..they can’t catch a ball..

by Bobbiblue on Sep 1, 2009 7:56 PM EDT reply actions

a big reason our secondary....

is looking weak right now is b/c Webster is hardly playing, Philips has been limited, and C.C. Brown is playing pretty bad football right now.

I see a huge opportunity right now for these young safeties b/c Brown is playing that poorly.

From what I saw not too many passing are going in Cweb’s direction…so it’s going to be a real test for Thomas and Dockery…even Ross when he gets healthy b/c the word is out and people are staying away from Webster. More importantly we are dying for safety help w/out Philips on the field…even when Brown has the right coverage he misses the tackle.

Last but not least Sheridan must find ways to pressure the QB. I’m not the brightest star in the sky but even I could tell when the Giants were going to blitz and where it was coming from. It’s not a coincidence that teams are throwing WR screens when we show pressure up the middle…and running draw plays when the pressure is coming outside.

When you watched the Jets blitzed the Giants they were so deceptive…no one gave it away…if one LB would rush he line he would than drop back before the snap and someone else would blitz. Ryan definitely put his stamp on that defense right away.

K. Mitchell was great at disguising the blitz…we all saw it demonstrated in the Super Bowl.

I think these things will come with experience…not only for Sheridan but for Kehl, Sintim, Goff, etc.

For some reason…and I hate to say this but we’re going to need a lot of LB help to get to the QB this year…especially in the early going. Let’s face it, Robbins and Cofield had off season surgeries, Canty hardly got any time in at camp, Bernard is also coming off a shoulder injury and missed time, Alford…well i wasn’t expecting a large contribution from him this year but he was going to spell guys. But what scares me the most is Tuck and his foot/ankle…if there is one guy you want to be at 100% its’ tuck b/c he makes everyone else much better.

Please do not get me wrong…I think this is an awesome Defense but they’re banged up right now. I have confidence that we will come together as a unit and be dominant once again…..it’s a long season and if we can get into the playoffs there really is no telling where we can go.

by andiamo708 on Sep 1, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Good comments Andiamo..

Yes the defense hasn’t come together yet..We still have a couple of weeks to make it happen..and the Offense beyond the running game is a mess..I’m sure whatever talks TC had with Sheridan and Osi helped..It is good for a coach to get into a player’s face as long as it doesn’t result in the player bolting..Even though the player was wrong for doing it..and Gilbride puzzles me..what on earth is he thinking when he devises his game plan?..Gee-whiz!..I give our team as a whole a big fat “D” right now.

by Bobbiblue on Sep 1, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking...and this is also off topic...

but has chris simms been given a bum wrap or what? i thought he played well in his limited amount of time in Tampa Bay and I thought he showed a lot of toughness when he played with that busted sternum. Gruden is known for alienating QB’s so it’s not exactly shocking to hear that those two didn’t “mesh” well…i feel like he expects everyone to be Rich Gannon or something.

Now that he’s in Denver i’m actually looking for him to play well…too bad he got injured or is injured… but I kinda wonder about that from time to time.

thoughts?

by andiamo708 on Sep 1, 2009 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

Chris Simms's time will come..

He is as tough as his Father was..and has a better arm believe it or not..He just got his foot stomped on and hopefully it is not serious..I’ll never forget being in Sterling Forest..for work..and one of the clowns I was with insisted on knocking on their door to say hi. I noticed a basketball goal and ball laying nearby..Mrs. Simms answered the door and told us that Phil would love to see us, but he was still at work..this was 8:00pm..I’m sure Chris Simms time will come..I wish we had him…Talk about a normal family.. they are.

by Bobbiblue on Sep 1, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions