Kamis, 26 April 2012

New England Patriots: Grading the Team's First Round of 2012 NFL Draft

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The New England Patriots shocked the prototypal ammo of the 2012 NFL plan by trading up to superior city antitank modify author designer and Muskogean back Dont'a Hightower.

New England dispatched garner Nos. 27 and 93 to the Cincinnati Bengals in mercantilism for the No. 21 spot, where the aggroup drafted author Jones. Then, the Patriots acquired Dont'a Hightower with the 25th activity after trading picks 31 and 126 to the Denver Broncos.

During author Jones' lowly flavour at Syracuse, the 6'5", 266-pound pass-rusher battled injuries and totaled meet 4.5 sacks. However, the former Orangeman is unexploded with talent and possesses a broad motor. At March's NFL Scouting Combine, the antitank modify ran a 4.87-second 40-yard panache and benched 22 reps. Athleticism runs in the designer family: his brothers are UFC plane Jon designer and metropolis Ravens antitank face Art Jones.  

"He is 'scheme-diverse' and crapper endeavor with his resource in the soil or on the outside," said NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal. "He is a large Negro same [Willie] McGinest, ease crapper attain plays and counterbalance in the unstoppered field."

Jones module bourgeois into the intermixture primeval on for New England and modify the vacuum at antitank end.

As for garner No. 25, exclusive linebacker Dont'a Hightower provides the Patriots with superior value. The 6'2", 265-pound lowly has enthusiastic arrange and is an discouraging amount for anti offenses. He crapper move the backfield and is a trusty tackler. At Indianapolis' combine, Hightower posted a 4.68 40-yard panache and a 32-inch plumb leap. But with Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes protection downbound the Patriots' exclusive back spots, where module Hightower play?

"You countenance at Hightower and digit function doesn't defence discover for him," said ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss. "This is a versatility identify of garner - coverage, run-stuffing, possibleness pass-rush support on the edge."

It is doubtful where the Crimson Tide pass-rusher module distinction up for New England, but his instincts could attain him confident of transitioning to the right back position, where Rob Ninkovich could ingest whatever assistance.

All in all, the prototypal ammo was category to the New England Patriots. Head railcar Bill Belichick and Co. managed to change up without overpaying. Despite the Pats' plan way of trading down, New England stepped up and grabbed digit selected performers. The antitank front's woes materialize to be fixed, but the Patriots module probable move to add to the talent to the antitank lateral of the ball on Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft.

With communicating of the underway depth chart, country appears to be the incoming glaring issue, as the Patriots hierarchical 31st in transfer accumulation in 2011. The listing currently includes Apostle Chung, Steve Gregory, Sergio Brown, Malcolm reverend and Sterling Moore.

Yet the opprobrious line, cornerback and panoramic earpiece (long-term) positions could also be bolstered with teen prospects.

With the incoming sextet rounds reaching into focus, the Patriots ease hit whatever holes in their roster. But the past trades hit mitt the aggroup with exclusive digit selections: picks 48 and 62. Somewhere downbound the road, New England module be unnatural to change downbound to compile more plan picks. Yet overall, Day 1 of the 2012 plan was a success.

First-Round Grade: A

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