On Opening night at the draft on Thursday, New England general manager Bill Belichick, whose Patriots were thought to have big needs on defense, did exactly the opposite by drafting an offensive tackle and a running back - but that was ok, because there was always Friday night, when Belichick would satiate our thirst for linebackers and cornerbacks, and maybe even Tom Brady's heir apparent.
What happened instead was the typical mid-round roller coaster that brings Patriots' fans closer and
Belichick woke up on Friday with two second round selections in the 2018 NFL draft, as well as a third rounder, but by the time the second night of the selection process opened for business, he was down to his second round picks, having dealt his third rounder to the San Francisco 49ers for a gargantuan right tackle who by all accounts is a bit bloated and out of shape...
...not from slothfulness nor laziness, but inactivity due to a long recovery period rehabbing from labrum surgery - and by the time that the night was over, Belichick didn't use either of his second round picks, opting instead to take Patriots' fans on an anxiety-driven amusement park ride that ended with him using a pick he acquired in the mad shuffle to move up to number 56 overall to select a cornerback that wasn't on anyone's radar.
Duke Dawson is a name that sounds like a cross between a 1980's style redneck action comedy full of fast cars and scantily-clad women and a turn-of-the-century teen drama with a consuming preoccupation with pubescent hormone overload - but in reality it belongs to a talented safety-turned-cornerback whose presence may mean the end for a couple of denigrated Patriots' roster hogs.
Dawson is a man-cover corner who works best from the slot where he can use tight quarters to punk his mirror and knock him off his route - and is an absolute terror in zone coverages where his background as a safety has led to most of his interceptions and all three of the pick-sixes in his college career at the University of Florida.
Short and compact, he makes up for size limitations in man coverage with smooth footwork and an exceptionally long reach, which comes into play on quick slants and prevents slot receivers from ever really gaining separation - and comes into play in zone coverage where he is able to break on balls in front of him to deny the completion.
In 19 career starts as a corner spanning half of his junior season and all of his senior season, Dawson recorded 23 passes defensed and intercepted six balls, returning three of them for scores.
Smothering slot receivers is his calling card - he allowed the third-lowest quarterback rating in college football last year - and he will be in the mix for snaps in a Patriots' secondary that utilizes a three safety "Big Nickel" alignment that places a premium on safety types who can reduce down into the box, as he brings the thunder in run support and is an opportunist and ball hawk...
...and fans shouldn't rule out seeing him in coverage on the better receiving running backs much in the manner of a strong safety - his skill is that diverse.
So what should the Patriots' fans expect on day three of the draft, in which Belichick is armed with the fifth pick in the fourth round, the sixth pick in the fifth round, a couple of sixth round picks and the top seventh rounder?
Probably, a developmental quarterback, a decent linebacker prospect and perhaps even a receiver - but whatever happens, Patriots' fans should heed Dr. Thompson's quote above and be ready for weirdness, for which there is a reason why - we just understand it yet.
In Bill we trust!!!!!
ReplyDelete