After a tough loss in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants back in February, the 2012 New England Patriots are eager to get back on the field to get back to the promised land. The road to that goal starts Thursday night as the Patriots will play their first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. How will the new draft picks fare in the first game? How long will Tom Brady and the first teamers play in this game? That remains to be seen, but it is just great to talk about NFL Football again. I am sure even Saints’ fans can echo this same sentiment.

The New Orleans Saints have had an offseason full of turmoil and turbulence. It all started when BountyGate came into the revelation of the public eye. They gave a mega contract to their star quarterback Drew Brees, but lose their sideline general Sean Payton for the whole season. Now, there is debate as to whether or not middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma will be suspended for his alleged role in BountyGate. But, this team still has a lot of talent on the roster and will be a threat to repeat as NFC South champions.

With that being said, here are some keys to watch for in this first preseason game:

1. A Rebel Running Back Emerging: With the Patriots looking for more balance in their offense this season, they will need a new running back to emerge after losing BenJarvus Green-Ellis to free agency. Stevan Ridley is determined to step up and become the starter after being benched in the postseason. Shane Vereen is expected to take the next step in his development as well. However, I want to focus on another former Ole Miss running back that could get significant playing time in the second half.

   Brandon Bolden is an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss. He has been impressive in camp and really only dropped out of the draft because of injury issues. With Joseph Addai failing his conditioning test, Bolden will see a lot of carries throughout the preseason. The question will be whether or not he can impress the coaching staff to be able to move up on the depth chart. Hopefully, he can hang onto the ball just as good as Green-Ellis did.

2. A Pursuing Pass Defense: Even though the Patriots stepped up in the secondary during the playoffs last year, they still gave up the second more passing yards in the NFL. Has this defense improved? We find out a little bit tonight when they try to stop Brees and the prolific Saints’ pass offense. The main position I will be looking at is the safety spots.

   Pat Chung is having a good start to camp and is looking for a breakout season in a contract year. However, the rest of the safety spots are up in the air. Steve Gregory was brought in to fix that problem, but has not stood out so far with the first team. The player who has stepped up is the guy that everyone questioned Coach Belichick about drafting. Second round pick Tavon Wilson has been impressive in camp and he has a chance to grab that free safety spot. Also, with the injury at the cornerback position to rookie Alfonzo Dennard and the rehab of second year Ras-I Dowling, who will help out Sterling Moore at the cornerback position?

3. O-Line Determines Brady’s Time?: The Patriots brought in a lot of wide receivers and tight ends during the offseason, but in the end, Brady needs to find a way to get rid of the football. That falls on the protection from the offensive line. The front seven has taken some hits in training camp from the health of Logan Mankins to the retirements of Matt Light and Robert Gallery. They also are missing Sebastian Vollmer (injury) and Brian Waters hasn’t been in camp. The depth of this O-Line is a huge concern because Nate Solder is only in his second year at left tackle and Marcus Cannon has not had many starting reps. Brady had 24 snaps in the first preseason game last year and 17 in 2010. If I had to take a guess for tonight, I say he takes closer to 17 snaps because of the concern on the offensive line.

PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Chandler Jones

There’s an old saying that goes you never get a second chance to make a first impression. This holds true for both of the Patriots’ first round draft picks (DE Chandler Jones and LB Don’t’a Hightower). For this game, I want to keep the focus on Jones. The 21^st pick out of Syracuse has actually seen some first team reps in camp. The highlight of the joint practices was seeing Jones break up a Brees screen pass on Tuesday. However, I am interested to see if Jones can’t just break up passes, but also sack some quarterbacks. Getting to Brees would be an excellent start to Jones’ rookie campaign.

The Patriots opened as 3.5-point favorites as they host the Saints in the first week of the preseason.

Before analyzing this game, a confession/admission/mea culpa – I sucked donkey balls picking games last year. After two straight seasons of hitting nearly 60 percent of picks against the spread (a rate most professionals would brag about), I needed a tremendous run of exotic Super Bowl bets to finish just a few bucks below .500 last year. Unacceptable. The mistake was loading up on games, trying to push every tiny edge. It summarily blew up in my face. This year, I’m only going to look at the homeruns in terms of profits. One pick per week in the preseason, three per week in the regular season and playoffs. Sweet, simple, to the point. Picking against the spread isn’t like a Rex Ryan practice; I don’t have to pick a fight every day. If the results don’t improve, I’ll wear something embarrassing like a chicken suit or a Tebow jersey something. Whatever, you decide.

So, moving onto the Saints. After a tumultuous offseason, the Saints were certainly glad to get back to football. They have plenty of edges in this one. First, they’ve already played a preseason game, so they shouldn’t have as much rust. Two, if Bill Belichick’s preseason gameplans were any more vanilla, he’d get sued by Dairy Queen. Three, the Saints need to perform well to erase the stench of their offseason scandal. I think New England’s depth will be better on defense, but I think we’ll see a bit more of New Orleans’ starters than New England’s.

Word on the street is New Orleans defenders will put a bounty on any blogger who picks against the Saints this year. I need whatever is left of my knees for the tennis courts, so I can’t risk this one. Take the Saints and the points.

The Patriots’ preseason schedule kicks off next week as New England hosts New Orleans on August 9. Here are four critical fantasy angles to keep an eye on as the 2012 Patriots take the field for the first time.

Who will emerge from the battle at RB?

RB is easily the most fluid position on the team. If a true starter emerges, they could command tremendous fantasy value. The RB depth chart thinned out a bit with the recent release of Joseph Addai, but that’s all the clarity we’ve been given on the situation so far. Stevan Ridley appears to have the clearest path to a significant number of carries, but Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen could cut into that workload. Woodhead is the most trusted back in pass protection, so he should see plenty of playing time when the offense shifts to the shotgun.

The real wild card in the equation here is Vereen. He was drafted ahead of Ridley last year, and his skill set could allow him to carve out a large role in the offense if he shows promise in the preseason. A poor showing by both Vereen and Ridley could open the door for Woodhead to steal a majority of the carries as well. Also, it remains to be seen who will handle the goal line carries. BJGE scored double-digit TDs last year (mainly on 1-yard plunges), so the back who wins that role could turn a tidy profit for fantasy owners.

How much action will Aaron Hernandez see?

Hernandez spent a ton of time on the field last year, in large part because he was New England’s most reliable receiver after Welker and Gronkowski. It will be interesting to see if the additions of Lloyd, Gaffney and Stallworth will cut into his workload at all. Hernandez is a dynamic weapon since he can play a TE/WR/RB hybrid role, but he’s not a lock to match or exceed last year’s great numbers. The Patriots will probably play Hernandez’s role close to the vest in the preseason, but it’s worth watching how much he’s actually on the field and how he might be used.

In most drafts, Hernandez is going in the 6^th or 7^th round. That’s in the same neighborhood as Jermichael Finley and Vernon Davis. If you’re going to pay that kind of price, you need to be sure he’s on the field for more than half of the team’s offensive snaps.

Has the defense improved?

One factor that is often overlooked in draft rooms are the 11 guys who line up on the other side of the field in practice. Since a team with a bad defense will be forced to throw more often, it’s generally a good idea to lean toward wide receivers and quarterbacks on teams that are expected to give up a lot of yards and points. The opposite holds true for RBs; you’d much rather own a back who will be salting away big leads in the second half instead of blocking in pass protection.

The Patriots were the perfect example of this concept over the past two years. The Patriots did a lot of work in the offseason to improve their defense, and several young players will have the benefit of a full training camp as opposed to last year’s abbreviated meet-and-greet. The potential for significant improvement in 2012 is high.

Are you going to avoid Brady, Welker or Gronkowski entirely if the defense looks great in fake games? Probably not. They are tremendous talents that will produce regardless of the circumstances. But if the defense looks like a Top 10 unit, it would be wise to bump New England RBs up a few spots on your cheat sheets and temper your expectations for some of the second-tier options (Hernandez, Branch, etc.) in the passing game.

Is there chemistry between Lloyd and Brady?

While the RB competition will be the main attraction, watching the interaction between Brady and Lloyd should be equally fascinating. How often is he the first or second read? Does Brady trust him to get the ball on deep routes? Are there any miscommunications? Do they give him any looks in the red zone? Drafting Lloyd this year comes with little margin for error. On average, he’s going around the 5^th-7^th round in most standard drafts. That lines him up as a WR2, on a par with consistent, high-upside receivers like Jeremy Maclin and Antonio Brown. Based on the number of mouths to feed in the Patriots offense, it will be tough to squeeze much value out of Lloyd’s draft position. The pendulum could swing back in his favor if he sees an appreciable number of targets in the preseason and appears to be on the same page with Brady.

With the recent releases of veterans Chad Ochochino and Anthony Gonzalez, the wide receiver picture for the 2012 Patriots is starting to look a whole lot clearer.

While training camp and injuries could shuffle the board over the next three months, expect the Patriots’ WR depth chart to look something like this in Week 1:

WR1 Wes Welker
WR2 Brandon Lloyd
WR3 Deion Branch
WR4 Jabar Gaffney
WR5 Donte’ Stallworth
WR6 Julian Edelman

After signing his $9.5 million franchise tender, Pro Bowl WR Wes Welker will return to anchor the wide receiving corps. With roughly eleven billion catches over the past five seasons, everyone knows what Welker brings to the table. Whether he lines up outside or in the slot, he’s a threat to move the chains on every snap.

Even with Welker pulling down more than 30 percent of Tom Brady’s passes and leading the league in targets and catches, wide receiver was a position of weakness last year. After Deion Branch’s 51 grabs, the rest of the WR corps (an uninspiring mish-mash of Chad Ochocinco, Matt Slater, Julian Edelman and Tiquan Underwood) pulled in just 23 passes. The addition of Brandon Lloyd on the outside should help spread the field for the Pats. Lloyd has posted back-to-back seasons with at least 70 catches, and he could easily match that level of production in 2012 with an elite QB feeding him the ball. While he has been praised for his ability to stretch the field (an aspect of the game the Patriots desperately needed to address), Lloyd’s exceptional route-running ability and familiarity with OC Josh McDaniel’s system should make him among the most important offseason additions for any team in the NFL. Branch figures to slide into the #3 role, but he could still see plenty of time at flanker in 3-WR sets so Welker can create mismatches in the slot.

Depth at WR was a serious deficiency for New England in 2011, but these problems were effectively masked by the use of Aaron Hernandez as a flex TE/WR. WR depth was addressed in the offseason by bringing back veterans Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth. Both players were underrated cogs in the record-setting 2007 offensive machine that allowed Brady to toss 50 TD passes (Stallworth reeled in 46 catches and nearly 700 yards, while Gaffney contributed 36 catches and five scores). In particular, Gaffney could carve out a substantial role in the passing game after putting up three solid seasons as a starter in Denver and Washington since leaving the Pats in 2009. He figures to push Branch for playing time in 3-WR sets, while Stallworth is available to stretch the field and provide another strong veteran presence off the bench.

Through a few shrewd offseason acquisitions, the Patriots appear to have turned a position of weakness in 2011 into a deep position of strength in 2012. Considering the lethal accuracy of Brady and the unparalleled athleticism of the tight ends, that could be bad news for defensive coordinators across the league this season.

Word broke today that the New England Patriots signed Rob Gronkowski to a 6-year contract extension which will make him the highest paid tight end in NFL history. I don't know about you, but I was completely blown away by the news.  The Patriots are notorious for dragging out contract negotiations until the 11th hour, so the fact that they were so proactive to get Gronk inked 700+ days before his current deal expired came as a big surprise.  Over the past few years we've seen players like Richard Seymour, Asante Samuel, Vince Wilfork, Logan Mankins, and even Tom Brady go deep into negotiations before a final outcome was reached.

I'm generally in favor of the Patriots approach of playing hard-ball.  New England has shown that it's more than willing to spend money to improve the team, but they do so by spending wisely and maximizing the value of every dollar towards the salary cap.  However, in this case, I'm ecstatic that they broke the mold and handed out the big bucks to Gronkowski prematurely.  Letting Gronk's rookie deal ride all the way out to its end would have likely cost the Patriots a fortune once he hit the open market.  While they are paying out more in the short term and taking on the risk of Gronkowski getting seriously injured in the next two years, in the long-run this move will provide them with much more financial flexibility. 

Really, my only concern is how this plays out with the rest of the locker room.  Will guys like Wilfork and Mankins be miffed that they had to scratch and claw their way to a contract after years of faithful service to the team, while Gronkowski waltzed his way into a big deal after only his sophomore season?  Will Wes Welker feel even more slighted that the Patriots won't pony up a contract worthy of a top-tier receiver for him, yet they gave Gronkowski a record-breaking deal for his position?  How does this affect Gronk's partner in crime, Aaron Hernandez, who I'm sure would also like a better payday as well?  One would certainly hope that these players can look past these potential issues and continue to be the same strong locker room that they were in 2011.

At the end of the day, Gronkowski signed a team-friendly deal that gave him more up-front guaranteed money, while likely costing him a millions and millions in the long run.  In the uncertain world of the NFL, that's not necessarily a bad move for him, and it's a reasonable risk for the team to take.  Here's hoping that Rob stays healthy for the next 4-5 years and beyond that and makes this deal seem like a bargain for the Patriots.

With the dust settling on the 2012 NFL Draft, we decided to dig up some information on the newest members of the Patriots.  We took some time to get to know Chandler Jones by speaking with Jared Smith of CNYSportsfan.com.  Jared covered Syracuse football this past season and was able to bring some unique insights into the Patriots' top pick.  Here is our Q&A session with him below:

1. The big rise on the draft boards was Chandler Jones? Do you think he is a perceived "workout warrior"? If not, what about him made him rise up to a late first round pick this week?

A: I don't know officially if Jones is a so-called "workout warrior", but I am very certain one of the reasons why he flew up NFL draft boards was because of his off-the-field character. Jones is a stand-up guy who is related to two brothers -- Arthur and Jon -- who're successful professionally.

I am sure the Patriots saw his physically tools and his ability to get the passer, and said, "with the right attitude and coaching we can make this guy a star."

2. Mike Greenberg on ESPN Radio today said that Jones is a Lawrence Taylor type of player? Do you agree with this assessment? If not, which NFL player do you think he best resembles?

As much as I hope the best for Chandler, the comparisons to Lawrence Taylor are just ridiculous. In all honesty, I believe Jones was a reach in the first round and would have been better suited as a second- to third-round project player.

I am just not buying that Jones is going to make an impact during the 2012-13 season, as his production at Syracuse University (14.5 sacks in 39 collegiate games) just doesn't show a guy ready to make that type of impact yet.

With that said, I think Jones can be a good player, maybe a Pro-Bowler at some points, but I am not at all buying a future All-Pro or Hall-Of-Famer. But if you ask any Syracuse fan, "Do you think he's better than former Syracuse pass-rusher Dwight Freeney (who went No. 11 overall in 2002)?" Almost 90-percent of them would say, no.

I think maybe the better comparison is maybe Simeon Rice, who was a pass-rushing sensation for the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a few years. However, at this point, even that is a bit of a stretch just because his numbers in college don't show a consistent double-digit passer.

3. How can he fit in to the Patriot system on a team that had to add pass rushers?

Jones has a knack for finding the quarterback and he's versatile -- so, he can play in both the 4-3 as a pass-rushing end or in the 3-4 as a pass-rushing linebacker. And, Patriots fans know how the Patriot system likes to adjust on the fly or do whatever it takes to win a game. Jones is that type of player. If you tell him to do something he'll do it and he'll do it well.

4. What are some weaknesses to Jones' game?

A few things pop into my mind about Jones, and this is probably why I don't see him as an immediate-impact player but understand why he went in the first round.

First, he doesn't have that huge speed-power combination that many very successful NFL pass-rushers do (i.e. Dwight Freeney). Which is why I think it will take a bit for him to develop.

Eventually, I think Jones can get there, as he has the right coaches in place to build up the strength and teach him how to increase his potential. 

My other worry about Jones is health, as he played in just seven games in 2010 and '11. He progression as a player probably was hurt by that and if he can't stay healthy in the NFL, so will his professional progression.

5. In the end, what do you think Jones' career will project out to be?

As a media guy who covered Jones, I wish him well. However, if I am betting large sums of money on my projection of Jones as a NFLers, I say he doesn't work out as well as people think.

I think Jones can be a solid rotational DE who can rush the passers, but as a all-around, impact first-rounder I just don't see it.

One of the game's best linebackers and one of its biggest personalities passed away on Wednesday. Junior Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowler who starred with the San Diego Chargers before finishing his career with the Miami Dolphins and Patriots, was found dead in his California home by what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Seau was a relentless player during his near two-decade career. The 6-foot-3, 248-pounder starred at USC, donning the now famous #55 which has since been worn by Willie McGinest, Lofa Tatupu and Rey Maualuga. After garnering All-American honors, Seau was selected fifth overall in the 1990 draft by the Chargers and earned 10 All-Pro selections. 

Following the 2002 season, Seau was traded to the Dolphins where he struggled to stay on the field due to injuries. After a brief retirement, the feisty linebacker joined the Patriots in 2006, recording 69 tackles that season. He was part of the historic 2007 team that came up one game short of a perfect season. During his time in New England, he was known as a great teammate, leader and active member in the community. 

Seau leaves behind three children. We at Foxboro Blog send our condolences to his family as they go through this tough time. We thank Junior for his terrific time in Foxboro and will never forget his Hall of Fame career and contributions off the field. RIP Junior. 

Players aren’t due to report to training camp for another three months, but don’t expect that to stop fans, analysts and fanalysts from projecting how this year’s draft and free agent signings will impact the team’s abysmal defense in 2012. The Patriots like to mix and match between the 3-4, 4-3 and various sub packages, and some of the fresh faces in camp will offer a wealth of scheme diversity that fits well with the team’s philosophy.  Here’s a quick look at how Coach Belichick might use some of his new toys.

Defensive Linemen

Wilfork will continue to anchor the middle, but he could see plenty of new faces around him in 2012. The Patriots added veteran lineman Jonathon Fanene in free agency, and he should be a strong pass-rushing presence as a DE in 3-4 packages. He could also see some time inside at DT when the Pats switch to the 4-3, though Brandon Deaderick, Kyle Love or Ron Brace could also push for playing time. All three of those players will be competing with 1^st round pick Chandler Jones for the other starting DE spot opposite Fanene, but the Pats would probably prefer to match Jones up against opposing tackles as an OLB to make use of his speed and wingspan off the edge when they go to a three-man front.

When the Patriots go to a four-man front, Jones should be locked into a starting DE spot. Fellow rookie Jake Bequette could challenge for the other spot due to his prototypical size and skill set for the position, but he’ll have an uphill battle for the position given the number of other options that are available. He seems like a guy who needs a year or two of seasoning, but could definitely benefit from some playing time when they can squeeze him in.

Linebackers

Rookies Jones, Dont’a Hightower and Bequette will add a ton of depth to a unit that desperately needs it. Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes anchor the defense in the middle, and Rob Ninkovich provided a competent presence at one OLB spot. Beyond those three, 2011 was a mishmash of mediocrity. Jones should see plenty of time with his hand on the ground up front, but he could also provide the outside pass-rushing threat New England needs as an OLB in 3-4 fronts. Hightower should be able to fit in as a strong side OLB in 4-3 fronts, and he could contribute as an ILB along with Spikes in the 3-4, giving the Patriots the ability to take advantage of Mayo’s athleticism as an OLB in coverage in some packages, particularly against teams that feature athletic pass-catching tight ends. Hightower may lack the speed and range to play WLB in a 4-3 front, but he might be able to help set the edge in run support as a 3-4 OLB in certain packages. Bequette is probably best used as a situational pass-rusher. He has the athletic ability to drop into coverage, but getting after the quarterback will be his best way to earn playing time in 2012.

Defensive Backfield

At this point, the corners and safeties make up the murkiest unit on the team. While there was some talk of moving CB McCourty to FS after he played that position in the playoffs, his future is almost certainly at corner (if only because New England doesn’t really appear to have any other surefire starting corners). The only way he ends up at FS is in the unlikely event that several of the team’s CB prospects make a huge impact in camp and the preseason and injuries force Belichick’s hand. CB Sterling Moore filled in admirably as a starter during the stretch run and the playoffs, and the Patriots could do worse than starting him alongside McCourty. Kyle Arrington should continue to play a role as a nickel corner, and a healthy return of 2011 2^nd rounder Ras-I Dowling could provide a boost to the secondary. Don’t be surprised if Dowling challenges for a starting spot. 7^th round pick Alfonso Dennard had a second-round grade prior to his arrest. If he can avoid punching any additional cops, he could earn plenty of playing time. If three quality players emerge from this group of five varying degrees of question marks, the Patriots’ pass defense will undoubtedly improve on last year’s dismal performance.

Pat Chung’s name is already written on the depth chart in permanent marker at one safety position, most likely at SS. The FS position was a gaping chest wound in 2011, but free agent acquisition Steve Gregory should help shore up the position. Surprise 2^nd round pick Tavon Wilson is probably viewed more an insurance on Chung bolting for greener pastures next year, but he could earn some playing time in sub packages (though the less he’s on the field as a rookie, the better).

Conclusion

The two keys to improving the defense this offseason were improving the pass rush and shoring up the secondary. Adding starter-quality players in Gregory and Fanene and potential star power with Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower should go a long way toward accomplishing both of those goals.

The defense was ravaged by injuries last year, but the 2012 team appears to have solid depth across the board. I think it’s fair to expect this unit to take a huge step forward in 2012, very possibly into the top 10 in overall defense.

After three painfully long days of rumors, trades and picks, the 2012 NFL Draft is in the books. For Patriots fans, it was a characteristically unpredictable experience, beginning with the unthinkable – trading up for two players in the first round, and ending with the usual – taking some obscure players. Let’s take a look at the seven-member draft class.

1. Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse (1^st round, 21^st overall): During my interview with ESPN/Scouts Inc.’s Matt Williamson early last week, he brought up Jones as a guy the Patriots would really be interested in. Turns out Williamson was spot on, as Belichick executed a trade up from pick 27 to 21 to select the 6-foot-5, 266-pounder. The lengthy defensive end has drawn comparisons to Jason Pierre-Paul for his raw athleticism, although I’d argue he isn’t as explosive or quick as the Giants Pro Bowler. However, Jones’ game tape reveals incredible upside because of his hand usage, shedding ability and pass-rush ability. The younger brother of Ravens defensive tackle Arthur Jones and UFC star Jon “Bones” Jones will be groomed at the elephant position and can also play defensive end in 4-3 schemes.

2. Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama (1^st round, 25^th overall): Watch Hightower’s tape against Tennessee from last season and you’ll quickly realize how his versatility should make an instant impact on the league’s 31^st-ranked defense. The 6-foot-2, 265-pounder was the leader of the nation’s best defense, registering 80 tackles, including 11 for loss, four sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. Despite being listed as an inside linebacker, Hightower is far more than a thumper in the middle. He has experience lining up as a 3-4 outside linebacker and a pass-rushing defensive end on third down. His ability to line up all over the defense and perhaps spell Brandon Spikes on passing downs makes him an excellent fit in the Patriots system.

3. Tavon Wilson, DB, Illinois (2^nd round, 48^th overall): With plenty of better known defensive backs on the board, the Patriots made one of the biggest head scratchers of the draft by taking Wilson in the middle of the second round. The former safety/corner was projected to go in the late rounds before New England made him the third safety off the board. The 6-foot, 205-pounder brings solid athleticism (4.52 forty) and versatility and experience. It’ll be interesting to see if he outplays the projections, and his selection will be one that could go a long way in cementing Bill Belichick’s legacy of drafting defensive backs.

4. Jake Bequette, DE/OLB, Arkansas (3^rd round, 90^th overall): Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 274 pounds, this former Razorback certainly has the requisite size to be a pass-rushing force in the Patriots defense. Although he was projected to go in the fifth round, I think he’s a solid fit because he can line up as an outside linebacker and defensive end. Bequette was a two-time captain at Arkansas and is highly regarded for both his pass-rushing skills and his motor. Whenever a player records 23.5 sacks in the SEC, that’s no easy feat.

5. Nate Ebner, S, Ohio State (6^th round, 197^th overall): Every year, the Pats seem to make a pick soley for special teams value. By selecting the former rugby player turned walk-on, New England added a special athlete who brings toughness, physicality and upside. Ebner was a standout rugby player, and as a rugby player myself, I can tell you those skills will certainly benefit his football career. It seems Mike Vrabel’s influence played a big part in selecting Ebner, a player whose best football might be ahead of him.

6. Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska (7^th round, 224^th overall): Prior to the 2011 season, the former Cornhusker was considered a possible first-round pick. Even after a down year, he still was a second- or third-rounder. However, after a poor Senior Bowl and a late April arrest, Dennard slipped all the way to the draft’s final round. This is a terrific value pick by Belichick and for me, makes up for the huge reach in the second round. Dennard is highly regarded for his physical press-man abilities, although there are questions about his fit as a corner because of his lack of deep speed. If he works hard, he could eventually emerge as one of the top corners on the roster.

7. Jeremy Ebert, WR, Northwestern (7^th round, 235^th overall): With Wes Welker’s status in limbo, the Patriots selected another similar player to he and Julian Edelman. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder has tremendous speed, running between 4.38-4.44 at his pro day. The former high school quarterback was a versatile weapon in college, finishing his senior year with 75 catches, 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns. While he doesn’t have the elite agility like Welker, he stands a good shot at becoming a slot receiver who could possibly be a returner.