{"id":65473,"date":"2021-04-16T20:02:57","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T20:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=65473"},"modified":"2021-08-30T07:03:51","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T07:03:51","slug":"patriots-mailbag-dissecting-bill-belichicks-comments-during-pre-draft-press-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/patriots-mailbag-dissecting-bill-belichicks-comments-during-pre-draft-press-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Mailbag: Dissecting Bill Belichick’s Comments During Pre-Draft Press Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick played things close to the vest during his pre-draft press conference, which isn’t a surprise, but there were tidbits of information that were telling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick’s response to several questions sparked interesting discussions while considering the context of New England\u2019s current quarterback situation and draft position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first response was to a question about how the team is evaluating the 2020 college season, which was greatly altered by the pandemic; many players opted out, some schools played shorter seasons, and some prospects didn\u2019t have the opportunity to play a season at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn some respects, the 2019 film is probably better, more of an apples-to-apples comparison,\u201d Belichick said of the usefulness of the 2020 season. \u201cBut at the same time, we know that players get better with another year of experience, so there were a lot of players that improved from \u201919 to \u201820 as they would normally do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick caveated his answer at the end by crediting player development for those that improved in the pandemic season last fall. Still, given the uneven circumstances, the Patriots may treat prospects that made a big leap or took a noticeable step back differently than others.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Mac Jones were projected to be mid-round selections at this time last year. Now, they\u2019re potentially going second (to the Jets) and third (to the 49ers) overall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, most believe that Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields\u2019s best tape was in 2019, and Fields only played eight games in 2020 due to COVID shortening the Buckeyes\u2019 schedule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, North Dakota State\u2019s Trey Lance didn\u2019t have a 2020 season with the FCS shutting down their football programs for the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If that\u2019s the case, we could read way too much into Belichick\u2019s remarks and conclude that they may have Lance, or more likely Fields, higher on their board than Wilson or Jones based on 2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another telling answer from Belichick was that he acknowledged the team was working through trade-up scenarios. Although, he kept it reasonable, saying they were more small trade ups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say normally something would happen and there could very well be a player there that either you don\u2019t expect to be there or maybe he is a couple spots, maybe at 12, 13, he\u2019s still on the board, and you really thought that he\u2019d be gone in the top six, seven picks. Then the question comes, do you move up and try to get that player that\u2019s fallen a little bit? Those are kind of the scenarios you got through,\u201d Belichick said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pats head coach also mentioned that the team would take swings on upside and \u201coverdraft\u201d a player that they have rated lower because they might not get the prospect at their next pick or roll the dice on upside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The final connecting of the dots was Belichick crediting assistant director of player personnel Dave Ziegler, national scout Matt Groh, and consultant Eliot Wolf for \u201ccarrying the ball\u201d in the pre-draft process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you know who the only quarterback prospect is that Ziegler Groh, Wolf, and now Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels saw throw in-person during a pro day? Justin Fields.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Piecing together Belichick\u2019s words and what you hear around the league, the Ohio State quarterback is at least on their radar. Heavier emphasis on 2019 film, discussions about trading up for a player that might \u201cslide\u201d that they have rated highly, and sending all their big scouting guns to Fields\u2019s pro days; there\u2019s too much smoke to ignore all the signs pointing to their interest in Fields. Now we\u2019ll have to see if he falls far enough into their range to make it happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting to your questions now, thanks as always to those that asked them this week. If I don\u2019t answer you here, we are doing another live Q&A on our\u00a0<\/span>YouTube channel<\/span><\/a>\u00a0this Tuesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One other content note, I\u2019ll begin rolling out my Patriots big board with the 50 best fits for New England in this year\u2019s draft starting on Monday, so be on the lookout for that as well. Without further ado, let\u2019s empty this week\u2019s mailbag:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

If Patriots go Defense in Round 1, who do you like?<\/p>\n

Definitely like some of the Corners myself, but maybe a trade down is in order then?<\/p>\n

Unless we move Gilmore for a 1st, of course (but I doubt that happens).<\/p>\n

— Patriots_karma (@Patriots_karma) April 15, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n