2010 Infusion of Youth: Installment #2

In my first installment of the “2010 Infusion of Youth” series I discussed the Patriots’ desperate need for an outside (rush) linebacker.  In my esteemed opinion that is by far their most desperate need.  The Pats’ lack of a consistent pass rush exposed a young secondary and made the defense vulnerable to many big plays.  Just because an outside linebacker is their biggest need, we all know that with Belichick at the helm that might not be the direction in which they go.

Other needs that the Patriots have are at wide receiver, inside linebacker, offensive line, defensive line, tight end, and quarterback.  Now, my proclamation of some of these team needs may lead you to believe that I have lost my mind, but hear me out.  I don’t know if anyone can argue that the Patriots do not have a serious need for talent at wide receiver.  Granted they still have Randy Moss and Wes Welker, but Moss has struggled with injuries over the past 2 seasons (mind you with a bad back and shoulder in the 2009 season, Moss still managed to put up nearly 1,300 yards and 13 scores…and people say he’s washed up?) and Welker may miss the entire 2010 season because of a torn ACL (and even if he does return, injuries to the ACL usually take two years for a player to return to their initial form).  Besides those two, the Patriots have yet to establish a viable option at the third wide receiver spot since Dante Stallworth left after the 2007 season.  Since the end of the 2009 season everyone has been jumping on the Julian Edelman bandwagon.  Sorry ladies and gentlemen, but I am not hopping on for a ride, nor will I ever be.  I understand he performed relatively well in Welker’s slot position while Wes was hurt, but that’s all that Edelman is, an injury substitution that knows the playbook and can catch the ball when he is open.  If I was a defensive coordinator and Edelman was playing in place of Welker, I would let Edelman catch the ball every single time.  He is no threat to break a play deep.  He is still learning to play the position, which means his ability to block in open space and get off of pres coverage is limited.  The kid just isn’t good enough to play every down.  Sam Aiken is still a member of the team and he filled that third wide receiver spot for the majority of last season, but quite frankly, Aiken is no more than a special teams player.  Matthew Slater has hands like feet and will never see consistent time at wide receiver.  Brandon Tate probable has the most promise out of the group, but his inability to stay healthy has severely hindered his development to this point.

In this installment, I will highlight possible wide receivers that the Patriots could select within the first two rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft.  In my next and final installment in the “2010 Infusion of Youth” series I will highlight any remaining players that the Patriots may consider.  Here are some possible wideout candidates:

Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

Two years ago, Arrelious Benn was being touted as one of, if not the best receiver in college football.  At nearly 6’2” and 220 lbs, Benn has the physical size accompanied by strength (20 reps of 225lbs at the combine) to be an elite wide receiver in the NFL.  Questions surrounding Benn revolved around his desire and his speed.  Arrelious silenced the questions about his speed at his pro day when he posted a very impressive 4.36 40 yard dash.  Before Benn’s pro day, he undoubtedly would have been around at pick 22, but now that his 40 yard dash time has improved, it might be a stretch if he is still available.

Golden Tate, WR Notre Dame

A lot of people are not as high on Golden Tate as I am.  When I watch him play I for some reason cannot get Anquan Boldin out of my head.  He is not as big or as strong as Boldin, and may not even be as talented, but he can certainly play football.  Sometimes during NFL draft time, these so called “analysts” get so caught up in workout numbers that guys like Vernon Gholston and Darrius Heyward-Bey get drafted in the top 10, while other players that were exceptionally productive in college (but didn’t post the workout numbers) get pushed out of the first round, like LeSean McCoy and Shonn Greene.  There were serious questions about Tate’s speed, and at 5’10” 199 lbs there wasn’t much wiggle room for him to not post a good 40.  But, he ended up posting a 4.42 at the combine and accompanied that with 17 reps at 225, which in my opinion supplants Tate solidly at the end of the first round.

Damian Williams, WR USC

There are very few things that scare me more in this world than the thought of the Patriots drafting a wide receiver out of USC.  Williams’ stock has dropped recently because of a mediocre combine performance, accompanied with the lack of NFL production by USC wide receivers.  I think that if desired, the Pats could certainly pick up Williams with one of their second round picks, probably even the second of their three picks (47^th overall) in the second round.

Re-sign Beckett Now!

Two days ago a story broke across the Boston media outlets that the Red Sox have offered Josh Beckett a "lucrative" four year contract extension.  The news that the two sides are sitting down and trying to iron out a deal is exciting. The picture alone gets me pumped for baseball season to start and even more fired up that the Sox should lock up Cy Beckett for the next 5 years.   However, I remain skeptical about this.  In my humble opinion Theo Epstein very much likes to play games with his players.  He is cognizant of the strong fan base and the critical media in Boston.  He has become an expert at making "cover your ass" offers to his players that are good enough on paper, yet he knows they will not sign it.  He does this in an effort to keep the fans happy and the media at bay (no pun intended).   I have a strong problem with this.

See Josh Beckett is not Theo’s "guy."  Theo was not in office when the Red Sox traded Hanley Ramirez for Beckett.  This trade led to the 2007 World Series title for the Sox and Beckett was the hero.  It’s been widely speculated that Theo never wanted to part ways with the stud shortstop.  But Beckett brought his big game experience to Boston and the Fenway faithful embraced him as one of their own, a Yankee killer no less.

Theo already covered his bases this off season by signing John Lackey to a 5 year $80 million deal.  For some reason Theo won’t give the same 5 years to Beckett, who is a year younger than Lackey.  Theo’s strategy? Offer a Beckett a serviceable offer, when he rejects, he can say he did his best and always had Lackey to fall back on.  No Theo, not this time.

This off season the Red Sox brass has shifted their mindset to one of putting the best pitching and defense on the diamond they possibly can.  I believe that if they are going forth with this strategy they should stick with it and sign Beckett to the five year deal he wants.  This would give the Sox Lester, Beckett, and Lackey for five years as their 1-2-3.  They have an embarrassment of riches with Clay Buchholz and Dice-K being the ideal 4 and 5 (Both would be a 2 or a 3 on other teams). 

I have grown tired of seeing the Red Sox spend dead money. That is, money on people that aren’t even on their roster (See Lugo, Julio and Renteria, Edgar).  Spend the money on Beckett.  This is not a "Varitek" or "Lowell" situation.  What I mean by that is there actually are other teams out there that will pony up loads of cash for Josh Beckett.  There will be no "Boras-ian bidders" out there.  The Yankees would love to bring Beckett in behind CC Sabathia and in front of AJ Burnett.  Maybe for that reason alone the Sox should resign Beckett immediately.

Next off-season will feature a weak free agent pitching market.  They will not be able to replace Beckett for lesser money within that market.  Beckett is a proven bulldog on the mound.  Someone who has grown accustomed to pitching in the American League.  Despite being injured in the last two post seasons he still battled through 6 innings a game and was able to keep the Sox in the games he pitched.  He is still, in my opinion, among the best big game pitchers in baseball.

The Red Sox will regret not resigning Cy Beckett.  Give him the extra year.  Pitching is not easy to come by and when you have a stud in your lap you take care of him.  Give Cy Beckett what he rightfully deserves and keep the fan base happy and the team competitive for the next 5 years.