Update: It's ok FO, I forgive you

by shake n bake on Apr 16, 2009 5:41 PM EDT

UPDATE:

The Robert Mathis thing was a simple oversight- I think he would clearly count as the best value among defensive linemen. -Sean McCormick

Football Outsiders posted a review of the 2003 Draft detailing the common opinion, first player selected, best player selected, best value, and biggest bust. It's a interesting piece and I was cruising through, enjoying it. Until I got to the defensive line. Specifically the value pick.

Tully Banta-Cain, California, 239th overall to the Patriots. Banta-Cain was productive enough as a situational player to land a big contract with San Francisco. The 49ers quickly realized that Banta-Cain was not a difference maker and released him after one season, so now he's back in New England.

hmm, a situational rusher (with 12.5 career sacks, and a career high of 5.5). That's not all that productive aside from a single season that was just decent for a specialist. In the other 5 years of his career Tully recorded just 7 sacks. Is two sacks a year and a big contract from a bad organization from a 7th rounder all it takes to be the best value in the draft?

2 sacks per year isn't all that rare from a 7th round pick. In the 6 year period surrounding that draft 2000-2005, 5 other players were taken in the seventh round, who have gone on to record at least 2 sacks per season, including our own Raheem Brock (one more season in the league, double the sacks with 25).

Two rounds earlier a pass rush specialist was taken. He would record 3.5 sacks as a rookie, he over the next 5 years he would never again post a season with less sacks than Banta-Cain's career high. Over the next 5 seasons that specialist would record 50 sacks. This specialist drafted after over 130 players, and over 25 other DL/rush LBs would in his first 6 years record enough sacks to put himself just outside the top 100 in NFL history in sacks, and in the top 25 active players in sacks.

This 5th round pass rush specialist, the best DL value in the draft was none other than...

photoshop by AussieColtsFan

SUPERMATHIS.

Master of the strip-sack (30 career forced fumbles) SuperMathis has forced more than twice as many fumbles as Banta-Cain has made sacks. Mathis had more sacks in any two consecutive seasons, than TB-C has in his career. Mathis made the Pro Bowl last year. Tully was cut.

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Comments

second round for Raheem?

Shake, seems to be a typo above. You suggest Brock was a 2nd rounder, not a 7th. Middle paragraph between the block quote and the photo.

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Apr 16, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions

impressive

that I can misspeak second-seventh in text.

I got Summer hatin' on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun. Spring hatin' on me cuz I ain't never sprung
Winter hatin' on me cuz I'm colder than Y'all. And I will never, I will never, I will never Fall.
-Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter

by shake n bake on Apr 16, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

All fixed

McCormick said Mathis was an oversight and was the best value.

18to88.com

by deshawn zombie on Apr 16, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

was editting as you commented

by shake n bake on Apr 16, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

not surprised it was an oversight

they couldn’t be that dumb

"If you don't [draft me], I promise you I'll come back and kick your ass for the next 15 years."

by psvirsky on Apr 16, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

And then a little later

I want to point out the Rich Conley and MJK mutual admiration society discussing Ty Warren maybe being the best player in that draft (did I read that right? maybe he said best DL, and even then…. not sure) and Asante Samuel being “not that good.” I like MJK and have had very reasonable back-and-forths with them over the years. But I’d have to go back to count how often Pats fans have said—before he left—that Samuel was “not that good.” I suspect it’s a weensy number.

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on Apr 17, 2009 12:50 AM EDT reply actions

Didn't you know?

The only reason the Patriots lose players to free agency is because they don’t want them. And if the Patriots want a player, even if he’s on another team, they’ll get them for league minimum because, well because they’re the Patriots man! The fact that they’ve either drafted, or paid as much as any other team would have for their players are just “facts” that get in the way of the true greatness of the Patriots.

Funny, since all these free agents (that left millions to play for bread and water) starting going to the Pats, they haven’t won a championship. I don’t remember people beating down the door to play for the Pats prior to 2004.

Jim Sorgi runs a 4.6 40. That's all I've got to say about that.

by monstersbox on Apr 17, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions