Belichick The Drafter - GM or Dunce Edition

I am perplexed and concerned about the Patriots multiple one and done playoff performances lately and inability to beat the Giants in the Super Bowl.  However, I need some silver linings lately so I've decided to tackle the notion I've been hearing for a few years that Belichick the GM isn't nearly as good as Belichick the head coach.  This is a result of what appears to be a woeful pass defense and all the draft capital spent on that part of the team that has resulted in ruin.  Well, (viewer discretion is advised) allow me to retort!

I looked at the drafts from 2009 (Scott Pioli left for Kansas City on 1/13/09) through this year.  I'll go through the first and second round picks with some cherries picked from the later rounds.  

2009: 2nd Round - Pat Chung DB a serviceable safety, inconsistent.

                               Ron Brace DT starting runstopper on the D line, could be part of 

                               the reason Willfork has stepped it up in the last few years.

                               Darius Butler DB is draft bust spelled D A R I U S?

                               Sebastian Vollmer T a starter on the O line when he's healthy

          7th Round -  Julian Edelman WR gets the job done and considering he's a 

                               7th rounder seems like a great pick.

2010:   1st Round - Devin McCourty DB great his rookie year, lost last year, somehow 

                                just won the special teams player of the week despite almost 

                                fumbling the game away.  

           2nd Round - Gronk TE an absolute steal.

                                Jermaine Cunningham LB solid starter

                                Brandon Spikes LB good linebacker who is one of the fiercest 

                                hitters in the league

           4th Round -  Aaron Hernandez TE another steal

           5th Round -  Zoltan Mesko P sure Belichick expended a 5th round pick on a punter,

                                but he's an outstanding punter.

2011:   1st Round - Nate Solder T starter on the offensive line

           2nd Round - Ras-I Dowling DB perhaps draft bust spelled R A S I

                                Shane Vereen RB just beginning to get his feet wet

            3rd Round - Steven Ridley RB if he gets his fumbles under control potential for 

                                 greatness

            4th Round - Ryan Mallet QB mythical backup QB

2012:   1st Round - Chandler Jones DE flashes of awesomeness, rookie ups and down

                                 Dont'A Hightower LB see Chandler Jones

            2nd Round - Tavon Wilson S despite getting burned now and then does have two 

                                 interceptions and two fumble recoveries.  Not bad.

By my count that's two incredible steals in Gronk and Hernandez, two offensive line starters in Vollmer and Solder, a two mercurial but talented DBs in McCourty and Chung, a late round offensive piece in Edelman, a good to great running back in Ridley in the 3rd round, and one of the best punters in the league in Mesko.  Sure there's a couple of 2nd round busts in Dowling and Butler, but there's a lot more to like than not.  So come on, let's lay off the GM Bill Belichick.  He's given coach Belichick some good to great players. If only coach Belichick could get Tom Brady to win that parking space again.

Until next time,

The SAHD