SB Nation Boston: All Posts by Adam Stiteshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2013-03-06T11:51:54-05:00https://boston.sbnation.com/authors/adam-stites/rss2013-03-06T11:51:54-05:002013-03-06T11:51:54-05:00Patriots expected to upgrade at CB in mock drafts
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Xoi4yC_c-BTzVHgeEYxpiPrCHOQ=/0x6:4000x2673/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9191801/20130222_mje_ss1_360.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Most mock drafts have the Patriots slated to help their secondary and several have the same player in mind, but not all.</p> <p>Typically, the further down in the first round mock drafts go, the more scenarios begin to pop up and variances at each pick exist. While the first pick in the draft usually comes to a consensus, mock drafters hardly ever seem to agree who should be picked with the last pick of the first round.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="read-more">
<strong>More</strong>: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/3/4/4058656/2013-nfl-mock-draft-geno-smith-jamie-collins" target="_blank">2013 NFL Mock Draft</a>
</div>
<p>Owners of the 29th pick, the norm doesn't hold true for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">New England Patriots</a>, as almost all mock drafts have the team taking a cornerback with its first selection. In<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/3/4/4058656/2013-nfl-mock-draft-geno-smith-jamie-collins" target="_blank"> the latest mock draft from SB Nation</a>, that cornerback is Washington's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/89462/desmond-trufant">Desmond Trufant</a>, and both <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock" target="_blank">Dane Brugler of CBS Sports</a> and <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/mock-drafts" target="_blank">Charles Davis of NFL.com</a> agree.</p>
<p>Bucky Brooks of NFL.com also believes that the Patriots will look to upgrade the secondary, but Trufant was off the board for the Patriots as he projected the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a> to take him five spots earlier. Instead, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/mock-drafts" target="_blank">Brooks paired the Patriots with</a> Mississippi State's All-American cornerback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78971/johnthan-banks">Johnthan Banks</a>, despite his poor Combine showing.</p>
<p>One of the few mock drafts that elected to address a position other than cornerback for the Patriots came from <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock" target="_blank">Rob Rang of CBS Sports, who slated</a> USC wide receiver Robert Woods to be selected and add to the already-potent New England offense.</p>
<h4>More in the NFL:</h4>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/3/4/4058656/2013-nfl-mock-draft-geno-smith-jamie-collins?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">NFL Mock Draft: New names rising in first round</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/3/5/4067210/von-miller-interview-podcast-uffsides?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">Uffsides: Von Miller talks with SB Nation</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/3/5/4065038/2013-nfl-free-agency-mike-wallace?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">Ranking the NFL's top offensive free agents</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/3/5/4065586/nfl-free-agency-joe-flacco-contract-ravens-matt-ryan-aaron-rodgers-deals?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">Joe Flacco and the history of $100 million contracts</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/3/4/4062480/nfl-free-agency-2013-contracts-salary-cap?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">The NFL's disappearing middle class</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/3/5/4068638/nfl-free-agency-2013-joe-flacco-roger-goodell?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">NFL news roundup: Roger Goodell terrified, Shawne Merriman retires and the latest on free agency </a></p>
<p><iframe src="https://boston.sbnation.com/videos/iframe?id=20781" frameborder="0" seamless="true" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" name="20781-chorus-video-iframe"></iframe></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/patriots/2013/3/6/4071188/2013-nfl-mock-draft-new-england-patriotsAdam Stites2012-10-30T13:15:19-04:002012-10-30T13:15:19-04:00Patriots dominate Week 8, climb power rankings
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1g8MOqiBLYrYWUD3i0jeqt3mnqA=/0x17:4000x2684/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/2322625/154881017.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scott Heavey</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Patriots looked like a dominant team against the Rams in Week 8, as they won in a 45-7 rout.</p> <p>In a 45-7 win against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">Rams</a> in London, the Patriots dominated every facet of the game and became only the third AFC team to reach five wins. The victory was more what people have come to expect to see from the Patriots, but hadn't in recent weeks and was enough to give them a boost in many power rankings.</p>
<p>In <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/10/30/3574194/nfl-power-rankings-week-9-broncos-patriots-falcons-giants">Ryan Van Bibber's rankings for SB Nation</a>, the Patriots moved a spot closer to the top, as the moved ahead of the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Packers</a> after Green Bay struggled at times with the <a href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jaguars</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>6. <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> (LW: 7, 5-3): Bill Belichick flew to London on Friday, half annoyed that he had to be there. His team carved up the Rams for 45 points and came home.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The No. 6 spot was a little higher than most have placed the Patriots, though, as each FOX's and <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings">ESPN's rankings</a> have New England at No. 8. In <a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings">Brian Billick's power rankings on FOX</a>, he praised the strength of the victory over the Rams:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>8. The Patriots put up 45 unanswered points in London on the way to a 38-point win over the Rams at Wembley Stadium. This was the sixth-largest margin of victory for the Patriots under Bill Belichick and the 17th consecutive game in which they have totaled 350-plus yards, an NFL record.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/powerrankings">Pete Prisco of CBS Sports placed the Patriots right in between on his rankings</a>, as he gave them the No. 7 spot for the second week in a row:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>7. <span>Tom Brady</span> is so good at getting this team right when some wonder if they can. The concern in the division now is the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dolphins</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Patriots are on bye for Week 9 and will see the field again in Week 10 when they host the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buffalo Bills</a>.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/patriots/2012/10/30/3576780/2012-nfl-power-rankings-week-9Adam Stites