Irrational exhuberance aside, as nobody knows how any of these players might pan out....the broad reactions that are unveiling about all these picks is that there may not be a single starter among them. Even if James starts, its more a testament to the poor and desperate condition of the fins OL talent level than James own draft stock being termed by many NFL analysts as a reach chosen due to NEED. Period.
Not a single player will move the needle on an 8-8 team that has had 5 years straight of losing seasons, and hasnt sniffed the playoffs in longer.
Not a single player will impact any AFC East rivals. Buffalo did the most damage by making a bold move to get the best player in the draft by most accounts.
Their isn't a single player across all rounds that Hickey is bringing in that will make any difference to Patriots on opening day, not one.
This team bares very little chance of contending for the AFC East much less being able to match up against Buffalo, NE, and even the Jets.
Put up your offensive chart and who scares you? nobody. Until and if Tanny can ever hit Wallace deep down the sideline, nothing will change simply because defenses are able to match up.
The OL is vastly different but unproven still at LG, RG, RT. The RB position is marginally improved with Moreno who has shown he puts the ball on the ground too often and still is not the downhill runner fins lack. Yes he brings more dependability in pass protection and can be a 3 down back but again not a game breaker or take-it-to-the-house speed. No other TE weapon to accompany Clay. Wallace is handled with physical CB play and is ineffective going across the middle, a pure clear-out receiver with a single trick to display. Hartline is a possession receiver and teams have chosen to keying on him as Wallace is not a threat except in Y routes. This leaves Clay as the only match up concern for opposing D's but thats still not enough.
Add to this Tanny's lack of long ball accuracy and no other proven experienced deep threat on the roster teams will have little trouble game planning against this offense, regardless of scheme.
On D, Hickey whiffed on any ILB's that can come in day one and at least challenge as the thumper in the middle. Sprinkle in a journeyman CB in Finny, who couples with another small CB opposite him and we will cause opposing offenses with 6'2and taller WR's and big-body WR's.
So, aside from plugging a hole at RT with a "reach" pick who many had graded in later rounds, and the lack of any balls moves to get a game changer on this talent starved roster, I cant see this team doing anything much different than .500 or so +/- a game here or there.
Contrast this with the turnarounds with the Colts, Seahawks, 49ers, and others where new HC's have made an immediate improvement in the talent of the roster and gotten their teams into the playoffs, I cant see Philbin being the guy who gets another year beyond next.
Where's the talent Hickey?
