Bill Belichick builds his team the same way that I used to play basketball against one of my athletically inferior neighbors growing up. Knowing we’re better than the competition, we want to avoid becoming bored so we indulge in an unorthodox strategy to help increase the difficulty level.
Where I would attempt Harlem Park-inspired dribbling moves, Belichick takes guys like Tavon Wilson, Patrick Chung and Jermaine Cunningham with high picks. This of course is neither my strength, nor Bill’s, so eventually the game would get close and I’d revert back to bull-rushing the hoop for easy lay-ups, and Bill would pull guys like Rodney Harrison, Wes Welker, and Tom Brady out of nowhere.
The number of players that Belichick has whiffed on in early rounds of drafts would be catastrophic for most franchises, but he always makes up for it by pulling guys off the scrap heap and turning them into legitimate starters. By drafting, signing and trading for players with health, personality, or attitude issues, he’s found some diamonds in the rough, turning them into Super Bowl victories and NFL records. He turns players into stars, and for the ones who bolt from New England with dollar signs in their eyes, well many of them become borderline irrelevant outside of the magical Foxboro suburbs.
I know my opening theory is far-fetched, but it does represent one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of modern football. He borderline wastes early picks, yet has an impeccable ability of finding talent in the most unlikely of places. 2013 looks like it could take the faces-in-unlikely-places cake. It’s disgustingly early, but this 2013 batch of new faces could go down as his best yet – here’s your introduction to the next Belichick Golconda.
Kenbrell Thompkins – WR #85 – Undrafted Free Agent
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or just hate American football, you’ve heard of this man right here. I shed some light on him in my offensive preview, and he’s turned his practice folklore into on-field production. He’s tied with Dez Bryant for preseason receptions through three weeks, and has led all Patriots receivers in both snaps and targets with Tom Brady under center. He exploded last week vs. the Lions with eight receptions for 116 yards.
Thompkins went undrafted largely due to his bouncing around in college, and lengthy criminal record. It’s said that he’s completely turned his life around and was simply an early product of a terrible environment. He was a favorite amongst draft analysts as a deep sleeper, needing only opportunity to emerge from the depths. He’s done that and more this preseason, appearing to improve with every week. Thompkins looks to be the player the Patriots had hoped Brandon Lloyd was going to be last year.
Zach Sudfeld – TE #44 – Undrafted Free Agent
Another player gaining some level of national recognition is Zach STUDfeld, an undrafted athletic tight end from the University of Nevada. Since college he’s been labeled in some circles as a ‘Baby Gronk’, carrying a borderline mirrored skill set/injury proneness to Rob Gronkowski (fun fact: Sudfeld at 24, is actually a year older than Gronk).
Sudfeld is another player who has been burning up beat reports with his play at camp. Like the aforementioned Thompkins, Sudfeld has taken his practice prowess to the field; showing a good rapport with Tom Brady, and making plays like this. Sudfeld will be looked upon to help replace the production of Aaron Hernandez. While not as laterally quick as Hernandez, he’s a significantly better blocker and is a much larger target. Sudfeld could prove to be a perfect mix between Gronk and Aaron, thus making him a more practical fit for Josh McDaniels‘ two tight end offense.
Tim Tebow – QB #5 – Free Agent
I have to include him in here because he commands the most national attention out of the Fresh Face Class of 2013. Godawful doesn’t begin to describe his play thus far. He didn’t play in the third preseason game and still managed to have more passing yards than he did in a half of football vs. the Buccaneers in week two – Figure that one out.
At this point in his career he’s like the high school kid who is just playing quarterback for his team because he’s the best athlete on the field – yea he’ll hit on a pass occasionally, but most of the time he’s just looking to run. If he can hold onto a roster spot in New England, at least he’ll get to stick with the coach that drafted him (McDaniels). It’s long odds, but if anyone can turn him into a legitimate starting QB, or one who we can at least stomach, it’s the guy who saw enough in him to risk his job by drafting him in the first round.
Side Note: I like Tim Tebow – no, really. I think he’s an amazing FOOTBALL player. That being said, I don’t get the big deal about this guy. Is it the religious stuff? That’s got to be it right, because I don’t think he’s that polarizing of a personality. I say this because I was in attendance at the Patriots-Bucaneers preseason game and the loudest the crowd was the whole night after the Brady to Amendola TD was when Tebow took the field.
Numerous times through the second half, ‘Te-bow, Te-bow, Te-bow’ chants broke out. People stood up and cheered three-yard runs. I think he’s successfully hypnotized an entire country. People either LOVE him or HATE him and no one from either opinion can give you a solid explanation on why they feel that way.
Tommy Kelly – DT #93 – Free Agent
Tommy Kelly has been a bit of an enigma thus far in his NFL career. He went undrafted in 2004, and latched on with the Raiders as an UDFA. He played well enough to gain praise as a potential breakout candidate under the wing of Warren Sapp, but failed to live up to his lofty potential that year. That potential alone was enough to garner an enormous contract from the Raiders that offseason. He – again – never lived up to it and was eventually released. Now 32-years old, Kelly has the best odds since Rodney Harrison and Mike Vrabel to be Belichick’s diamond in the rough veteran. Unreached potential + lack of league – wide interest + talented supporting cast = A Belichick golden doubloon. I’m envisioning a very strong year from Kelly next to Vince Wilfork and Chandler Jones.
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