Finding the Fits: Dobson extends the Marshall plan for Patriots
By Rob
Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
During the next several weeks,
NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2013 NFL draft in a series called "
Finding the Fits." The goal of the series is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.
New England Patriots Best Fit: WR Aaron Dobson, Marshall, Second Round, No. 59 overall
From an outsider's perspective, the high-powered offense orchestrated by quarterback Tom Brady for the New England Patriots probably doesn't look like it has changed much over the past several years.
From a numerical standpoint, it hasn't. In the Patriots' last two trips to the Super Bowl, they led the NFL with an average of 411.2 total yards of offense in 2007 and were second only to Drew Brees' Saints with 428 yards in 2011. This past year New England once again led the NFL with 427.9 yards per game.
The difference lies with the pass-catchers Brady targets. In 2007, he took advantage of arguably the most dangerous vertical threat the NFL has ever seen with Randy Moss to the tune of an NFL-record 23 receiving touchdowns. By 2011 (and extending through this past season), the Patriots had shifted their attention to tight ends
Rob Gronkowski and
Aaron Hernandez and slot receiver Wes Welker, each of whom presented their own matchup quandaries to opposing defenses.
As productive as the Patriots were in attacking the middle last year, they saw few big plays on the outside. This fact pushed Bill Belichick and Co. to pursue Pittsburgh Steelers' restricted free agent
Emmanuel Sanders, one of the league's better vertical threats. After watching their offer get matched by the Steelers, the
Patriots predictably looked to the draft for a big receiver with speed. Enter Dobson, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder who clocked in at 4.42-seconds during his Pro Day and wowed scouts at the Senior Bowl with his fluidity and ball skills. While many receivers coming from “small” schools struggle when pit against the top talent in Mobile, I was impressed with Dobson's fluidity and savvy as a route-runner. Don't be surprised when Brady is, as well.
Veteran-laden teams like the Patriots rarely receive significant contributions from rookies, but Dobson offers the size, speed and soft hands to make an impact -- just as other former Marshall and Patriots' standouts (Moss, Troy Brown) have done in the past.