The New England Patriots have become one of the premier organizations in the NFL by putting a strong emphasis on the annual April draft. Now, their scouting strategy may begin to center itself on players from the state of New Jersey. Early last summer before the start of high school football season, Red Bank Catholic Head Football Coach Frank Edgerly left the program to become a scout with the New England Patriots. His duties included scouting teams from around the league and preparing reports in advance of the team’s next opponent. It can now be safely assumed that his duties have expanded to include giving his take on players from the Garden State.

In the 2010 NFL Draft, New England selected two players from New Jersey. In the first round they selected Cornerback Devin McCourty from Rutgers. McCourty is going to vie for immediate playing time on defense, and should be a star on special teams. In the seventh round they selected Georgia Defensive Tackle Kade Weston, formerly a star defensive lineman at Monmouth County’s Red Bank Regional High School. Coach Edgerly had the opportunity to watch McCourty grow as a corner at New Jersey’s state school, and game planned against Weston while coaching at RBC.

Edgerly’s knowledge of these players, specifically coaching against Weston, played at least some role in the Patriots war room strategy. If Edgerly can give the team background information on players from New Jersey, it may begin a pipeline of prospects from the state being drafted by the Patriots. Watching a player on film or clocking a 40 yard dash are useful barometers of their skill set, but game planning against them offers a unique report not found with many team scouts.