Being away on vacation during the NFL draft has some advantages, in that you can take a little extra time to digest what occurred.

With the Patriots, it's obvious that Coach Bill Belichick and personnel guru Scott Piolo identified some serious needs and went after them, while ignoring some of the team's old draft routines.

Did you notice that the Patriots didn't draft any linemen – on either side of the ball – or tight ends? That's the first time that's happened in the Belichick era.

What they did do, as Belichick told the media afterward, was "get younger and faster on defense.''

With an aging linebacking corps and a secondary that is in flux, the Patriots selected three linebackers and two defensive backs with their seven picks.

Everyone agrees that their top pick, inside linebacker Jerod Mayo from Tennessee, was a great selection. Coming out as a junior, he was one of the fastest linebackers available and is also known as a big-hitter. He looks primed to step into some serious playing time as a rookie. Mel Kiper Jr., the big-haired draft expert from ESPN, said Mayo reminds him of Junior Seau, a heady compliment.

There are some questions about the team's second-round pick, cornerback Terrence Wheatley of Colorado. No one questions his ability, especially his speed, but many "experts'' say there were better corners available. Of course, that's the beauty of the draft.

No one expected a sixth-round pick of of Michigan, the 199th player selected, in 2000 to become the best quarterback in the NFL. But that's where Tom Brady is these days.

Wheatley, who is only 5-foot-9, is a great closer on passes and could help in special teams with the return game.

Shawn Crable, the linebacker from Michigan selected in the third round, is another player who could help immediately. He looks to be an outside rusher with some speed.

The drafting of San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell in the third round shocked a lot of people. He wasn't rated that highly by a lot of clubs. But his selection should send notice to Matt Cassel, the incumbent back-up, and Matt Gutierrez, the third quarterback, that the competition to back up Brady is wide open.

The selection of UCLA wide receiver Matthew Slater is an intriguing one. Son of an NFL Hall of Famer, former Los Angeles Rams' offensive tackle Jackie Slater, he is a very gifted special teams player and could have an immediate impact there.

The final pick, linebacker Bo Ruud of Nebraska, is someone the Patriots have been watching for two years.

Overall, the Patriots did a nice job of filling in an aging roster, especially at key positions. However, they did not address the tight end situation, where Ben Watson is coming off off-season ankle surgery and David Thomas is coming off an injury-lost season, or defensive line, where their gold-dust starters were worn out down the stretch.

The team did, however, sign veteran tight end Marcus Pollard and defensive lineman Kenny Smith in the days before the draft. So maybe Belichick and Pioli felt they were comfortable at those positions with the veteran free agents and chose to really upgrade the areas of need on defense.

Overall, a good draft, if not a flashy one.

Bill Belichick met with the press Wednesday in his annual pre-draft press conference and, as usual, didn't shed a whole lot of light on what the team will do.

The Patriots have the seventh pick in the draft, courtesy of a trade with San Francisco last year. They, of course, lost their own first round pick as a penalty for illegally videotaping opposing assistant coaches from the sidelines.

Belichick noted that the team is still bringing in some players for visits and that they are still looking at all prospects. "Hopefully we'll be in a position to to make some good decisions to try to improve on our football team next week.''

The draft is held April 26-27.

Asked about the linebacking and cornerback prospects in this draft – two positions the Patriots need to fill – Belichick said the linebackers are as deep as they have been the last couple of years while the cornerbacks are probably a little deeper. "Whether they'll be able to perform at the NFL level, we'll see,'' he said.

Asked about the perception that teams are trying to trade out of the top of the draft – because of a lack of a consensus No.1 pick and the financial implications of picking high – Belichick compared this draft field to 1991. He called Russell Maryland a surprise No.1 pick and that many of the second rounders went on to have better careers.

Overall, he said, "We've got a handful of guys that we're considering and maybe they'll be there.''

The press conference ended on a light note: nose tackle Vince Wilfork walked into the media room and someone asked Belichick if he might take one of the top-rated defensive tackles to push Wilfork.

"That's something we're looking very closely at. Very closely,'' said Belichick, prompting a laugh from everyone.

The New England Patriots, coming off their 18-1 near-Super Bowl championship season, will have more 1 p.m. starting times at home this season but also will play five prime-time games, including one on the hard-to-find NFL Network.

Owner Bob Kraft had petitioned the NFL to allow the Patriots to play more 1 p.m. home games this season and, given his stature in the league, was granted his wish, starting with the season opener on Sept. 7 at Gillette Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Other 1 p.m. home games are:

Sept. 21, Miami Dolphins; Oct. 26, St. Louis Rams; Nov. 9, Buffalo Bills; Dec. 21, Arizona Cardinals.

The highlight of New England's prime-time adventures is easily its Nov. 2 trek to Indianapolis to play the Colts and Peyton Manning – the old brother of Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning. That game is on NBC and begins at 8:15 p.m. Is it me, or do the Pats and Colts seem to play the first Sunday in November every season?

New England is on NBC two other times: Oct. 12, at San Diego and Dec. 7, at Seattle (both starting at 8:15 p.m.).

The Patriots have an ESPN Monday nighter on Oct. 20 at home against the Denver Broncos at 8:30 p.m.

Then they play the rival New York Jets at Gillette on the NFL Network – good luck watching that one at home unless the NFL and Big Cable come to terms soon – on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8:15 p.m. In case you missed it, the NFL Network is looking for a new play-by-play announcer after Bryant Gumbel resigned.

Overall, the Patriots have the easiest schedule in the NFL in 2008, based on 2007 results. New England's 2008 opponents were 99-157 last year, a .387 winning percentage. That's what happens when your schedule includes the AFC East, NFC West and AFC West.

Conversely, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who play at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 30 at 4:15 p.m., have the hardest schedule (.598) and the Colts the second-hardest (.594).

click here for the entire NFL 2008 schedule