New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick told reporters Wednesday the college passing game differs from the NFL to such a degree that it's difficult to evaluate prospects:

"I'd say the issue in college football is there just is not the same passing game in college football that there is in the NFL, period. So, it's hard to evaluate the receivers, it's hard to evaluate the quarterback, it's hard to evaluate the offensive linemen, it's hard to evaluate the pass-rushers and it's hard to evaluate the coverage players.

"You know, we're all looking at the same film, so all the teams in the league, we all see the same games. But, the college passing game is very different from the professional passing game. When you're looking at it, you're looking at a lot of it's really projecting all those positions a little bit differently. To a certain degree, it's different in the running game, too, but probably less difference in the running game than in the passing game, in my opinion."

The Patriots have been historically reticent to draft wide receivers. They have never taken one in the first round under Belichick and have not selected a wideout in the first three rounds since drafting Aaron Dobson in the second round in 2013.

New England also hasn't found much success when it has drafted receivers. Julian Edelman, a converted quarterback drafted in the seventh round in 2009, is the only impact player it's taken at the position in the last decade.

The team's history at the quarterback position is understandably inconsistent. Belichick has had the best quarterback in football history under center for the better part of two decades, so much of the team's drafting at the position has been in the middle and late rounds. He's had hits like seventh-rounder Matt Cassel (2005) and second-rounder Jimmy Garoppolo (2014) but also swings-and-misses like 2011 third-rounder Ryan Mallett and 2008 third-rounder Kevin O'Connell.

As Belichick noted, passing games differ from college to the pros, though NFL teams have increasingly added collegiate elements to their offenses. The Patriots have done a largely excellent job at drafting on the defensive end and on both lines, but there are clear areas where they've lagged behind—either by choice or poor scouting.

Wide receiver has been the biggest problem during Belichick's tenure, and it's often forced Brady to lift up a skeleton crew.

Like all NFL teams, the Patriots struggle in some areas and excel in others.