everlong
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.That's my thing, is finding a happy medium between spending too much to get a 2nd TE and getting one who isn't much better than Mulligan or HooMan. If we can get one in the second round to be a legit TE if Gronk is hurt and allow us to play some two TE sets, great. But it would be a real TE not a flex TE, I think those days are gone. Two TE sets now, IMO, will be two 260 pounders. With the variety of WR we have, Brady will still have plenty of short, over the middle patterns to throw to without one of them being called a TE.I don't see Fiedorowicz as much more than Matt Mulligan. Sorry. I keep trying to see it, but I just don't. I understand others disagree.
Here is a crazy idea. Or maybe not so crazy considering that BB kinda hinted at it. BB made a comment last year that Mankins can play all 5 O-line positions. What if BB were to take and move Mankins to Center and draft say Zach Martin and Joel Bitonio and put them at either guard position.
They could then cut Connolly or restructure him down to free up some money. They would still have Cannon as a back-up as well as Barker, Kline and Cave.
I know it's off the wall, but it is something that I could see BB doing to beef up the line and protect Brady better.
Here is a crazy idea. Or maybe not so crazy considering that BB kinda hinted at it. BB made a comment last year that Mankins can play all 5 O-line positions. What if BB were to take and move Mankins to Center and draft say Zach Martin and Joel Bitonio and put them at either guard position.
Props for an actual new idea! It's easy to like an approach that lets the team draft the best available Pats-style OL, rather than focusing on center per se. Bitonio would make a natural heir to Mankins at LG.
I think last year soured BB on drafting WRs and expecting them to contribute early:
Simplistic college offenses have created new hurdles for NFL teams | masslive.com
quickly hurries to take Kelvin Benjamin and Brandon Coleman off his big board
With respect to DaBruinz, I am struggling to see the benefit of taking arguably the best LG in the game and moving him to a position he's never played before whilst drafting someone to play his position, something the draftee hasn't done in the NFL.
Off the wall ideas are fine, but this one potentially weakens us at three spots on the OL in the short term.
Niklas is one of the most complete tight ends in the draft. Personally, I believe that he is the best in-line blocker out of all of the tight ends in this draft class. Notre Dame consistently ran behind him, and it was obvious why when watching him on film. Niklas is a physical blocker and a strong striker with his upper body. He delivers a violent punch to the defender before sticking onto his opponent or drives them back. He also delivers a powerful chip block when he is asked, before getting into his passing route.
Notre Dame moved Niklas all over the field, creating mismatches for their opponents. He would lineup on the line, in a tight end flex position, in the slot or out wide. Against Southern California, there was a play where he lined up in the slot, ran a wheel route and made a fingertip, over-the-shoulder catch for a first down.
In the passing game, Niklas was under-utilized last season. Out of his 32 receptions, only three of them came inside the opponents red zone. With a Rob Gronkowski-like frame and good enough hands, I would expect him to be a red zone monster in the NFL. He does not run the most crisp routes but he uses his size to gain leverage. Once he develops as a route runner, expect him to be a major mismatch on the next level. His straight line speed has been questioned by NFL scouts, but he runs the seam pattern pretty well, which is key to a tight end of his size.
Detailed profile on Notre Dame TE Troy Niklas:
New England Patriots 2014 NFL Draft Prospects: Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas has the tools to be great - he just needs the time | masslive.com
I think last year soured BB on drafting WRs and expecting them to contribute early:
Simplistic college offenses have created new hurdles for NFL teams | masslive.com
quickly hurries to take Kelvin Benjamin and Brandon Coleman off his big board
He says "Coming out of one of the more simplified college offenses isn't necessarily viewed as a bad thing by NFL teams." but I disagree. Every team tries to make things as simple as possible, but not all offenses can be described as simple. I bet the Patriots look at it as a bad thing. Their interest in WRs from the Panthers and Steelers could suggest that. It's not just WRs but TEs too.
So which players does this affect? Benjamin yes, but I don't know about Coleman. I would have to think this hurts Air Raid players such as Mike Evans, Jace Amaro, and anyone from Baylor. I think it also hurts Fresno State and Oregon State players. It should help Allen Robinson, Jordan Matthews, Chris Boyd, and anyone else from Vanderbilt or Penn State. It's not exactly like the Patriots offense but Washington runs diverse looks and concepts. So maybe that helps ASJ.
No one wants to discuss this?
Manxman, why did you put Coleman in with Benjamin?
Size. Benjamin, Coleman and Evans are all of a type.
What does size have to do with anything? My understanding of the article is that it's only about the player's college playbook/offense and how that affects his ability to understand the Patriots playbook/offense.
They were on my board because of their size.
Oh. So crossing them off your board didn't have to do with that article?