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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 7, 2020 13:53:12 GMT -5
www.nfl.com/prospects/mike-onwenu?id=32194f4e-5741-5291-a74a-040f32c558e0The thought of him being a NT kinda seemed crazy at first. Yet he was a top ten guy on OL Nationally as a recruit and they played him there as a freshman. So they saw something right? We do have a history of molding guys. We need NT depth really bad and three guards in two years seems a little much. Unless they plan to keep Herron a tackle. It's interesting that's for sure. Crazy just because it was me suggesting it.... No not at all. Mainly because it's almost never done at the pro level and I missed he had a defensive back ground. You see it in college all the time. Notre Dame took a 300 OT recruit and turned him into a DT that was drafted a while back. thedraftnetwork.com/articles/shrine-bowl-defensive-line-offensive-line-bravvon-roy-khalil-davis-john-penisini-michael-onwenuHe's 362 at the Shrine game. I mean that's unreal, biggest guy that got drafted. No DT even close to that big and he's crazy strong, yet doesn't move well. Bill loves versatility and drafts guys for that reason. I frankly kinda wrote the guy off because he wasn't highly ranked and that's surprising given his size. Usually that means huge issues. It's not like he doesn't standout. Yet none of my draft magazines had him listed. Yet his profile kinda seems like a perfect NT. |
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Post by texs31 on May 7, 2020 14:55:55 GMT -5
Jennings and Woodard now signed with cap at $1,014,272. Miguel doesn't have the official UDFA numbers but says the most that could impact the cap is $26,093.
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Post by texs31 on May 7, 2020 15:21:22 GMT -5
Matt Miller had Onwenu pegged as a 6th rounder but I didn't see anyone else that I look at have him as draftable.
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Post by voiceofreason on May 7, 2020 16:52:47 GMT -5
Nothing would surprise me but if they convert him it’s because Hs sucks at guard when they get to camp. They didn’t draft him to convert him, we’d know about that already. Maybe you are right but they are pretty deep at guard right now. But yeah they will give him every chance at guard but he does profile as a NT. |
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Post by texs31 on May 7, 2020 16:55:12 GMT -5
NE down to $851,640 now that Rohrwasser, Herron, Maluia have signed along with Jennings and Woodard from earlier. Still no UDFA details yet.
BTW - to cut down on the length of these updates (this one excluded) can we just assume that anytime I post a number it's coming from Miguel?
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Post by voiceofreason on May 7, 2020 16:57:53 GMT -5
Stephen Neal, wrestler turned Dlineman turned Oguard. Yeah just never know and if anyone thinks that way it is BB. Onwenu is the immovable object based on his scouting reports, I truly believe based on everything I have read that he has an uphill battle to be a NFL guard. But his profile says NT. We shall see.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 7, 2020 17:12:03 GMT -5
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 7, 2020 17:14:31 GMT -5
Stephen Neal, wrestler turned Dlineman turned Oguard. Yeah just never know and if anyone thinks that way it is BB. Onwenu is the immovable object based on his scouting reports, I truly believe based on everything I have read that he has an uphill battle to be a NFL guard. But his profile says NT. We shall see. Yeah Neal came to mind, Edelman and turning Brown into a defensive back while a WR. The history is there. |
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Post by rjp313jr on May 7, 2020 17:23:31 GMT -5
Right but that’s speculation like is being done here. If a guy gets drafted by a team with a position change in mind, that is reported right away. Because a team isn’t going to take a guy and change is position without him agreeing to it ahead of time. Not saying it won’t happen down the road but it’s not the current plan is all. Responding to Voice for this part.... i don’t consider them deep at guard. Having unproven bodies there isn’t being deep. Froholdt is the one guy we can try to point to but he’s unproven, coming iff major injury and really struggled prior to that injury. The veterans basically suck. So we have two potential studs (if Mason bounces back) and then huge question marks. |
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 7, 2020 17:53:42 GMT -5
First off the Patriots OL was ranked 10th by PFF. Can we stop acting like it was one of the worst in the league? It's like Brady struggled and it's because of everything but him.
Mason was #1 guard in 2018 at a 85 grade, he was 73 last year. A big drop off, but it's not like he sucked either. Just not the dominate guy we expected. We now have the same guys for depth plus a 4th rounder and two six rounders. That's a ton of depth in my book, along with a 3rd round OT. I mean most teams using picks that high are expecting starters day one, not backups in year two.
I don't think anyone said the plan 100% is to make him a NT. Yet I don't think it's crazy and I bet Bill has thought about it. He likes drafting guys that are versatile. Karras was a guard and center, Herron is an OT and G, Onwenu being a guard and NT isn't crazy. Not considering we only have one guy who hasn't played for us before at the position. That's what back end of the roster guys need to do for the Patriots.
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Post by dcb26 on May 7, 2020 18:46:10 GMT -5
patriotswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/06/can-the-patriots-get-undrafted-wr-jeff-thomas-to-reach-his-potential/I watched about 30 minutes of film on him. You don't see guys as electric as him go undrafted very often. He needs to work on his routes, but wow he's very talented and electric with the ball in his hands. I totally disagree with the article in that he can easily be an outside guy, yet he can do much more. He's just very electric as an athlete, to go along with a 38.5 vertical and 4.45 speed. He would have put up better numbers if Miami had a good QB and a line that could block. All the athletes like him at WR went in the first three rounds of the draft. Now he'll either be a steal or the first player cut. I watched a lot of video on Thomas as well, couldn't stop once I got started. When he's on, he looks like he has 1st/2nd talent. It's not just speed and moves: he's strong for his size, can out-jump taller defenders, and looks to have a real knack for tracking the ball in the air. Still far more likely he never sees the field than anything else, but if he can move past the character/makeup concerns, the potential is real. There's a few of the udfa's, Thomas and J.J. Taylor especially, that seem extra-interesting this year. |
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Post by texs31 on May 8, 2020 7:39:15 GMT -5
$768,400 with Asiasi now signed. Pats can sign Keene and Onwenu as is but will then need room to sign Dugger.
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Post by voiceofreason on May 8, 2020 8:07:36 GMT -5
Right but that’s speculation like is being done here. If a guy gets drafted by a team with a position change in mind, that is reported right away. Because a team isn’t going to take a guy and change is position without him agreeing to it ahead of time. Not saying it won’t happen down the road but it’s not the current plan is all. Responding to Voice for this part.... i don’t consider them deep at guard. Having unproven bodies there isn’t being deep. Froholdt is the one guy we can try to point to but he’s unproven, coming iff major injury and really struggled prior to that injury. The veterans basically suck. So we have two potential studs (if Mason bounces back) and then huge question marks. With 6 other guards other than him to compete with and 2 that are close to Pro Bowl level I would call that deep. Sure some aren't great and some aren't proven but right now they only have what I would consider to be one true NT and he isn't a stud. I hope he is good but I would rather see a 350+ lb guy that can't be moved in that spot. It is all conjecture at this point. |
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 8, 2020 8:38:36 GMT -5
Damon Harrison DT is also a free agent and a 350 pound NT. A guy that makes a ton of sense to bring in and battle for a spot.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 8, 2020 8:46:01 GMT -5
patriotswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/06/can-the-patriots-get-undrafted-wr-jeff-thomas-to-reach-his-potential/I watched about 30 minutes of film on him. You don't see guys as electric as him go undrafted very often. He needs to work on his routes, but wow he's very talented and electric with the ball in his hands. I totally disagree with the article in that he can easily be an outside guy, yet he can do much more. He's just very electric as an athlete, to go along with a 38.5 vertical and 4.45 speed. He would have put up better numbers if Miami had a good QB and a line that could block. All the athletes like him at WR went in the first three rounds of the draft. Now he'll either be a steal or the first player cut. I watched a lot of video on Thomas as well, couldn't stop once I got started. When he's on, he looks like he has 1st/2nd talent. It's not just speed and moves: he's strong for his size, can out-jump taller defenders, and looks to have a real knack for tracking the ball in the air. Still far more likely he never sees the field than anything else, but if he can move past the character/makeup concerns, the potential is real. There's a few of the udfa's, Thomas and J.J. Taylor especially, that seem extra-interesting this year. I have more hope than I should because we need a guy like him bad. Plus he picked what looks like the worst possible team for him to join. He might have one of the easiest times making the team based on talent, but for a guy like him the Patriots are the last team I'd send him to as an agent. Unless you believe he's a good guy that was in a bad situation and Miami isn't a model team. He looks better than Dorsett. He's not as fast but is way more athletic with a bigger catch radius. The big difference being Dorsett played with a much better QB and overall talent level. |
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Post by voiceofreason on May 8, 2020 9:05:00 GMT -5
Just watched some Jeff Thomas highlights myself and a few thoughts came to mind. He is electric and sudden with his speed and cuts. For his size he plays a little stronger and bigger with out any fear going over the middle. No Alligator arms moments but then again they wouldn't make a highlight reel.
Can definitely see him making the Pats with his ability to return kicks/punts and take the top off the D. And I don't know about his off field character issues but hopefully he realizes the opportunity and matures, the Pats locker room could help in that dept.
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Post by voiceofreason on May 8, 2020 9:12:22 GMT -5
Damon Harrison DT is also a free agent and a 350 pound NT. A guy that makes a ton of sense to bring in and battle for a spot. That could be a big pickup for the Pats but is he healthy and does he have enough gas left in the tank? I'm sure they could make the moves needed to free up space for a guy who was #3 against the run not long ago. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29033271/damon-harrison-says-was-hell-bent-get-detroit |
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Post by rjp313jr on May 8, 2020 9:59:39 GMT -5
Dorsett is fast but doesn’t really play fast.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 8, 2020 11:09:35 GMT -5
Damon Harrison DT is also a free agent and a 350 pound NT. A guy that makes a ton of sense to bring in and battle for a spot. That could be a big pickup for the Pats but is he healthy and does he have enough gas left in the tank? I'm sure they could make the moves needed to free up space for a guy who was #3 against the run not long ago. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29033271/damon-harrison-says-was-hell-bent-get-detroitI don't worry about gas in the tank. He's a depth and upside signing at this point. Yet that article is probably why he won't be here. Sounds like he wants to have fun. |
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 8, 2020 11:26:41 GMT -5
Just watched tape on JJ Taylor and it's not what I expected. He runs with a lot more power than you'd expect from the smallest RB in the draft. Kinda reminds me of Warrick Dunn from back in the day. A natural receiver that is very good in the open field. Really a Taylor made Patriots third down back. He's like Michel he operates best when you spread the field allowing him to make guys miss.
The negatives are he's tiny, he tries to block but he's not stopping NFL caliber DL guys.
Still Bolden and Buckhead better watch out! If we didn't have James White I'd almost call him a lock to make the team. Yet will they carry two third down RB? He's also a very good returner.
Bill really knocked it out of the park with UDFA this year. You could have taken Thomas and Taylor in the third and fourth rounds and no one would have said a thing.
He's another guy who shows 40 times don't matter that much for RB. He looks a lot faster than his time.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 8, 2020 11:33:59 GMT -5
Dorsett is fast but doesn’t really play fast. I don't know about that, he beats guys deep. He's just small with a small catch radius. He also doesn't have any juke, so his speed is harder to use. It's kinda of an example of just speed vs speed and athletic ability. He needs to play with a guy that has a rocket for an arm in a down field passing attack. |
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Post by rjp313jr on May 8, 2020 15:49:17 GMT -5
Have you watched tape on J’Mar Smith?
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 8, 2020 18:21:09 GMT -5
So I watched tape on J'Mar Smith. Not fully what I expected, but very close to what you've heard. Dual threat guy with a big arm. He can sling it, some throws were like Farve DB missed easy interception because of the speed. Can throw on the run and break tackles. Watch his highlight tape and you think we got a steal.
Watch a few full game tapes and you see his accuracy isn't great. Ran fully out of the shotgun in every game I watched. They ran a lot of five wide spread them out offense. While he can make plays with his legs and break tackles he isn't anything special as a runner compared to Jackson. His mechanics are all over the place. Not a ton of NFL caliber timing throws.
Overall if he's really smart and a hard worker not a bad third string developmental guy. He competes and doesn't make as many mistakes as you'd expect given his accuracy comes and goes. The 2018 LSU tape shows that, he never stopped battling. His end zone fade throws are impressive. He trusts his guys and puts it where it needs to be. Yet you don't want him playing next year. Heck who knows how he does under center. Yet I see why they brought him in. The tools are there. He can make 40 plus yard throws look easy. He just needs a lot of refinement. Call him a less athletic Jalen Hurts.
Don't hold me to this QBs are hard and he has limited tape compared to other guys.
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Post by voiceofreason on May 8, 2020 19:28:12 GMT -5
Just watched tape on JJ Taylor and it's not what I expected. He runs with a lot more power than you'd expect from the smallest RB in the draft. Kinda reminds me of Warrick Dunn from back in the day. A natural receiver that is very good in the open field. Really a Taylor made Patriots third down back. He's like Michel he operates best when you spread the field allowing him to make guys miss. The negatives are he's tiny, he tries to block but he's not stopping NFL caliber DL guys. Still Bolden and Buckhead better watch out! If we didn't have James White I'd almost call him a lock to make the team. Yet will they carry two third down RB? He's also a very good returner. Bill really knocked it out of the park with UDFA this year. You could have taken Thomas and Taylor in the third and fourth rounds and no one would have said a thing. He's another guy who shows 40 times don't matter that much for RB. He looks a lot faster than his time. I agree on the BB killing it this year with UDFA's It would be great for the salary cap in the future to have a few guys from late in the draft and undrafted guys to contribute. In regards to JJ i liked what I saw and he does have great short area quickness but with those short legs he got caught from behind al ot also. He is versatile and tough though. |
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Post by rjp313jr on May 9, 2020 4:56:51 GMT -5
Just watched tape on JJ Taylor and it's not what I expected. He runs with a lot more power than you'd expect from the smallest RB in the draft. Kinda reminds me of Warrick Dunn from back in the day. A natural receiver that is very good in the open field. Really a Taylor made Patriots third down back. He's like Michel he operates best when you spread the field allowing him to make guys miss. The negatives are he's tiny, he tries to block but he's not stopping NFL caliber DL guys. Still Bolden and Buckhead better watch out! If we didn't have James White I'd almost call him a lock to make the team. Yet will they carry two third down RB? He's also a very good returner. Bill really knocked it out of the park with UDFA this year. You could have taken Thomas and Taylor in the third and fourth rounds and no one would have said a thing. He's another guy who shows 40 times don't matter that much for RB. He looks a lot faster than his time. I agree on the BB killing it this year with UDFA's It would be great for the salary cap in the future to have a few guys from late in the draft and undrafted guys to contribute. In regards to JJ i liked what I saw and he does have great short area quickness but with those short legs he got caught from behind al ot also. He is versatile and tough though. I agree this is always nice but they are in cap jail (for them) this year but the cap situation is strong looking forward. |
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