PushnPencils

In some pre-draft analysis, writers were saying that Brace had upside but wondered if playing next to BJ Raji, whom they state was getting Double teamed all the time, benefited his production.

The Youtube vid below is a BJ Raji showcase. Watch it and tell me what impression you come away with. Brace is #60.

YouTube - DT BJ Raji Highlights Boston College 2008

Nordberg

After watching the video a couple times.

1) Ron Brace is a little quicker than Raji off the snap.
2) Raji looks to be a more powerful once moving
3) Raji also looks like he is a little more instinctive and atheletic

None of it is a knock on Brace.....He holds his ground, which is the most important ingredient in our D-Line

Ochmed Jones

Why is Brace practicing at DE on the Pats? It seems to me he should be the #2 NT behind Wilfork.

robertweathers

S.O.P for Pepper and the coaching staff. They want players to not only know their main position, but others within their unit. This give them position flexibility and helps develop cohesion within the unit.

I have no idea if Brace will play DE during the reg season (doubt it), but IMO its a good sign that they are asking him to take reps there. That tells me he grasps concepts well and is a pretty quick learner.

my .02$

__________________
“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

The_Riddler

Versatility and preparation Ochmed, you know the Patriot way.........

patchick

Sure, cross-training is standard in Foxboro. But the interesting and surprising thing is that Brace has been working exclusively at DE.

robertweathers

Agreed. With warren, Sey and others out that might also have been in the coaching staff's thought process in putting Brace there...

__________________
“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

psychoPat

Mebbe they think they'll get the Wilfork contract done
... but not the Seymour.

signbabybrady

One of the things that stood out to me when I got my first look at Brace a week ago was that he seems to look more like Seymour than Wilfork. I imagine he will be learning both the Nose and End but I wonder if he might be more of an End when its all said and done.

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robertweathers

Wilfork 6'1" 325
Sey 6'6" 315
Brace 6'3" 330

Thats interesting. At any rate Brace is a mammoth of a human being.

__________________
“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick