Guard Mike Iupati

[FredFromDartmouth]

I know you guys don't want to hear it, but this guy has to be on the Patriots radar. I would not be shocked if they took him in the second (or even the first!).

He is the Samoan equivalent of Mr. Incredible. Apparently he manhandled Jared Odrick in the Senior Bowl drills. He would be a road grader that could fill in for Mankins or Neal when/if they leave the team next year. [Intrerestingly enough was discovered at a barbecue by an Idaho assistant coach.] How would a defense like to see this moose lined up next to Vollmer?

http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2010/02/26/15/IUPATI.highlight.prod_affiliate.5.JPG

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

In your fantasy life maybe.

 

[Since1971]

In your fantasy life maybe.

It wouldn't surprise me, Mankins is the only 1st round OL pick Belichick has taken and that obviously turned out well. It depends on how the players that are there at 22 are graded value -wise by Mr Hoodie. Wouldn't surprise me with 3 second round picks.

Actually helps our defense if we can get back to running the ball and picking up some more first downs on the ground, keeps defense off the field.

Box, add something more meaningful. We know your capable.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

In your fantasy life maybe.

Isn't everything on this forum basically fantasy? And why would Iupati be a fantasy pick? The Patriots have made a surprising pick of a guard in the first round before and that worked out pretty well.

The issue of course is that there are more pressing needs than guard...

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Interestingly enough Iupati wants to play a 2-gap position on the defensive line! He did a bit of that in college but obviously you would not draft him for that....

 

[mgteich]

I suppose you also wouldn't be surprised if we draft Suh in the second, or perhaps even in the first. All are entitled to their fantasies.

Mankins was drafted at 32 when we needed a starting guard. Why would we draft Iupati at 22 when we don't need a starting OG until 2011? If you are suggesting that we might be able to trade DOWN for Iupati, then think again. Iupati will very likely get drafted in the teens where several teams are interested and where he is currently projected by the mocks. A p[layer could always fall from where is projected; however that is usually a sign of an issue about which then fans have little knowledge.

BTW, if we were to draft an interior lineman, I would think Pouncey is the most likely, since he could start at RG, LG or C. He could fill in at any of these positions as the 2010 Game Day backup, and could start where needed in 2011.

I know you guys don't want to hear it, but this guy has to be on the Patriots radar. I would not be shocked if they took him in the second (or even the first!).

He is the Samoan equivalent of Mr. Incredible. Apparently he manhandled Jared Odrick in the Senior Bowl drills. He would be a road grader that could fill in for Mankins or Neal when/if they leave the team next year. [Intrerestingly enough was discovered at a barbecue by an Idaho assistant coach.] How would a defense like to see this moose lined up next to Vollmer?

http://media.thenewstribune.com/smedia/2010/02/26/15/IUPATI.highlight.prod_affiliate.5.JPG

 

[bbell31]

I suppose you also wouldn't be surprised if we draft Suh in the second, or perhaps even in the first. All are entitled to their fantasies.

Mankins was drafted at 32 when we needed a starting guard. Why would we draft Iupati at 22 when we don't need a starting OG until 2011? If you are suggesting that we might be able to trade DOWN for Iupati, then think again. Iupati will very likely get drafted in the teens where several teams are interested and where he is currently projected by the mocks. A p[layer could always fall from where is projected; however that is usually a sign of an issue about which then fans have little knowledge.

BTW, if we were to draft an interior lineman, I would think Pouncey is the most likely, since he could start at RG, LG or C. He could fill in at any of these positions as the 2010 Game Day backup, and could start where needed in 2011.

nice points and the more i think about it, the only way id draft an oline at 22 is if one of the top 4 ot's fell to us, then we could replace light and kaczur eventually

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Isn't everything on this forum basically fantasy? And why would Iupati be a fantasy pick? The Patriots have made a surprising pick of a guard in the first round before and that worked out pretty well.

The issue of course is that there are more pressing needs than guard...

Some fantasies here are more lurid than others.

As to why not Iupati? He's not a technician, when you look at who the Belichick Patriots have drafted in the first three rounds, they all came into this league playing technically sound football.

Mankins is the highest OL drafted - NFL Draft Scout bio: "...plays with an almost perfect base and pad level."

Kaczur - NFL Draft SCout bio: "Few linemen in college can boast the technique, awareness and tireless work ethic that Nick displays."

Vollmer was coached by the same line coach as Kaczur.

Light and Klemm have no data on their NFLDS bio pages, but it's hard to imagine Coach Scarnecchia letting anyone start as a rookie who couldn't do it the way he taught it.

The one OL in this draft whom we arguably should be looking at is Jon Asamoah, Kaczur/Vollmer's OL coach coached him this year.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I suppose you also wouldn't be surprised if we draft Suh in the second, or perhaps even in the first.

That's ridiculous and not a fair comparison. I have seen a number of mocks in which Iupati goes at 16-20 or so he could be in range. He did not do as well at tackle as at guard in the Senior Bowl pass blocking drills which has dropped him out of the top ten. Remember that there are sometimes "runs" on certain positions that shuffles the board. There could be a run at DT or OT this year.

Like I said, it is not likely, but BB has made strange first picks before. Everyone talks about the obvious choice of Odrick; why can't I discuss some more unusual scenarios?

Iupati is a beast who would look really really good next to Vollmer. That would be a serious pair of road graders and the running game would definitely benefit. Of course a pass rusher would be the top priority but if the value is not there and Iupati still is...

 

[BritPat]

That's ridiculous and not a fair comparison. I have seen a number of mocks in which Iupati goes at 16-20 or so he could be in range. He did not do as well at tackle as at guard in the Senior Bowl pass blocking drills which has dropped him out of the top ten. Remember that there are sometimes "runs" on certain positions that shuffles the board. There could be a run at DT or OT this year.

Like I said, it is not likely, but BB has made strange first picks before. Everyone talks about the obvious choice of Odrick; why can't I discuss some more unusual scenarios?

Iupati is a beast who would look really really good next to Vollmer. That would be a serious pair of road graders and the running game would definitely benefit. Of course a pass rusher would be the top priority but if the value is not there and Iupati still is...

Vollmer isn't a road grader though. Just because he's 6'8", it doesn't automatically mean he's a huge, Dallas-type power blocker. He has superb footwork and terrific technique, like every other Pats O-lineman.

Check out Box's post above - our guys must be excellent technicians, and they all have a lot of mobility. Iupati is mobile, but he's also raw and his hands are awful.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Vollmer isn't a road grader though. Just because he's 6'8", it doesn't automatically mean he's a huge, Dallas-type power blocker. He has superb footwork and terrific technique, like every other Pats O-lineman.

Check out Box's post above - our guys must be excellent technicians, and they all have a lot of mobility. Iupati is mobile, but he's also raw and his hands are awful.

Yup, NE use a blend of zone and man blocking and doesn't seek to dominate with brute force, Matt Light's dancing with lizards was more accurate then people think.

Another thing to note, out of the Belichick era NE OL for whom I can find Combine or Pro-Day data, Tom Ashworth's 4.87 is the poorest short shuttle score. Of the current NE OL, Kaczur's 4.76 is the poorest. By comparison: Light 4.49. Mankins 4.45, Koppen 4.56, Connolly 4.54, Vollmer 4.50...Iupati 4.93. The short shuttle measures a players ability to change direction and to accelerate, which is why Mankins can be set-up inside one moment, and the next you see him headed back for a collision with an edge rusher who beat Light to the corner. Neal's ss must be pretty good too the way he moves on the field.

 

[jefmblrd]

Very interesting breakdown Box-thanks.

 

[BritPat]

Yup, NE use a blend of zone and man blocking and doesn't seek to dominate with brute force, Matt Light's dancing with lizards was more accurate then people think.

Another thing to note, out of the Belichick era NE OL for whom I can find Combine or Pro-Day data, Tom Ashworth's 4.87 is the poorest short shuttle score. Of the current NE OL, Kaczur's 4.76 is the poorest. By comparison: Light 4.49. Mankins 4.45, Koppen 4.56, Connolly 4.54, Vollmer 4.50...Iupati 4.93. The short shuttle measures a players ability to change direction and to accelerate, which is why Mankins can be set-up inside one moment, and the next you see him headed back for a collision with an edge rusher who beat Light to the corner. Neal's ss must be pretty good too the way he moves on the field.

Now that is very interesting, cheers mate, you learn something new every day.

Just as an aside then, at the Combine Jared Veldheer put up a 4.51 in the short shuttle, as did Shawn Lauvao. Marshall Newhouse (who I've been screaming to see drafted and played at Guard) managed a 4.60. I'll see if I can find a few more.

 

[BritPat]

Taking Box's SS times into consideration, when looking at NFL Draft Scout for this year, the number I find most interesting is Matt Tennant's 4.62 - we've had massive interest in him already (he's met the TCR in our pre-draft contacts list, and I figure he'll be brought in for a visit).

 

[BritPat]

Box, sorry to pester, but would you fancy doing some digging with regards to the WR's?

I'm looking at some very interesting times for the various drills at the Combine, and a couple of players really stand out.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Box, sorry to pester, but would you fancy doing some digging with regards to the WR's?

I'm looking at some very interesting times for the various drills at the Combine, and a couple of players really stand out.

What's on your mind?

 

[BritPat]

What's on your mind?

Short shuttle and the 3 cone time primarily - we know we like our WR's to be squirmy little so and so's with outstanding quick twitch, and it seems this Draft is chock full of them, a couple of whom I have real Draft-lust over.

 

[ayjackson]

Short shuttle and the 3 cone time primarily - we know we like our WR's to be squirmy little so and so's with outstanding quick twitch, and it seems this Draft is chock full of them, a couple of whom I have real Draft-lust over.

there's a thread around somewhere where we compared Tate's, Gilyard's and Roberts' numbers to Welker and Edelman. At least I think it was in the draft forum.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Short shuttle and the 3 cone time primarily - we know we like our WR's to be squirmy little so and so's with outstanding quick twitch, and it seems this Draft is chock full of them, a couple of whom I have real Draft-lust over.

SS: NFL Draft - 2010_WR Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

3-cone: NFL Draft - 2010_WR Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

These are Combine times, some have improved in them at their Pro-Days. For example Gilyard ran 4.06 and 6.71 at his Pro-Day.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Yup, NE use a blend of zone and man blocking and doesn't seek to dominate with brute force, Matt Light's dancing with lizards was more accurate then people think.

Hey Box,

Interesting post as usual. I wonder if the Patriots would use brute force if they had the horses?
In other words, do you think that this finesse stuff is because they don't have the brutes or it is just considered more effective?

I am old school and enjoy watching the John Hanna types annihilating guys, but maybe this style of football is obsolete. I can see one area where the monsters are needed inside, and that is to negate the nose tackle.

I have an interesting John Hanna story from training camp at Bryant but I that is ancient history now.