Is This Where We Finally See Jake Bequette On The Field?

[Claremonster]

Where the heck was he hiding at?

Patriots 3rd Round Selection Jake Bequette May Be Steal of the Draft | Bleacher Report

 

[Sciz]

Probably not. He's still behind Scott and Francis, making him no better than 4th on the depth chart at DE even if we assume Jones is out (which we don't know yet).

 

[Bhelmet]

I do not get all the clamor for Bequette. As a Razorback resident and avid fan - he is WAY overrated. He showed up in 1 or 2 BIG games his entire career. When needed most he usually disappeared. He is a high character kid and will work hard, but he is not very talented. I never understood the hype he got during the draft - I never saw it on the field. There is a reason this kid has not seen the field. He has had plenty of time to show something, but he hasn't in practice (or he'd be on the field) and he will not during a game. If we have to rely on Bequette - we will take a step back.

 

[Claremonster]

I do not get all the clamor for Bequette. As a Razorback native and avid fan - he is WAY overrated. He showed up in 1 or 2 BIG games his entire career. When needed most he usually disappeared. He is a high character kid and will work hard, but he is not very talented. I never understood the hype he got during the draft - I never saw it on the field. There is a reason this kid has not seen the field. He has had plenty of time to show something, but he hasn't in practice (or he'd be on the field) and he will not during a game. If we have to rely on Bequette - we will take a step back.

Sounds similar to Cunningham then?

 

[jah]

If he's this far down the depth chart, we probably don't want to see him on the field.

 

[Bhelmet]

Sounds similar to Cunningham then?

If someone can teach him some technique - maybe in 3 years he will be Cunningham. All he did at Arkansas was run around people - when engaged, he never got close to the QB.

 

[Claremonster]

If he's this far down the depth chart, we probably don't want to see him on the field.

I'm just curious to see why he is MIA. Why was he even drafted that high then?

Oh wait, he just needs moar time to figgur $h!t out. I remember now...

 

[Sciz]

I'm just curious to see why he is MIA. Why was he even drafted that high then?

Oh wait, he just needs moar time to figgur $h!t out. I remember now...

He was a late third round pick in a draft that Belichick apparently decided only had about 50 decent players in it. That's not exactly a high pick.

 

[manxman2601]

I'm just curious to see why he is MIA. Why was he even drafted that high then?

Oh wait, he just needs moar time to figgur $h!t out. I remember now...

He was a late third round pick in a draft that Belichick apparently decided only had about 50 decent players in it. That's not exactly a high pick.

Had a nice combine. Just about the best of the DE's:

20 Yard Shuttle 4.07 seconds
3 Cone Drill 6.9 seconds
40 Yard Dash 4.78 seconds
Broad Jump 113.0"
Vertical Jump 34.0"

 

[mayoclinic]

If someone can teach him some technique - maybe in 3 years he will be Cunningham. All he did at Arkansas was run around people - when engaged, he never got close to the QB.

I didn't watch Bequette that much in college and you obviously did, so I can't argue based on personal observation. But I would be very surprised to see BB take a player such as you describe. The Pats probably prize the ability to take on linemen and hand technique more than most teams - as evidenced in the Chandler Jones pick - and it would surprise me to see them take a player whose films showed that "all he did was run around people - when engaged, he never got close to the QB". It just doesn't sound right to me. But again, I can't argue based on personal observation.

But my guess is that Bequette is nowhere near ready to contribute in a significant way, and that the team is using this year to develop his technique and get him stronger, and perhaps bigger. That's a pattern they've followed before, though not always with success (Shawn Crable, Markell Carter). Guys develop at different rates, and just because he's not ready to contribute as a rookie doesn't make him a bust. But the fact that he's been buried so deeply on the depth chart doesn't bode well for making an immediate impact.

 

[Bhelmet]

I didn't watch Bequette that much in college and you obviously did, so I can't argue based on personal observation. But I would be very surprised to see BB take a player such as you describe. The Pats probably prize the ability to take on linemen and hand technique more than most teams - as evidenced in the Chandler Jones pick - and it would surprise me to see them take a player whose films showed that "all he did was run around people - when engaged, he never got close to the QB". It just doesn't sound right to me. But again, I can't argue based on personal observation.

But my guess is that Bequette is nowhere near ready to contribute in a significant way, and that the team is using this year to develop his technique and get him stronger, and perhaps bigger. That's a pattern they've followed before, though not always with success (Shawn Crable, Markell Carter). Guys develop at different rates, and just because he's not ready to contribute as a rookie doesn't make him a bust. But the fact that he's been buried so deeply on the depth chart doesn't bode well for making an immediate impact.

As posted earlier - he had a good 3-cone drill time (we know how BB loves that) and he is a high character kid who does work hard. I think that was enough to give him a look in NE (that and a weak draft class). Bequette came in really big for his position and there was talk early on about him losing 10 lbs to increase his quickness. He is going to have to learn some technique - he is the type of kid who will put in the work, but it is a wait-and-see situation.

 

[mayoclinic]

As posted earlier - he had a good 3-cone drill time (we know how BB loves that) and he is a high character kid who does work hard. I think that was enough to give him a look in NE (that and a weak draft class). Bequette came in really big for his position and there was talk early on about him losing 10 lbs to increase his quickness. He is going to have to learn some technique - he is the type of kid who will put in the work, but it is a wait-and-see situation.

I can understand the Pats taking a late 3rd gamble on a kid they thought had the size, measurables, work ethic and upside to develop into a potential starter at DE, and who needed a year to get stronger and work on his technique. That makes sense to me, and, as I mentioned above, I'm not counting on Bequette for much of anything this year. OTOH, your assessment of him earlier in this thread seemed much harsher and suggested a much longer developmetnal timeframe was needed. I can't see the Pats being that patient, and with 4 year contracts, most teams aren't interested in developing a prospect so that someone else can pick him up.

The Pats have shown with guys like Crable and Taylor Price (obviously a WR, so slightly different situation) that they're willing to be patient for a year or so. But not indefinitely.

 

[manxman2601]

As posted earlier - he had a good 3-cone drill time (we know how BB loves that) and he is a high character kid who does work hard. I think that was enough to give him a look in NE (that and a weak draft class). Bequette came in really big for his position and there was talk early on about him losing 10 lbs to increase his quickness. He is going to have to learn some technique - he is the type of kid who will put in the work, but it is a wait-and-see situation.

I can understand the Pats taking a late 3rd gamble on a kid they thought had the size, measurables, work ethic and upside to develop into a potential starter at DE, and who needed a year to get stronger and work on his technique. That makes sense to me, and, as I mentioned above, I'm not counting on Bequette for much of anything this year. OTOH, your assessment of him earlier in this thread seemed much harsher and suggested a much longer developmetnal timeframe was needed. I can't see the Pats being that patient, and with 4 year contracts, most teams aren't interested in developing a prospect so that someone else can pick him up.

The Pats have shown with guys like Crable and Taylor Price (obviously a WR, so slightly different situation) that they're willing to be patient for a year or so. But not indefinitely.

Just think of our picks last year. Tavon Wilson in the second, a rugby player, a slow WR and a cop punching faller. I think our board was so small last year that once BB got Tavon Wilson, he didn't really want anything after that. Just took what was there. Hence Bequette.

 

[Bhelmet]

I agree, Mayo, but I have no idea how long it will take for him to develop. Bequette has good speed and quickness - good building blocks - to go along with an excellent work ethic. If I had some film, I could show you how raw he is/was (Petrino was no D specialist and he never hired one either). I am certain Jake will work harder than most to improve his game - I just have no idea whether it will be a one, two, or three year project. He was a non-factor in most of Arkansas' biggest games (LSU, Alabama, Auburn, etc.), so that was my biggest problem with the kid. Big OL kept him in check and he struggled. He did not have moves like Freeney or power like Reggie White. He would just try to run around guys and did little when trying to run through them. Hopefully, someone in the organization is teaching him some moves b/c he will work on it.

 

[mayoclinic]

Just think of our picks last year. Tavon Wilson in the second, a rugby player, a slow WR and a cop punching faller. I think our board was so small last year that once BB got Tavon Wilson, he didn't really want anything after that. Just took what was there. Hence Bequette.

But we got Alfonzo Dennard, who actually could end up being the steal of the draft.

The Pats' 2000 draft was pretty sucky. But there was this 6th round QB that they picked up ...

 

[manxman2601]

But we got Alfonzo Dennard, who actually could end up being the steal of the draft.

The Pats' 2000 draft was pretty sucky. But there was this 6th round QB that they picked up ...

I agree on Dennard but I don't think they went in there thinking they wanted him. Looking at what they did, I'm pretty sure BB was done target wise after the Wilson pick. Anything else was incidental.

On Brady, there's lot's of talk that Brady was targeted so I don't think it's the same thing.

 

[nabwong]

I agree on Dennard but I don't think they went in there thinking they wanted him. Looking at what they did, I'm pretty sure BB was done target wise after the Wilson pick. Anything else was incidental.

On Brady, there's lot's of talk that Brady was targeted so I don't think it's the same thing.

Don't think Brady was targeted at all. They had 3 QBs and only took Brady because of value. Much like Dennard.

 

[mayoclinic]

I agree, Mayo, but I have no idea how long it will take for him to develop. Bequette has good speed and quickness - good building blocks - to go along with an excellent work ethic. If I had some film, I could show you how raw he is/was (Petrino was no D specialist and he never hired one either). I am certain Jake will work harder than most to improve his game - I just have no idea whether it will be a one, two, or three year project. He was a non-factor in most of Arkansas' biggest games (LSU, Alabama, Auburn, etc.), so that was my biggest problem with the kid. Big OL kept him in check and he struggled. He did not have moves like Freeney or power like Reggie White. He would just try to run around guys and did little when trying to run through them. Hopefully, someone in the organization is teaching him some moves b/c he will work on it.

I'm not disagreeing with you - I haven't seen enough of the kid to form an opinion. The Pats have miscalculated before - Shawn Crable comes to mind. Jeremy Mincey is another guy, who ended up doing well but took too long to develop. Recent history suggests that guys who don't get on the field in their first year generally don't do well in the long term.

 

[Bhelmet]

I'm not disagreeing with you - I haven't seen enough of the kid to form an opinion. The Pats have miscalculated before - Shawn Crable comes to mind. Jeremy Mincey is another guy, who ended up doing well but took too long to develop. Recent history suggests that guys who don't get on the field in their first year generally don't do well in the long term.

I hear ya. I never had high hopes for him, but I would like to be wrong.

 

[manxman2601]

Don't think Brady was targeted at all. They had 3 QBs and only took Brady because of value. Much like Dennard.

Can't remember the exact story but didn't Belichick tell a scout or coach to have a good look at Brady? Maybe targeted is too strong but there was certainly pre-draft interest.