Justin Francis

[Get it shawtaay]

Most of the time, when a young player steps in and exceeds expectations, we see it coming.

Dennard was one of the best corners in D1 football. Jones was a hot commodity on draft day, with athletic bloodlines and arms like vines. Deaderick was always seen as a guy with some NFL potential because of his prototypical 5-tech body. Sterling Moore? Raiders fans thought he was the best corner at their camp, so we knew he had ball skills. Woodhead is a D2 god, won the D2 Heisman equivalent twice. Bolden was one of the best backs in the SEC and scouts were buzzing about him in 2010. There was something about all these players that got us legitimately excited.

Justin Francis? Average looking tackle/end tweener with mediocre production from a Big East school, who looked terrible in the 4 preseason games. Lousy pro day numbers. Yet in every game he's played, he's racked up a couple of QB hits and pushed the pocket, with 3 sacks to show for it. No undrafted defensive player has made the same impact as he has this season.

Shout out to the Pats scouting department for finding this kid.:rocker:

 

[Get it shawtaay]

I stand corrected on the "no UDFA" part. Vontaze Burfict has had a very productive season as the starting WLB for Cincy. Francis is still the man though.

 

[Sicilian]

I remember there being some buzz in training camp reports about him. Lots of writers said he looked good in practice, it just never really translated on the field in the preseason games. Outside of that you're right, we really heard nothing about this kid after training camp until he started filling in for injuries late in the year.

 

[BradyFTW!]

People have been gushing about how excellent he is since training camp, so he must have shown quite a bit pretty early. Also can't hurt that he's a Rutgers guy. Can't help but get the sense that Belichick is a big fan of Schiano's coaching, between Francis, McCourty, Silvestro, and Underwood.

 

[Double TE]

Justin Francis
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-2
School: Rutgers
Weight: 270
Age: 23
Projected Round: 7th-UDFA


Pros: Very high motor and will make hustle plays. Has been described by many as an emotional leader. Many called Francis the best and most explosive defensive lineman at the Shrine Game. Has long arms and a strong first step off the line.

Cons: Was arrested in 2008. Bit of a tweener that played defensive tackle in college. Will have to find a position. Not a dynamic edge rusher and limited against the run. Needs to win his first step or he can be overpowered.

 

[IllegalContact]

bruschi played some DT in college, too

Justin Francis
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-2
School: Rutgers
Weight: 270
Age: 23
Projected Round: 7th-UDFA


Pros: Very high motor and will make hustle plays. Has been described by many as an emotional leader. Many called Francis the best and most explosive defensive lineman at the Shrine Game. Has long arms and a strong first step off the line.

Cons: Was arrested in 2008. Bit of a tweener that played defensive tackle in college. Will have to find a position. Not a dynamic edge rusher and limited against the run. Needs to win his first step or he can be overpowered.

 

[RayClay]

NFL.com has him at 6'4". did he grow two inches since the combine? (I think he looks closer to the latter anyway).

 

[ATippett56]

WalterFootball.com: 2012 NFL Draft: Defensive End Rankings

Justin Francis, DE, Rutgers
Height: 6-2. Weight: 268.
Projected 40 Time: 4.81.
Bench: 23.
Vertical: 32. Broad: 9-1.
Arm: 33 7/8. Hand: 10 1/8.
Projected Round (2012): 5-7.

4/26/12: Francis did not stand out at the Combine, but had a strong senior season with 64 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss and five passes batted. He played well at the East-West Shrine. As a junior, Francis had 21 tackles and two sacks after producing 14 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore.

 

[ATippett56]

Justin Francis | Rutgers, DE : 2012 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

 

[JJDChE]

He must've "trained" with Bolden in the offseason. I hear he has a really good doct...ummm..."trainer".

 

[TFB*]

People have been gushing about how excellent he is since training camp, so he must have shown quite a bit pretty early. Also can't hurt that he's a Rutgers guy. Can't help but get the sense that Belichick is a big fan of Schiano's coaching, between Francis, McCourty, Silvestro, and Underwood.

Speaking of the Rutgers connection, I would love to look at Logan Ryan in the late 2nd/ early 3rd.

Khaseem Green looks like a stud too... not sure hes not we need in a backer though.

 

[Bman12]

Justin Franics was always pretty decent in my eyes.

 

[patfanken]

I stand corrected on the "no UDFA" part. Vontaze Burfict has had a very productive season as the starting WLB for Cincy. Francis is still the man though.

Burfict is obviously the UDFA player of the year. But, as usual, we did pretty good with our 2 guys, Bolden and Francis.

 

[The Gr8est]

Burfict is obviously the UDFA player of the year. But, as usual, we did pretty good with our 2 guys, Bolden and Francis.

I wonder if Burflict would have done well if he had been drafted high as he was originally projected before the bowl games.

I'm sure his coaches tried to reign in his free-lancing and undisciplined tendencies, but going from probable high pick to undrafted may have been just the wakeup call he needed.

 

[patfanken]

Just to put the brakes on for a second. I love the production we've gotten out of Justin Francis, but 3 sacks in the last game, against a back up RT, on a generally bad OL, isn't something we should get TOO excited about. Justin Francis is very unlikely to become an impact rusher in this league.

But what he CAN do is become a solid situational/Depth guy, who has a great motor, plays special teams, and is dependable and accountable. In other words, the solid bottom third of the roster guy that has made the Pats the kind of team that can compete consistently year after year. And there is nothing wrong with THAT!

 

[Sciz]

Gosh, I can't believe nobody has accused Belichick of cheating. Surely having a son on a football team and then signing one of his friends as an UDFA can't be legal

 

[patsinthesnow]

Tweener is the best way to describe him. On the field he looks like a fat DE or a skinny DT.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Just to put the brakes on for a second. I love the production we've gotten out of Justin Francis, but 3 sacks in the last game, against a back up RT, on a generally bad OL, isn't something we should get TOO excited about. Justin Francis is very unlikely to become an impact rusher in this league.

But what he CAN do is become a solid situational/Depth guy, who has a great motor, plays special teams, and is dependable and accountable. In other words, the solid bottom third of the roster guy that has made the Pats the kind of team that can compete consistently year after year. And there is nothing wrong with THAT!

Pretty much the kind of player that Schiano was known for producing at Rutgers. That's exactly what we should hope for from Francis, and if he becomes more than that, then that's gravy.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Speaking of the Rutgers connection, I would love to look at Logan Ryan in the late 2nd/ early 3rd.

Khaseem Green looks like a stud too... not sure hes not we need in a backer though.

If Ryan's available in the 3rd, I'd think that the Pats would pretty much have to take him. That would be a great combination of value and need at that spot. Especially if Talib walks, but the Pats need at least one more corner even if he doesn't (regardless of what happens with Arrington), since Dowling can't really be counted on at this point.

Realistically, though, I think the Pats would have to take him in the 2nd if they want him.

 

[The Gr8est]

Gosh, I can't believe nobody has accused Belichick of cheating. Surely having a son on a football team and then signing one of his friends as an UDFA can't be legal

It's assumed.