LaFell, one of better blockers in 26 years

[JR4]

Didn't see this posted so:

Panther's Coach says of LaFell:
- consistent player
- catches in traffic
- one of better blockers seen in 26 years
- can play outside, inside, slot, the X, the Z, the F the W and he can block
- will learn every position

sounds like Lafell has La Brains

Panthers' Rivera praises LaFell's consistency | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

 

[Sicilian]

I feel like we have a decent track record of getting players that have given the Pats troubles in recent games against them. BB seems to be able to evaluate those players pretty well, so I'm confident he'll be a decent contributor here. He won't be a 1000 yard or 90 catch type guy, but he should be a solid #2 or 3 WR, who provides value in the running game as well. I like that.

 

[oldrover]

Didn't see this posted so:

Panther's Coach says of LaFell:
- consistent player
- catches in traffic
- one of better blockers seen in 26 years
- can play outside, inside, slot, the X, the Z, the F the W and he can block
- will learn every position

sounds like Lafell has La Brains

The question is does he have La Hands.

 

[Froob]

The question is does he have La Hands.

Supposedly he has awful hands. If he can come up small in big games too he'll be a perfect fit

 

[kennyb]

Didn't see this posted so:

Panther's Coach says of LaFell:
- consistent player
- catches in traffic
- one of better blockers seen in 26 years
- can play outside, inside, slot, the X, the Z, the F the W and he can block
- will learn every position

sounds like Lafell has La Brains

Panthers' Rivera praises LaFell's consistency | Comcast SportsNet - CSNNE.com

So why did they let him la-leave?

 

[Sicilian]

Supposedly he has awful hands. If he can come up small in big games too he'll be a perfect fit

I have a hard time judging his hands based on anecdotes from other fans. His drop numbers (which aren't much better as an indicator) put him in the middle of the pack I believe. Just look at Welker's drop in the Super Bowl... fans are still split on whether that was a "drop" or a tough catch he failed to bring in. It's so subjective, that Panther fans bringing it up as as negative for a player that just left their team (always the best time to ask a fan for an objective evaluation), seems dubious to me.

 

[JMC00]

So why did they let him la-leave?

Ever think they wanted to keep LaFell but he chose the Pats instead?

Also the Panthers were working with minimal money. They signed Roman Harper and Jericho Cotchrey (their only signings) to minimal deals and have about the same amount of money as Pats in cap space.

 

[strngplyr]

So why did they let him la-leave?

Had you opened the article, literally the first thing written says:

After Ron Rivera dropped two minutes worth of Brandon LaFell praise on me, I asked the Panthers coach the obvious question.

“Why doesn’t LaFell play for you anymore?”

“It’s all about the financial structure and the way things are,” said Rivera, who coached LaFell for the past three years. “That’s just the way it is, unfortunately.”

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Would read so much better if it had read, "LaFell, one of better receivers or route runners in 26 years"

 

[Ivan]

A friend of mine believes they brought him in to run some on the routes and plays Hernandez used to run for them, and if he can do that then they could ofset that loss with Vereen and Lafell running many of the plays they used to run with Hernandez. I never thought of the signing in that way but it is an interesting idea imo.

 

[AzPatsFan]

A friend of mine believes they brought him in to run some on the routes and plays Hernandez used to run for them, and if he can do that then they could ofset that loss with Vereen and Lafell running many of the plays they used to run with Hernandez. I never thought of the signing in that way but it is an interesting idea imo.

Ivan,

Right On.

As soon as I heard about the deal, and discovered his size, and the routes he was forced to run, (Smith wouldn't, and Ginn couldn't!), I thought of the 'H-Back routes' that constituted a large portion of Hernandez' routes, that no one could replace after APerp's arrest.

Hernandez was 6-1 and 240-245#. He was NOT an inline blocking TE, in any shape or fashion. For an outside WR, APerp was a good blocker, on the move.

Lafell duplicates Hernandez ability on 'H-back routes', and offers an alternative as a backup for Dobson's horizontal 'X' routes too.

Everyone forgets that the object that Hernandez provided was pass catching ability and size in the slot; and occasional horizontal ability to open the field. Lafell does both, perhaps not quite well; but we ARE discussing backups and reserves.

The star TE, was and is, Gronk. Hoomanawanui is the backup in-line blocking TE, to Gronk, already there, to provide 2TE, 3rd and 1 blocking.

It's like taking a test and after you see the answers, you understand what Bill Belechick set out to accomplish, and did, with LaFell.

Bill has cleared the decks to be free to go after his real wants and needs.

I suspect that is... LINEMEN.

 

[Kdo5]

I find it hard to believe that he is some greater player than in Carolina but hopefully w/Brady he can do a lot more. Caldwell caught near 70 balls w/TB throwing to him.

 

[unoriginal]

I like the idea of LaFell as a Hernandez replacement, and a lot of the measurables are similar, such as high and arm length, and even 40 times.

However, LaFell measured 30 pounds lighter at the combine and benched 225 lbs. 11 times, versus Hernandez's 30. 11 isn't even that good for a wide receiver. So while he may be able to hustle CBs about, it seems unlikely he'll be able to block anybody in the box.

LaFell is being touted as an excellent blocking receiver and a lot of people are therefore likely thinking "maybe he'd be an okay-blocking H-back." But if Hernandez was not a very credible wing blocker, LaFell certainly won't be.

 

[Deus Irae]

I find it hard to believe that he is some greater player than in Carolina but hopefully w/Brady he can do a lot more. Caldwell caught near 70 balls w/TB throwing to him.

LaFell took heat for daring to point out that his former QB is not yet at HOF level, but he wasn't lying. Brady throws just about as accurately as any QB has ever thrown. If LaFell can either get open, or get position (after proving he can outfight defenders), he'll get plenty of passes thrown his way.


Then we'll find out about his suspect hands.

 

[strngplyr]

I like the idea of LaFell as a Hernandez replacement, and a lot of the measurables are similar, such as high and arm length, and even 40 times.

However, LaFell measured 30 pounds lighter at the combine and benched 225 lbs. 11 times, versus Hernandez's 30. 11 isn't even that good for a wide receiver. So while he may be able to hustle CBs about, it seems unlikely he'll be able to block anybody in the box.

LaFell is being touted as an excellent blocking receiver and a lot of people are therefore likely thinking "maybe he'd be an okay-blocking H-back." But if Hernandez was not a very credible wing blocker, LaFell certainly won't be.

The Bench press literally means nothing when it comes to what you're talking about.

Blocking is about lower body strength, technique, and leverage.

 

[AzPatsFan]

The Bench press literally means nothing when it comes to what you're talking about.

Blocking is about lower body strength, technique, and leverage.

Most of all, Willingness and Attitude.

 

[unoriginal]

The Bench press literally means nothing when it comes to what you're talking about.

Blocking is about lower body strength, technique, and leverage.

Bench press means a lot. You get movement from your lower body, but you control the defender with your upper body.

Without upper body strength, you can't "punch" and dominate, nor will you be able to fight against any moves or even keep your arms in contact. Defenders will be able to get into you and at that point you lose the leverage and position battle.

When you evaluate offensive tackles in particular, arm length and arm strength are really, really important. Much of that is pass blocking, of course, where control is more important than drive, but if you are physically incapable of control with your upper body, it doesn't matter how many squats you can do.

I'd love for LaFell to replace Hernandez. The measurables suggest he won't be able to play on either the wing or in the backfield.

 

[strngplyr]

Bench press means a lot. You get movement from your lower body, but you control the defender with your upper body.

Without upper body strength, you can't "punch" and dominate, nor will you be able to fight against any moves or even keep your arms in contact. Defenders will be able to get into you and at that point you lose the leverage and position battle.

When you evaluate offensive tackles in particular, arm length and arm strength are really, really important. Much of that is pass blocking, of course, where control is more important than drive, but if you are physically incapable of control with your upper body, it doesn't matter how many squats you can do.

I'd love for LaFell to replace Hernandez. The measurables suggest he won't be able to play on either the wing or in the backfield.

Nearly all of the power in your body comes from your core and legs. You can have noodle arms and push people around with a strong core and legs.

Blocking someone downfield as a receiver and fighting off a defensive linemen are two entirely different things.

The goal is the same, the method you use to do each one is different. Linemen "punch" each other and use arm length to control, a receiver needs to use his body to block a DB and move them.

You're not allowed to wrap them up to do so, you generate all of your burst and power from your lower body and control from your mid section.

 

[Fixit]

Sooooo, his former coach says that he's one of the better blockers he's ever seen, but that's apparently impossible due to his bench press reps from four years ago and the fact that Hernandez sucked at blocking. Got it.

 

[strngplyr]

Sooooo, his former coach says that he's one of the better blockers he's ever seen, but that's apparently impossible due to his bench press reps from four years ago and that Hernandez sucked at blocking. Got it.

Clearly the Bench Press is the be-all end-all of blocking. We pretty much confirmed it.