Tom Zbikowski had better agility than I had expected.

[sebman2112]

His forty time was expected to be somewhat good (he's supposed to have straight like speed), but I didn't think he'd time quite that fast (4.52 forty). But, as I just eluded, it was actually his footwork and fluidness that somewhat surprised me. He got in and out of his cuts well, maintained good balance, kept his feet moving, and showed off his strong ball skills. I will say he had already proven his ball skills through his career at ND, but it was the complete package that I hadn't fully expected. A few different people have said he tried to make up for the mistakes of the porous defenders around him, which effected his ability to shine and opened him up to more mistakes in coverage. I now wonder if that line of thinking is correct, and if playing on a top level team with strong coaching would correct those issues?

Previously I had said Tom was a fourth round talent, but I'm now thinking he could go in the third round.

Honestly this was an overall impressive class of DB's today, and a number of them should make good pros. I'm actually really happy to have seen these performances, because they confirmed some of my beliefs. If you need a CB, this is the year to snag one.

This years crop of Safeties isn't very strong at the top (Only Kenny Phillips has any business of going in the first round), but I think there should be a number of good late second to third round prospects at the position, and I think the Patriots might be interested in a Safety somewhere in the third/fourth.

 

[JoePats]

I I've heard Charlie Weis rave about Zbikowski. He definately has that "football player" mentaility a la Jacob Hester on offense. Zbik is a boxer too.

Seb what do you think of Adams, the safety from Michigan?

 

[Patdown93]

Zbikowski looks so focused and intense all throughout the combine. He looks like he could take someone's head off.

 

[BritPat]

Zbikowski looks so focused and intense all throughout the combine. He looks like he could take someone's head off.

Rodney-lite?

 

[ayjackson]

He seems to fit our new image of the "new-millenium Raiders". This dude seems dark, dark, dark. I mean, Rodney smiles every once and a while - even on the field.

 

[mike100915]

I can't stress it enough how much I want him on the Patriots. He's the fits our model to a T. This guy is who hell of a player, and one tough customer as well. He's the one guy whom I want the Patriots to defintely draft.

 

[Crazyeechrispats1]

Completely agree it is possible as some other posters suggested, he had a bad year because he had to make up for the lack of execution of the rest of the secondary.
The guy has a mean streak and being a boxer has excellent footwork and quickness.
Which sparring myself when I use to play high school ball even I believe helps develop certain skills, such as not falling for a fake move and getting a good break and I'm sure he studies angles very well being that is the difference between you or the other fighter being knocked out.

Would accept him with oaklands third rounder, but if that oakland third rounder can be used to secure a trade up to get groves after we draft DRC I could accept him slipping away.

On the flipside could you just imagine how athletic and head hunting our safeties would be with Merriweather and Zbrowski out there just lighting receivers up like Eugene used to?
Man i'm really torn damn goodell for taking our pick away!

 

[PatsFanJess]

Zbikowski looks so focused and intense all throughout the combine. He looks like he could take someone's head off.

Yeah, isnt this the guy who told the spotter to move bf bench press??? haha. He's hard core and someone I def. want playing for the Pats. I'm very impressed.

 

[Afterlifemobile-86]

His Sporter told him "come on now Rudy" and he responded DURING his lift "Don't Ever Call Me That Again." :rocker: I want him in a Silver flying Elvis helmet....

 

[Tommysgirl]

I'm afraid to post about him, but I'm biting the bullet. I've been in love with him and Jamie Silva for a couple of years and would love to see either here. Every week I watch them play and see them in Pats unis.

Now, since I said it, they'll go to the Jets.

 

[Crazyeechrispats1]

BLASPHEMY!
IF Z is not a Patriot, that's just not American!

 

[VJCPatriot]

Is this guy a safety? 4.52 sounds slow for a corner, but would be pretty decent speed for a safety.

 

[patsfaninpa]

He may have a good 40 time. But, can't cover. Roy Williams Lite. Fine if in 4th or 5th Round. Wouldn't touch him any higher. Him getting mouthy with the brench press dude tells me he has a lousy. I'm better than anyone else attitude. That guy has been doing the same thing for 10yrs and is a riot. The players seem to really enjoy his pushing them. Zbikowski doesn't. Strikes me as odd.

 

[DaBruinz]

Is this guy a safety? 4.52 sounds slow for a corner, but would be pretty decent speed for a safety.

4.5 is not slow for a corner. In fact that is the target for players who go to the combine. 2 one hundredths of a second is about how long it takes for you to blink.

 

[sebman2112]

He may have a good 40 time. But, can't cover. Roy Williams Lite. Fine if in 4th or 5th Round. Wouldn't touch him any higher. Him getting mouthy with the brench press dude tells me he has a lousy. I'm better than anyone else attitude. That guy has been doing the same thing for 10yrs and is a riot. The players seem to really enjoy his pushing them. Zbikowski doesn't. Strikes me as odd.

As I said he was expected to have good speed for a Safety, but he also looked very good in the agility/coverage drills. And, the point some have made about the defenders around him making mistakes that he tried to cover for could be accurate. I had previously placed a fourth round tag on him too, but I could see him going somewhere in the third.

When he said "Don't Ever Call Me That Again" you need to understand the status attached to Rudy among ND players. While Rudy has become somewhat of a cult figure, that's definitely not something a top level athlete from ND wants to be called. Also, the spotter and Tom talked about it after and cleared things up. Really, I don't know why you'd consider something like that a knock against the guy. I mean, it wasn't like he went ape sh*t.

 

[Afterlifemobile-86]

As I said he was expected to have good speed for a Safety, but he also looked very good in the agility/coverage drills. And, the point some have made about the defenders around him making mistakes that he tried to cover for could be accurate. I had previously placed a fourth round tag on him too, but I could see him going somewhere in the third.

When he said "Don't Ever Call Me That Again" you need to understand the status attached to Rudy among ND players. While Rudy has become somewhat of a cult figure, that's definitely not something a top level athlete from ND wants to be called. Also, the spotter and Tom talked about it after and cleared things up. Really, I don't know why you'd consider something like that a knock against the guy. I mean, it wasn't like he went ape sh*t.

Very true, At Notre Dame being called "rudy" means you're an overachieving walk on who is lucky to be on the field and is considered no real value to the team other than a few S/T tackles....something Zb isn't, if Weis thinks he'd be a good fit in NE you gotta think he's already given his input to BB.

 

[patsfan-1982]

we need a guy that can knock some ones head off like harrison and willson did i few yers ago

 

[sebman2112]

we need a guy that can knock some ones head off like harrison and willson did i few yers ago

Meriweather wasn't called the "Hitstick" because of his looks, but I get what you're saying. It would be especially nice to have another young Safety who can deliver those same kind of hits.