Erik Frenz: Patriots sign Olympic track star & Florida UDFA RB/WR/KR Jeff Demps

mayoclinic said:

Andy, for a bright guy with a lot to contribute, sometimes you are just plain contrary.

Duh. Of course "every defensive call ever made assigns every eligible receiver or every place of the field to someone". But a guy with sub 4.3 speed who can blow by single man coverage and who is a home run threat presents a different challenge than a plodding receiver. Defenses would have to be aware of his potential to get open deep, and just that possibility could help open things up.

No one has suggested that Demps is more at this point than mainly a kick returner and perhaps an occasional threat on screens/reverses/trick plays and the occasional bomb. Matt Slater partcipated in 3.53% of the offensive snaps (40 plays) as a WR in 2011, about 2.5 snaps/game. I could see Demps taking over those snaps, which would be a good thing IMHO. Demps offers much more potential as a home run threat than Slater. Obviously Demps being a "legitimate threat" would be a huge asset, and I agree that that is TBD at this point, but based on his college tape the kid is enough of a threat to make defenses more conscious of the deep option than someone like Slater was.

The NFL has plenty of experience with track guys with great speed trying to make it as positional players. Renaldo Nehemiah never did much. Willie Gault had a respectable but not spectacular career as a "speed merchant" and deep threat. Demps has enough football experience and success as an all-purpose weapon to give some hope that he could be used effectively as more than a decoy. But even as just a decoy, I think he could be used to stretch the field a bit, and that could make a big difference given our other weapons.

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AndyJohnson said:

I understand what you are saying, I just object to the 'look at these weapons, how can you defend it' posts. They imply that defenses come up with a plan on the fly based on who is on the field.
I'm not being contrary at all, just pointing out that the comments suggesting a fast guy outside takes a defender away, or implying sending a slower man deep leaves him ignored are naive.

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mayoclinic said:

I don't see Demps as more than mainly a returner this year, and maybe getting 4-5 plays/game where he's on the field as a specialty tool. If he's able to show enough skills to work himself in more, fine, but I'm not counting on it. But I wouldn't be surprised to see him used in a few trick plays, just to keep the defenses honest.

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UK_Pat37 said:

Not that much lighter than Chris Rainey drafted in the 5th round by Philly. It won't take him long if his body is properly conditioned which, given his training for the Olympics, it should be.

He has plenty of time to add weight and I don't thnk it will take him any time to adjust to the weight.

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DocHoliday said:

Too many people here are assuming he'll even make the team.

I seriously doubt the Patriots will keep Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead, Bolden, Demps, AND a FB.

IF Demps is the real deal, Bolden seems like the odd man out to me. He has promise but nothing truly special.

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DocHoliday said:

I seriously doubt the Patriots will keep Ridley, Vereen, Woodhead, Bolden, Demps, AND a FB. .

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Big-T said:

Bolden & a FB aren't making the final roster imo.

Brady, Hoyer, Mallett (3)
Ridley, Vereen, Demps, Woodhead (4)
Lloyd, Welker, Gaffney, Stallworth, Ebert, Edelman, Slater (7)
Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells, Shiancoe (4)
Solder, Mankins, Connolly, Waters, Vollmer, Cannon, McDonald, Thomas, Wendell (9)

+ the 23 defensive players in the other thread as well as the Gostkowski, Mesko & Aiken for 53.

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PatsWickedPissah said:

Bolden would likely make it to the PS. But IF BB loads up on TEs as I think he will health willing, I see the FB position being zeroed out. Injuries have prevented player development at FB and Bill's tendency is to love him some TEs.

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PatsWickedPissah said:

Bolden would likely make it to the PS. But IF BB loads up on TEs as I think he will health willing, I see the FB position being zeroed out. Injuries have prevented player development at FB and Bill's tendency is to love him some TEs.

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Badluck said:

not to jump into the middle of a conversation and not to come off as sounding rude because i do mean this in the nicest way but


so what? bolden looks good but if we have to risk losing him by putting him on the PS to make our 2012/2013 roster better then i think we should do it

we have two young runningbacks who were both drafted (2nd/3rd round respectively) this guy didnt even get drafted, boldens upside is lawfirm, we got rid of lawfirm for these guys

i think in the end its ridley/vereen/demps/and a FB

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PatsWickedPissah said:

Did you mean to cut Woodhead? I wouldn't.

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Badluck said:

yea

maybe keep him for depth but with a healthy ridley/vereen do you see woodhead getting a lot of snaps?

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patchick said:

Yep, Holliday and Demps are now the 2 fastest players in the league. But Holliday is moving a frame that's all of 5'5" 166 lbs. He makes Demps look huge, and is a super long shot to ever be a factor on offense.

And the Texans still spent a 6th rounder on him anyway.

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PatsWickedPissah said:

Woody has shown that he can play big on the big stage. There is no other proven NFL back on the roster. I'd keep him. Bill will too.

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mayoclinic said:

Got it. For the record, I think that you are a very bright guy with a lot of insight to contribute, so I take your opinions very seriously.

I don't see Demps as more than mainly a returner this year, and maybe getting 4-5 plays/game where he's on the field as a specialty tool. If he's able to show enough skills to work himself in more, fine, but I'm not counting on it. But I wouldn't be surprised to see him used in a few trick plays, just to keep the defenses honest.

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TommyBrady12 said:

Demps will certainly be a threat on special teams. however, let's not go overboard here. teams will avoid demps and kick the ball out of the end zone and we'll start on our own 20, especially with kickoffs now at the 35 yard line.

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