Kenbrell Thompkins

DarrylS said:

Did not know that Thompkins story, really hope he makes it now..

Guess the good thing, is after he left Liberty City.. he has not encountered any legal problems... confident that the Pats will offer him a lot of support so he does not regress.

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Ironic in light of the story that dominated the summer.

Stud? We'll see.

Possibly a sold player? All signs would indicate yes. Seems he definitely got the inside track on playing opposite Amendola in 2 WR sets.

Dobson was mixed, Boyce was mostly invisible. I think we'll see things change for those two before the end of preseason. Whether that's enough to unseat KT as the likely WR2 we'll see.

fnordcircle said:

Stud? We'll see.

Possibly a sold player? All signs would indicate yes. Seems he definitely got the inside track on playing opposite Amendola in 2 WR sets.

Dobson was mixed, Boyce was mostly invisible. I think we'll see things change for those two before the end of preseason. Whether that's enough to unseat KT as the likely WR2 we'll see.

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I still see dobson and ammendola in the 2 WR sets

I'm not sure I understand how Dobson would take Amendola's playing time, Dobson isn't a slot receiver. If Amdendola were hurt or wasn't productive, Edelman would take over.

I really was impressed by Thompkins last night. Its only early but I'm very excited about him. Hopefully all his off the field issues are behind him now, I'd imagine thats the reason he went undrafted?

edboc said:

I'm not sure I understand how Dobson would take Amendola's playing time, Dobson isn't a slot receiver. If Amdendola were hurt or wasn't productive, Edelman would take over.

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He is talking about in 2WR 2TE 1RB packages.

eagle eye said:

I really was impressed by Thompkins last night. Its only early but I'm very excited about him. Hopefully all his off the field issues are behind him now, I'd imagine thats the reason he went undrafted?

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He went undrafted mostly because he wasn't a good college football player.

His two seasons at Cincinnati:

2011: 44 receptions 536 yards 2 TDs
2012: 34 receptions 541 yards 2 TDs

Walterfootball & SB Nation didn't have him ranked, DraftCountdown had him as the 50th WR, and CBS/NFL Draft Scout had him as the 45th WR. Even NFL.com didn't have him as one of our "key" undrafted signings:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...rick-rogers-head-undrafted-freeagent-signings

10) New England Patriots


Key signees: Cory Grissom, DT, South Florida; Zach Sudfeld, TE, Nevada; Matt Stankiewitch, C, Penn State.

Grissom was a top-notch high school wrestler, and wrestlers often make for good defensive linemen. The three-year starting nose tackle can be a good player against the run. Sudfeld moves well for a big guy. He's the type of player New England routinely molds into a contributor. The same goes for Stankiewitch, a smart overachiever who looks like a good developmental project.

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Manxman brought this up; if you watch his college film/highlights, he looks mediocre. At pats TC and last night, he looks completely different, speed and route running wise. It's interesting.

His weak college production makes me still skeptical, but the last two UDFA WRs to get this much local & national hype were Rod Streater and Victor Cruz.

I don't think he's going to be unseated by Dobson or anyone. After reading a bit it seems like he was undrafted because of a combination of his legal problems as a teenager and circumstances outside of his control that hurt his production (similar to how Brady in college was slowed down by things he couldn't control).

And unlike Hernandope he seems to have actually learned some maturity.

I've been a Thompkins fan since he was signed, and he's not disappointed my faith (and desperate desire for a good X WR)

But it's still very early and the preseason can make mediocre players look great to fans - though the coaches can see the difference.

That being said, this guy is not going to sneak thru to the practice squad. If he doesn't make the 53 man roster that's because Dobson or someone else has beat him out, and if he's cut someone else will grab him.

With such a high need at the X spot I suspect he will earn a place here. If we didn't have the high need I'd be expecting a phantom red shirt injury but the fact is we need options and depth at the X

I don't think I've ever been this excited for pre-season games before. Thompkins and the other rookie receivers are to blame.

tonyto3690 said:

Guy looks like a stud. Good size, reliable hands, and seems to be very bright and hard working. I think it's worth noting he was pulled with the first team starters (along with Amendola) while Boyce, Edelman and Dobson stayed in the game.

Appears to be a lock for the roster and a near lock as the starting X receiver. I hope by midseason Dobson takes Amendolas spot. Amendola is a good player, but he's injury prone and not suited for the outside.

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I see them just running with a 3 wide receiver set,

X – Dobson
Y – Thompkins
Z – Amendola

They will mix and match who comes off the field when they move into 2-3 tight end sets, who starts where doesn't much matter, I think Dobson, Amendola, Thompkins, and Boyce will all see extensive snaps during the regular season.

He's got Brady's trust which is the most important thing to be successful in this offense. You earned that in practice.

condon84 said:

He's got Brady's trust which is the most important thing to be successful in this offense. You earned that in practice.

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Earn it in practice, but you can easily lose it in a game.

It's a fascinating rookie WR class and competition at the position. I certainly would never have predicted that KT would rise to (or at least near) the top -- I would have pegged even Moe or Harrison as more likely candidates. (Still really itching to see Harrison in action, but my guess is they stash him on IR for a year.)

Strange to me the comparisons to dion branch. When I first saw him last night the first thing I thought was David Givins. He has the size hands and frame to be that possession receiver that Givins always was. I also think that JMcD will use all the receivers in rotational tandums this year and have crazy production with fresh legs.

Just wanted to point out that Thomkins is no slouch athletically.

At the combine he ran a 4.46 with a 6.88 3 Cone. Those are rock solid numbers. 3 Cone was better than Robert Woods, Quinton Patton and about the same as DeAndre Hopkins (he had a 6.83). It pales in comparison to Josh Boyce's 6.68 but that is a crazy good number.

Thompkins' nice story and advanced development (he is 25 years old) hide the fact that this guy can move.

BelichickFan said:

Just wanted to point out that Thomkins is no slouch athletically.

At the combine he ran a 4.46 with a 6.88 3 Cone. Those are rock solid numbers. 3 Cone was better than Robert Woods, Quinton Patton and about the same as DeAndre Hopkins (he had a 6.83). It pales in comparison to Josh Boyce's 6.68 but that is a crazy good number.

Thompkins' nice story and advanced development (he is 25 years old) hide the fact that this guy can move.

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Take a look at his combine against last season top 10 draft pick Justin Blackmon.

Thompkins Blackmon
Height 6'1 6'1
Weight 193 207
40 4.46 4.46
20 2.55 2.6
10 1.56 1.53
Bench 8 N/A
Vertical 33.5 35
Broad 10"01" 10"03"
Shuffle 4.21 4.38
3-Cone 6.88 7.13

Brady6 said:

Take a look at his combine against last season top 10 draft pick Justin Blackmon.

Thompkins Blackmon
Height 6'1 6'1
Weight 193 207
40 4.46 4.46
20 2.55 2.6
10 1.56 1.53
Bench 8 N/A
Vertical 33.5 35
Broad 10"01" 10"03"
Shuffle 4.21 4.38
3-Cone 6.88 7.13

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Wow. I'm always looking for good comps - like Sudfeld is basically equal to Zach Ertz athletically.

Main difference between Thompkins and Blackmon is Thompkins seems to have put his problems behind him - Blackmon does have 15 pounds on him but, still.

I just want to point out that having comparable combine numbers doesn't really mean much. Obviously running a 4.46 is better than running a 5.2, but there have been lots of workout warriors who did nothing in the NFL. There have also been plenty of guys with better numbers than Brady.

TommyBrady12 said:

do you really think they are going to bench a 7.5 million dollar a year player? amendola's the one receiver outside of edelman who has real NFL experience. dobson isn't suddenly going to become an all pro after week 8.

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No, I think that Belichick doesn't give a ***** about draft status or contract and the best player will play.

Not only does Dobson have a higher upside than Amendola,
not only is Amendola extremely injury prone and it'd be best to save him for the playoffs
not only is Dobson a better schematic fit on the offense,

I want the young, upcoming talent to be getting as much snaps as possible.

The best, homer, Thompkins comparison IMO is Chad Johnson. Posters, as well as a reporter, have brought this up.

Johnson:

6'1
192 LBs
40 Yard Dash: 4.57 (official)
20 Yard: 2.65
10 Yard: 1.56
Vertical: 33"
Broad: 10'01"
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.14
3-Cone: 7.51

Thompkins:

6'1
193 LBs
40 Yard Dash: 4.54 (official)
20 Yard: 2.55
10 Yard: 1.56'
Vertical: 33.5"
Broad: 9'
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.21
3-Cone: 6.88

Almost identical.