LaFell, one of better blockers in 26 years

strngplyr said:

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

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You ever see that slow, skinny Brady kid at the combine? I'm so glad we didn't draft him.

Fixit said:

You ever see that slow, skinny Brady kid at the combine? I'm so glad we didn't draft him.

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Yeah, the kid didn't even do the bench press, he was probably embarassed about how weak his arm was.

Definitely not strong enough to push the ball through cold air and windy conditions.

Froob said:

Supposedly he has awful hands.

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You probably saw this from Panthers fans. Who are some of the dumbest in the NFL from what I've seen

he has averaged 600 yards per year for his career that's about what I think he will give the pats and some blocking

Well, people are certainly enjoying themselves, but I stand by my analysis. LaFell is nowhere close to Hernandez as a blocker, and I predict the Pats will not be using him like Hernandez at all, nor will defenses treat him like Hernandez.

You will not see:
(a)LaFell lined up on a wing, drawing a blocking assignment on the end man on the line of scrimmage
(b)LaFell in the backfield, either as a lone back or an offset F back
(c)LaFell split out wide with a linebacker on him
(d)LaFell wham blocking anybody

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strngplyr said:

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.

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Sure, if they don't fight off your block.

strngplyr said:

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.

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Exactly what I said...

unoriginal said:

Exactly what I said...

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And you ignore the next part. Yes, upper body strength is important to a linemen, for a receiver holding a block for half a second on a running play or screen pass? No. Not so much.

strngplyr said:

And you ignore the next part. Yes, upper body strength is important to a linemen, for a receiver holding a block for half a second on a running play or screen pass? No. Not so much.

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I ignored the next part because I didn't think it germane.

Yes, you are technically correct (the best kind of correct) core strength is the most important thing for blocking, or any activity really. Unfortunately nobody measures core strength in any isolated way so I can't compare that.

When people say the Pats are going to use LaFell like Hernandez, they mean they are going to use LaFell as a guy who can play inside and outside the box and win. I don't think LaFell can win inside the box. I never criticized his ability to block on the outside. By all accounts he's exceptional out there, and out there as you said upper body strength isn't too important, it's all stalk blocking.

But what made Hernandez special was he was credible inside the box, meaning the Pats could split him out and he would draw a linebacker who he would proceed to massacre on an up-the-field or deep crossing route. He also was physical enough that he could beat a corner with his big body on a slant route, along with blocking them on bubble screens.

Perhaps LaFell can replicate that last part of Hernandez's game.

unoriginal said:

Well, people are certainly enjoying themselves, but I stand by my analysis. LaFell is nowhere close to Hernandez as a blocker, and I predict the Pats will not be using him like Hernandez at all, nor will defenses treat him like Hernandez.

You will not see:
(a)LaFell lined up on a wing, drawing a blocking assignment on the end man on the line of scrimmage
(b)LaFell in the backfield, either as a lone back or an offset F back
(c)LaFell split out wide with a linebacker on him
(d)LaFell wham blocking anybody

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I know you've been gone for awhile unoriginal, but the new "norm" here is to take X receiver (some who have never even played an actual snap in live game reps) and somehow come up with the notion that "he's taking over Aaron Hernandez's role."

We've seen guys like Mark Harrison, Tim Tebow, any number of potential draftees for the upcoming draft, and now Brandon LaFell--all compared to taking over Hernandez's role in the offense.

My guess is that if Bill Belichick were actually looking for such a player, he'll be bringing in some actual TEs who have played the position and have the measurables to do so in the upcoming draft. Otherwise, this debate will continue.

unoriginal said:

I ignored the next part because I didn't think it germane.

Yes, you are technically correct (the best kind of correct) core strength is the most important thing for blocking, or any activity really. Unfortunately nobody measures core strength in any isolated way so I can't compare that.

When people say the Pats are going to use LaFell like Hernandez, they mean they are going to use LaFell as a guy who can play inside and outside the box and win. I don't think LaFell can win inside the box. I never criticized his ability to block on the outside. By all accounts he's exceptional out there, and out there as you said upper body strength isn't too important, it's all stalk blocking.

But what made Hernandez special was he was credible inside the box, meaning the Pats could split him out and he would draw a linebacker who he would proceed to massacre on an up-the-field or deep crossing route. He also was physical enough that he could beat a corner with his big body on a slant route, along with blocking them on bubble screens.

Perhaps LaFell can replicate that last part of Hernandez's game.

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Yeah, just for the record, I'm not one of those people. LaFell is an excellent downfield blocker, which is the only reason I was even replying, He will never replace Hernandez role, he isn't even remotely similar, Hernandez looked like a linebacker.

I don't really know how people made the connection that because he can block DB's successfully downfield that he can play the Hernandez role in our offense.

For the record, someone on the panthers also described him as stiff and mechanical.

His strengths are versatility etc. All those things listed in the first post. We'll have a versatile, smart corps.

Being able to duplicate another's role doesn't mean we won't bring in or use players who play the role better.

supafly said:

I know you've been gone for awhile unoriginal, but the new "norm" here is to take X receiver (some who have never even played an actual snap in live game reps) and somehow come up with the notion that "he's taking over Aaron Hernandez's role."

We've seen guys like Mark Harrison, Tim Tebow, any number of potential draftees for the upcoming draft, and now Brandon LaFell--all compared to taking over Hernandez's role in the offense.

My guess is that if Bill Belichick were actually looking for such a player, he'll be bringing in some actual TEs who have played the position and have the measurables to do so in the upcoming draft. Otherwise, this debate will continue.

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I actually was one of the guys wondering if the Pats would use Tebow as an H-back. Again, looking at the measurables (the only thing we don't have is bench press) Tebow is pretty credible there. Everything "objective" says he could physically play that position.

Compared to Hernandez, Tebow was the same height, 10 pounds lighter, and had a faster short shuttle, three cone, 10 and 20 yard dash splits, vertical jump, and broad jump. He even has bigger hands. Hernandez has better arm length, 40 dash, and bench press (Tebow n/a). Obviously Tebow runs pass routes like a clown and hasn't blocked anybody in his life, but the Pats have carried Bequette for two years, and Chris Barker and DJ Williams were permanent fixtures on the inactive list. The Pats could have carried a project this season if they wanted to.

Given that the Pats have moved QBs to WR (Edelman) and DEs to TE (Silvestro) and played a bunch of LBs at TE, I don't think there was anything on the Pats end stopping them from moving him apart from Tebow's desire to play QB.

Harrison, meanwhile, isn't too far behind Hernandez, as he tested at 17 reps and 231 lbs. Plus he's got freakishly long 35" arms (that's better than a lot of OTs) and jumping/explosive ability so you'd think IF the Pats were going to take a WR and make him a Hernandez (or an Antonio Gates) it would be Harrison, since he's also a project with lots of practice squad eligibility. Not LaFell.

It's a great offensive role waiting for someone to claim it. Hope the Pats find somebody, even if it means LaFell making me look like an idiot.

unoriginal said:

I actually was one of the guys wondering if the Pats would use Tebow as an H-back. Again, looking at the measurables (the only thing we don't have is bench press) Tebow is pretty credible there. Everything "objective" says he could physically play that position.

Compared to Hernandez, Tebow was the same height, 10 pounds lighter, and had a faster short shuttle, three cone, 10 and 20 yard dash splits, vertical jump, and broad jump. He even has bigger hands. Hernandez has better arm length, 40 dash, and bench press (Tebow n/a). Obviously Tebow runs pass routes like a clown and hasn't blocked anybody in his life, but the Pats have carried Bequette for two years, and Chris Barker and DJ Williams were permanent fixtures on the inactive list. The Pats could have carried a project this season if they wanted to.

Given that the Pats have moved QBs to WR (Edelman) and DEs to TE (Silvestro) and played a bunch of LBs at TE, I don't think there was anything on the Pats end stopping them from moving him apart from Tebow's desire to play QB.

Harrison, meanwhile, isn't too far behind Hernandez, as he tested at 17 reps and 231 lbs. Plus he's got freakishly long 35" arms (that's better than a lot of OTs) and jumping/explosive ability so you'd think IF the Pats were going to take a WR and make him a Hernandez (or an Antonio Gates) it would be Harrison, since he's also a project with lots of practice squad eligibility. Not LaFell.

It's a great offensive role waiting for someone to claim it. Hope the Pats find somebody, even if it means LaFell making me look like an idiot.

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For every man that can play a position at an NFL level there are 1000s who have the same measurables but can't. That is why Tebow isn't playing a different position. He does not have the skills.

AndyJohnson said:

For every man that can play a position at an NFL level there are 1000s who have the same measurables but can't. That is why Tebow isn't playing a different position. He does not have the skills.

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"different position"?

AndyJohnson said:

For every man that can play a position at an NFL level there are 1000s who have the same measurables but can't. That is why Tebow isn't playing a different position. He does not have the skills.

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Add Edelman and Neal to that category. And Fletcher. The Pats often take people without the skills for the position and teach it to them if they are (a) able and willing to do it and (b) consistently show improvement.

Brandon LaFell wont even make the team lol

He is not going to be Aaron Hernandez lol, wouldnt be surprised to see him cut. Well see.

unoriginal said:

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.

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Posters are quick to compare any player close to Hernandez's size to Hernandez. How quickly (but understandably) his rare talent has been forgotten.