2014 UDFA Signings

Elijah said:

It's important to keep in mind that we actually have no idea if some of these UDFAs are actually part of the team, like Morris, Ott, and Deering. The team has said absolutely nothing about them, no signing announcements or interviews. Maybe it's just a procedural thing, but I wouldn't assume they're on the team just yet until the signings actually happen.

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The UDFAs don't sign their contracts until they show up at Foxboro. Ott is taking his final exams.
Others may not be permitted by NFL rules to show up until their college graduates.

kennyb said:

About the same height and weight. Hernandez was very productive in college. This guy, not so much. This guy also has a heart problem of some kind. Only caught 3 passes last year. Taking a flier on a guy is one thing, but this is a head-scrather for me.

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Do not sleep on this guy. He may be the diamond in the rough this year. Asa Watson is old friend and current Saints TE Ben Watson's little brother. Physically, he's a stud, and he's got great hands. He's a great character guy who knows first-hand what it takes to make it in the NFL from his brother.

http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/watson_asa00.html

He played for Tom O'Brien who ran a pro offense at NCSU, just like he did at BC. The last two quarterbacks at NCSU were Mike Glennon (Buccaneers) and Russell Wilson (Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks.) Watson worked with both. (O'Brien got fired by Debbie Yow at NCSU because he "didn't recruit consistent top 25 talent.")

Watson had heart surgery during his sophomore year in college that robbed him of 1-1/2 years of practice and playing time.

1960Pats said:

Even if the numbers are identical it doesn't add up to Hernandez. He had a special gift for creating and/or finding open spaces. Not so much now.

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Well he did actually create enough space to beat that fellow inmate about a month ago. He still has it

With guys like Finch, Gallon, and Dunn, either they are making a concerted effort to find a returner with speed, or they are trying to make Edelman look tall.

Pats announced the signings of FS Jeremy Deering and LB James Morris.
http://nesn.com/2014/05/patriots-si...ee-agents-two-draft-picks-veteran-linebacker/

Morris probably has the best odds to make the roster of all the UDFA's.

Mack Herron said:

With guys like Finch, Gallon, and Dunn, either they are making a concerted effort to find a returner with speed, or they are trying to make Edelman look tall.

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Like your namesake p, eight isn't everything

Urgent said:

Pats announced the signings of FS Jeremy Deering and LB James Morris.
http://nesn.com/2014/05/patriots-si...ee-agents-two-draft-picks-veteran-linebacker/

Morris probably has the best odds to make the roster of all the UDFA's.

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UDFA Morris and 2012 Fifth Rnd Darius Fleming and UDFA Gordon, will be fighting 2012 6th Rnd Bauharnis for a couple of backup LB positions.

Mack Herron said:

With guys like Finch, Gallon, and Dunn, either they are making a concerted effort to find a returner with speed, or they are trying to make Edelman look tall.

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Finch and Gallon do not have the speed Dunn has. Dunn, when he get's a step on you, he's gone. Finch and Gallon can get caught from behind.

in addition to the 3 you mention, we have UDFA Gordon, Hull, Davis and Chris White. Put all 8 together
and we still are very weak at backup LB.

AzPatsFan said:

Like your namesake p, eight isn't everything


UDFA Morris and 2012 Fifth Rnd Darius Fleming and UDFA Gordon, will be fighting 2012 6th Rnd Bauharnis for a couple of backup LB positions.

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Kick offs could be fun in pre-season with Dunn & Boyce!
Reggie Dunn has 4.22 speed and returned 5 kick offs 100 yards+ in College

Josh Boyce has 4.38 on a broken toe speed and 3 returns for 93 yards in his final year in College

I'll close with this though: if Reggie Dunn shows he can return kicks in the NFL like he did in College, he would be worth a roster spot just for that reason alone.

Big-T said:

Josh Boyce has 4.38 on a broken toe speed and 3 returns for 93 yards in his final year in College

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Oh come on now! All he did was break his pinky toe. His 4.38 isn't anything special. Now had he broken his big toe I would have been thoroughly impressed.

I'm not saying he doesn't have speed but his 4.38 would probably be a 4.38 if his pinky toe wasn't broken. The big toe takes on the bulk of the weight/pressure out of all the toes.

Brady6 said:

Taking a look at Asa Watson he is very similar physically to Hernandez –

Asa Watson
-Height: 6023
-Weight: 239
-40 Yrd Dash: 4.69
-20 Yrd Dash: 2.72
-10 Yrd Dash: 1.59
-225 Lb. Bench Reps: 26
-Vertical Jump: 32
-Broad Jump: 09'09"
-20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.40
-3-Cone Drill: 7.00

Aaron Hernandez
-Height: 6023
-Weight: 245
-40 Yrd Dash: 4.64
-20 Yrd Dash: 2.71
-10 Yrd Dash: 1.65
-225 Lb. Bench Reps: 30
-Vertical Jump: 33
-Broad Jump: 09'03"
-20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.18
-3-Cone Drill: 6.83

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Didn't GTA have a 6.58 3 cone @ Florida's pro day.

I just don't think we will ever find a move TE with his wiggle. He was the best TE I've ever seen after the catch.

Making Justin Jones my Binkie. Forget trying to replace Hernandez, don't think that player is out there. Twin Towers sounds pretty good.

Big-T said:

Kick offs could be fun in pre-season with Dunn & Boyce!
Reggie Dunn has 4.22 speed and returned 5 kick offs 100 yards+ in College

Josh Boyce has 4.38 on a broken toe speed and 3 returns for 93 yards in his final year in College

I'll close with this though: if Reggie Dunn shows he can return kicks in the NFL like he did in College, he would be worth a roster spot just for that reason alone.

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I'm a big fan of Dunn's, greatest kick returner ever in college football. Hopefully he can do the same in the pros.

Wheelman said:

Oh come on now! All he did was break his pinky toe. His 4.38 isn't anything special. Now had he broken his big toe I would have been thoroughly impressed.

I'm not saying he doesn't have speed but his 4.38 would probably be a 4.38 if his pinky toe wasn't broken. The big toe takes on the bulk of the weight/pressure out of all the toes.

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4.38 isn't anything special ? That's blazing fast. Few guys get under that 4.3 range. Those guys are rare finds.

scott99 said:

Finch and Gallon do not have the speed Dunn has. Dunn, when he get's a step on you, he's gone. Finch and Gallon can get caught from behind.

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I agree Dunn is a freakish athlete.

Height: 5093
Weight: 178
40 Yrd Dash: 4.22
20 Yrd Dash: 2.49
10 Yrd Dash: 1.52
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 17
Vertical Jump: 36
Broad Jump: 10'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.34
3-Cone Drill: 6.82

The 10-yard split in 1.52 seconds is unreal.

scott99 said:

I think videos are Youtube are deceiving. Finch looks like Barry friggen Sanders in his video, yet couldn't even get drafted.

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The highlights are from early in college - he did something to get in his coach's dog house and his later stats aren't that good

He's not an every down back obviously - but Belichick doesn't use every down backs. He uses specialists and this kid clearly has outstanding quickness and stop/start abilities - maybe he can return kicks and punts too, who knows. RB is usually a place where UDFAs are a good source of players.

Overall there's some intriguing prospects here - can't wait to see what Belihick attempts to do with Deering

And of course you have to love the Ben Watson's brother story line - though while his size and quickness are OK I'm not sure what role he's being looked to as playing here.

Beasly said:

I have no clue. I remember seeing him in person getting absolutely trucked by Le'Veon Bell in college. Gordon is pretty bad, he was one of those guys the offenses picked out to abuse.

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Gosh Beasly, please stop disliking all of my posts, you are one of the most respected posters here and it is really hurting my feelings. You are so awesome, it's heartbreaking you don't like me.

Ivan said:

Gosh Beasly, please stop disliking all of my posts, you are one of the most respected posters here and it is really hurting my feelings. You are so awesome, it's heartbreaking you don't like me.

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I'll be honest.. I think that beasly is a multi-account. Kinda fishy when someone you've had no interaction with makes it a point to go and dislike numerous posts in different threads.. After another person had just done something similar..

DaBruinz said:

I'll be honest.. I think that beasly is a multi-account. Kinda fishy when someone you've had no interaction with makes it a point to go and dislike numerous posts in different threads.. After another person had just done something similar..

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Nope, I'm just me. I just read posts and then rate them off the options I have access to.

One of the more talented players eligible for the NFL Draft wasn’t even drafted.

But for the weekend at least, the Packers are willing to give tight end Colt Lyerla a chance.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweeted out a picture of the Packers rookie minicamp roster, which listed Lyerla among the tryout players.

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Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/16/packers-giving-colt-lyerla-a-tryout-this-weekend/