Minicamp 6/17

It's Ben Vereen

I could see Lewis making it as a running back, with another 3rd down back. He can shake and bake.

PatsWickedPissah said:

It's Ben Vereen

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Clearly

robertweathers said:

Athleticism will not be Douglas' issue. He has all the physical tools. Speed. Size, etc.

His learning curve will be using NFL technique, playing speed, learning the defense, opponent film study and playing smart.

Encouraging reports so far nonetheless.

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Who now?

JDot said:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14017/shane-vereen



WIKI

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You still haven't showed me a player named Vareen who played for the Patriots in 2011.

Wheelman said:

You still haven't showed me a player named Vareen who played for the Patriots in 2011.

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Oh, I guess that flew over my head.

Vereen passed the eye test his rookie year, White looked slow and confused.

That does not mean White will continue to look that way, but just comparing stats does not really compare the actual players,

Marqui said:

Who now?

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Ugh...I've been calling Daryl Roberts Robert Douglas ever since he was drafted and I have no idea why.

Clearly I need some kind of therapy.

patsinthesnow said:

@jeffphowe: Darryl Roberts' performance this offseason reminds me of Malcolm Butler from last year.

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With all due respect, let's hope we don't need Roberts to repeat Butler's postseason heroics.

ctpatsfan77 said:

With all due respect, let's hope we don't need Roberts to repeat Butler's postseason heroics.

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I'd still take it!

The bigger issue with the comparison is that Butler, for all his camp optimism and the monumental play, still played less than 20% of the snaps and needed half the year to climb up to regular rotation. How would people view him if he had to start from day one?

I have high hopes for Roberts. His athleticism and size are the prototype for what NFL teams are looking for. He also seems to be intelligent. It's his technique that needs a lot of improvement and he may have found the right place to hone his skills.

PatsWickedPissah said:

My thoughts exactly. Long drives, but worth it.

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A little too far for me (Kennebunk) to go to practices but I do attend all the home games
with my son and driver (Auburn, ME).

KontradictioN said:

I have high hopes for Roberts. His athleticism and size are the prototype for what NFL teams are looking for. He also seems to be intelligent. It's his technique that needs a lot of improvement and he may have found the right place to hone his skills.

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I feel the same. You look at a guy like him and read about the reports from OTAs/minicamp and you have to ask yourself "How was this guy a 7th round pick?" Same with Butler; he can clearly play in this league, yet went undrafted and the only team to even call him was the Pats...

Ross12 said:

I feel the same. You look at a guy like him and read about the reports from OTAs/minicamp and you have to ask yourself "How was this guy a 7th round pick?" Same with Butler; he can clearly play in this league, yet went undrafted and the only team to even call him was the Pats...

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If you ask NFL scouts, they'll tell you one of the main reasons talented players slip is due to the lack of exposure, film and playing vs NFL-caliber talent. 40 times and combines are all well and good but if the player isn't playing vs NFL caliber talent consistently, it leaves a lot of unanswered questions- thus making the pick a bit more risky.

I think that was the case with Roberts. He played no one at Marshall. Hell, if Rand U and Troy Brown went back to play in an alumni game that would have been the best competition he would have faced all year.

If he played at FSU or some SEC school and shut down say Amari Cooper he'd rise 4 rounds- easy.

Same for Jamie Collins in 2013. If he played in the SEC he would have been a 1st rounder easy.

Oswlek said:

I'd still take it!

The bigger issue with the comparison is that Butler, for all his camp optimism and the monumental play, still only played less than 20% of the snaps and needed half the year to climb up to regular rotation. How would people view him if he had to start from day one?

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I'm not sure my nervous system can handle that again!

Hate to admit this but Butler is still a big question mark. He had his ups and downs last year- like any rookie. We don't know if he can play 60 snaps a game. Maybe hes more of a nickel guy. Who knows.

robertweathers said:

If you ask NFL scouts, they'll tell you one of the main reasons talented players slip is due to the lack of exposure, film and playing vs NFL-caliber talent. 40 times and combines are all well and good but if the player isn't playing vs NFL caliber talent consistently, it leaves a lot of unanswered questions- thus making the pick a bit more risky.

I think that was the case with Roberts. He played no one at Marshall. Hell, if Rand U and Troy Brown went back to play in an alumni game that would have been the best competition he would have faced all year.

If he played at FSU or some SEC school and shut down say Amari Cooper he'd rise 4 rounds- easy.

Same for Jamie Collins in 2013. If he played in the SEC he would have been a 1st rounder easy.

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I guess that's where the Patriots scouting differs so much from many of the lesser franchises - they can evaluate "talent" separately from "production."

Apparently BB liked what he saw. Last day of mini-camp was cancelled.

Ross12 said:

I guess that's where the Patriots scouting differs so much from many of the lesser franchises - they can evaluate "talent" separately from "production."

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Actually "production" in college is a big thing BB has said they look for.

Where they differ is (a) BB will RISK picking a nobody because he's secure in his position and (2) as the article says, once you walk into the facility, the big names have no intrinsic advantage vs the nobody.

robertweathers said:

Same for Jamie Collins in 2013. If he played in the SEC he would have been a 1st rounder easy.

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Put Collins on Oregon and Dion Jordan on Southern Miss. Collins goes top 10 and Dion Jordan maybe goes in the 2nd round if he is lucky.

Oswlek said:

I'd still take it!

The bigger issue with the comparison is that Butler, for all his camp optimism and the monumental play, still played less than 20% of the snaps and needed half the year to climb up to regular rotation. How would people view him if he had to start from day one?

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I would be fine if Roberts were good enough to play 20% of the reps this year. That's fine for our 5th CB.