From Studfeld to Dudfeld

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Whatever happened to this kid?

Looked like a rookie sensation in preseason and camp and a valuable substitute until Gronk returned but he has done absolutely nothing and has been so non existent that he has no stats in 4 games...all zeros..no receptions,no yards...nothing.

The topper was the mishandled onside kick he blundered that could have put the Pats in a dangerous situation had it not been for the superior play of Talib.

I would think this guy is probably cut once Gronk returns I would assume,sure he is just a rookie but he has done nothing to say he should remain on the active roster.

Thank heavens another stud from camp has produced ....Thompkins,Dudfeld is another story.

 

[Ozymandias]

He's practice squad material and that's about it. He's clearly proven that he has no business being active on gamedays.

He needs to hit the gym badly.

 

[supafly]

He's practice squad material and that's about it. He's clearly proven that he has no business being active on gamedays.

He needs to hit the gym badly.

I agree that the best route once Gronk comes back is to send him to the PS and allow for him to have a redshirt yr.

He can hit the weights and attempt to bulk up that frame a bit, while still getting a feel for the weekly practices, gameplanning, and film study.

I wouldn't want to release him, as the possibility exists that he can come back next year as a much improved player, but at this point he's pretty much wasting a spot.

 

[pdangle]

Possibly he's still hurt. :confused2:

 

[PATRlOT]

I know he's just a UDFA but based off his pre-season promise he showed along with some acclaim from analysts/reporters, he's definitely a big disappointment. Obviously wasn't expecting him to step in and play like a pro-bowl TE, but I hoped for a somewhat serviceable, reliable hands guy whos good for 3 -5 receptions a game.

He played a role in 2 interceptions plus the onside-kick unable to be covered.

I won't be surprised he's cut or moved to PS.

I'd like to see us bring back Daniel Fells

 

[Ozymandias]

I agree that the best route once Gronk comes back is to send him to the PS and allow for him to have a redshirt yr.

He can hit the weights and attempt to bulk up that frame a bit, while still getting a feel for the weekly practices, gameplanning, and film study.

I wouldn't want to release him, as the possibility exists that he can come back next year as a much improved player, but at this point he's pretty much wasting a spot.

I think he's a good developmental TE prospect to have around on the PS for the time being. I just wonder if exposing him to waivers gets him claimed, if someone is enamored with the potential that he displayed in the preseason.

Possibly he's still hurt. :confused2:

That's a possibility. Whenever a player's play falls this far off of the cliff it's either injury related, or, a confidence issue.

The latter seems like the most plausible scenario. As an injury cannot fully account for the level of ineptitude he's been displaying so far. Along with that, he's been fully participating in practices. So I doubt it's because he's still hurt, but I could be wrong.

Sudfeld simply just isn't ready for the NFL, neither mentally or physically.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

I've only noticed him 3 times in regular season, and each time he screwed up big time.

Fumble... dropped pass leading to INT... dropped on-side kick return....

3 turn overs.



I still think he has a lot of potential though. Get him a few easy catches to build his confidence and see where it goes from there.

 

[Ozymandias]

I've only noticed him 3 times in regular season, and each time he screwed up big time.

Fumble... dropped pass leading to INT... dropped on-side kick return....

3 turn overs.

And in the preseason, the other fumble that got him benched. Since that time his play has deteriorated greatly. That screams of a confidence thing to me.

That's not the type of player I want on my squad anyway; someone that starts to second guess their ability or starts playing cautiously out of fear of making a mistake. Gotta get your head out of the sand and just go out and give your all.

He might just be snakebitten.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

And in the preseason, the other fumble that got him benched. Since that time his play has deteriorated greatly. That screams of a confidence thing to me.

That's not the type of player I want on my squad anyway; someone that starts to second guess their ability or starts playing cautiously out of fear of making a mistake. Gotta get your head out of the sand and just go out and give your all.

He might just be snakebitten.

If I had to guess, the injury contributed to the first TO, and then things snowballed from there. That said, it took a while even for GRONK to become a major contributor (it took until the CLE loss for him to have even 4 catches in one game), so I wouldn't give up on him just yet.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

And in the preseason, the other fumble that got him benched. Since that time his play has deteriorated greatly. That screams of a confidence thing to me.

That's not the type of player I want on my squad anyway; someone that starts to second guess their ability or starts playing cautiously out of fear of making a mistake. Gotta get your head out of the sand and just go out and give your all.

He might just be snakebitten.

I think speed is another problem,he seems to gather absolutely no separation from the nearest defender the few times he has been on the field.

You can't teach speed,and I don't know if Sudfeld can ever be a guy you can count on when it's 3rd and short.

If Hoomanuwanui has better stats than you,you know you are in trouble.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think speed is another problem,he seems to gather absolutely no separation from the nearest defender the few times he has been on the field.

You can't teach speed,and I don't know if Sudfeld can ever be a guy you can count on when it's 3rd and short.

If Hoomanuwanui has better stats than you,you know you are in trouble.

Or Hooman is actually at least a little better than some people think. . . .

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Or Hooman is actually at least a little better than some people think. . . .

Exactly. He is getting compared to a player that had the single best season at the TE possition. Of course he isn't going to impress in the context. It's like John Elway to Jake Plummer. Fans are used to a high end talent.

Hoomanawanui isn't great at anything, but he can do everything decently. Blocking and going to make a few catches when needed. Sometimes he fails, but some teams start TEs on his level consistently.

On the topic of Sudfeld: This team threw a bunch of rookies into the fire. All of them looked horrible in stretches because of that. Sudfeld has had way less of an opportunity to redeem himself. I would rather he continue to see snaps until Gronkowski is back and at full strength. Sudfeld has too high a ceiling to give up on. Gronkowski didn't play all that amazing at the beginning of his career.

I think the TD in the preseason vs the Bucs showed a lot about Sudfeld. He isn't fast, but he is tall and can go up for the ball. Decent size frame. He'll put on more muscle. He will learn to use this size to block adequately. He seems like a good guy who loves football. Probably why he is on the Patriots in the first place.

 

[doesntmatter1]

He'll probably turn it around, but I see him as the bringer of doom at the moment.

 

[zoostation]

Yeah but he looked so good in pre season

Better hands than AH and more potential for YAC due to his size

It must still be true.... I read it on this site in August.

 

[Rob0729]

Let's turn on an UDFA four games into his NFL career. An UDFA actually playing four games into his career typically would make him a good pick up. In New England, it makes him a bust.

Our expectations were just too high because of his preseason. His injury might also be a factor.

 

[MassPats38]

I actually thought he might get the invite to the practice squad after that special teams flub. He may be a contributor at some point, but he appears to need more work. I won't hate on the guy as a rookie (Kevin Faulk was not Mr. Reliable early in his career given his fumbling problems, but cleaned up his issues and was a big part of the offense for a long time), but you don't want a few problems to become a large enough train wreck that he cannot bounce back.

 

[livinginthe past]

Only on a fan messageboard can an overacheiving preseason actually be used as a stick to beat a UDFA with!

This guy has played four games - this would be a very small sample size to judge a 1st round pick by, let alone a guy who was undrafted and probably wouldn't have made it past the PS had the Gronk/Ahern situation not hit.

Why people continually scour the roster/box score for someone to berate when we are an unexpected 4-0 is beyond me.

 

[dannydyn]

Given his performance in the pre-season and his lack of performance in the regular season, one must wonder if it's just plain old butterfly nervousness that's playing mind tricks on him. I think the guy is just scared of screwing up, and is trying to avoid a pass from TFB. Every down he plays, I see him with zero effort to try and get open. As if he's trying to remain covered on purpose, so as to not have to deal with a Brady pass, which he may end up dropping.... or else Brady will tear him a new one

 

[Oswlek]

I've only noticed him 3 times in regular season, and each time he screwed up big time.

Fumble... dropped pass leading to INT... dropped on-side kick return....

3 turn overs.

I still think he has a lot of potential though. Get him a few easy catches to build his confidence and see where it goes from there.

When was the fumble? Are you thinking of the Detroit preseason game?

 

[Oswlek]

I'd like to see us bring back Daniel Fells

Trust me, Fells won't be coming back.

Let's turn on an UDFA four games into his NFL career. An UDFA actually playing four games into his career typically would make him a good pick up. In New England, it makes him a bust.

Our expectations were just too high because of his preseason. His injury might also be a factor.

Bingo. :rocker: