All the DBs Impressed, But Melifonwu, Patriots Are a Great Fit

[PatsFans.com Article]

All the DBs Impressed, But Melifonwu, Patriots Are a Great Fit

Steve Balestrieri

Melifonwu crushed it at the Combine; he measured in at 6

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[BobDigital]

I don't think at this point he is there at 32 and I don't think he fits the Pats scheme well either but you never know.

 

[WinstonSmith]

I don't think at this point he is there at 32 and I don't think he fits the Pats scheme well either but you never know.

Bob, was curious why you feel he won't fit the Patriots scheme? I haven't watched a second of college ball in over 5 years so I have no opinion and get my pre-draft vibe by reading threads like this and perusing the draft forum.

 

[BobDigital]

Bob, was curious why you feel he won't fit the Patriots scheme? I haven't watched a second of college ball in over 5 years so I have no opinion and get my pre-draft vibe by reading threads like this and perusing the draft forum.

The Pats are a team that like to play back and do sure tackling and tight coverage. This guy comes off to me as more of a down hill type of player. I know he measures well in the combine but no 6'4 215 lb man exist that can cover a quality quick NFL WR in live game action. I worry about what happens if we have him get the F back and cover guys in space when they can use double moves and break to the outside on him.

I like him as part of a D that aggressively gets after it but that is not really ours. Again. I am not saying the Pats won't take him I just don't think his skill set matches up with what we like to do.

 

[Rusty Coupe]

I don't think at this point he is there at 32 and I don't think he fits the Pats scheme well either but you never know.

Can't believe OL wouldn't be Seattle's biggest need, but

Round 1 is a possibility following a strong Senior Bowl as well. Several teams came away impressed, but no team has spent more time looking at him than the Seattle Seahawks — who pick at No. 26 — over the past few months. Melifonwu is basically a blueprint for the long, strong, freakishly athletic DB they look for.



/QUOTE]

Winners and losers from the 2017 NFL scouting combine

 

[DaBruinz]

I'd like @manxman2601 to weigh in here because he seems to be high on Obi.

My take is that Obi is more athlete than football player. One of the guys in the Combine thread figured that Obi wouldn't run better than a 4.6, yet he ran a 4.4. That could mean he plays slower in pads.. Not usually a good thing for a player in the secondary..

My vibe is that Obi is getting the sort of hype that Mandarich, Mamula, and Stephen Hill got. So there will be a lot of unreasonable expectations and he's being set up for failure.

Also, at his size, I question his fit in the Pats secondary, though he's supposedly been talked to about playing LB ala Krugier-Hill. One of the things that I feel was a mistake by him was not running the agility drills. Those drills are an extremely important aspect of evaluating DBs and LBs.. And one that the Pats put a high emphasis on..

 

[oldrover]

Obi Melifonwu... hmmm... if he likes the idea of being a Pat, maybe he can perform a Jedi mind trick on the other 31 teams...



"I'm not the pick you're looking for."

 

[NG Pats Fan]

BB was quoted last year as saying he prefers corners with length and height because of the size of WRs in today's NFL. Don't disagree with me folks, this is a quote from BB.

This guy would fit perfectly with what BB wants. He can cover, he can tackle, he can play inside, can play outside, can play safety, can read coverages.

Completely disagree with Bob.

 

[manxman2601]

I'd like @manxman2601 to weigh in here because he seems to be high on Obi.

My take is that Obi is more athlete than football player. One of the guys in the Combine thread figured that Obi wouldn't run better than a 4.6, yet he ran a 4.4. That could mean he plays slower in pads.. Not usually a good thing for a player in the secondary..

My vibe is that Obi is getting the sort of hype that Mandarich, Mamula, and Stephen Hill got. So there will be a lot of unreasonable expectations and he's being set up for failure.

Also, at his size, I question his fit in the Pats secondary, though he's supposedly been talked to about playing LB ala Krugier-Hill. One of the things that I feel was a mistake by him was not running the agility drills. Those drills are an extremely important aspect of evaluating DBs and LBs.. And one that the Pats put a high emphasis on..

I'm high on his versatility. He can play the Kam Chancellor role, the KGH role or the Brandon Browner role and also be a serviceable-good safety. I'm not overly excited by his tape - I think he dogs it a bit at times - but interms of his versatility and athleticism, he offers a lot. He also comes across as pretty smart so I don't think picking up the system will be necessarily difficult. I like Budda Baker much more though.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I would be shocked if Melifonwo lasted to #32, ironically he is this years Bryon Jones just much bigger.

 

[thecore762]

BB was quoted last year as saying he prefers corners with length and height because of the size of WRs in today's NFL. Don't disagree with me folks, this is a quote from BB.

This guy would fit perfectly with what BB wants. He can cover, he can tackle, he can play inside, can play outside, can play safety, can read coverages.

Completely disagree with Bob.

He was very impressive but it depends how he performs on our scheme, does he have the speed and the hard hitting ability like Cam?

Ideally I'd like us to get a pass rusher on the 1st because we are kinda light there with Shead having a mediocre year and Ninko slowing down and lastly Long gone, so we need a young pass rusher that can provide that edge rush.

 

[patfanken]

I'd like @manxman2601 to weigh in here because he seems to be high on Obi.

My take is that Obi is more athlete than football player. One of the guys in the Combine thread figured that Obi wouldn't run better than a 4.6, yet he ran a 4.4. That could mean he plays slower in pads.. Not usually a good thing for a player in the secondary..

My vibe is that Obi is getting the sort of hype that Mandarich, Mamula, and Stephen Hill got. So there will be a lot of unreasonable expectations and he's being set up for failure.

Also, at his size, I question his fit in the Pats secondary, though he's supposedly been talked to about playing LB ala Krugier-Hill. One of the things that I feel was a mistake by him was not running the agility drills. Those drills are an extremely important aspect of evaluating DBs and LBs.. And one that the Pats put a high emphasis on..

I imagine he'll do those drills at the UConn pro day or in private workouts. I can't image they wouldn't have a number on him for the 3cone and shuttle before the draft

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

Kids from my hometown, wish him the best where ever he ends up.

 

[Huckleberry1]

3 cone on isn't as big a deal for a safety.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It will be interesting to see how much the mocks change after this combine.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Could he really go ahead of Budda Baker?

 

[upstater1]

I've been watching Melifonwu play for UConn for several years. He does run that fast in pads. Only problem is that he overruns plays. He has horrible instincts. He gets burned often. Watch the tape--it doesn't lie. He is not a first rounder.

 

[Keyser Söze]

I would rather have Budda Baker. Not even close.

 

[stinkypete]

I wonder if a team in the 20's is going to view him as a hard hitting, coverage LB in the mold of Deone Buchanan.

 

[skinnydog]

I've been watching Melifonwu play for UConn for several years. He does run that fast in pads. Only problem is that he overruns plays. He has horrible instincts. He gets burned often. Watch the tape--it doesn't lie. He is not a first rounder.

Well, then this is the concern. If he overruns plays and gets out of position he may have recovery speed, but does he have recovery quickness? OTOH, perhaps he just needs good coaching.