Mafi - DT Conversion

[One-If-By-Sea]

Agreed they will try to place okorafor at left tackle, but Wallace is a RT, not a left... Don't understand why that narrative was floated out there...

Because Wolf, the Pats GM, said Wallace was switching to left tackle.

Patriots see Caedan Wallace moving from Penn State right tackle to NFL left tackle

Rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace has a tough job ahead of him in New England: The Patriots want him to earn the starting left tackle job, having been almost exclusively a right tackle at Penn State.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Real fan 02]

I think I read he played on the DL in high school and maybe early college.

He's doing well at where he's at... we need all the solid O line play we can get to protect drake.. leave him where he is..

 

[rkarp1]

I like Mafi's size, strength and temperate. clearly he needs coaching, which he did not get much of last year. that said, Mafi played 44% of the offensive snaps counts last year compared to J Andrews 6%. get him better coaching and more snaps, I believe he is an asset to the team

 

[PatsFan2]

I know you are rolling your eyes as you read this, but based on the log jam at OG,
would it hurt to see if Mafi could learn 0 technique on the defensive line?

I feel like we are lacking beef upfront. He's listed as 6'3" 330.

I'd welcome any insight on the physical traits and skill set that would be necessary for an Olineman conversion to DT. I understand that technique takes years to develop and that alone probably makes it a pipedream, but if he's OG 4, what would we have to lose?

Having Beef doesn't mean a player is particularly good. We should just hope Mafi improves at Guard he was a turnstyle there last year.

 

[PatsFan2]

Mafi was a defensive lineman in college and switched to offensive lineman due to his skill set. He was tried on the defensive line and it did not end well. I doubt it will ever be tried again.

NFL Draft Preview 2023: UCLA Football Offensive Guard Atonio Mafi

The Tongan defensive lineman-turned-offensive lineman reshaped his body and got himself on NFL teams' radars this year.

www.si.com

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed they will try to place okorafor at left tackle, but Wallace is a RT, not a left... Don't understand why that narrative was floated out there...

There’s a possibility Wallace can play either side, I just question as a rookie if he’s strong enough to start this season.

We saw first round picks like Solder, Strange and others have growing pains before eventually settling in and playing well. Asking a third round pick in Wallace or a fourth round pick in Robinson to start out of camp is a tall ask.

If either of these rookies lifted at the combine or pro day and showed out I’d be more confident… but both were healthy and refused to bench. That tells me they knew it would only hurt their draft stock.

I have more faith in UDFA Zuri Henry, he benched, put up solid numbers and athletically is similar to Wallace. This doesn’t mean Wallace couldn’t secretly be strong like a bull and simply chose not to lift… twice… I just doubt it.

 

[Zuma]

Because Wolf, the Pats GM, said Wallace was switching to left tackle.

Patriots see Caedan Wallace moving from Penn State right tackle to NFL left tackle

Rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace has a tough job ahead of him in New England: The Patriots want him to earn the starting left tackle job, having been almost exclusively a right tackle at Penn State.

www.nbcsports.com

I think over time Wolf and Mayo will hold there cards closer to the vest and not blurt out their intentions so easily. I think the coaches will change their minds and play Wallace at RT where he has mostly practiced so far. And Onwenu at RG.

 

[Wozzy]

I think over time Wolf and Mayo will hold there cards closer to the vest and not blurt out their intentions so easily. I think the coaches will change their minds and play Wallace at RT where he has mostly practiced so far. And Onwenu at RG.

They've been blabbermouths to this point, especially Mayo.

I get that they want to distance themselves from the previous regime and be more open and cordial, but if it starts to effect the outcome on the field it will be a problem.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think over time Wolf and Mayo will hold there cards closer to the vest and not blurt out their intentions so easily. I think the coaches will change their minds and play Wallace at RT where he has mostly practiced so far. And Onwenu at RG.

Agreed.. I believe they are forthcoming to soothe the fan base. Owners prioritize profits margins first and foremost.. I think they will always be transparent with the media and the fans.. it's not like we are giving away game plans and AVPs play sheet.. ownenu has said he was staying at RT no?

 

[patman52]

Agreed they will try to place okorafor at left tackle, but Wallace is a RT, not a left... Don't understand why that narrative was floated out there...

I thought Peters said that Wallace was getting most of his reps at LT. The hope is that he is the long term answer there. Okafor got a one year deal to be a bridge. The TE will be on that side at chipping.

 

[Real fan 02]

They've been blabbermouths to this point, especially Mayo.

I get that they want to distance themselves from the previous regime and be more open and cordial, but if it starts to effect the outcome on the field it will be a problem.

Mayo's in the honey moon phase.. personally I don't have a issue with anything he's said... it's not like we are contender right now.. he'll settle in and adapt as all coaches do.. Bill was much more forthcoming when he first came then he became over the years..

 

[Zuma]

Agreed.. I believe they are forthcoming to soothe the fan base. Owners prioritize profits margins first and foremost.. I think they will always be transparent with the media and the fans.. it's not like we are giving away game plans and AVPs play sheet.. ownenu has said he was staying at RT no?

The coaches (especially Mayo, AVP) will put the players where they will best contribute and not force them to play out of position for multiple games like the previous coaches. Less ego issues this time around with coaches. Yeah Onwenu said that and yeah it won’t matter by the time the season starts.

 

[Wozzy]

Mayo's in the honey moon phase.. personally I don't have a issue with anything he's said... it's not like we are contender right now.. he'll settle in and adapt as all coaches do.. Bill was much more forthcoming when he first came then he became over the years..

I give Mayo a mulligan for being a rookie and being overenthusiastic, but he's had to walk back multiple things already.

Again, this is all just offseason nonsense, if he starts accidentally revealing injury information or pre-game roster decisions that could hurt the team on the field it will be a problem.

Bill never revealed anything that could possibly give opponents an edge and reporters hated him for not being more forthcoming... I had no problem with it. If it can affect the outcome of the game, keep your mouth shut, no matter who you are. The funniest part is when reporters would ask Bill about the history of the pooch punt and he would give a half hour masterclass on the subject. If it wasn't game related, he was very verbose.

 

[Real fan 02]

The coaches (especially Mayo, AVP) will put the players where they will best contribute and not force them to play out of position for multiple games like the previous coaches. Less ego issues this time around with coaches. Yeah Onwenu said that and yeah it won’t matter by the time the season starts.

Agreed here. I did hear AVP saying they were all about putting players where they can excel.. nothing wrong with asking a player to do other things.. how if you drafted a guy to play WR or TE and be a game changer.. then he needs be in that position all the time.

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed here. I did hear AVP saying they were all about putting players where they can excel.. nothing wrong with asking a player to do other things.. how if you drafted a guy to play WR or TE and be a game changer.. then he needs be in that position all the time.

This is all well and good in theory, but 53 man rosters and injuries can derail this notion quickly.

Sometimes you need Troy Brown to start at nickel CB... sometimes there is no better option.

 

[Real fan 02]

I give Mayo a mulligan for being a rookie and being overenthusiastic, but he's had to walk back multiple things already.

Again, this is all just offseason nonsense, if he starts accidentally revealing injury information or pre-game roster decisions that could hurt the team on the field it will be a problem.

Bill never revealed anything that could possibly give opponents an edge and reporters hated him for not being more forthcoming... I had no problem with it. If it can affect the outcome of the game, keep your mouth shut, no matter who you are. The funniest part is when reporters would ask Bill about the history of the pooch punt and he would give a half hour masterclass on the subject. If it wasn't game related, he was very verbose.

Yes that's true. I think people tend to forget bill was a military mindset type of guy. Is how he ran his team. His personality was that of such..

Mayo knows what he can't say and can say when it comes to his team. Once this thing gets started for real in camp then I'd expect him to more controlled on what he wants to say vice versa.. these men have 2 vastly different personalities.. I just want Mayo to do what he feels is going to allow him to be the best coach he can be.

 

[Pape]

I thought Peters said that Wallace was getting most of his reps at LT. The hope is that he is the long term answer there. Okafor got a one year deal to be a bridge. The TE will be on that side at chipping.

Reps with no pads etc is eh... guess we will have to wait and see how well he does in camp...

 

[Real fan 02]

This is all well and good in theory, but 53 man rosters and injuries can derail this notion quickly.

Sometimes you need Troy Brown to start at nickel CB... sometimes there is no better option.

That's can be true.. but don't try to hassle guys during negotiations..when they did what was best for the team like a great TE who broke his arm on a PAT during a blow out.. or edleman lining up at DB becuase we had so many CB bust those seasons.. Giving up 400 yards passing..

 

[Wozzy]

Reps with no pads etc is eh... guess we will have to wait and see how well he does in camp...

This ^

Nothing in OTA's means anything.... show me when the pads come on.

 

[Pape]

I think over time Wolf and Mayo will hold there cards closer to the vest and not blurt out their intentions so easily.

one can only hope so...

got to wonder how many guys the put on other teams radar leading up to the draft with all that loose lip talk

I think the coaches will change their minds and play Wallace at RT where he has mostly practiced so far. And Onwenu at RG.

i think Wallace as a RT as well... however, i guess in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't hurt it to see if he can pan out at LT... But i do think he he had shown the ability to be an elite level LT, Penn State would have used him as a LT...

but going into camp i do think our line is way overbalanced... too much right not enough left, especially after getting the cole strange news