Mafi - DT Conversion

[mgteich]

Questions:

RT Onwenu > RT Wallace? - presumably yes for the time being
G Onwenu > G Sow, Robinson Mafi, etc. - presumably yes.
G Sow, Robinson, Mafi > RT Wallace - TBD

I assume this will determine whether Ownenu plays RT on a regular basis or not.

not really.

Whether Sow ia moved to LG is relevant to the decision at RT.

Does anyone truly think that the coaching staff will judge that Wallace is a better RT in 2024 than Onwenu, the man they judged paid all that money for? Really?

IMO, the reporting has been clear, although obviously, time on the field can change the situation. The expectation of the team is that the starting lineup will most likely be

Okrorafor, Mafi/Sow, Andrews, Mafi/Sow, Onwenu, and with Leverett being the emergency veteran backup at guard and center. I

 

[VrabelJr]

Our OL was awful in Weeks 1-4 and got better after we put the five best players, regardless of position, on the field. If we stick with that mantra It's clear that you want Onwenu, Sow, and Andrews on the field. I can't see Onwenu playing RT until Strange comes back and Sow moves to RG.

I don't know how to rank our other two best OL. It should be two of Wallace, Okorafor, and Anderson but who knows.

 

[pazrul72]

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.

Bench press is a horrible way to measure strength, especially for long armed tackles. For guards and DTs it’s slightly more valuable, kind of the same way 40 times gives you a rough guess, but is not worth more then game speed measurements. There is precisely zero times on a football field where a lineman has to do a bench press. Real strength and push comes from the legs and ass anyway. Go listen to Jason kelce’s podcast about coaches and gm’s looking at other men’s asses. One it’s hysterical, and two dude knows what he is talking about.

Real life example, I used to work at Home Depot in the lot loading peoples cars, coworker was like 5’2 but HUGE, clearly went to the gym everyday *cough supplements cough?* I’m 6’4 320 but this dudes arms were almost twice as big as my thighs, just absolutely jacked. Zero doubt in my mind we go to the gym he outlifts me by a **** ton. We had to help a customer put a refrigerator on his truck, I was joking with my coworker he should be able to lift it with one hand. Turns out he couldn’t bend and actual functional strength was almost zero, I picked up way more of that fridge then he did. So monster arms and benching a ton looks good and impresses chicks, but in the real world of doing actual work it’s all about leg strength and bending, flexibility with applying force.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

I say wth, let him do kickoffs.... XD

 

[Real fan 02]

No NFL team can overpay because a player worked his butt off or has wide girth. God help us.

Wolf said that Onwenu would be the RT and Wallace would be the LT. Why don't you believe what Wolf has said. You think Wolf was lying?

It's funny the consensus on the forum all last season was getting the QB... we now have the QB much better all around pieces on offense but some mayo haters think we will be worse than the NAVY offense last 2 season.. Ahoy mate!

 

[Zuma]

IMO, the reporting has been clear…

NFL Notes: Minicamp Saw More from Maye

www.patriots.com

Rookie Caedan Wallace manned the right tackle spot while free agent addition Chuks Okorafor was at left tackle.

 

[mgteich]

He originally was a DT in college.

Mafi has a good chance to Mafi the 53 and be a backup or even a starter at OG.

Mafi has no chance of changing positions in a few weeks and beat out the players that he would need to in order to make the 53 as a DT. I'm sure that there will be dozens of better DT's available at cutoff time, if there are a couple of injuries and we think that we need a DT.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

It's funny the consensus on the forum all last season was getting the QB... we now have the QB much better all around pieces on offense but some mayo haters think we will be worse than the NAVY offense last 2 season.. Ahoy mate!

Who are the Mayo haters?

 

[Zuma]

Who are the Mayo haters?

When I make tuna fish or chicken salad…I use a boatload of mayo. Hellmann’s has always been my fav but the past few years it’s been Dukes. It’s the same as Hellmann’s just stronger. Probably the vinegar.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

When I make tuna fish or chicken salad…I use a boatload of mayo. Hellmann’s has always been my fav but the past few years it’s been Dukes. It’s the same as Hellmann’s just stronger. Probably the vinegar.

That damn vinegar is popping up everywhere, but I love his approach and attitude. If only we could have selected vinegar in the 4th round, early in the 3rd round was really not good value.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Nick Leverett was only guaranteed 575K.

But he is not signed at vet minimum. The vet minimum is a fixed amount per week he is on the roster, and he is making well above that amount each week.

So far the projected rosters I've seen from folks like Lazar have Leverett making the team and Mafi off. But obviously very early days.

 

[mgteich]

But he is not signed at vet minimum. The vet minimum is a fixed amount per week he is on the roster, and he is making well above that amount each week.

So far the projected rosters I've seen from folks like Lazar have Leverett making the team and Mafi off. But obviously very early days.

Sow is a starter and was one of the best rookie OL's drafted last year.

We also drafted Mafi and Andrews as backups. Mafi took lots of reps. Andrews started 2 games. We seem to think that ALL draft picks should be successful. Well, just perhaps the team thought so much of the play of Mafi and Andrews that they signed Leverett and drafted Robinson. (last year we had Mafi, Andrews and Ferentz)

WHICH ONE ARE YOU VOTING OFF THE ISLAND?
Robinson
Leverett
Andrews
Mafi

I suspect/hope that the decision is yet to be made.

 

[Wozzy]

Bench press is a horrible way to measure strength, especially for long armed tackles. For guards and DTs it’s slightly more valuable, kind of the same way 40 times gives you a rough guess, but is not worth more then game speed measurements. There is precisely zero times on a football field where a lineman has to do a bench press. Real strength and push comes from the legs and ass anyway. Go listen to Jason kelce’s podcast about coaches and gm’s looking at other men’s asses. One it’s hysterical, and two dude knows what he is talking about.

Real life example, I used to work at Home Depot in the lot loading peoples cars, coworker was like 5’2 but HUGE, clearly went to the gym everyday *cough supplements cough?* I’m 6’4 320 but this dudes arms were almost twice as big as my thighs, just absolutely jacked. Zero doubt in my mind we go to the gym he outlifts me by a **** ton. We had to help a customer put a refrigerator on his truck, I was joking with my coworker he should be able to lift it with one hand. Turns out he couldn’t bend and actual functional strength was almost zero, I picked up way more of that fridge then he did. So monster arms and benching a ton looks good and impresses chicks, but in the real world of doing actual work it’s all about leg strength and bending, flexibility with applying force.

Bench press is a great way to measure upper body strength… which is why the test for it at the combine and a hundred pro days around the nation.

 

[Wozzy]

But he is not signed at vet minimum. The vet minimum is a fixed amount per week he is on the roster, and he is making well above that amount each week.

So far the projected rosters I've seen from folks like Lazar have Leverett making the team and Mafi off. But obviously very early days.

You haggling over a couple hundred grand in guaranteed money is akin to arguing over the pennies in the seat cushion.

The guy signed a contract that amounts to a tryout at an age when good players coming off their rookie deals are signing the first mega deal of their career.

I’m not knocking the guy for it, but people here are suggesting he’s good… like Tampa couldn’t have used a good guard. They could…

This is like people telling me Okorafor is good coming from a terrible line in Pittsburgh after New. England traded them the first round draft pick they desperately needed to draft his replacement.

Bad players don’t suddenly become good just by changing their jersey.

 

[rkarp1]

Sow is a starter and was one of the best rookie OL's drafted last year.

We also drafted Mafi and Andrews as backups. Mafi took lots of reps. Andrews started 2 games. We seem to think that ALL draft picks should be successful. Well, just perhaps the team thought so much of the play of Mafi and Andrews that they signed Leverett and drafted Robinson. (last year we had Mafi, Andrews and Ferentz)

WHICH ONE ARE YOU VOTING OFF THE ISLAND?
Robinson
Leverett
Andrews
Mafi

I suspect/hope that the decision is yet to be made.

your post is 100% factual, but leaves off the change in offensive staff and wanting to run the ball more behind a different OL scheme. players like Jake Andrews and Cole Strange who perhaps fit well in the previous scheme, might not fit in the new scheme. I think the bigger/stronger players have the inside track for the interior line play. Sow, Mafi and Robinson seem to be locks imo.

 

[Since1960]

Didn’t Clive Rush (yeah, the one who was almost electrocuted during his opening presser) try this? He had to switch some offensive players in order to build his Black Power Defense. Like this idea, that didn’t end well either. There’s usually a good reason why a player who is 24 - 25 years old after years of playing and being coached in his current position - it’s the one he has excelled at…

 

[mgteich]

You haggling over a couple hundred grand in guaranteed money is akin to arguing over the pennies in the seat cushion.

The guy signed a contract that amounts to a tryout at an age when good players coming off their rookie deals are signing the first mega deal of their career.

I’m not knocking the guy for it, but people here are suggesting he’s good… like Tampa couldn’t have used a good guard. They could…

This is like people telling me Okorafor is good coming from a terrible line in Pittsburgh after New. England traded them the first round draft pick they desperately needed to draft his replacement.

Bad players don’t suddenly become good just by changing their jersey.

You seem to need to compare the signing of end-of-the roster backups to the compensation of top players.
==========
The compensation for top players is irrelevant. The compensation for starters is irrelevant.

I haven't a clue what you mean by "good" players. We are talking about a replacement for Ferentz, someone who can start at center and at guard if necessary, and a player who can step right in off the bench during a game to replace a center or guard.

20 players on the team have a lower cap hit than Leverett. Leverett is being considered for one of the three backup IOL roster spots.

And yes, I do pay attention to what we pay as incentives for players that are "trying out" for a roster spot. Of course, you mean "competing". BTW, another player is also competing for the same roster spot and situation as Leverett. Jordan also is an option to replace Ferentz. You can look up the amount of his guaranteed money.

The team signed lots of players to compete for roster spots. Some are expected to compete for major roles or even starting roles. Of course, these players were guaranteed more money.

BOTTOM LINE
Vet minimum is what is paid for JAGs competing for spots at the end of the roster. Leverett is being paid more. Apparently, you simply don't like the idea that Mafi might be replaced, after having been given every opportunity last year. Mafi might stay. I suspect that the signing of a vet JAG has little to do with keeping future potential starters like Mafi, Andrews and Robinson.

HOWEVER, I do indeed expect either Mafi or Andrews to be cut. yes, I understand that the team could a 4th rounder for the first time B.B. (before Belichick). I really don't think that the coaches would start their careers with such a slap in the face to Wolf. More likely is an injury to one of the IOL competitors.

 

[Wozzy]

You seem to need to compare the signing of end-of-the roster backups to the compensation of top players.
==========
The compensation for top players is irrelevant. The compensation for starters is irrelevant.

I haven't a clue what you mean by "good" players. We are talking about a replacement for Ferentz, someone who can start at center and at guard if necessary, and a player who can step right in off the bench during a game to replace a center or guard.

20 players on the team have a lower cap hit than Leverett. Leverett is being considered for one of the three backup IOL roster spots.

And yes, I do pay attention to what we pay as incentives for players that are "trying out" for a roster spot. Of course, you mean "competing". BTW, another player is also competing for the same roster spot and situation as Leverett. Jordan also is an option to replace Ferentz. You can look up the amount of his guaranteed money.

The team signed lots of players to compete for roster spots. Some are expected to compete for major roles or even starting roles. Of course, these players were guaranteed more money.

BOTTOM LINE
Vet minimum is what is paid for JAGs competing for spots at the end of the roster. Leverett is being paid more. Apparently, you simply don't like the idea that Mafi might be replaced, after having been given every opportunity last year. Mafi might stay. I suspect that the signing of a vet JAG has little to do with keeping future potential starters like Mafi, Andrews and Robinson.

HOWEVER, I do indeed expect either Mafi or Andrews to be cut. yes, I understand that the team could a 4th rounder for the first time B.B. (before Belichick). I really don't think that the coaches would start their careers with such a slap in the face to Wolf. More likely is an injury to one of the IOL competitors.

When you’re suggesting said player could/should be starting and has more upside than a promising second year player… yeah, i’ll disagree. Don’t use so many words.

 

[mgteich]

When you’re suggesting said player could/should be starting and has more upside than a promising second year player… yeah, i’ll disagree. Don’t use so many words.

He is considered so promising at OG that we are having a thread about switching to DT.

He is considered so promising at OG that we used a 4th to sign another guard.

If team agrees with you, then Mafi will surely make the team ahead of Leverett. I suspect that they consider Mafi less promising than you do.

 

[Real fan 02]

Who are the Mayo haters?

Look around...