Fullback Discussion

[Water Boy]

I have nothing against Jake Westover as a fringe 3rd TE, but the experiment with him as a fullback should be over IMO.

He sits back crouched on his ass and heels in his 3 point stance and has zero acceleration to his point of attack at the line of scrimmage.

I'm all in on Tonga from this point forward. He's in a perfect 3 point stance, fires out like a missile, and has amazing athleticism for his size.

 

[farn]

I miss Devlin.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I miss Devlin.

Develin. Extra E for extra EFFORT.

 

[maust]

 

[Sciz]

Seems like a little bit of a stretch when you can’t even run playaction because Tonga can’t possibly be trusted in blitz pickup. Today’s 8 snaps is probably near the reasonable upper limit.

 

[Urgent]

You don’t think Josh has a play with him receiving a pass?

 

[n1997y]

Seems like a little bit of a stretch when you can’t even run playaction because Tonga can’t possibly be trusted in blitz pickup. Today’s 8 snaps is probably near the reasonable upper limit.

How do you know he “can’t possibly be trusted in blitz pickup”? He has showed some ability to block.

 

[maust]

You don’t think Josh has a play with him receiving a pass?

This is Josh McDaniels we're talking about. He probably has a play with Borregales catching a pass... from Bradbury

 

[Hugepatsfan]

How do you know he “can’t possibly be trusted in blitz pickup”? He has showed some ability to block.

None of us “know” because we haven’t seen it in action but if we have to guess one way or another I think all logic points to our nose tackle not being able to pass block at a good NFL level. It’s be quite the unique trait if he could.

 

[TommyD4207]

You don’t think Josh has a play with him receiving a pass?

I know he does. I'm so ready for it.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Tonga had a tremendous block today against Tampa! Congrats to the patriots coaching staff!!

 

[DaBruinz]

I have nothing against Jake Westover as a fringe 3rd TE, but the experiment with him as a fullback should be over IMO.

He sits back crouched on his ass and heels in his 3 point stance and has zero acceleration to his point of attack at the line of scrimmage.

I'm all in on Tonga from this point forward. He's in a perfect 3 point stance, fires out like a missile, and has amazing athleticism for his size.

It took Develin two years to convert from a Defensive End to a Full back while under the tutelage of Jay Gruden before the Pats signed him to their practice squad in 2012. It took Develin 11 weeks on the Pats practice squad before they promoted him. It took another 2.5 weeks before he appeared in his only game of the 2012 season. That's nearly 3 seasons before Develin earned his way onto the 53.

Westover spent his rookie year as a TE in that Mayo-led s**tshow. So, he's learning on the fly this year. The fact that Vrabel and McDaniels show enough trust in him to put him out there speaks volumes.

Westover is a work in progress. He had all of 2 games of High School Football experience. Yes, he played 5 years of college ball (1 of which was the fubared Covid year), but he had 50 total games he played. He wasn't a great run blocker in college. However, since McDaniel return and the Brock Lampe injury, Westover has shown a willingness to get in there and give it his all.

Tonga played 8 offensive snaps today. How many of them were from a 3 point stance? How many of the plays was he in motion? How many of the plays were he was the lead blocker were STUFFED? 1 of the 8 snaps was on the Drake Make QB sneak that failed. Tonga was lined up behind Drake. So just look at the other 7 snaps.

OH.. Maybe go back and re-watch the Cleveland game. You know. Where Westover was the lead blocker for 14 snaps and the Pats RBs put up 127 yards rushing on a Cleveland Defense that was the #1 Rushing Defense going into that game.

 

[stinkypete]

I’m uneasy about Tonga playing FB. Isn’t that how Richard Seymour got hurt?

 

[TomPatriot]

I miss Devlin.

I did too. Not anymore.

 

[maust]

I did too. Not anymore.

Well he's 37 now so yeah, 'not anymore' is probably right in more ways than one

 

[p8ryts]

None of us “know” because we haven’t seen it in action but if we have to guess one way or another I think all logic points to our nose tackle not being able to pass block at a good NFL level. It’s be quite the unique trait if he could.

Logic be damned. I love Tonga, he looked like he was nailing his blocks. We need to make him a 60-minute player.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I'd like to see a full time FB in this offense. Develin was really good, but Sam Gash was my favorite.

 

[signbabybrady]

Logic be damned. I love Tonga, he looked like he was nailing his blocks. We need to make him a 60-minute player.

I'm with you!!!

I want to see him surpass Hunter for the most 2 way snaps.

 

[Water Boy]

Look at the block Tonga made to spring Henderson around the edge. It was a thing of beauty.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I know he does. I'm so ready for it.

Tony Romo kept saying it all game. Josh is going to hold that one back until it’s absolutely necessary, probably not until the playoffs. (Cue “playoffs?!”quote, but would be a major upset if we don’t make it in at this point).