Patriots agree to terms with FB Danny Vitale

My favorite player, and most under-rated, of the Montana era 49ers was Tom Rathman. He created horrific matchup problems with his lead blocking and receiving skills. If Vitale can be a serviceable lead blocker in today's NFL that features lighter front 7's, he could create matchup hell of his own.

DropKickFlutie said:

Hard to deny video of him flat out whiffing on run blocks. He's not going to make the team if he tries to be a versatile hBack instead of be an elite run blocking FB

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Except there is no video of him flat out whiffing on run blocks.
Vitale has played about 400 snaps in the nfl and you are judging his blocking ability by 2 blocks that were decent, but not great.

DropKickFlutie said:

Problem is Vitale isn't a blocking FB. He fancies himself a superback catching balls out of the backfield. No thanks.

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He “fancies himself”? WTF.

DropKickFlutie said:

Hard to deny video of him flat out whiffing on run blocks. He's not going to make the team if he tries to be a versatile hBack instead of be an elite run blocking FB

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It's almost like you have shares in him getting cut by the team.

BelizePats said:

It's almost like you have shares in him getting cut by the team.

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Nah I'm just being objective about how the team really needs to replace Devlin and this guy isn't that. He isn't an elite run blocker but rather an aspiring Hback that we don't need

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I haven't seen much in any of your recent posts on Vitale that could be described as "objective".

The team, by its actions, has made it very clear that this dude is making the team. He may not end up doing exactly what Devlin did, but he's making the 53. Follow the money!

DropKickFlutie said:

Nah I'm just being objective about how the team really needs to replace Devlin and this guy isn't that. He isn't an elite run blocker but rather an aspiring Hback that we don't need

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This team has never “replaced” players. It finds the best players it can and uses their skill set the best they can. Vitals is a good football player and will have a role in this offense, somewhere as large as devlins, which varied greatly based upon the other players on the roster and hie he fit in to the plans.

captain stone said:

I really, really hope not...Patrick Pass sucked.

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The role, not the results ...

Vitale only had a 41.6 blocking grade last year.

Lazar: Danny Vitale More of Pass-Catching Fullback Than Lead Blocker | CLNS Media

Ring 6 said:

He “fancies himself”? WTF.

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DropKickFlutie said:

Vitale only had a 41.6 blocking grade last year.

Lazar: Danny Vitale More of Pass-Catching Fullback Than Lead Blocker | CLNS Media

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Yes, but you're assuming that the team plans to use him the same way they did with Devlin. It is a mistake to make this assumption.

DropKickFlutie said:

Vitale only had a 41.6 blocking grade last year.

Lazar: Danny Vitale More of Pass-Catching Fullback Than Lead Blocker | CLNS Media

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PFF grades are worthless.

DropKickFlutie said:

The more I think about it the more I think Vitale does not make the team. Jacob Johnson is the true run blocking FB we need. Vitale is a self proclaimed superback who plays more HBack or moveTE. This competes with what Keene is doing. I don't see Vitale sticking with the team without a clear role. We do not need a poor run blocking FB who catches 10 passes next year.

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U trippin’

DropKickFlutie said:

Vitale only had a 41.6 blocking grade last year.

Lazar: Danny Vitale More of Pass-Catching Fullback Than Lead Blocker | CLNS Media

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The thing that i find hard to believe u don't understand is that learning to block isnt that much of a difficulty.... Jakob came from Germnay and i 100% guarantee games in Europe are FAR from being similar to the NFL (at least if my time playing in Netherlands and Portugal is any indication) and yet he was able to do his role well enough to be place on the roster.

IF Vitale is willing (and whatever commentary about the subject is speculative), he could learn to block and have all these "Super Hback" qualities

Blocking is a skill but there is also a lot of effort in that role. It seems Vitale is not short on effort.

Zuma said:

Blocking is a skill but there is also a lot of effort in that role. It seems Vitale is not short on effort.

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We also have Ivan Fears, who is about as experienced a RB coach as you can get. We've had a number of running backs come and go through this team over the last 20 years, and they always seem to find another one that works. Part of that is good scouting, but a large part is also good coaching. If Vitale is able (and willing) to be a better blocker, I'm betting on Ivan to get it out of him.

Size matters too for the meatheads. Vitale is 6'0", 239 lbs. Develin and Johnson are both 6'3", 255 lbs.

One-If-By-Sea said:

Size matters too for the meatheads. Vitale is 6'0", 239 lbs. Develin and Johnson are both 6'3", 255 lbs.

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Vitale bench pressed 225 pounds thirty times...

To put that into perspective, only 8 players at the combine benched more and they were all offensive or defensive lineman weighing over 264 pounds.

PFF player grades are garbage.

BelizePats said:

Yes, but you're assuming that the team plans to use him the same way they did with Devlin. It is a mistake to make this assumption.

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Never assume.

1960Pats said:

Never assume.

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