Patriots Add Georgia Tech G Shaq Mason In Round Four

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Add Georgia Tech G Shaq Mason In Round Four

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The Patriots addressed their offensive line on Saturday, and in the fourth round added Georgia Tech guard Shaq Mason, their second guard of the round.

Mason adds depth to a group that now also includes Tre Jackson, who was picked earlier in the same round. Both players will likely push incumbents Josh Kline and Jordan Devey, and with Dan Connolly still a free agent, Mason joins Johnson as two players who should set up an interesting position battle heading into training camp. Marcus Cannon and Ryan Wendell would seem to be the likely two players to be your day one starters, but given the injuries this team has faced up front in recent years, it will be interesting to see if either rookie ends up in the line-up this season.


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[jmt57]

Belichick confident Mason can improve pass-blocking | CSNNE.com

"The thing I’ll say about Shaq is just watching him at the Senior Bowl, I mean it was only one week, but he made a huge improvement just in those, whatever it was four or five practices, whatever it was down there," Belichick said during a press conference on Saturday night following the draft. "His stance is different. You could see each day progressively how he was taking to the coaching down there and his footwork and his hand placement and his body position.

Jackson was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Senior Bowl for his well-rounded blocking ability, but Mason impressed with his progress and his dominant run-blocking style. Belichick said he may be one of the most experienced run-blockers -- in terms of snaps -- to come out of the 2015 draft class.

And while Mason's pass-blocking could use some work, the Patriots have dealt with bigger adjustment periods on the interior of their offensive lines in the past and been just fine.

"I mean look, Steve Neal, talk about adjustment," Belichick said of the former Patriots guard, who wrestled in college and did not play football. "The guy went from not even knowing where the field was to starting at guard in a year and a half. It’s not that kind of adjustment.

"And [Mason] is a football player and from a run-blocking standpoint, I’d say he’s probably ahead of every other player in the draft.​

 

[mrbean]

Worst case scenario is that he can't pass protect and BB turns him into the most devastating fullback the league has ever seen. Can't go wrong either way.

 

[ausbacker]

Worst case scenario is that he can't pass protect and BB turns him into the most devastating fullback the league has ever seen. Can't go wrong either way.

Belichick and his crew have turned Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell into somewhat respectable NFL linemen. I'm sure he and Gug can teach Mason how to pass protect.

 

[mrbean]

Most definitely. He's our starting LG by the start of 2016, imo.

 

[AzorianPats]

Gonna be an interesting camp battle for the 2 guard positions between Wendell, Flemming, Jackson and Mason.

 

[Username]

LG Blount will be running through the line of scrimmage untouched every single time

 

[jmt57]

LG Blount will be running through the line of scrimmage untouched every single time

LOL, when I first read that I was picturing Blount having replaced Mankins and Connolly as the new starting left guard.