Player Signing Rookie FA's signed

[VJCPatriot]

I hope that Dragosavich and Redd can make the squad.

I really wanted Jamie Silva to be brought it... goddamn Colts!

Wow did we really bring in Drago??

I will BREAK you!

Drago and Silva are similar players. If that helps at all :

Silva: 5-10 204 40 time 4.82
Drago: 6-5 212 40 time: 4.85

A 6-5 punter?? Dang, now that's a big boy.
Oh and I heard he had a 69 yard punt at the Senior Bowl. That's crazy! Really hope he makes the team.

 

[crowell33]

Yeah Dragosavich hit a 69 yarder ( Senior Bowl record ) but did you know he also hit a 68 yarder in the same game? Punting average for the Senior Bowl was 58 yards. Neither of those punts was his season long though
(that would be 70 yards ). This kid was a high school TE who had 1109 yards receiving his senior year to go with 16 touchdowns. PS ...he loves to tackle and hit as well. I'll be shocked if this kid doesn't make the team.

 

[mgteich]

The punter will certainly have his opportunity. The rest have almost no chance of making the roster, although the Practice Squad is a possibility for some.

 

[MosiT]

Re: Rookie FA\'s signed

For the most part these guys, and the ones that other teams have signed, will never make it past training camp, some even as early as mini camp.

That being said, Redd does sound like a potential keeper but of course there are two other LB\'s that were drafted that will have the better look see. The punter, Drago sounds like he might get a good chance to stay, but good kickers in college have come to Foxboro and fizzled.

But one never knows and teams do get very lucky on occasion.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

At least these guys will make some decent money for a few weeks.

 

[MosiT]

Re: Rookie FA\'s signed

Wow did we really bring in Drago??

I will BREAK you!



A 6-5 punter?? Dang, now that\'s a big boy.

Not that Lonnie Paxton gets off many bad snaps, in fact I have hardly ever seen him make even one bad snap, with a punter that tall you can feel a lot safer if he has to punt from the goal line that one wont go over his head and in and out of the end zone.

Speaking of Lonnie Paxton...he is pro bowl material as far as I am concerned as far as long snappers go but they dont have a category for that. He deserves recognition, IMO.

 

[upstater1]

Wow, from that video it looks as though he has an unorthodox stride. And here's the scary thing. He looks like he could actually generate more force if he learned to kick the ball at it's lowest point in the drop which is where his leg also has the most force as it connects with the ball. He's kicking the ball right now where his leg is almost 90 degrees to his body.

Now the bad part: he needs 3 steps to unload the ball. That's not going to cut it.

His whole technique has to be broken down and built up from scratch.

 

[The 12th Man]

Wow, from that video it looks as though he has an unorthodox stride. And here's the scary thing. He looks like he could actually generate more force if he learned to kick the ball at it's lowest point in the drop which is where his leg also has the most force as it connects with the ball. He's kicking the ball right now where his leg is almost 90 degrees to his body.

Now the bad part: he needs 3 steps to unload the ball. That's not going to cut it.

His whole technique has to be broken down and built up from scratch.

That's exactly what I saw as well. Couldn't have said it better myself. This kid does have a great leg, but his technique will not work in the NFL. It all depends now how and if he is able to adjust to th4 changes with some coaching and how long it will take him to get it down.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

That's exactly what I saw as well. Couldn't have said it better myself. This kid does have a great leg, but his technique will not work in the NFL. It all depends now how and if he is able to adjust to th4 changes with some coaching and how long it will take him to get it down.

Well, obviously the Patriots think it's worth bothering to try. Either that, or they're just going to move him back to TE.

 

[MosiT]

Re: Rookie FA\\\'s signed

Well, obviously the Patriots think its worth bothering to try. Either that, or theyre just going to move him back to TE.

Sometimes I worry a little bit when I see BB overly interested in tight ends.

 

[Jimke]

The punter will certainly have his opportunity. The rest have almost no chance of making the roster, although the Practice Squad is a possibility for some.

This is a typical group of UDFAs for the Patriots: one good

player and the rest lowly ranked training camp fodder.

 

[patchick]

This is a typical group of UDFAs for the Patriots: one good

player and the rest lowly ranked training camp fodder.

Jimke, didn't you post earlier in the other UDFA thread saying that the Pats are lousy at finding UDFAs, then a bunch of people responded listing the extraordinary number of contributors the Pats have claimed from the undrafted ranks? Why are you so convinced this is a weakness of the team when it's always been a strength?

 

[Wotan_the_Wanderer]

Redd obviously needs to get stronger, but the speed's there. Can't make too much out of the following game film clips, but at the very least, he's good when unblocked (like that's going to happen much to an OLB in the NFL) and in backside pursuit.

As a developmental guy, someone whom the Jets will most likely claim, I like this pick up.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=91hgZT-q0L0

[rather not comment on a punter even though I must admit I like the pick-up also]

 

[wahwho]

Hm. Reiss says that Dragosavich is only in for a tryout, he hasn't signed yet. Sign him already!

 

[rusH1023]

4.5 at 263?

I don't believe any of these 40 times.

I have to agree. Beyond even this particular case -- many of them seemed strange this year.

 

[pats1]

Hm. Reiss says that Dragosavich is only in for a tryout, he hasn't signed yet. Sign him already!

Same thing with Catthouse.

 

[Jimke]

Jimke, didn't you post earlier in the other UDFA thread saying that the Pats are lousy at finding UDFAs, then a bunch of people responded listing the extraordinary number of contributors the Pats have claimed from the undrafted ranks? Why are you so convinced this is a weakness of the team when it's always been a strength?

The Patriots starting roster is composed of 14 drafted players, 6 players
acquired as free agents, and 2 players acquired in trades. The only player
who was signed as a UDFA originally was Neal who was cut, signed to the
Eagles practice squad, and later re-signed to the Patriots
Patriots 53 man roster.

Gay (2004), Guiterrez (2007), Paxton (2000), Woods (2006), and
Wright (2005) were signed as UDFAs and made the 53 man roster in
their rookie season. All these players (with the possible exception of
Paxton) were ranked as pretty good players who simply were not
drafted. I refer to them as high end UDFAs.

Eckel was a high end UFDA who was cut the Patriots, signed to the
Dolphins 53 man roster, cut by the Dolphins, and re-signed by the Patriots.

Alexander (2004) and Ventrone (2005) were low end UDFAs who were
cut and ended up on the practice squad. Ventrone returned to the
Pats in 2007 after a stay with the Jets.

Britt, Spach, Spann, and Yates were signed by the Pats as UFAs
after serving time with other teams.

My point in all this verbiage is that even more UDFAs might make
the Patriots if they signed more high end UDFAs. The Colts play
the UDFA game to perfection and have two defensive starters for
their efforts.

 

[Ungeheuer]

The Patriots starting roster is composed of 14 drafted players, 6 players
acquired as free agents, and 2 players acquired in trades. The only player
who was signed as a UDFA originally was Neal who was cut, signed to the
Eagles practice squad, and later re-signed to the Patriots
Patriots 53 man roster.

Gay (2004), Guiterrez (2007), Paxton (2000), Woods (2006), and
Wright (2005) were signed as UDFAs and made the 53 man roster in
their rookie season. All these players (with the possible exception of
Paxton) were ranked as pretty good players who simply were not
drafted. I refer to them as high end UDFAs.

Eckel was a high end UFDA who was cut the Patriots, signed to the
Dolphins 53 man roster, cut by the Dolphins, and re-signed by the Patriots.

Alexander (2004) and Ventrone (2005) were low end UDFAs who were
cut and ended up on the practice squad. Ventrone returned to the
Pats in 2007 after a stay with the Jets.

Britt, Spach, Spann, and Yates were signed by the Pats as UFAs
after serving time with other teams.

My point in all this verbage is that even more UDFAs might make
the Patriots if they signed more high end UDFAs. The Colts play
the UDFA game to perfection and have two defensive starters for
their efforts.

Jimke, are you high? Look at some of the UDFAs who have been starters or key contributors on Pats Super Bowl teams -- Gay, Neal and Adam Vinatieri are the big names, but there are so many who really added something significant. If you don't think Paxton is a valuable player, ask the Giants how hard it is to find a long snapper. Mike Wright played a ton of snaps this year and was pretty damned good. Woods is another player who was on the field a lot during the Super Bowl. How about Tom Ashworth, remember him? He started at right tackle for a Super Bowl team. Joe Andruzzi was an UDFA -- originally for the Packers, true, but he got his real start with the Pats.

The point is the Pats are a Super Bowl contending team that regularly has between 8-10 undrafted guys on the roster. They have a well-established habit of developing guys like Ashworth and Neal for years before they get real use out of them. To say that they don't take enough "high end" undrafted guys makes no sense at all -- particularly when your argument is that the Colts are better because they have two undrafted starters on defense. Um, so what? The Colts are good at what they do, agreed. But how can you possibly argue that the Pats aren't at least one of the top teams when it comes to finding undrafted contributors? Good luck finding another team that wins as much, first of all -- and then good luck finding another team that wins as much with so many undrafted guys on the roster.

Beyond that -- the Pats should also get credit for getting so much out of guys drafted in the low rounds. Guys like Brandon Gorin, Tully Banta-Cain, Russ Hochstein and David Givens weren't undrafted free agents, but they were pretty close. These were journeymen, lowly-rated guys whom the team coached up to become key contributors to championship teams. They have an extensive track record there. This guy Josh Coffman they just signed -- he looks like a classic Pats UDFA. Former tight end, converted to tackle, needs a year or two to put on weight and get coached up. Just like Ashworth and Gorin. Will he be a star? Probably not. Okay, so they don't have any Antonio Gateses in their lineup. But they get guys who can help. A lot of teams can't even find guys to play in the actual draft.

 

[patchick]

Jimke, your post really confused me. What is a "high end UDFA" if not one who can make a top-flight NFL roster? And our roster is loaded with them!

Then you come up with a criterion of having UDFAs starting. But isn't that largely a function of who's above them? Mike Wright and Randall Gay might well have cracked starting lineups for other teams (Gay certainly got a starter-level salary from NO).

Looking back at your posts now, it appears that maybe "high end" means "recognizable names"?

 

[Jimke]

Unless a forum member watches a lot of NCAA football games or has
access to scouting records of the various NFL teams, the only way
we can judge how players are ranked or speculate how well the Pats
drafted is the multitude of NFL draftsites.

I'm sure that these draftsites are not infallible but many sites are able
to predict 80 players in the top 100 drafted. Most years the players
the Patriots draft fall roughly where the experts predict. Last year
most of our late round draft picks were off the radar of these websites.

Each year after the draft is held, the Pats sign their UDFAs. I check
to see where these players were ranked before the draft. What I have
concluded is that the higher the player was ranked, the better his
chance of making the Patriots. Gay, Eckel, Gutierrez, Woods, and Wright
were on the radar and made the team. Alexander and Ventrone were
not as highly rated and had to serve an apprenticeship. Neal was
a heck of a good guess, having played no college football.

 

[IcyPatriot]

A friends told me that Redd can be a steal! :rocker:

School transfers, Div-II, Substance issue and is primarily a 3-4 LB led him into our laps. He's definitely a PS player though as he's never going to have lifted weights like he will this year ... especially in the legs.