The 'Slant'

[bosfan]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/home.htm
Interesting TE tradition in Georgia, don't supposed Leonard Pope is a remote possibility for us if he fell into 3rd round?

 

[MrTibbs]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/home.htm
Interesting TE tradition in Georgia, don't supposed Leonard Pope is a remote possibility for us if he fell into 3rd round?

3rd round? Pope will be gone in the first maybe even to the Patriots or maybe early second round. Graham is a FA next season and the Patriots plan well ahead for situations like that. Don't be surprised.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The game starts statistic bodes well for players like Greenway and Colledge.

 

[fgssand]

3rd round? Pope will be gone in the first maybe even to the Patriots or maybe early second round. Graham is a FA next season and the Patriots plan well ahead for situations like that. Don't be surprised.

Do you really think Pope goes in the first round?? I was hoping he would last until our #2 - either Pope or Mercedes Lewis, although I think I like Pope better?

 

[mgteich]

Pope should be gone in the late first. I think that #52 is the time to address TE, but no if we have no transactions this week.

Do you really think Pope goes in the first round?? I was hoping he would last until our #2 - either Pope or Mercedes Lewis, although I think I like Pope better?

 

[Feep_FLA]

I'll be surpised if Pope is a 1st round choicee but stranger things have happened. I got him a 2nd rounder all the way..... I suspect the pats will resign Graham and look for a 3rd TE late as a project....

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If you want to replace Graham go with another Buffalo - Klopfenstein first day or Sypnewski (sp?) on the second.

 

[stinkypete]

Pope may fall, as his blocking is below average and he's seen as more of a WR in a TE's body. I predict that Klopfenstein, a big hype guy recently garnering comparisons to Todd Heap, get's picked ahead of Pope.

What stood out about that article is how much of a professional Tom Brady is. The way he described his teammates departures (when, in the case of AV, there seems to be some animosity) is astoundin. While others (Brett Favre) would complain about lack of loyalty to the team, Brady just says "Yeah, he was a great guy, I'll miss him, the team will miss him, but good for him for finding his payday. It's really impressive to me.

 

[zippo59]

I think they should draft Klopfenstien just for his name.

 

[spacecrime]

Pope may fall, as his blocking is below average

Not many teams besides the Patriots care about blocking, and lack of abilbity to (or interest in) blocking did not cause Shockey or Winslow to drop in the draft.

Teams want pass-catching TE's first for some reason, and look to late rounds to pick up blocking TE's.

The Pats (and now maybe Browns-Phins-Jets) will go higher to get a TE that can block and catch and run-after-catch effectively. If a TE can only do one of those well, the Pats might draft him middle or late rounds as a project, but so far in the BB/SP era, none of these projects have worked out.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Not many teams besides the Patriots care about blocking, and lack of abilbity to (or interest in) blocking did not cause Shockey or Winslow to drop in the draft.

Teams want pass-catching TE's first for some reason, and look to late rounds to pick up blocking TE's.

The Pats (and now maybe Browns-Phins-Jets) will go higher to get a TE that can block and catch and run-after-catch effectively. If a TE can only do one of those well, the Pats might draft him middle or late rounds as a project, but so far in the BB/SP era, none of these projects have worked out.

Well said!

Fasano is considered the best first day blocker, with Klopfenstein next. I note Fasano's reported trouble with fumbles and possibly some friction with Charlie as the reason he didn't make my board. Supposedly one of the better blockers is Sypnewski who missed a lot of time the two previous seasons with injury, but played well as the #2 TE this past season after staying healthy, he might actually be the better #3 TE in BB's system, the injury history may be a concern, but not a huge problem on a second day speculative pick.