Pats Round 3 Pick #76: S Marte "Silent Assassin" Mapu

SeoulSoxFan

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A Scud Away from Hell
With Josh Downs and others on the board, BB strikes again with another maddening mid-round pick.

Let's talk about it, I guess.
 

Cellar-Door

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definite Kyle Dugger vibes... 6'2" 220ish fast, can play all over (sub LB, all safety spots) going to be a core ST, and hopefully the guy to cover the big fast "TE" players (Kelce, Kincaid, etc.)
 

ZMart100

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definite Kyle Dugger vibes... 6'2" 220ish fast, can play all over (sub LB, all safety spots) going to be a core ST, and hopefully the guy to cover the big fast "TE" players (Kelce, Kincaid, etc.)
Slightly more Chung than Dugger in my opinion.
 

Phil Plantier

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A better nickname comes from the Brugler writeup: "called the “silent assassin” by his college coaches for his humble personality but violent play"
 

SMU_Sox

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So this guy I had to fast forward through youtube complete games with commercials just to see him play at all and tbh I watched him the last two weeks before the draft and didn't have the time to dig in enough.

The way I see it they need two guys like Dugger to go against teams that want to pass out of 12. That and Bill loves to play big nickel, right? This guy is your starting big nickel next to Dugger after Peppers and Phillips are off the team. Could easily be starting this year... or rotating... you never know. Once you get to round 3 boards are all over the place and Mapu should be a solid pick. 4/5 on my fits and would have probably had him higher had I been able to get tape easier.

64155

To be fair I am not sure if calling him a limited athlete is appropriate.
 

Eddie Jurak

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The way I see it they need two guys like Dugger to go against teams that want to pass out of 12. That and Bill loves to play big nickel, right? This guy is your starting big nickel next to Dugger after Peppers and Phillips are off the team. Could easily be starting this year... or rotating... you never know. Once you get to round 3 boards are all over the place and Mapu should be a solid pick. 4/5 on my fits and would have probably had him higher had I been able to get tape easier.
Are we sure Dugger will be here after next year? Maybe he is an eventual replacement for Dugger.
 

rodderick

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So this guy I had to fast forward through youtube complete games with commercials just to see him play at all and tbh I watched him the last two weeks before the draft and didn't have the time to dig in enough.

The way I see it they need two guys like Dugger to go against teams that want to pass out of 12. That and Bill loves to play big nickel, right? This guy is your starting big nickel next to Dugger after Peppers and Phillips are off the team. Could easily be starting this year... or rotating... you never know. Once you get to round 3 boards are all over the place and Mapu should be a solid pick. 4/5 on my fits and would have probably had him higher had I been able to get tape easier.

View attachment 64155

To be fair I am not sure if calling him a limited athlete is appropriate.
Edit: nevermind, misread, you already had answered it in the post.
 

Shelterdog

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Because he didn't test, we don't know his athletic ratings?

The Patriots surely do, though... He must rate really high, since they are hunting athletes lately. Right?
To expand on this, if he is as athletic as many think he is based on film and he’d run 4.47 and had good jumps and bench pressed a million times wouldn’t we all feel good about the pick?
 

Shelterdog

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Are we sure Dugger will be here after next year? Maybe he is an eventual replacement for Dugger.
Maybe but I think there’s easily room for both in todays game (and I hope they do resign Dugger because I love Dugger)-Dugger played with Peppers and/or Phillips all the time

Im always amused by the pats reporters saying we need to get new breed fast sideline to sideline 225 pound linebackers and BB doesn’t realize that in an era where BB is collecting 215-225 pound fast safeties
 

Eddie Jurak

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Maybe but I think there’s easily room for both in todays game (and I hope they do resign Dugger because I love Dugger)-Dugger played with Peppers and/or Phillips all the time

Im always amused by the pats reporters saying we need to get new breed fast sideline to sideline 225 pound linebackers and BB doesn’t realize that in an era where BB is collecting 215-225 pound fast safeties
Room for both, yes. But I wonder if Dugger will be affordable.
 

Shelterdog

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Room for both, yes. But I wonder if Dugger will be affordable.
Dugger will be expensive. I’d take him-if you want a talented roster you need some second contract guys and better to have second contract guys who you’re resigning rather than take a chance on free agents
 
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Lazar's take from Patriots.com:

The pick growing on me the most is the FCS linebacker and Senior Bowl standout from Sacramento State. We've been clamoring for a new-age linebacker with explosive closing burst and coverage upside, which describes Mapu to a tee. Mapu has a nasty downhill trigger to fire through the line of scrimmage and make forceful contact on ball carriers. He's also nimble and sudden enough to make plays in space. However, he needs to win with his athleticism because he was engulfed at times at the Senior Bowl by blockers who caught up to him.

Mapu stood out during American practices down in Mobile, similar to Kyle Dugger before the 2020 draft. Will the Pats allow a 220-pound linebacker, and he's really a second-level inside linebacker, not a safety, to play on all three downs? Along with his availability in camp, as he recovers from a torn pec this offseason, Mapu's projection largely depends on the coaching staff's willingness to play an undersized linebacker in a major role. Deion Jones is the ceiling.
 

Greekca

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What about Jeremy Chinn as an upside comp for this guy? Came into the league splitting time between LB and S with seemingly more time now dedicated to S.
 

BaseballJones

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The only downside to having small, fast linebackers is that they're really susceptible to power running teams. But most teams aren't that anymore. So yeah, if you play the Ravens, it'll be a challenge, but (a) you'll have a better chance matching up with Andrews, their best receiver, and (b) you'll have more speed to chase down Lamar. but for most teams, man, I'd rather they run. Would you rather have Pacheco get 25 carries a game and Mahomes throw just 20 times, or have Pacheco carry it 8 times and have Mahomes throw 37? I think Mahomes is the best offensive weapon in the league so the more they take the ball out of his hands because they want to run on the Pats' small defense, I'm happy with that.

I love this addition and think he'll be terrific.
 

Justthetippett

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The only downside to having small, fast linebackers is that they're really susceptible to power running teams. But most teams aren't that anymore. So yeah, if you play the Ravens, it'll be a challenge, but (a) you'll have a better chance matching up with Andrews, their best receiver, and (b) you'll have more speed to chase down Lamar. but for most teams, man, I'd rather they run. Would you rather have Pacheco get 25 carries a game and Mahomes throw just 20 times, or have Pacheco carry it 8 times and have Mahomes throw 37? I think Mahomes is the best offensive weapon in the league so the more they take the ball out of his hands because they want to run on the Pats' small defense, I'm happy with that.

I love this addition and think he'll be terrific.
He's another tool for BB to use, gameplan with, etc. I don't think the Pats want to be one thing or the other. They want good, athletic players that give them flexibility both to plan and to react once the game starts. That's really the only chance to compete with the best offenses.
 

Shelterdog

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What about Jeremy Chinn as an upside comp for this guy? Came into the league splitting time between LB and S with seemingly more time now dedicated to S.
Maybe? I seem that he'll basically be used like Peppers/Phillips, maybe playing downhill a little more and covering a little less, and that his play time will expand as those two play less and less. (Phillips is 31 and they'd save cap space if they cut him so if Mapu shows out early it wouldn't be shocking if Phillips got cut this year).
 

Bowser

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Probably reading too much into this, but here's a mini case study in efficient movement. Compare Mapu to the other LB.

 

Cellar-Door

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Coach Williams is one of the best guys on Twitter to follow. He is a D3 DB coach who also works with AI + creates VR Installs for his players... Oh and he does fantastic analysis:

Quick edit: He also has a youtube channel with great content on the NFL and draft prospects - typically DBs but not always.

View: https://twitter.com/mightykaos41/status/1654494083702816772?s=20
for those who like me are wondering who that guard he obliterates in the later part of the full clip is, I looked it up....
That would be 1st team All-SEC guard and 3 year starter for Alabama Emil Ekiyor Jr.
 

Shelterdog

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I’ve got to say I suspect that most of the local media who criticized Mapu haven’t watched a single highlight of the guy. It’s not that he’s going to be a good player or not, he obviously could bust, but seeing what an explosive hitter he is it’s pretty obvious why BB loved him and why he might be an absolute monster