Tracking the Draft Prospects: Tight End

mascho

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Time to look forward.
 
Solicited suggestions in the Draft Thread about having dedicated threads to a few positions that the Patriots might need to address in the draft.  So far we have TE/OL/DL.  Open to more.  
 
Here is a list of the TEs available in the draft.  Top three are all very interesting.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GgY1-xjk4E
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpa9ITVamVI
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPZ5ZDWEADo
 
EDIT:  Third video won't embed for some reason.
 

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Great idea.  I would think that a thread for DB's would be important -- a) because we may lose Talib and/or Gregory which means the need to add more'; and b) you can never have enough DB's so I would imagine that it will still be a place where we see multiple picks, even if they are of the later round variety.
 

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I'll echo SMU's sentiments on Ebron. I think he's decent talent but he's overrated. North Carolina prospects look good but they seem to lack the football acumen to take it to the next level once they enter the NFL. Amaro looks like he'd be a perfect fit, and I wonder if BB still talks to Kingsbury... ASJ has the basketball background like a Jimmy Graham or Julius Thomas. I'm not sure if any of these guys can be what Hernandez was but another big target that can cause mismatches with LB's and DB's would be just what the Pats offense needs. Assuming health of course.
 

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I actually think Troy Niklas from ND is the most interesting of the group. He's only played TE for two seasons and was an early entry kid, but he's already a plus blocker, is long, lean and fluid. He could blow up the combine with his physical skills and he's coming off a productive year. He's a little raw, but I think he has the highest ceiling and the floor isn't too bad either.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

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It will be interesting to see where/if Colt Lyerla is drafted.  That guy was an animal at Oregon, but unfortunately not just on the field...
 

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When you watch these guys on film I think Ebron is the most impressive as a receiver, followed by ASJ and then Amaro. To me ASJ and Gronk are more similar, whereas Ebron gives you more emphasis on receiving and can be moved all over the field. I thought that's what people loved about the Gronk / Sweet Leaf combo when we had it - complementary players, not two guys with mostly the same skill set. I get the knocks on his mental game but I'm still pretty high on Ebron.
 

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EL Jeffe said:
I actually think Troy Niklas from ND is the most interesting of the group. He's only played TE for two seasons and was an early entry kid, but he's already a plus blocker, is long, lean and fluid. He could blow up the combine with his physical skills and he's coming off a productive year. He's a little raw, but I think he has the highest ceiling and the floor isn't too bad either.
Is Niklas coming out? Last I heard he was planning on coming back. 
 

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Had posted this in the general draft thread -- reposting here:
 
My pick would be C.J. Fiedorowicz, a mini Gronk who can block and catch at 6-6, 265. Candidate at 3rd-4th round, but wouldn't mind getting him as a late 2nd rounder:
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1N65H9w-XM[/youtube]
 
He's also a Ferentz-coached kid (both former BB assistant Kirk and his son Brian, who served as both offensive assistant coach and TE coach for BB from 2008-2011). 
 
I love that he's more physical and willing blocker than Amaro/Ebron, and will undoubtedly cost less in draft position. Pick up a OL in round 1 or 2, get CJ in round 2 (move up) or 3. 
 
Some draft notes:
 
Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com:
 
A well-built target, Fiedorowicz headlines an underwhelming group of senior tight ends. His production at Iowa is average at-best, but he was underutilized in the Hawkeyes offense. Fiedorowicz has the size and skill-set to start at the next level and be successful blocking and receiving.
 
Oliver Thomas, NEPatriotDraft.com (http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2013/12/2014-nfl-draft-postseason-thoughts-on-four-tight-ends.html):
 

Iowa’s C.J. Fiedorowicz is the top senior tight end in the country, and it’s because the 22-year-old is as steady as they come. Fiedorowicz isn’t outstanding as an athlete or a receiver. But as far as all the requirements in the job description go, he does them well. His starting experience with the Hawkeyes dates back to his sophomore season in 2011. And he’s well-versed as a special-teamer and secondary tight end, too.
 
More of a conventional in-line tight end who can be an asset as a tall and well-grounded blocker, Fiedorowicz knows how to establish the edge and thrust his opponent away from the C-gap. He possesses ideal length to hold his own out of the gate. As a receiver, Fiedorowicz is – in a word – reliable. He can fend off jams at the line of scrimmage and find the soft spot secure the football. He’s physical and uses good body lean to sway defenders. And his hands have proven to be worth trusting in the mid-range passing game.
 
Post reception, Fiedorowicz lacks breakaway speed and the change of direction to eclipse his man. He appears to have reached his limit in that respect. Nevertheless, he has the route-running ability and decisiveness to outlast coverage – notably inside the 20-yard line. So while he may never be a game-breaker, there’s reason to believe Fiedorowicz will be a plus-receiver and an A-plus-blocker at the next level.
 
And for what it’s worth, Fiedorowicz has been under the tutelage of Kirk Ferentz – a former offensive line coach from Belichick’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns.
 
Scout.com:

 

Is a matchup nightmare with his combination of size and pass catching skills. Has excellent hands and ball skills and shows the ability to go up high and use his frame to out-position and out-body would be defenders. He splits out a lot for his high school team, so blocking from the tight end spot will be something he has to gain more experience with, but he has the size and strength to do so.
 
Looks like a love child between Gronk & Matt Light:
 

 
A pre-requisite now a days, also played bball:
 

 
And apparently already a patriot:
 

 
Gronk & mini-Gronk. Make it happen Bill!
 

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SeoulSoxFan said:
Had posted this in the general draft thread -- reposting here:
 
My pick would be C.J. Fiedorowicz, a mini Gronk who can block and catch at 6-6, 265. Candidate at 3rd-4th round, but wouldn't mind getting him as a late 2nd rounder:
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1N65H9w-XM[/youtube]
 
He's also a Ferentz-coached kid (both former BB assistant Kirk and his son Brian, who served as both offensive assistant coach and TE coach for BB from 2008-2011). 
 
I love that he's more physical and willing blocker than Amaro/Ebron, and will undoubtedly cost less in draft position. Pick up a OL in round 1 or 2, get CJ in round 2 (move up) or 3. 
 
Some draft notes:
 
Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com:
 
 
Oliver Thomas, NEPatriotDraft.com (http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2013/12/2014-nfl-draft-postseason-thoughts-on-four-tight-ends.html):
 
 
Scout.com:

 
 
Looks like a love child between Gronk & Matt Light:
 

 
A pre-requisite now a days, also played bball:
 

 
And apparently already a patriot:
 

 
Gronk & mini-Gronk. Make it happen Bill!
Wow I was impressed. He definitely reminded me of GRONK. Seemed like soft hands, too.

My phone auto corrects to GRONK. I like that.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Here's a thought -- BB has doubled picks in recent years (Gronk/Herb, Ridley/Vereen).
 
If Hooman is not resigned, is it too crazy to draft whoever falls out of Ebron/ASF/Amaro and a bit more traditional in-liner in Fiedorowicz in the first 3 rounds?
 

mascho

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SeoulSoxFan said:
Here's a thought -- BB has doubled picks in recent years (Gronk/Herb, Ridley/Vereen).
 
If Hooman is not resigned, is it too crazy to draft whoever falls out of Ebron/ASF/Amaro and a bit more traditional in-liner in Fiedorowicz in the first 3 rounds?
 
I think it's likely.  If they re-sign Edelman you have a decent core of WRs.  I think a healthy Amendola and another year of growth from KT/AD would pay dividends.  Blount likely doesn't come back but sign someone for depth at RB and hope Ridley has everything figured out.  Weapons-wise, it is a solid core that just needs TEs.  
 

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mascho said:
I think it's likely.  If they re-sign Edelman you have a decent core of WRs.  I think a healthy Amendola and another year of growth from KT/AD would pay dividends.  Blount likely doesn't come back but sign someone for depth at RB and hope Ridley has everything figured out.  Weapons-wise, it is a solid core that just needs TEs.  
 
Even if it's just Gronk and Fiedorowicz, good luck figuring out run/pass when both of those guys are in a 2-TE set. Both can block, and both can spring out. 
 
Brady audibles in pass/block depending on the coverage, with both TEs handling either call with aplomb.
 

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Awwwww shiiiiit -- I think I have another binky in waiting, as both a compliment to and insurance for Gronk.
 
Per ESPN Insider (McShay, Weidl, Muench), Senior Bowl obervations (binky highlighted in Patriot red, blue, and silver):
 

Teams value big tight ends these days -- Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and Martellus Bennett -- all big targets in the passing game who create matchup problems. 
 
There are two tight ends here who are built like that: Fresno State's Marcel Jensen (6-5⅜, 264 pounds) and Iowa's C.J. Fiedorowicz (6-5⅝, 262). You want these big targets to make plays in traffic because they're not going to create a lot of separation because of their size. In that regard, Fiedorowicz looked better than Jensen today. Fiedorowicz is a more natural pass-catcher who's comfortable catching the ball away from his frame. He caught the ball in stride and adjusted to balls thrown behind him, whereas Jensen fought the ball and had a couple of drops. He wasn't fielding it cleanly. Jensen catches the ball better on tape, but you want to see him be more consistent as the week progresses. As important as the tools are, you have to be able to make the most of them. 
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dnqKGuezo[/youtube]
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Here's a video of the aforementioned Brian "Son of Kirk" Ferentz talking about CJ and Gronk, in a very sensible, almost BB-like way (aka, not fair to compare the two):
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je3cpI2JqtM[/youtube]
 

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SeoulSoxFan said:
Awwwww shiiiiit -- I think I have another binky in waiting, as both a compliment to and insurance for Gronk.
 
Per ESPN Insider (McShay, Weidl, Muench), Senior Bowl obervations (binky highlighted in Patriot red, blue, and silver):
There are two tight ends here who are built like that: Fresno State's Marcel Jensen (6-5⅜, 264 pounds) and Iowa's C.J. Fiedorowicz (6-5⅝, 262). You want these big targets to make plays in traffic because they're not going to create a lot of separation because of their size. In that regard, Fiedorowicz looked better than Jensen today. Fiedorowicz is a more natural pass-catcher who's comfortable catching the ball away from his frame. He caught the ball in stride and adjusted to balls thrown behind him, whereas Jensen fought the ball and had a couple of drops. He wasn't fielding it cleanly. Jensen catches the ball better on tape, but you want to see him be more consistent as the week progresses. As important as the tools are, you have to be able to make the most of them. 
Jensen also has a Belichick connection; he was recruited by (and played a year for) Pat Hill, Belichick's TE/OL coach in Cleveland.
 
I think I'm more inclined to grab a more explosive athlete than these guys, though. Fiedorowicz might be closer to Mulligan than he is to Gronkowski.
 

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SeoulSoxFan said:
Here's a video of the aforementioned Brian "Son of Kirk" Ferentz talking about CJ and Gronk, in a very sensible, almost BB-like way (aka, not fair to compare the two):
 
Some more good pub for ya boy (from the excellent NEPatriotsDraft.com):
 
6. CJ Fiedorowicz was one of the best players on the field today. He was crushing defensive ends during team drills, opening huge holes for RB James White. While he hasn’t flashed in the passing game, his run blocking along has been awesome. He gets such great movement off the line of scrimmage and can more his feet good well enough to ride outside rushers out of the play to open a run lane. Fiedorowicz stressed to me that he has a lot more to give as a receiver and that he’ll prove to NFL teams he can be a great pass catcher.
 

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I only watched like 4:30 of the Fiederowicz video but something that really stuck out to me was, for a guy that size, he gets NO yards after contact. Everytime he's touched he goes down except for the one play he bounced off a guy. I mean he's not even being double teamed. He's no Gronk. I think the Pats need someone a little more explosive. He can catch, which is great, but he doesn't seem to do much after the fact.
 

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Philip Jeff Frye said:
It will be interesting to see where/if Colt Lyerla is drafted.  That guy was an animal at Oregon, but unfortunately not just on the field...
 
I'm curious about this as well.  IIRC he was viewed as a guy with first round talent, if raw (only played significant time in 2012 I think?), but of course there are the off field issues.
 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgqbrR8FOYI[/youtube]
 

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Eck'sSneakyCheese said:
I only watched like 4:30 of the Fiederowicz video but something that really stuck out to me was, for a guy that size, he gets NO yards after contact. Everytime he's touched he goes down except for the one play he bounced off a guy. I mean he's not even being double teamed. He's no Gronk. I think the Pats need someone a little more explosive. He can catch, which is great, but he doesn't seem to do much after the fact.
 
If folks need another reason to poop on the guy, here's one. CJ was also coached by none other than DJ Hernandez. Yup, the brother of Aaron:
 
http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/dj_hernandez_837976.html
 
 

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serotonin said:
I'm curious about this as well.  IIRC he was viewed as a guy with first round talent, if raw (only played significant time in 2012 I think?), but of course there are the off field issues.
 
I am 100% in favor of giving Lyerla a shot. If Vontaze Burfict can reasonably make it in the NFL, why not for Lyerla. Here's a glimpse of hope for the TE: http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2013/12/colt_lyerla_pleads_guilty_to_c.html
 

As soon as his sentence is served he can move to Las Vegas to train for the NFL with trainer Dwight Ross of Performance Athletics, whom he will also live with, thanks to Lane County Circuit Court judge Jay McAlpin’s decision.
 
“The kid just wants it bad,” Ross said in a phone interview, adding he and Lyerla talk at least every other day. “He’s really apologetic and he made a mistake and he’s very aware of it.”
 
 
Throw a late pick on the guy, see if he is helped by the Pats system/culture and turn it around. 
 

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SeoulSoxFan said:
 
X-posting from the general draft thread. CJ was one of the Senior Bowl practice award winners as the outstanding receiver, although he didn't register a stat in the actual game. 
 
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/01/aaron_donald_earns_senior_bowl.html
I like CJ as much as you do, but Amaro is someone that could try to replicate the things that Hernandez did.  CJ is a much better blocker and is in the Gronk-mold as stated in this thread.  If you had this 3-headed monster at TE, wow.  That would make up for the lack of receiving options available on the open market.
 

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For what it's worth, I'm hearing from an ND board that the Pats are taking a closer look at Niklas, including a request for game film from the ND coaching staff.
 

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I feel like I've seen him mentioned on here, but I don't see anything on search: Gator Hoskins, a TE / FB / H-Back from Marshall. At 6'1"-6'2" and 245 lbs, he's not a classic in-line guy, but he might be a fit for the "move" TE spot. The Herd used him in the slot a lot. Charles Clay is the comparison I've seen for him. He was really productive at Marshall (50 catches for 821 yards and 15 TDs), and showed good run-after-catch skills. Might be a good 6th- or 7th- round flyer for depth, especially if they take a more classic in-line guy like Fiedorowicz or Niklas early.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMswzIC9sr4&list=PL4IA_itPIQnSq-UWaVfR2afJ_BDgeKNA6
 

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Another guy who really helped himself this week was Crockett Gillmore, TE from Colorado State. 6' 6" 255.  
 
From NFL.com:  Colorado State TE Crockett Gillmore was a late addition to the Senior Bowl roster, but he certainly boosted his draft stock with his standout performance on Saturday. The Rams' star had five catches for 61 yards and a score, displaying strong hands and underrated route skills. He complemented his impressive performance as a pass catcher with a strong showing as a blocker on the edge. He repeatedly sealed the corner on perimeter runs and effectively neutralized his assigned defender on power plays between the tackles. Of course, scouts expected Gillmore to be a stout blocker at the point of attack based on his solid performance during the regular season, but doing it against the top players in the country will enhance his value in the minds of coaches searching for a traditional tight end in the draft.
 

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Just going off highlights and the Senior Bowl, Gillmore looks pretty impressive. He doesn't go down easy and unlike a lot of the middle round TE's, he seems to have a bit of a burst off the line, both in blocking and getting into his routes.
 
One to keep an eye on, for sure.
 

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A lot of interesting later-round guys. Besides the aforementioned Gilmore, Lyerla, and Hoskins, we have:
 
Marcel Jensen, Fresno State: as mentioned above a BB connection (recruited by Pat Hill). Big (6'6", 270 lbs) and athletic, but production never matched tools, partially due to a shift in the system to more of a spread attack. His CBS sports write-up notes: "Jensen's size and leaping ability also make him a standout on special teams. He has four blocked kicks over his career." Special teams is almost always a consideration for Belichick's late-round picks.
 
NEPatriotsDraft.com highlights another couple guys:
A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State: good athlete who was productive against weak competition after transferring from Florida due to domestic battery charges. Pats might be leery of those kinds of character issues. More of a move / Joker type.
 
Joe Don Duncan, Dixie State: another pass-catcher, versatile (lined up at TE, WR, and the slot), productive against poor competition. Good writeup here, where he's compared to Zach Ertz.
 
Michael Flacco, New Haven: Joe's younger brother, he's raw despite being 26 already. Career path reminds me of Eagles (and former Texans and Rice) TE James Casey.
 
Rob Blanchflower, UMass: season cut short by injury, but he had a productive career for the Minutemen.
 

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Super Nomario said:
A lot of interesting later-round guys. Besides the aforementioned Gilmore, Lyerla, and Hoskins, we have:
 
Marcel Jensen, Fresno State: as mentioned above a BB connection (recruited by Pat Hill). Big (6'6", 270 lbs) and athletic, but production never matched tools, partially due to a shift in the system to more of a spread attack. His CBS sports write-up notes: "Jensen's size and leaping ability also make him a standout on special teams. He has four blocked kicks over his career." Special teams is almost always a consideration for Belichick's late-round picks.
 
Jensen is really intriguing but Steven Muench of ESPN was on the fence with him during the Football Today podcast. 
 
To summarize, great tools and size, but catches with his body and has too many drops. If he develops a softer pair of hands he'd be a starter.
 
Now I'm always concerned with big guys who need to "develop" soft hands -- I think that's a tall task in most cases. However, if Jensen falls late he'd be a perfect depth/developmental pickup.
 

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Watched some videos of the top 4 TEs
 
Amaro: Seems thinner and weaker than someone listed as 6'6" 260. Almost never lines up inline. Plays more like a WR than a typical TE. Better vs zone than man. Good hands, but doesn't create much separation or YAC. Texas Tech throws the ball a fuck ton huh?
 
Ebron: Good athlete, high effort, plays fast, but drops some balls. Drops are more mental than physical. Hand usage and route running remind me of Anquan Boldin. Doesn't play inline much, but more often than Amaro. He's a good blocker. He knows he's not that big but makes up for it with leverage and tenacity.
 
ASJ: Great hands but sloppy routes both in form and explosion. Kind of a soft blocker. At 270-280 I'd like to see him put his weight into it more. Gets some snaps pass blocking. Plays in a bunch of different places in the offense but also gets a lot of snaps inline. Good RZ target.
 
Niklas: Spends a lot of time inline and blocking. Very good run and pass blocker but often has trouble getting square in the second and third level. He's the only one here that see one-on-one blocking assignments vs DEs. Better receiver than given credit for. Not extremely athletic but is good at maximizing it. Long strider. Doesn't go down easy.
 

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I thought Niklas looked like he had a pretty good burst off the line when getting into his routes. Better than everyone else I saw outside of the top 2.
 

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phragle, i had the same reaction watching amaro. i think the system he plays in might be causing some people to overestimate his value at the next level. the only thing he does better than ebron in my mind is drop fewer balls (which does matter), but he does a lot of things noticeably worse.
 

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SpacemanzGerbil said:
I thought Niklas looked like he had a pretty good burst off the line when getting into his routes. Better than everyone else I saw outside of the top 2.
 
Yup, he does come off the line well.
 
nothumb said:
phragle, i had the same reaction watching amaro. i think the system he plays in might be causing some people to overestimate his value at the next level. the only thing he does better than ebron in my mind is drop fewer balls (which does matter), but he does a lot of things noticeably worse.
 
It's certainly inflating his stats. I wouldn't hesitate to take Ebron even for a second, but It's looking increasingly unlikely he's around at 29 unless something weird happens.
 

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Good summary of the TEs:
http://www.2mugsff.com/content/rummys-offseason-fantasy-report-rookie-tight-ends
 
I'm interested to see in what direction the Pats go. Ebron and Amaro seem to be the Hernandez-types, with Niklas and Fiedorowicz the Heath-Miller-types, and ASJ somewhere in the middle.
 
Niklas sounds like the most Patriots-y guy (especially since he's more likely to available second round), but they may go for more of a pure Hernandez replacement in Amaro or ASJ. I wouldn't mind seeing Niklas in the second and a wild card like Hoskins / Gilmore / Lyerla / Duncan / Flacco late.
 

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Super Nomario said:
Richard Rodgers from Cal is a Hernandez-type at 6'4", 245 lbs. He had 39 catches for 608 yards this year. From Worcester.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000304502/article/california-te-richard-rodgers-to-enter-2014-nfl-draft
 
 
One thing to keep in mind: this past year, Cal transitioned to the "Air Raid" offensive system under Sonny Dykes (1st year as the new head coach, with Jeff Tedford being the previous head coach) and Rodgers was also playing with a true freshman QB (Jared Goff). 
 
From the 8+ games I've seen of him, Rodgers has the raw tools (good athleticism, good speed, made some nice one-handed grabs, good runs after the catch, etc.) and versatility (lined up in the slot as well as on the offensive line, was asked to run a lot of different types of routes, played special teams, and actually helped out with punting drills at one point as a punter) to make something of himself in the NFL.  Former coach Jeff Tedford thought that Rodgers could be one of the best TEs in college football...
 
Concerns: 1. Blocking: Rodgers' weakness as a blocker is a huge red flag for his potential future as an NFL TE.  Rodgers doesn't engage high on blocks and tends to go low (due to his lack of strength). He sometimes seems uncertain (almost timid?) when engaging defenders (seems to wait for the defender vs. initiating) and often gets pushed around.  He did drop from 275 to 245 from his sophomore year to this junior year after switching from TE to playing more as an inside receiver 2. Consistency: Sometimes he'll make an amazing one-handed grab play that just flashes his abilities and other times Rodgers can't seem to make the routine catch across the middle. 3. Experience: He started only 5 games this past season (as a junior) and I believe only 6 games as a sophomore and came off the bench his freshman year as a backup and on special teams. He did have some injuries (foot and shoulder surgery) between his sophomore and junior year.  
 
Personally I was hoping he would stick around for his senior year -- I was very, very surprised he declared for the draft.  I know there were some locker room issues between players and Dykes so I wonder how much of that was a factor for Rodgers leaving early.  

 
 

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SeoulSoxFan said:
 
 
I am 100% in favor of giving Lyerla a shot. If Vontaze Burfict can reasonably make it in the NFL, why not for Lyerla. Here's a glimpse of hope for the TE: http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2013/12/colt_lyerla_pleads_guilty_to_c.html
 

 
Throw a late pick on the guy, see if he is helped by the Pats system/culture and turn it around. 

 
Hey guys! This is where I'm at. I would love for BB to take a late flyer on Lyerla, but when is late too late? I have no idea what round he's projected in, if he doesn't become a UDFA. I think he has good versatility that the Pats could utilise well. Seeing highlight videos, I like how he can be a weapon at RB too, kinda like Hernandez (although he only carried the ball 9 times in the regular season & 9 more in the postseason.) 
 

lambeau

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I'd forget about Lyerla. Chip Kelly suspended him and tried to get him into rehab. He was inactive against Tennesee in September, complained bitterly and publicly about it, was left off the trip to Colorado two weeks later-- and the next day quit. Caught two passes this year. Does he sound like a guy who could handle BB?
 

southshoresoxfan

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Im just picturing the run blocking ability of a two te set of gronk and cj w vollmer and solder lined up next to them on either side of the line.

Wheres the beef indeed.
 

Jake Peavy's Demons

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lambeau said:
I'd forget about Lyerla. Chip Kelly suspended him and tried to get him into rehab. He was inactive against Tennesee in September, complained bitterly and publicly about it, was left off the trip to Colorado two weeks later-- and the next day quit. Caught two passes this year. Does he sound like a guy who could handle BB?
That's unfortunate. He seems to have much talent. I was / am hoping that his claim he wants to play in the NFL means exactly that. That versatility would certainly be nice. For the record, I still prefer ASJ or Amaro. Hard for me to pick my favourite between those 2.
 

Phragle

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Ebron, who declared for the draft a year early, has put on "some significant weight since his junior season in an effort to be a better blocker," according to Bleacher Report's Dan Pompei. Pompei cites a "veteran front-office man," who said Ebron "isn't as fast as he was." However, the source also said "he still is pretty special."
Report: North Carolina TE Eric Ebron put on 'significant weight'
 
In my opinion this is a poor decision on his part, but if the Patriots can benefit from it, then I'm all for it.
 

Otto

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I don't follow that Bleacher Report note on Ebron.  
 
Am I supposed to believe that the "veteran front-office man" went to API and not only timed Ebron in the 40 (to determine that he has lost a step) but also stuck around to watch him catch passes (to conclude that he's still got it)?
 

Shelterdog

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Otto said:
I don't follow that Bleacher Report note on Ebron.  
 
Am I supposed to believe that the "veteran front-office man" went to API and not only timed Ebron in the 40 (to determine that he has lost a step) but also stuck around to watch him catch passes (to conclude that he's still got it)?
 
You know what happened.  Gil Brandt or somebody like that watched him work out for five minutes.