This is from a sports talk station in Boston.
https://weei.radio.com/articles/col...medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+Mashup+3-5-19
https://weei.radio.com/articles/col...medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+Mashup+3-5-19
TJ (or Noah) to Patriots?
- Thread starter Howiehawk
- Start date
Stanzi
Well-Known Member
Honestly I'm not sure either will be there that late. It for sure seems like Hock won't. He's top 20 now in every mock draft I've seen. And Fant's stock just shot back up to the first round thanks to his combine performance. I think the Pats are more likely to take a QB in the first.
Fryowa
Administrator
Any smart team would do whatever they had to to take both.
I hate the Patriots like I hate the Yankees, but putting Gronkowski and Hernandez both on the field shattered the AFC at the time.
Can you imagine how dangerous the Niners would be with a healthy Garoppolo, Kittle, and Hockenson? How do you even defend that?
I hate the Patriots like I hate the Yankees, but putting Gronkowski and Hernandez both on the field shattered the AFC at the time.
Can you imagine how dangerous the Niners would be with a healthy Garoppolo, Kittle, and Hockenson? How do you even defend that?
I have delusions of grandjur of the 9ers getting either of them too but I don't see how. Their probably going to take Bosa if he falls in their laps. Unless AZ passes on Murray. Then the 9ers are in the drivers seat for maybe trading out of it. Oakland seems to want him bad so it'd be interesting to know how a trade would play out between them. But with the Niners next pick being in 2nd round they'd have to trade back up to get either of them or DK Metcalf. Which is more of a need then TE is for them. It'll be an interesting draft to see how the dominos fall.
A number of mocks having them both going before the Patriots would even be picking, so if that were the case and TE was the #1 then maybe they go for Irv Smith, or maybe Belichek looks for free agent or gets some dude that played football for 6 months one time and turns him into All Pro TE.
Hock will be a bit easier for a linebacker to cover. Fant has better than LB speed so there will be coverage issues for teams trying to keep a LB on him.
skinnykilmer17
Well-Known Member
This draft could interesting real quick like. You know Kingsbury secretly covets Murray. If Miami (13th) or Washington (15th) believes Drew Lock will be gone, either one might trade their first round pick for Josh Rosen.
Now if you are an Arizona fan (thank goodness I am not) you know they are a mess on both sides of the ball. Especially on offense. Dead last in yards and points. Are you going to draft Murray and not give him any weapons?
Thin year for WR. They might be in play for a TE with the pick from Miami or Washington.
Of course this helps my Niners as they get their pick of edge rushers. I might even take Josh Allen over Bosa. And they could also trade down and still get someone like a Montez Sweat perhaps.
Now if you are an Arizona fan (thank goodness I am not) you know they are a mess on both sides of the ball. Especially on offense. Dead last in yards and points. Are you going to draft Murray and not give him any weapons?
Thin year for WR. They might be in play for a TE with the pick from Miami or Washington.
Of course this helps my Niners as they get their pick of edge rushers. I might even take Josh Allen over Bosa. And they could also trade down and still get someone like a Montez Sweat perhaps.
Yeah AZ is a mess... Oline is their biggest problem but they aren't going to address it at #1. Their big X factor is their new HC Kingsbury. Is he really going to go all in on Murray? What a ballsy move that'd be. Rosen isn't exactly a finished product but most folks think he's good QB in the making. Kinda like how Goff was at same point. He just needed the right coaching staff/system and weapons. Would Rosen fit with what Kingsbury wants to do? Maybe maybe not... But that first domino will make this draft interesting because not taking him could quite possibly setup a bidding war between the Raiders & Dolphins for wanting to trade up for Murray. NYG most likely will be able to stand pat and have Haskins fall in their lap.
The 9ers were able to fleece the Bears when they wanted Trubisky so we'll see if history repeats itself in a way...
I think the most recent USA today mock draft has both going top ten. Jags, Bills?
I can't imagine BB trading up for anyone, not his style.
But who knows, mock drafts are mere speculation, exposed when nearly every draft begins.
Most important for this group, Iowa players who are on the national scene, are drafted high and produce in the NFL. Actually those hidden gems are also worth their weight in gold for type of recruits Iowa has access to.
Hope it is an "Iowa-focused" draft!
I can't imagine BB trading up for anyone, not his style.
But who knows, mock drafts are mere speculation, exposed when nearly every draft begins.
Most important for this group, Iowa players who are on the national scene, are drafted high and produce in the NFL. Actually those hidden gems are also worth their weight in gold for type of recruits Iowa has access to.
Hope it is an "Iowa-focused" draft!
Getting open has to do with a lot more than just speed. In college (especially this last year), Hock was way better at getting open than Fant. That said, Fant is explosive and a hard worker, so I am sure he will be just fine when it is all said and done.
EstronHawkKing
Well-Known Member
Pats might lose their first round pick if Kraft is found guilty in his little sex scandal.
Your "way" scale must be a bit different than mine.
Yeah, I suppose that was hyperbolic. He was about 40% better at getting open.
Edit: Check that, Hock had 46% more yards than Fant, but only about 25% more receptions. So will say he was 25% better at getting open.
I wonder if Fant has the "toughness" to be a high pick and a top level TE in the NFL. Brutal game. Perhaps he excels at workouts, where no one is trying to kill you.
skinnykilmer17
Well-Known Member
Apparently Kingsbury recruited Murray hard while in high school. I believe he would fit his system. Lots of drama there. Stay tuned as they say.
I don't think it is a toughness factor. Some people have a more natural feel for things like positioning their body, reading a defender's body movements, deceiving with their movements, etc.. It is hard to quantify these things because they largely take place within the mind, but they matter enormously. In college, Hock had a better feel for creating space on a route and for making yards after the catch. Fant has more ability to run by someone. Both are important skills, but I think Hock's will result in a bigger, immediate impact.
I thought it was interesting that Fant was essentially the same size as Hock (2 lbs lighter), with longer arms (33.5 vs. 32.25), and greater bench press strength (20 reps vs. 17 reps). Yet I don't think there is any question as to who was the more effective/consistent blocker. The game of football goes well beyond measurables.
In one of the other draft threads, an analysis of Fant was posted, and it noted that blocking should actually be one of his strengths at the NFL level. He is big enough, he is willing, and he shows good technique at times. But just like with getting open and catching, his consistency can be improved. I feel he tends to overreach and get off balance at times, resulting in some pretty bad whiffs. But when he gets in position and gets engaged, there is no reason he cannot be a weapon blocking as well.
