New England Patriots Links 5/06/11 - Patriots Drafted A Leader (and a big, pounding blocker) In TE Lee Smith
by Marima on May 6, 2011 11:00 AM EDT
in New England Patriots News
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PrintChristopher Price profiles 'throwback' TE Lee Smith, taken in the fifth round of the draft.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick referred to him as an "outstanding blocker." Phil Ratliff, Smith’s position coach at Marshall, added to that on Thursday, calling him a "throwback" who was "far and away the most respected player on the team because of how hard he practices and how hard he plays."
Ratliff knows something about the sort of player that appeals to the Patriots -- while as a player at Marshall, he was a college teammate of eventual New England football legend Troy Brown. "Lee is the kind of player the Patriots draft -- a quality person who takes to system and does whatever it takes to succeed," Ratliff said. "New England is getting another leader -- he’s a natural-born leader."
"A lot of people don’t realize he had a good tight end that played in front of him — this past year was the first year he really had a chance to thrive in the passing game," Ratliff said. "At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, so a lot of people don’t realize how good he in the passing game. When you think of Lee Smith, you think of a big, pounding blocker. That’s what he is, but he has capability in the vertical passing game. He’s got soft hands and a knack for getting open -- and he will get better."
"All I can tell you is this -- people can all the negative things they want about him, but Lee, when he came to us, he was a guy who was a leader," Ratliff said. "He was a guy who got it. It was unbelievable. When he got into our system, he got structure, and just took off from there. "What happened in the past is in the past. He’s gone beyond that. He’s the most mature guy I have ever coached. He has a family and kids -- all that stuff is in the past. It’s so irrelevant to what he is now. It really is."
"I will tell you one thing -- they have a very impressive tight end group," Ratliff said of New England. "[But] there’s no challenge for him that’s too big. He won’t back down. Those guys are all really good players, but whatever is asked of Lee, he’ll roll with it. He’ll do whatever he needs to do, and take care of business. That’s just how he is."
Ryan Osborne (TCU Daily Skiff) Patriots 7th-round draft pick Malcolm Williams is packing his bags for the NFL after unlikely football journey.
"I'm living in a dream right now," said Williams, who was drafted by the New England Patriots with the 219th overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL Draft Saturday afternoon. "It's the best thing that can happen to me."
Williams offered a simple, timeless phrase to sum up his journey from airport bag collector to NFL draftee.
"Hard work pays off," Williams said. "That's all you can really say."
TEAM TALK
- The New England Patriots 2011 Draft: Notes, stats and trends from the team.
- PFW in Progress - 5/05/11: This edition continues to recap the 2011 NFL Draft. (2 hour program.)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss helps fans get to know CB Ras-I Dowling, after speaking with Virginia cornerbacks coach Chip West.
- Ian Rapoport notes Ryan Mallett has always dazzled with his strong arm and throwing ability.
- Ian Rapoport reports PGA star John Daly has offered guidance to Pats QB Ryan Mallett about overcoming past and the pitfalls of being a celebrity.
- Ian Rapoport continues his 'The Making of Mallett' series with an explanation of why QB Ryan Mallett left Michigan for Arkansas.
- Jeff Howe opens up his draft column for a string of second-guessing offerings before everyone's vision becomes crystal clear in hindsight.
- Mike Reiss discusses Vic Carucci's article about how the Patriots and Colts each take a different approach when it comes to drafting QBs.
- Jeff Howe points out that Bill Belichick carried out his 2011 draft philosophy with the future in mind.
- Jon Fucile from WickedGoodSports offers some examples of Bill Belichick's trade down lifestyle.
- Mike Reiss offers a list of Pats players who have Twitter accounts, after ESPN's "Outside the Lines" program discussed Twitter's impact on sports.
- Tom E. Curran's Quick Slants with Nate Solder. (2.47 min. video)
- Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat. Terrific insight here as usual.
- Tom E. Curran scouts out how the Jets did in the draft.
- Mike Reiss reports Tedy Bruschi will join former Titans coach Jeff Fisher and others to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.
- Mike McDermott posts a photo of Tom Brady hugging 77-year old fan Loraine Pitka at a promotional event last week. In this ESPN Page 2 picture, she's got a solid grip on his arm.
- NESN reports Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen were photographed walking the red carpet at the metropolitan Museum of Modern Art Benefit Gala.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Matt Williamson, Scouts Inc.(ESPN) Soon to be stars: Patriots LB Brandon Spikes.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) John Daly, Ryan Mallett forge a friendship.
- Evan Silva (ProFootballTalk) Our discoveries, after tracking pre-draft visits and workouts. "No team puts in more face time than the Patriots."
- NFL Live (ESPN) Patriots draft-day decision-making discussed after interview with RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. (4.39 min. video)
- Nathan Jahnke (Pro Football Focus) First thoughts on each of the first round picks in the 2011 NFL Draft.
- Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Second/third-round breakdowns.
- Gregg Easterbrook (ESPN) The 2011 TMQ draft review.
- Adam Schein (Fox Sports) Explaining the draft's inexplicable.
- John Clayton (ESPN) Running theme developing.
- Khaled Elsayed (Pro Football Focus) The Top 101 players of 2010: No. 101-81 -- No. 80-61 -- No. 60-41 -- No. 40-21 -- Top 20. This list is whacked.
- Dan Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) Playing the NFL draft name game. Who has the coolest names in the draft?
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Rashard Mendenhall loses endorsement deal with Champion.
- AP (The Gainesville Sun) Former Florida WR Reche Caldwell arrested for marijuana possession.
LABOR LUNACY
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Goodell says the league, players need to be talking in order to strike a new deal.
- Adam Teicher (Kansas City Star) Goodell and Hunt paint a dark picture of an NFL without a labor deal.
- Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Agents:Teams have tampered with undrafted players during lockout.
- Rick Horrow (Fox Sports) Rookie wage scale concern. (1.04 min. video)
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Reche Caldwell found with marijuana....
“Dude. That stuff was gooooooood….”
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
Next time, find a larger pic why don't you?
Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.
by PatNation85 on May 6, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
in the name of all the frogs...
…to compare us with Reche..just hurts. /facepalm
by frogfromthemud on May 7, 2011 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions
that image is freaky!
Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.
As long as Daly didn't tell Mallett
How diving from a tournament game to Las Vegas and blowing 10 million isn’t fulfilling…
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on May 6, 2011 12:05 PM EDT reply actions
I know coaches talk highly of almost all their players
But I am getting very excited hearing how all these kids are leaders. It seems like the more leaders we get, the more accountable everyone will be. If he is the eventual successor to Crumpler, I hope he can lead like him. It was nice to have a veteran show our young guys the ropes, and I’m willing to say it was very successful.
by jcorye1 on May 6, 2011 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I'll be impressed when we win a SB. All the character in the world is good n all, but SB's are what matter.
Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.
results are clearly the best metric but
I think by the middle of this past season there was a change in the team. There was a heightened toughness and resilience that simply wasn’t there in 2009. I attribute some of this to an improved locker room, having dispensed with Moss and Adalius Thomas (maybe you throw Maroney in there too).
I think the Baltimore game was proof positive of this. The team fought tooth and nail in that game, never quitting.
Having all these new leader type young guys can only enhance things. Also, these kinds of new players are exactly the sort you don’t need to worry about during this uncertain offseason. They will be keeping themselves in shape, not getting into trouble, and working with whatever team materials they can get their hands on.
You think the same can be said for the Jets’ Kenrick Ellis? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
by Lt. Tyler on May 6, 2011 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
hahahahahahaha
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on May 6, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
As a side-note, I advocated getting rid of Moss after his crazy speech in week 1 and his ‘performance’ in week 2. I even said I thought that the O would perform at a higher level without Moss because Brady wouldn’t feel obliged to force it at Randy and would spread it around (which they subsequently proved against Miami).
PatNation85 still hasn’t forgiven me for it. You’ve been warned, haha.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on May 6, 2011 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was the first to suggest it, and got a lot of flak for it...
(Told you sooooo).
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
0.o
I made a post about it after game 2, so Ha!. XD
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
Haha, I remember.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
I have said the same things. ;)
I’ll take 11 players with heart on the field over 11 guys with just talent. Talent is fleeting, it goes away over time. Heart is what drives you to be better. To push yourself beyond what you think your capabilities are. To show us that when you strive, all things are possible.- SMP
Make this green someone
Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.
I'd take my chances with a guy described as a "natural born leader"
over a guy scheduled to go to trial with the felony charge of “malicious wounding” carrying the chance of going to prison (on top of his other issues) any day.
Keep the faith!
Wasn't the years when you guys won the SBs were when you guys had high character players?
Teams have to work as a unit to win and if you have a bunch of divas, that will self implode when the going gets tough.
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Behind every great man is a good woman; behind every good woman is a man looking at her @$$.
"Loving a good woman is the best thing a man can do for his moral welfare" -Narrator from The AutoBiography of an Ex-colored Man
Go see Mosul's new blog! An Observation on Sports
See: Cowboys, Dallas; and Bengals, Cincinnati.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
thisssss
I love character mapping!
This lockout is jeopardizing our next ring!
by Yardpenalty.com on May 6, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow I missed this pick! Loving every pick!
This might be the best draft Bill has ever orchestrated considering the lack of talent in the draft. This kid is Pat worthy!
This lockout is jeopardizing our next ring!
by Yardpenalty.com on May 6, 2011 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I would too Marima, but look at the aforementioned Jets squad. They have quite a few characters on their squad,
and they have been more successful than we have over the course of the past 2 seasons. The media as well as Jets fans couldn’t care less about off field issues as long as they are winning. And quite frankly, that in the end is what it’s all about.
Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.
Meant to be a reply to 'Mom'
Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.
More successful = winning one more game than the Patriots did in the postseason
Eh. Certain off field issues I don’t think matter too much except as an annoyance when they affect the team (Brandon Spikes 4-game suspension for example). If Kenrick Ellis is convicted on the felony charge then will the Jets fans care a bit more about the draft pick? Maybe.
Keep the faith!
I expected the Jets to implode under the weight of all their malcontents...
Pretty much like how the Bengals do every year. But they didn’t, and that has lead me to believe that, no matter what else he is, Rex Ryan has to be a brilliant man-manager and motivator.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
He really knows how to sit on those guys and keep them out of trouble.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Official Fire-Puncher for Pats Pulpit an SB Nation Blog
by SlotMachinePlayer on May 6, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
LMAO! Couldn't resist could you?
Lewis Hamilton~ 2011 F1 Champion!!!
Don't cut your locks Tom Terrific!
Life is about who makes it, not who makes it the fastest! Drive slow homie.
I hear he also gives them foot messages in order to relax them.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.
Rex: "If you're REAL nice and don't get into trouble.. i'll let you have my wife for the weekend"
If knowledge is power and power corrupts...
No no no
“If you aren’t good, I’ll set my wife upon you…”
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
while they have fair share of knuckleheads
such as Cromartie, Edwards and Holmes, their “core” is constituted by a lot of respectable, hardworking and classy guys such as Sanchez, Revis and LT which I think matters a lot
Lee Smith
Soft hands … that’s what makes Gronk such a good receiver
Since he can long snap, it increases his chance of making it on roster this year.
Increases Crumpler’s chance of being cut. Crumpler has one more year left in NFL.
One of his fellow Marshall alumni back in the 90's
did the same thing for us. Played 3rd string TE and played LS.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.
I'd be happy as hell if he could take a game day slot from Katula AND Crumpler so we can put one more something on the field
Then again, I really like Crumpler.
If knowledge is power and power corrupts...
I would be happy if Smith wins the LS job
But I want Crump around another year. 3 TE set of Crump, Smith, Gronk, w/Vereen and Ridley….So many options for short yardage, all of them can catch and block. That would keep a defense honest.
yep...had the same idea.
Smith can be our 4th TE and LS w.o having to cut him and risk someone stealing him during the waivers or PS squad.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.
If Lee Smith can be safely waived, that would be perfect situation.
If Lee Smith proves highly capable in preseason at TE, that could make for tougher decisions. Ideally I’d like Crumpler to groom him.
If Lee Smith proves he can LS enough, it could make for even tougher and tempting decisions since it could free up another roster spot.
I just hope the Patriots can keep him on board until next year since he has decent potential to be Crumplers replacement.
Lee Smith is a keeper. He would never survive waivers: not a chance.
I see 4 TE’s with Crumpler doing another year of superb mentoring for these three gems. With Crumpler, Smith, and Gronkowski, we should see some sets using all three of them on short yardage downs. One can start in the slot.
Awesome run potential or play action with a short route by any one of the three TE’s. Money!
I think we are going to see another fabulous return from the draft picks. Both RB’s will be everything Maroney failed to live up to. Smith will be another Gronkowski. Dowling will be another McCourty. Stroud will add another excellent veteran presence on the D-line. If Ty Warren and Bodden can play a full season, this team will be pursuing another run at undefeated perfection!
by WinningisEverything on May 7, 2011 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Last year we carried 5 running backs:
Maroney (then Woodhead, when Maroney was shipped)
Fred Taylor
Sammy Morris (somewhat as a fullback)
Kevin Faulk (until his career season ending injury)
Law Firm
This year, we likely have Law Firm and Woody, and one or two of our draft picks.
There’s the potential for another guy, though that guy could be a Tight-End.
If he can pull lead blocking duties, he can take over for Morris as the fullback.
One of the two other rookies will likely fill in for him on special teams.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Official Fire-Puncher for Pats Pulpit an SB Nation Blog
by SlotMachinePlayer on May 7, 2011 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Sammy Morris was basically a special teamer by the end of the season...
Anyone know what Smith offers in the kicking game? He’d likely have the speed and size to be a decent blocker on KRs and maybe as a lineman on PRs and punts. It’ll be interesting to see how they use him.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on May 7, 2011 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Well
look at how many snap issues the Patriots had after Katula took over…
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 6, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Who is Matt Katula?
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on May 6, 2011 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
We knew who Jake Ingram was because he kept ****ing up. Katula came in and quietly did his job at LS to perfection.
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 6, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Using Lee Smith would be somewhat of a tempting gamble balanced against why fix something that isn’t broken.
I think BB also appreciates having more than one guy on the roster that can perform the LS duties.
Last year he didn’t and it became a roster problem and a liability for a few games.
I'm sure that helped Rob Ninkovich keep a roster spot his first season...
He was a good ST coverage guy like Pierre Woods, and he could play LS at a pinch.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on May 7, 2011 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Marima, please, save us from the horror could profootballfocus:D
Those guys just stink.:)
He’s a nice compliment to Gonzalez and Gronkowski.
"In a dog eat dog world, you must have the mentality of a Pit Bull." -Phil Jackson
Who the hell is Gonzalez?
It matters not how strait the gate, nor charged with punishments the scroll:
I am the Master of my fate. I am the Captain of my soul.
Alge Crumpler, I imagine
Tony Gonzalez is too busy playing for Dimitrioff’s Falcons. Sigh.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on May 7, 2011 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes I meant Crumpler, I don’t know why I typed Gonzalez.
"In a dog eat dog world, you must have the mentality of a Pit Bull." -Phil Jackson
Big, vet blocker, both have had great careers, both in new-ish teams...
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
by Comedic.Sans on May 7, 2011 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions
And Alge was originally a Falcon!
It matters not how strait the gate, nor charged with punishments the scroll:
I am the Master of my fate. I am the Captain of my soul.
I think we'll keep 4 TEs this year.
Hernandez is more of a big slot receiver anyways. And if we only keep 4 backs, and don’t have a fullback, and one of the TEs is kind of more of a reciever having 4 makes sense.
Just browsing through the rookies...
7th rounder Malcolm Williams vs. Matt Slater
Williams _________ Slater
Height _______5’9.5"___________5’10.5"
Weight ______204lbs__________195lbs
40 dash ______4.48s___________4.44s
20 dash ______2.56s___________2.59s
10 dash ______1.48s___________1.57s
Bench _______16 reps_________11 reps
Vert jump _____40"_____________33"
Broad jump ___10’6"___________10’1"
20 shuttle ____4.39s___________4.40s
3-cone ______6.90s___________7.31s
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
Can you say "UPGRADE"?
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on May 8, 2011 5:20 AM EDT up reply actions
7th round potential upgrade over a guy who went in the 5th round?
Not bad, Hoodie. And because the guy has no real position, he’s probably safe enough to clear waivers and stash on the Practice Squad.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
No-one's gonna steal a STer off waivers.
"Perhaps it was the Noid who should have avoided me." Mayor Adam West
by insertscreenname on May 8, 2011 6:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd hope so...
Except Belichick did it last year to Denver, maybe Denver might try it back.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
Or the Rams do it, since it was McDaniels's guy Hoodie stole.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit
Only bc they stole our player first.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae ;I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life.
In Bill We Trust.
Based on those stats, Williams stays, BB pockets the cash difference, and the PATS keep rolling along as THE pro franchise to model. BB has a superb eye for value. These lower level players who make a huge contribution every game are tied to their dollar value. BB and staff can teach Williams the system. They cannot teach Slater to jump higher or run faster.
Slater – gone. New, more impressivde physical presence in his spot.
This is a perfect example why BB stick piles draft picks by trading down. These later round finds are inexpensive upgrades because of their youth, dollar amount, and superior physical attributes.
by WinningisEverything on May 8, 2011 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Another guy under 5'10 that's gonna contribute to the betterment of the team?
Hell yes! Smurfs FTW.
It matters not how strait the gate, nor charged with punishments the scroll:
I am the Master of my fate. I am the Captain of my soul.
I think it's just a little early to call this guy an upgrade.
The combine stats show them to really be just about the same speed. Slater is shown to have slightly more top end, while Williams slightly more burst.
Really we don’t know how well that transfers to game speed for both of them, or actually how football skilled Williams is, how well he plays special teams, etc. etc.
by UtopianAverage on May 8, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not saying he won't be an upgrade.
But I think a few hundredth of a second differences in a few drills, and a few more bench presses or whatever is not nearly enough to say he WILL be. It’s a very very very slight difference in the stats themselves, and there’s a lot of combine/workout phenoms who can’t play football very well, combine stats don’t show that much.
by UtopianAverage on May 8, 2011 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
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