Introducing the player that will, again, have the Patriots change how the NFL views the position.

by Jack'sAxe on Feb 6, 2012 3:41 PM EST

I give you, FB Evan Rodriguez.

6-1

242 pounds.

Let me post an overview from CBS Draft:

Rodriguez was a tight end/safety recruit out of the prep level, choosing West Virginia over Pittsburgh and Rutgers. He redshirted in 2007 with West Virginia, but decided to transfer to Temple and sat out the 2008 season due to transfer rules. Rodriguez quickly found the field as a tight end in 2009 as a sophomore with 7 starts, finishing with 13 catches for 145 yards (11.2) and a career-best 3 touchdowns. He saw more playing time in 2010 as a junior with 9 starts at tight end, recording 21 receptions for 247 yards (11.8) and 2 scores, earning Second Team All-MAC honors. Rodriguez had his most productive season in 2011 as a senior (12 starts), finishing with 35 catches for 479 yards (13.7) and 2 touchdowns, earning First Team All-MAC honors.

Rodriguez is a hybrid tight end/fullback player with a lot of tweener traits and was used in a similar role last season as an Aaron Hernandez-type weapon ? his head coach in 2011 (Steve Addazio) was Hernandez?s offensive coordinator at Florida in 2009. Rodriguez attacks defenders at the point of attack and is a willing blocker, but struggles to sustain and lacks the ideal strength for the position.

Rodriguez is a natural pass catcher with a very good body control and overall feel as a receiver, but is a smaller target and lacks the dynamic qualities to consistently beat NFL linebackers or safeties in coverage ? a later round prospect, but is one of the top hybrid fullbacks in this class.

Let me give you my view a bit. Rodriguez is a 5th/6th rounder. So he is a low round guy. FBs in the NFL are undervalued. If any fans can tell you this, it is Raider fans. The Raiders have a FB named Marcell Reece. He played some WR in college and some FB, and is the Raiders current starting FB. He is a major playmaker. He is the unsung hero of that offense. Great receiver, and good blocker. Think about what the pats can do what that type of player?

1 TE, 2 WR, and 2 RB sets. Welker, Branch/Ocho/FA addition at WR. Gronkowski at TE. And you can have Rodriguez and Herndo as the two RBs. or you can have Shane Vereen, who can catch like a WR. Think about the receiving options! Brady will have receiving threats at EVERY POSITION.

Now, the only knocks on him that I can even consider is that he is lazy and an underachiever. All those other weaknesses that were listed in CBS sports, can be developed quickly on our team. he can learn to block better, and he can learn to run routes better. Point is, in the 5th round,, this guy can be a major steal for the pats, and we can change how the NFL views FBs now.

from this vid, I can see that he can block just fine, but could use some tweaking. If Brady has this guy, I can see some even more great thins for this offense.

Evan Rodriguez vs Miami (Ohio) 2011 (via phillyjimmyphilms)

I won't evaluate fully on this guy yet. He is just a person of great interest. What do you guys think?

Poll

Should we get this guy? Will he make our offense even better and more versatile?

Yes

20 votes

No

19 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed

The views expressed in these FanPosts are not necessarily those of the writers or SBNation.

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Comments

Looks good

but too early to say I want him: gotta see what hes up against, and what positions we’re in, first.

Oh my god a floor zombie! Oh wait, thats you
- Toby Turner

by New Century Silver on Feb 6, 2012 3:46 PM EST reply actions

It's an interesting idea for you guys

but first

a) Unless you get compensatory picks, you don’t have a 5th (Ochocinco) and 6th (Tracy White).

b) I’m not sure his role would be all that different from how the Pats utilized Hernandez this year, so I’m not sure it would change how the NFL views the position. Beyond that, the role of Hernandez and what you envision for Rodriguez would essentially by dynamic H-backs, not exactly new.

c) You still need some semblance of a run game, so the times that you will use Hernandez/Rodriguez together in the backfield is probably minimal.

d) Lazy and under-achiever, if true, are traits that Belichick tends to shy away from. Ahmad Brooks was a dynamic guy out of UVA, but they passed due to poor work ethic reports from Al Groh. Doesn’t mean he won’t try a guy here or there.

All that said, that late in the draft, sure I could see this.

by toonsterwu on Feb 6, 2012 4:00 PM EST reply actions

a) Unless you get compensatory picks, you don’t have a 5th (Ochocinco) and 6th (Tracy White).

We usually get those back anyways, but I see your point.

b) I’m not sure his role would be all that different from how the Pats utilized Hernandez this year, so I’m not sure it would change how the NFL views the position. Beyond that, the role of Hernandez and what you envision for Rodriguez would essentially by dynamic H-backs, not exactly new.

He is a FB, not an HB. Herndo plays some RB and TE. Rodriguez plays FB and TE. Essentially you can have two hernandez’s on the field (or a rodriguez and another RB), while having Gronk, welker, and another WR. It changes how the NFL views FB because they don’t see FBs as receivers. Looking at how Marcel Reece plays in Oakland, if we have a guy who can do what he does, the pats offense is going to be much difficult to stop next year.

c) You still need some semblance of a run game, so the times that you will use Hernandez/Rodriguez together in the backfield is probably minimal.

Thats fine. Have Rodriguez and Shane vereen, or BJGE. Since he plays FB, we can still have a running game.

d) Lazy and under-achiever, if true, are traits that Belichick tends to shy away from. Ahmad Brooks was a dynamic guy out of UVA, but they passed due to poor work ethic reports from Al Groh. Doesn’t mean he won’t try a guy here or there.

He is a 5th rounder. The reward can outweigh the risks. And I think his work ethic will improve with the pats, as will his under achieving. then again, those are just reports from a single site.

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

by Jack'sAxe on Feb 6, 2012 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

H-back, not Half-back

I hate using wiki for this, but it’s the easiest resource. A H-back is “The position is a hybrid of a fullback and a tight end.” The Redskins utilized Chris Cooley in that way. A lot more teams tend to utilize a H-back type in this day and age, as the traditional fullback just isn’t valued as highly anymore.

by toonsterwu on Feb 6, 2012 10:59 PM EST up reply actions