Undrafted Free Agent signings

[grog]

Originally Posted by Defsoul

The Patriots signed another UDFA, Justin Francis out of Rutgers. He played defensive tackle and also some end in college. Francis is 6'2 3/8'', 268 lbs with good arm length (33 5/8″).


From NEPatriotsDraft.com: http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2012/...-signings.html
His profile at ProFootballWeekly.com: http://cache.profootballweekly.com/p...in-francis-91/

When I read this I couldn't help but think of one of my all time favorite Patriots, Russ Francis.

[Goldfishwars]

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2...-on-the-draft/

NY Times reporting we've signed Brandon Bolden, RB from Ole Miss. Love this kid, real bowling ball of a chain-mover - nice compliment to the other backs on the roster.

[Defsoul]

Originally Posted by Goldfishwars

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2...-on-the-draft/

NY Times reporting we've signed Brandon Bolden, RB from Ole Miss. Love this kid, real bowling ball of a chain-mover - nice compliment to the other backs on the roster.

I guess that report about Bolden signing with the Redskins on Bleacher Report was wrong after all. It cited NFL.com as a source, but I couldn't find Bolden among the UDFAs signed by the Redkins. Good signing. The kid has some size, athleticism and he put up good numbers as a junior in the SEC.

[Goldfishwars]

Originally Posted by Defsoul

I guess that report about Bolden signing with the Redskins on Bleacher Report was wrong after all. It cited NFL.com as a source, but I couldn't find Bolden among the UDFAs signed by the Redkins. Good signing. The kid has some size, athleticism and he put up good numbers as a junior in the SEC.

Yeah, he's getting a lot of comparisons to BJGE - but he's a MUCH better athlete.

[The Gr8est]

Originally Posted by Goldfishwars

Yeah, he's getting a lot of comparisons to BJGE - but he's a MUCH better athlete.

Gr8 to hear. I was really disappointed when i heard he signed with the Redskins. Sounds like he has a decent chance to make the team, particularly if there are any injuries.

[Defsoul]

Originally Posted by Goldfishwars

Yeah, he's getting a lot of comparisons to BJGE - but he's a MUCH better athlete.

He has also way more experience as a receiver. Bolden caught 76 passes in four years at Ole Miss. Benny had 10 receptions in two years. But unlike Benny, Bolden did fumble in college. 8 fumbles in 562 touches according to PFW. There is some other stuff to like about him. He was a team captain. He returned kickoffs and also played as a gunner on special teams. Like I said before: I really like this signing.

[The Gr8est]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/1...ed-free-agents

Here is an article by Pat Kirwan on some of his favorite UDFAs this year. Pats have two of them:

"18. Markus Zusevics, OT Iowa -- The Patriots have taken offensive linemen that never played college football and turned them into starters; Markus has been well coached at Iowa and plays on his feet. He built himself up from a 225 lb. freshman into a 295 lb. senior. He will keep plugging until he makes the active roster.

20. Brandon Bolden, RB Mississippi (Not signed yet) -- I watched a number of Mississippi games and Bolden was a one-man army. Stop Bolden and you stopped Mississippi. Ben Jarvis Green Ellis came up through the same experience except Bolden is a better receiver out of the backfield. He has some issues off the field but he has burst, vision and strength."


I'm really liking Bolden's chances of making the 53 and contributing.

Also read somewhere that Marcus Fortson, Miami DT was a pre-season 1st round projection. He and Bolden are the ones to keep an eye on.

[Defsoul]

Originally Posted by The Gr8est

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/1...ed-free-agents

Here is an article by Pat Kirwan on some of his favorite UDFAs this year. Pats have two of them:

"18. Markus Zusevics, OT Iowa -- The Patriots have taken offensive linemen that never played college football and turned them into starters; Markus has been well coached at Iowa and plays on his feet. He built himself up from a 225 lb. freshman into a 295 lb. senior. He will keep plugging until he makes the active roster.

20. Brandon Bolden, RB Mississippi (Not signed yet) -- I watched a number of Mississippi games and Bolden was a one-man army. Stop Bolden and you stopped Mississippi. Ben Jarvis Green Ellis came up through the same experience except Bolden is a better receiver out of the backfield. He has some issues off the field but he has burst, vision and strength."


I'm really liking Bolden's chances of making the 53 and contributing.

Also read somewhere that Marcus Fortson, Miami DT was a pre-season 1st round projection. He and Bolden are the ones to keep an eye on.

Forston played pretty well as a redshirt sophomore in 2010, but got hurt early last season and ended up playing only three games in 2011. He then decided to enter the draft instead of returning for his senior year. The decision was a big stunner. Maybe it had something to do with Al Golden who is running a much tighter ship at Miami than Golden's predecessor Randy Shannon.