Twitter: Mika Tafua - UDFA Gem

gimmesix

gimmesix

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zrinkill said:
Every fan base thinks this when they sign undrafted guys.
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That's cause most of these guys who get signed as UDFAs were impressive in college on whatever level they were on. It's always fascinating to me which ones can make it work in the NFL. Sometimes it's not the fastest or best athlete, just the one who works hard at it and figures out the game on this level. I mean, who knew Steele would emerge as a starting right tackle? It's fun to guess and watch even though they might all fail.
 
EPL0c0

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gimmesix said:
That's cause most of these guys who get signed as UDFAs were impressive in college on whatever level they were on. It's always fascinating to me which ones can make it work in the NFL. Sometimes it's not the fastest or best athlete, just the one who works hard at it and figures out the game on this level. I mean, who knew Steele would emerge as a starting right tackle? It's fun to guess and watch even though they might all fail.
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That's Dorance Armstrong. He's improved his skills every year. 4th round pick has earned his spot in the rotation.

Watching Tafua highlights now and he looks like a disrupter... Didn't always get the sack but impacted plays. Reminds me a tad of Randy Gregory but w/o the fast 1st step.

Nothing wrong with quality depth. If he can work hard and earn a spot, it'd be good for the team
 
gimmesix

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EPL0c0 said:
That's Dorance Armstrong. He's improved his skills every year. 4th round pick has earned his spot in the rotation.

Watching Tafua highlights now and he looks like a disrupter... Didn't always get the sack but impacted plays. Reminds me a tad of Randy Gregory but w/o the fast 1st step.

Nothing wrong with quality depth. If he can work hard and earn a spot, it'd be good for the team
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I know it's a different position, but I can't help think of someone like Barry Church. He was too slow and that hurt at times, but he carved out a nice little career by just knowing how to play the game.
 
Pass2Run

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gimmesix said:
That's cause most of these guys who get signed as UDFAs were impressive in college on whatever level they were on. It's always fascinating to me which ones can make it work in the NFL. Sometimes it's not the fastest or best athlete, just the one who works hard at it and figures out the game on this level. I mean, who knew Steele would emerge as a starting right tackle? It's fun to guess and watch even though they might all fail.
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Agree. They are interesting to watch. And more and more of them these days are making teams.
 
gimmesix

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john van brocklin said:
Love to hit on these UDFA's , they cost so little and sometimes yield big results.
See Tony Romo and Austin Miles
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Those big-result guys are harder to find, but it's not near as difficult to find players who can contribute more than the bottom-of-the-roster guys. Is there really much difference, for instance, between Golston and Tafua? That's hard to say at this point. How about Bell and Mukuama? Or Fehoko and Drummond? Or Gilbert and Hansford? All of those UDFAs could be better than players expected to make the roster. Or maybe it's one of the others who prove to be better.
 
john van brocklin

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Just another avenue to find talent...
gimmesix said:
Those big-result guys are harder to find, but it's not near as difficult to find players who can contribute more than the bottom-of-the-roster guys. Is there really much difference, for instance, between Golston and Tafua? That's hard to say at this point. How about Bell and Mukuama? Or Fehoko and Drummond? Or Gilbert and Hansford? All of those UDFAs could be better than players expected to make the roster. Or maybe it's one of the others who prove to be better.
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Just another avenue to find talent...
 
jazzcat22

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gimmesix said:
I know it's a different position, but I can't help think of someone like Barry Church. He was too slow and that hurt at times, but he carved out a nice little career by just knowing how to play the game.
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Bill Bates comes to mind. Was not fast, but he hit hard, has football smarts. Well after his 1st year, he made smarter plays.
I remember a game against Washington, Dallas needed to make a stop and they did. And would have won. But Bates, late hit, jumping into the pile.
Washington went on to win after if gave them a 1st down.

But he learned from that, and had a great career.
 
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