On The Tape: Travis Frederick

[RS12]

Early this morning I watched 3 games that Travis Frederick played in at Wisconsin, and I want to quickly share some of my thoughts from that study.

Games Watched:

2012 vs Michigan St.

2012 vs Ohio St

2011 vs Ohio St

Measurables:

Ht: 6'4"

Wt: 312 lbs

Arms: 33"

Hands 10"

Strengths:

Very stout in the middle of the pocket in pass protection: in all 3 games I never saw a rusher able to come down the middle of his body and drive him back into the QB's lap. You see him sit down in his stance and anchor vs the bull rush allowing him to stay strong.

Finishes blocks well: Once he gets in position on his guy, you can almost certainly count that guy out of the play. Saw many times where he turned his guy sideways very quickly and moved him out of the way for the RB to scoot through the hole. He gets his hands inside well and looks like he plays with a lot of upper body strength while fighting to sustain the block. Plays stronger to me than a guy who did only 21 reps. Saw several times when he had no one rushing at him in Pass Pro, and he would slide over and deliver a blow to the guy rushing one of his guards, and it put the D-Linemen flat on his back.

Recognizes Pressures/Stunts: Does a good job of handing off the guy on the stunt and picking up the guy looping inside. Saw him diagnose inside pressure from the second level, get in position and stone a line backer coming on a blitz.

Gets off the ball: When I want to know who an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator trust to get good push off the snap, I look at who they are running behind in short yardage and goal line situations. Almost every time I saw Wisconsin in short yardage at the goal line, They were running the ball behind Frederick, whether it was at Left Guard in 2011 or at Center in 2012.

Weaknesses:

Athleticism: Frederick is at best an average athlete in the middle of the line. When run blocking, especially when going up to the 2nd level to block LBs he has a tendency to get off balance and miss the block.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2013...t-round-NFL-Draft-2013-Travis-Frederick-Trade

 

[CyberB0b]

I think he will be able to be pretty effective running the draw.

 

[visionary]

Stop it!!

Just kidding RS
Thanx for this post
I have a really good feeling about this pick

Callahan spent a lot of time with him so I M. It buyi g the "does not fit the scheme" argument

 

[RS12]

Occasionally Wisconsin would pull him around the outside in front of the RB on a toss or stretch pin & pull type play, and I only saw him execute this assignment well one time out of probably 8-10 opportunities. Was better pulling to the short side as opposed to pulling all the way across the formation.

Sounds like this pretty much eliminates him as LG candidate.

 

[Risen Star]

I won't know what to do watching a real run blocker on our line this year. I don't think his presence alone is going to change much but just seeing one guy get some push will be refreshing.

 

[Lifetimeboyzfan]

Romo and Murray must be stoked!

 

[big dog cowboy]

Very stout in the middle of the pocket in pass protection: in all 3 games I never saw a rusher able to come down the middle of his body and drive him back into the QB's lap. You see him sit down in his stance and anchor vs the bull rush allowing him to stay strong.

That makes Tony Romo a better QB.

 

[CATCH17]

I agree with pretty much everything this guy says.

Fredericks athleticism really worries me and you definetely should never be taking interior guys who are so limited physically that early.

I'm just hoping for solid play from him and I just wish that the year we actually did use a high pick on an interior player that it would've been one that was truly worth it.

 

[jobberone]

Livings and Smith had a adj run avg of about 4 which is ok. The right side wasn't good basically Bernie sucked it down. So I'd either put him at RG or C. If he plays C and we have a decent RG then our run game with improve. Not real crazy about running sweeps with any of the int OL but they should all be able to do skip blocks well so we should be able to run some traps and draws well.

There's no question in my mind that the interior pass blocking will be much better if we can stay healthy.

 

[jobberone]

I agree with pretty much everything this guy says.

Fredericks athleticism really worries me and you definetely should never be taking interior guys who are so limited physically that early.

I'm just hoping for solid play from him and I just wish that the year we actually did use a high pick on an interior player that it would've been one that was truly worth it.

We won SBs with OL just like him so while I'd love to have it all I'll take the guy gladly and just maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses.

 

[Zordon]

I won't know what to do watching a real run blocker on our line this year. I don't think his presence alone is going to change much but just seeing one guy get some push will be refreshing.

Just makes me want Bernie and Livings gone more and more.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He was playing at 345 or something last year. He ran agility drills really well at the combine. He was 315 there. Having a shuttle like that means that he can move laterally well. I am wondering what weight they want to have him at.

Time for Woicik to make his money.

 

[Yuma Cactus]

In every video I have watched rederick gets to the LB's just fine. I never really got the Warford love, now that is a guy who can't get to the 2nd level.

He will be the Marc Columbo/Erik Williams for the 'Boys. An enforcer, the guy you don't want on the opposing team if you are standing around the pile. He is Larry Allen strong and hasn't reached his peak. I think I love him.

Watching him has helped me get over passing on Floyd and missing out on Warmack.

 

[CF74]

Hands down my fav pick we made with the WR intriguing me for my 2nd.

 

[Beast_from_East]

I agree with pretty much everything this guy says.

Fredericks athleticism really worries me and you definetely should never be taking interior guys who are so limited physically that early.

I'm just hoping for solid play from him and I just wish that the year we actually did use a high pick on an interior player that it would've been one that was truly worth it.

Actually he tested very well in the athletic drills, both the 3 cone and the short shuttle were comparable to Cooper. Not saying he is as good as Cooper, just saying his agility tested well.

The problem for Fredrick was his 40 time, that is what made him drop like a rock in a lot of draft publications. I read today that he was rated as the 27th best player in the draft until his 40 time, then most publications had him in the 2nd or 3rd round.

He doesn't seem that slow on the tape, even though he ran over a 5.0 at the combine. Was he dogging it? Was he injured and didn't tell anybody? I don't know, he just seems like he plays a lot faster than his 40 time.

He would have been a 1st round lock if he had a decent 40 time at the combine.

 

[Tabascocat]

I would be concerned if he was asked to run a 20yd post. But, he will never be asked that. All I care about is if he can plug the middle or not. I think he is going to make the line that much better.

 

[Bware_Dware]

I would be concerned if he was asked to run a 20yd post. But, he will never be asked that. All I care about is if he can plug the middle or not. I think he is going to make the line that much better.

I laugh when people mentioned 40 times, especially for LINEMAN! Ask Tom Brady how much he cares about his OLine 40 time. They are Smart, Strong and Bruisers. Essentially exactly what Frederick is. Comes from one of the best NFL caliber lineman schools this country has.

 

[CATCH17]

Actually he tested very well in the athletic drills, both the 3 cone and the short shuttle were comparable to Cooper. Not saying he is as good as Cooper, just saying his agility tested well.

The problem for Fredrick was his 40 time, that is what made him drop like a rock in a lot of draft publications. I read today that he was rated as the 27th best player in the draft until his 40 time, then most publications had him in the 2nd or 3rd round.

He doesn't seem that slow on the tape, even though he ran over a 5.0 at the combine. Was he dogging it? Was he injured and didn't tell anybody? I don't know, he just seems like he plays a lot faster than his 40 time.

He would have been a 1st round lock if he had a decent 40 time at the combine.

Could care less how he tested. All I have to do is watch him play to see that his feet are about as quick as a turtle in molasses.

 

[Future]

He might only be an average athlete, but I can live with that. What this team needs is a guy who can move the guy in front of him out of the freaking way. That's what he'll do.

 

[ThreeandOut]

The most impressive thing that I read about him is that for the past two seasons, he is the guy they would run behind when Wisconsin needed the tough yard. That's pretty good when you consider they had Zeitler and Konz in 2011.