Nate Ebner: the Pats special teams just got better at rugby.
- Thread starter dbn
- Start date
As I had posted in the draft thread.
Also posted by mabrowndog in the draft thread. A natural leader, father also a big time rugby player until he was murdered:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIq-MaR5rCM&feature=player_embedded#!
MAKE THE TEAM YOU MAGNIFICENT BEAST!1!1!11!
Also posted by mabrowndog in the draft thread. A natural leader, father also a big time rugby player until he was murdered:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIq-MaR5rCM&feature=player_embedded#!
MAKE THE TEAM YOU MAGNIFICENT BEAST!1!1!11!
This seems about as unofficial as you can get, but his measurables from the OSU pro day:
http://www.facebook.com/OhioStateRugby/posts/366619523360454
40 yard dash - 4.48 sec
Bench Press - 23 reps
Vertical Jump - 39 inches
Broad Jump - 10 feet 8 inches
Short Shuttle - 3.91 sec
3 Cone Drill - 6.25 sec
60 yard long shuttle - 10.9 sec
http://www.facebook.com/OhioStateRugby/posts/366619523360454
40 yard dash - 4.48 sec
Bench Press - 23 reps
Vertical Jump - 39 inches
Broad Jump - 10 feet 8 inches
Short Shuttle - 3.91 sec
3 Cone Drill - 6.25 sec
60 yard long shuttle - 10.9 sec
Serious question (and I hope no one is offended by this): are the Patriots targeting players who have gone through personal tragedies? First Martin, both of whose parents were dead by the time he turned 12, now Ebner, whose father was murdered in a robbery. It can be hard to know how a player will handle the transition from college to the pros, but it's as important as pretty much any measurable you can think of. Maybe the Patriots have come to see the ability to rebound from this kind of event as a big plus.
In Patriot Reign I believe Belichick talks about how too much emphasis is put on how a player talks, where he comes from. He is all about how people come out of hardships in their lives.
I need an Ebner jersey, like right fucking now. And a warm washcloth to clean up a monitor. Holy crap that rugby vid is awesome.
Just noticed something though, those guys are tackling people without helmets and they don't appear to have the need to lead with the head and leave their feet. Seem to wrap up pretty good as well. Hmmmm.
Just noticed something though, those guys are tackling people without helmets and they don't appear to have the need to lead with the head and leave their feet. Seem to wrap up pretty good as well. Hmmmm.
A former student who is currently at OSU, just emailed me and said that Nate is absolutely bone-crushing as a special teams' player. "He will be a nut case each and every time - whithout exception," my student wrote. He also said, "As an athlete, there were very, very few players with more athleticism than Nate. And by the way, he was a fan favorite - the way you used to talk about Mosi Tatupu in class...."
Sign me and Frank Kelly up to lead his fan club!
Sign me and Frank Kelly up to lead his fan club!
Indeed. The quality of tackling is much higher in rugby. I often find it incredibly frustrating watching the tackling in the NFL.
As someone who played rugby for ten years, I love this pick.
And FWIW, even I tackle better than Meriwether
And FWIW, even I tackle better than Meriwether
[quote name='DaveRoberts'Shoes' timestamp='1335649440' post='4096723']
As someone who played rugby for ten years, I love this pick.
And FWIW, even I tackle better than Meriwether
[/quote]
If the phone rings in about a half hour, you know who is calling.
As someone who played rugby for ten years, I love this pick.
And FWIW, even I tackle better than Meriwether
[/quote]
If the phone rings in about a half hour, you know who is calling.
They already have Jones and Hightower available. Me, I'm going to wait until he has a number, though. I'm primed and ready to have irrational fandom towards this guy.
Fro the Pro Football Weekly write up:
"Races down the field like a bat out of hell and hunts returners like a heat-seeking missile."
Awesome.
"Races down the field like a bat out of hell and hunts returners like a heat-seeking missile."
Awesome.
Also from the scouting report.
That's all folks. Welcome to your new twin gunner alongside Slater - shall I suggest "Flash and Thunder" or some other overwrought, much too early cliche nicknames?
Color me skeptical. Terrible football player name. He should be an accountant with a name like "Nate Ebner."
Whats the deal with the guy in the hat?Nate Ebner would kill you if he heard you say that.
Is that guy in the upper left photo-bombing?Nate Ebner would kill you if he heard you say that.
Rugby tacking is entirely different from American football. You must wrap per the rules. You must also lead with your shoulder and place your head behind the runner's torso/hips (per your continued healthy brain function) and drive the player to the ground. That said, his tackling form is extraordinary. Generally football players do poorly in rugby because they are taught to drive their man backwards, put their nose to chest, etc. Tackling in rugby is all about getting the man to the ground, a few yards means nothing either offensively or defensively. It's all about continued phases and ball possession. Looks like a stud in 7's.
His breakaways in that video were amazing. Consistently looked like the fastest guy on the field hands down. If he can return kicks too and avoid hits like in that video... wow. Sign me up for the Ebner bandwagon.
[quote name='Eck'sSneakyCheese' timestamp='1335653307' post='4096946']
His breakaways in that video were amazing. Consistently looked like the fastest guy on the field hands down. If he can return kicks too and avoid hits like in that video... wow. Sign me up for the Ebner bandwagon.
[/quote]
I'm guessing there is a bit more speed in the NFL than in college rugby (or any rugby for that matter), he has 4.5 speed which is excellent for someone his size but isn't breakaway speed in the NFL.
His breakaways in that video were amazing. Consistently looked like the fastest guy on the field hands down. If he can return kicks too and avoid hits like in that video... wow. Sign me up for the Ebner bandwagon.
[/quote]
I'm guessing there is a bit more speed in the NFL than in college rugby (or any rugby for that matter), he has 4.5 speed which is excellent for someone his size but isn't breakaway speed in the NFL.
Maybe burst is a better term? 4.48 isn't terrible. I'm guessing his 10yd or 20yd splits are unavailable.
Needs to tuck the ball betterNate Ebner would kill you if he heard you say that.
[quote name='Eck'sSneakyCheese' timestamp='1335653882' post='4096985']
Maybe burst is a better term? 4.48 isn't terrible. I'm guessing his 10yd or 20yd splits are unavailable.
[/quote]
Don't get me wrong he looked like a total beast you just have to wonder about the relative speed. If he can catch punts that might be a possibility but I think he mainly will be on punt and kickoff returns and a SS project.
Maybe burst is a better term? 4.48 isn't terrible. I'm guessing his 10yd or 20yd splits are unavailable.
[/quote]
Don't get me wrong he looked like a total beast you just have to wonder about the relative speed. If he can catch punts that might be a possibility but I think he mainly will be on punt and kickoff returns and a SS project.
Ebner: "maybe I have a screw loose"
The legend is seeded.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4721361/ebner-maybe-i-got-a-screw-loose#comments
The legend is seeded.
I feel like this defense has never been the same since Rodney's first major knee injury (2006?). Granted, Harrison brought a lot more to the position than his own loose screw. But I love the idea that this guy could maybe, possibly be the beast we need back there.
[quote name='Eck'sSneakyCheese' timestamp='1335653882' post='4096985']
Maybe burst is a better term? 4.48 isn't terrible. I'm guessing his 10yd or 20yd splits are unavailable.
[/quote]
I was thinking that...he seems to have great burst, and picks good angles. He might not have breakaway speed, but quick bursts could get him places on a punt return.
I wonder if he can catch a ball in the flats....
Maybe burst is a better term? 4.48 isn't terrible. I'm guessing his 10yd or 20yd splits are unavailable.
[/quote]
I was thinking that...he seems to have great burst, and picks good angles. He might not have breakaway speed, but quick bursts could get him places on a punt return.
I wonder if he can catch a ball in the flats....
BB on Ebner:
Translated: THIS GUY WILL BE A BEAST OF ALL BEASTS!1!!1!
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4721413/belichick-highlights-dennard-as-value-pick
Translated: THIS GUY WILL BE A BEAST OF ALL BEASTS!1!!1!
From what my brother told me after someone he knows who hung out with Gronk and Seguin on Friday night, Gronk doesn't need a partner in crime.
If he's a great rugby sevens player make him a running back. That's the ultimate scat back's game.
Running backs who seek out contact are quickly known as "retired".
I like this pick because it's another guy for the grind of workouts and training camp who is overjoyed to have a chance at the NFL. It's the same reason Eric Kettani and other US Naval Officers are brought into the program every year - the NFL is not work, it's a game you play as hard as humanly possible. Having Brady & Wilfork and the other leaders around is one thing; having guys like Lt. Kettani and Ebner at the 'bottom' of the roster sends a clear message and ensures a level of professionalism from everyone.
