Click the external link for the entire story. Also the Lofa Tatupu adopt a site has been updated to include this story along with a new picture of Lofa from camp, which shows him standing next to Kascevenski, our largest LB, and I think you will agree that looking at the two of them together will dispel any ideas that Lofa is too small to play in the NFL. link to Lofa site >On NFL network last night, Schefter said that:
When the Seahawks traded up in the second round to grab USC linebacker Lofa Tatupu with the 45th overall pick, some NFL personnel men felt that Seattle reached. But after watching Tatupu in minicamp and OTAs, the Seahawks think they've reached greatness. Tatupu picked up the Seahawks defense so quickly that he actually was allowed to call all the team's defensive signals during practice one day. He knew not only his assignments, but his defensive teammates' ones, too. Rookies aren't supposed to be able to do that.
the thicker, quicke-picker upper...
ReplyDeletehe keeps impressing...i know the draft is over, but i wish someone would ask the teams who picked between the time we picked Lofa and our original 2nd rounder, whether or not they had him on their top 5 possibilities...i just have to know if we could of had him with our original pick...but its ok...he seems to be a great player
when i read that he called out every play the Sooners were going to do, before they actually did it...that was impressive (also note how the Sooners suddenly couldnt score as much as they usually did)...being the main part of the best defense in college...the question is, like Jason White's Heisman Trophy...does it really matter?
I think it does...and to me, size doesnt matter in football...consider this:
less size, means a harder target through the trenches should he blitz...better chance to be a quicker player...if a guy can tackle, say, Jamal Lewis with ease...it doesnt matter how big he is...he can still be a great player and rack up the same stats with a bigger player (besides, im sure Lofa would add a little weight)
LOL! blue seven, you're right, I bviously just don't get it, for some stupid reason I am actually convinced that smarts and instincts, leadership and love for the game count for more than an extra inch in height and another ten pounds or so. Silly, me, I thought that measureables weren't the most important thing in football, I actually believed that guys like Sam Mills, Jack lambert, Mike Singeltary, Zack Thomas were great MLBers in spite of being undersized. It must have been the system for those guys.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, even if Lofa never turns out to be anything better than Dat Ngyuen (who has lead the Cowboys in tackles nearly every season he has played, in spite of being "too small") we would have a very good MLB on our hands, and from everything I have read and am hearing about this guy, I think he will be alot better than Dat.
Citizen K,
ReplyDeleteI think that if you read up on Lofa, you will see that he simply understands the game better than the average player does. If you recall, his teammates at USC were all saying that during the blowout against Oklahoma in the national championship game, that Lofa was calling out Oklahomas plays before they were run. Lofa is simply every intelligent and is a leader, which is what prompted the Hawks to trade up to aquire him.
I don't know if you have looked at my Lofa adopt a site, but there are some incredible articles I have linked to there that may set your mind at ease about Lofa, he is truly as good as all the things you read about him, which is why he led USC (the national champs) both his last two seasons, and not coincidentally the two seasons they won the championship.
Looking at the picture of those two together, you can see that, while Lofa is shorter, he is very broad and very defined. He may be smallish, but he's built like a brick wall. I can't wait to see this guy in action!
ReplyDeleteSeven, I'm with Monkey, I think smarts is as important (especially at MLB) size on Defense. Knowing what the other team's going to do will help eliminate our biggest problem on D last season, poor defensive reads and bad angles to the ball by the LBs...seems to me that Lofa's talent for reading Offenses is going to more than make up for his 'slight' size limit.
ReplyDeleteI seriously think you're way off on this one B-7 (BINGO!)
Posted by vinnyhawkalugi
Oh crap! Sorry B-7, just realized you were being funny...my bad....Brain Trust...HAH tha's funny, I don't care who you are.
ReplyDeleteAnd man it's getting hard not to reply to the Brainiacs there.
"Tatupu picked up the Seahawks defense so quickly that he actually was allowed to call all the team's defensive signals during practice one day. "
ReplyDeleteCan I change my vote, or at least my analysis on the starting MLB poll? I said that Niko would start all year. Now I am thinking that Tatupu may win the job through superior play. And that is a very good thing.
Posted by Josh from SC
And just to add to Citizen K's analysis, monkey, you provided the proof that Kaz is a better player with that picture, he's taller and heavier, and that is what defines great MLB play. BTW, my dad is 6'3" and about 265, maybe we should bring him in for a tryout, he'd have to be better than Tatupu, right?
ReplyDeletePosted by Josh from SC
LOL! The only problem is, I was thinking of trying out myself (once my knee is healed), I am 6'1" 250lbs so I should have a better shot than Lofa right?
ReplyDeleteAlthough admittedly, your dad, who is somewhat bigger has the better inside track.
Does the NFL have an age limit? Cuz my dad is 53. I know they do for RBs, it's 30, no RBs are good after 30 (sorry C-Mart, you'll get your fine for playing too well at an advanced age in the mail, payment due on reciept). But what about LBs. Maybe they can only set one arbitrary limit per position? Like kickers all have to have alcohol problems. :-D WRs have to be ego-maniacs. Although because of their ego-manical behavior they can also have a drug problem.
ReplyDeletePosted by Josh from SC
Gee, I'm 6-6, 278 lbs. Maybe I should try out.
ReplyDeleteThen again, maybe I should put down this donut and type with BOTH hands.
For what it's worth, Holmgren said a few days ago that the defense is ahead of the offense. This makes me doubt that Lofa gets to make the calls because the rest of the defense is so piss-poor, Citizen K.
Mmmm... Apple fritter, my favorite.
Bless you Bluefoot...FINALLY a contributor that out-weighs me! Of course you got me by a good 8 inches, and I'm finally understanding the connection between you and your profile graphic!
ReplyDeletePosted by alba
i'm actually cautiously excited about the LB corps. I don't want to say it too loud, but they look good...
ReplyDeletePosted by PaulieP
Then again, maybe I should put down this donut and type with BOTH hands.
ReplyDeleteI don't know which is funnier, the line or the fact that I shot the donut i was eating on my computer screen when I read it LMAO!!
and I'm finally understanding the connection between you and your profile graphic!
Thank you alba, I knew that Bluefoot was that size, he mentioned it b4, but I hadn't mad the connection. Nicely done!