Though it's easy to imagine that some of these late round or undrafted rookies don't actually exist, thanks to the complete lack of information about them presented by the media, they are real and they are competing for a roster spot. So surely some reporter somewhere should try to call their agents and set up an interview or something.
And that's exactly what Andy Kent of miamidolphins.com did. He interviewed lowly, unwanted by the Sun-Sentinels and Heralds of the world, J.D. Folsom. Click the link for the full story. Here's a snippet:
Kent finishes off the article by saying "If his previous track record is any indication, that shouldn't be a problem for Folsom."
I'm afraid I disagree with that, since I'm a realist (a very optimistic one, sure). It's going to take more than JD Folsom doing what JD Folsom needs to do for him to make the roster. It's going to take some luck as well. As in, someone else is going to have to have some bad luck. Still, it's nice to finally hear about our 7th round draftee!
And that's exactly what Andy Kent of miamidolphins.com did. He interviewed lowly, unwanted by the Sun-Sentinels and Heralds of the world, J.D. Folsom. Click the link for the full story. Here's a snippet:
[At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Folsom has the ideal height as well as the straight-ahead speed for an inside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme and by all accounts the mental makeup. Late-round draft picks often need to have a lot of other intangibles in order to find a place on a 53-man roster and this soft-spoken, well-mannered but intense Midwesterner plans to prove he belongs in the NFL.
"I want to be studying this defense like crazy. I just need to know it better. Come training camp I can't be second guessing myself. I need to know what I'm doing because if I'm second guessing myself I'm not going to perform the way that I can so I need to have a better grasp of what's going on. Coming into training camp I need to be bigger and in better shape. I just need to take care of business."]
"I want to be studying this defense like crazy. I just need to know it better. Come training camp I can't be second guessing myself. I need to know what I'm doing because if I'm second guessing myself I'm not going to perform the way that I can so I need to have a better grasp of what's going on. Coming into training camp I need to be bigger and in better shape. I just need to take care of business."]
Kent finishes off the article by saying "If his previous track record is any indication, that shouldn't be a problem for Folsom."
I'm afraid I disagree with that, since I'm a realist (a very optimistic one, sure). It's going to take more than JD Folsom doing what JD Folsom needs to do for him to make the roster. It's going to take some luck as well. As in, someone else is going to have to have some bad luck. Still, it's nice to finally hear about our 7th round draftee!
Bess had more press last year.
ReplyDeleteDuring the draft Ireland said Folsom is a big, athletic guy and what they look for in a LB. He said Folsom has a good football body and is about 6-3 240.
ReplyDeleteIf he's going to earn a roster spot it's going to be on special teams and showing he can play some LB. He's a project the trifecta seems to look for. Players with the right makeup but need some work. That's what late round picks are for. Developmental players are important and they can be excellent value picks if you pick the right guys.
Folsom might always be a special teams guy and backup LB but many players have played that role. You need guys like that. They know their role and they excel at it. Can he be a wedge buster? Can he longsnap? :-D
Okay, I watched the Folsom interview and he says he's 235 or 236 but in the Miami heat he can lose 5 lbs. a day. He has to hit the weights and eat to keep the weight up and get bigger and stronger. He sounds like a guy who will work hard. He's a little overwhelmed right now but his job now is to hit the playbook and get in the best shape of his life. That's what it's going to take to make this team.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else think he could look like Tom Brady's brother? Not his twin, but a brother? He's not as bizarre looking as his promo shots would suggest. :-D
When I first saw a picture of him I thought he looked like a mix of John Offerdahl and Zach Thomas.
He might not be ready to make an impact this year, but he might be a good practice squad player who can use the off-season conditioning program to be more prepared in 2010. We'll see how he fares.