2020 Round 4A pick is Leki Fotu DT

[overseascardfan]

Sucked that we didn't have a 5th rounder to take either Curtis Weaver or Bradlee Anae to add to pass rush rotation at OLB but looks like we won't be needing DL in next year's draft as we have taken 4 DL in last 2 drafts.

Not in love with the pick. Hopefully he can do what they drafted him to do as there were some other players who could have made more of an impact on the board.

 

[AZCrazy]

Since when do people complain about Nose Tackles not being pass rushers? What the hell?

 

[TheCardFan]

Since when do people complain about Nose Tackles not being pass rushers? What the hell?

I actually think he is a better pass rusher (think Derrick Brown collapsing the pocket/not saying he is DB) than most NT.

 

[wit3card]

@ Harry, from what I see on the tape, he has all the tools, a bit sloppy hands some times, a really high gap integrety and it really seems, that he gets frustrated on doubles and if he thinks the play isn't coming to him or he has no chance he takes the play "off".

So my question to you, do you think, this bad habbits, could be less of a problem as a NT, since NT need to have a high gap integrety, take up a double team and since big guys often aren't as fit as he is, aren't on 100% on every play? And could that make the transition for him easier and with the right motivation he could get even better. Some instincts are there and some good moves and he seemd to understand at the end of the 2019 year what he was supposed to do (in the earlier tape there are some ... head scratchers)

Could it be that this big guy, played to few football and the coaches had to bench him, because he didn't understand what to do in 2018?

From watching tape 2017 -2019 you see a progress and an improvement (watched 4 games)

 

[Chopper0080]

Others liked him better than me. I’d rate him a miss. He’s one of those guys who looks good on highlight reels but takes too many plays off. He should be more of an impact player than he was. He can stuff the run but he gets easily frustrated when he’s not having a good game. He certain has the power to be a solid early down player, but I’m not sure he’s can be motivated. With the NFL going to more wide open, passing offenses there were better players on the board. Sorry!

I agree with the inconsistency. What I will argue is that you have to have a couple home run potential picks in a draft. If he can ramp the effort up, dude can be a force in the middle of the defense. Also keep in mind, Buckner's rep is that he can get the most out of players...maybe he can do work to mold this huge lump of clay.

 

[Harry]

@ Harry, from what I see on the tape, he has all the tools, a bit sloppy hands some times, a really high gap integrety and it really seems, that he gets frustrated on doubles and if he thinks the play isn't coming to him or he has no chance he takes the play "off".

So my question to you, do you think, this bad habbits, could be less of a problem as a NT, since NT need to have a high gap integrety, take up a double team and since big guys often aren't as fit as he is, aren't on 100% on every play? And could that make the transition for him easier and with the right motivation he could get even better. Some instincts are there and some good moves and he seemd to understand at the end of the 2019 year what he was supposed to do (in the earlier tape there are some ... head scratchers)

Could it be that this big guy, played to few football and the coaches had to bench him, because he didn't understand what to do in 2018?

From watching tape 2017 -2019 you see a progress and an improvement (watched 4 games)

I only watched him twice. Could he mature and get more focus; sure. You mentioned the end of the year. I didn’t see either of the last 2, but I did note that Oregon ran for 239 yards; Texas 231. Fotu had no solo tackles in either game, and only 5 assists total. Unless they only ran outside that doesn’t sound like a run stopper. I know others like him better. I can only tell you what I & at least a few other reviewers saw.

 

[GuernseyCard]

I only watched him twice. Could he mature and get more focus; sure. You mentioned the end of the year. I didn’t see either of the last 2, but I did note that Oregon ran for 239 yards; Texas 231. Fotu had no solo tackles in either game, and only 5 assists total. Unless they only ran outside that doesn’t sound like a run stopper. I know others like him better. I can only tell you what I & at least a few other reviewers saw.

OK fine!

 

[overseascardfan]

I only watched him twice. Could he mature and get more focus; sure. You mentioned the end of the year. I didn’t see either of the last 2, but I did note that Oregon ran for 239 yards; Texas 231. Fotu had no solo tackles in either game, and only 5 assists total. Unless they only ran outside that doesn’t sound like a run stopper. I know others like him better. I can only tell you what I & at least a few other reviewers saw.

Saw Voch Lombardi YouTube breakdown and he reviewed the ORE game and Fotu looked bad. ORE for most part ran to outside so he was nullified and on one play they ran directly through him for a TD, of course the C and G double teamed him but showed if it’s not a one on one battle where he has a good chance, he is blockable.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

If he can force doubleteams we have already won

 

[wit3card]

Saw Voch Lombardi YouTube breakdown and he reviewed the ORE game and Fotu looked bad. ORE for most part ran to outside so he was nullified and on one play they ran directly through him for a TD, of course the C and G double teamed him but showed if it’s not a one on one battle where he has a good chance, he is blockable.

They run outside all day long, and he was fustrated. On the TD he got doubled and had a hand on the RB but couldn't get him from what I remember. But for me it looked like, they knew exactly how to play him and no one one the Line helped him on that run, if two guys stop you and your next tackle doesn't even get closer to the hole... they gonna get the td,

 

[CardNots]

Why does everyone have to win all the time????

With my wife at home this is the place I go for a bit of give and take

 

[overseascardfan]

They run outside all day long, and he was fustrated. On the TD he got doubled and had a hand on the RB but couldn't get him from what I remember. But for me it looked like, they knew exactly how to play him and no one one the Line helped him on that run, if two guys stop you and your next tackle doesn't even get closer to the hole... they gonna get the td,

In essence he did his job in that he occupied to blockers which should have freed up LB's to fill the hole. His lack of lateral quickness will hurt him in NFL. I think it was Louis Riddick who mentioned that now the new trend for DT's in NFL are big & mobile guys who can get to gaps. Fotu is an old school NT who uses size to collapse pocket but NFL OL are better coached to neutralize mammoth NT's. A good example of this is Danny Shelton who was a beast at Washington, a big and strong man who would overpower college OL but hasn't lived up to being the #12 overal pick back in 2015. Belichick worked his magic to help him become a productive player in NE's system and get a second contract with DET.

 

[WindCardinal]

If he can be Domata Peko for us I’ll be pleased.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Fotu is the ideal lineman for LBs like Weaver and Simmons.

 

[TheCardFan]

Don't think we have heard anything from Fotu since getting drafted....seems odd.

 

[Zeno]

Don't think we have heard anything from Fotu since getting drafted....seems odd.

He did a press conference, I’ve seen some quotes but we didn’t get anything on the Cards site which is strange. Maybe a technical glitch during his interview or something?

 

[Krangodnzr]

In essence he did his job in that he occupied to blockers which should have freed up LB's to fill the hole. His lack of lateral quickness will hurt him in NFL. I think it was Louis Riddick who mentioned that now the new trend for DT's in NFL are big & mobile guys who can get to gaps. Fotu is an old school NT who uses size to collapse pocket but NFL OL are better coached to neutralize mammoth NT's. A good example of this is Danny Shelton who was a beast at Washington, a big and strong man who would overpower college OL but hasn't lived up to being the #12 overal pick back in 2015. Belichick worked his magic to help him become a productive player in NE's system and get a second contract with DET.

The mistake wasnt that Shelton is not a good player....its that NTs are NOT 1st round picks. You can find them in the 4th round! Keim seems to get that LOL.

 

[wit3card]

In essence he did his job in that he occupied to blockers which should have freed up LB's to fill the hole. His lack of lateral quickness will hurt him in NFL. I think it was Louis Riddick who mentioned that now the new trend for DT's in NFL are big & mobile guys who can get to gaps. Fotu is an old school NT who uses size to collapse pocket but NFL OL are better coached to neutralize mammoth NT's. A good example of this is Danny Shelton who was a beast at Washington, a big and strong man who would overpower college OL but hasn't lived up to being the #12 overal pick back in 2015. Belichick worked his magic to help him become a productive player in NE's system and get a second contract with DET.

More or less that could be said, I think Harry didn't like Dan Williams either or just a little bit more, because when I watched Fotu's tape I saw more or less a bigger stronger Dan Williams, don't know if that is what Harry saw, but Williams was an out of date NT in the early 2010-16 where everyone searched for the next Ngata and the rest moved on to more mobile NT and less static closers.

And yes, NE worked exactly with that, they used the unmovable Shelton to anchor the center of the DL and let the ILB/S fill in the gap with a run stoper. Often even so to let you gain 2-3 yards per play in full knowledge that the opponent would take this short yardages in hope they could get 4-5 out of it but often even way less. Worked for NE, if we intend to do something similar in the future with Hicks and Weaver being exactly that type of ILB that can work great in that system, this pick would make really sense.

But like Harry said, Fotu, could be also a really moveable NT, but he didn't tap into that yet. On tape it seems he has everything you hope for in a modern NT but the guy doesn't put it together in the game. @Harry, is that also something you see, and probably dislike on him?

 

[wit3card]

The mistake wasnt that Shelton is not a good player....its that NTs are NOT 1st round picks. You can find them in the 4th round! Keim seems to get that LOL.

NT were 1st round picks in the early 2000 - 2010 but there role diminished and there aren't that many NT that are very athletic and great at run stop and rushing the passer. If you find someone like that, he would be #1st round pick for sure.

A highly athletic NT tht colapses your pocked and flunders the non too mobile QB under him or that flushs the moveable QB into the rushing OLB or sacks him, hell yeah sign me up to draft that guy in the first round.

 

[JCSunsfan]

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Wow. That criticism is actually quite encouraging.

 

[BritCard]

All this arguing over what he is or isn't.

If he didn't have some issues he'd be going in the 1st like Vita Vea.

He's in the 4th because he has some issues but he's still good value.

 

[Delmar M Lewis]

Maybe he is a classic nose tackle and in this division that's a very important position yes the Rams dont have Gurley but they are still run heavy as are the Seahags and Whiners

 

[TheCardFan]

Don't think we have heard anything from Fotu since getting drafted....seems odd.

There we go!

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[football karma]

im curious if Fotu lost maybe 15 lbs and added some strength if that would unlock his athleticism

you don't play rugby without being an athlete

 

[wit3card]

im curious if Fotu lost maybe 15 lbs and added some strength if that would unlock his athleticism

you don't play rugby without being an athlete

the problem isn't that he isn't an athlete, the problem is, he doesn't play like the athlete he is consistantly or at all. If he would have played to his athleticism, he would have been a late #1 early #2 pick