Fidone moving on

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,383
12,799
78
The NFL values:
1. Elite athletes with the right combination of height, weight and explosive athletic ability.
2. Highly productive college players that don’t deviate too far from the ideal height/weight/explosiveness template.
3. Players that are consistently available. They have a knack of not getting injured and/or tough enough to play through it effectively.

Fidone doesn’t rate well on any of these metrics. The NFL doesn’t care how many stars you had out of high school.

If he makes an NFL roster, I will be happy for him. And surprised.
He’ll get an UDFA offer for sure. That might be better for him than somebody taking a flier on him in a later round. Barring any more injuries I expect him to wind up on a practice squad. It will be interesting to see how he tests at his pro day.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,383
12,799
78
The NFL assumes it can teach a player any fundamental skill he seems to lack. But they can’t teach explosiveness, and that’s why they value it so highly.

That’s why some guys are drafted highly or have good NFL careers, despite not producing at high level in college. And why some college studs don’t get a look from the NFL.

Fidone lacks explosiveness.
His pro day is going to be a big deal for him.
 

huskersreign

Freshman
May 30, 2003
993
94
0
He plays like he doesn't trust his knees, if he can get over that mental hurdle and play free, he will do well in the NFL
 

Hephusker44

Senior
Nov 30, 2011
3,339
870
113
I like Fidone and I think that he is a decent college football player. I think he has good hands but his agility and burst is poor. I just don't see anything to suggest that he can make it in the NFL.
 

bob5150

Senior
Dec 30, 2004
1,327
485
0
You're probably right, but it looks like it hurts whenever he runs
Reminds me of Matt Herian post injury. That kid was a surefire day one pick were it not for one tackle vs Mizzou. Total freak deal. Noticeable change in his running gait afterward.
 
Sep 7, 2018
1,079
346
83
Reminds me of Matt Herian post injury. That kid was a surefire day one pick were it not for one tackle vs Mizzou. Total freak deal. Noticeable change in his running gait afterward.
We never got to see the before/after version of Fidone like we did with Herian. That guy averaged over 20 YPC prior to injury, and through his first two years it was something like 27 YPC - phenomenal. Definitely was not the same athlete post injury.
 

huskat

Senior
Jan 27, 2005
2,531
501
113
This obviously must have caught the staff off guard? No way you let Boerkircher walk and don't get a transfer if you know Fidone is leaving?

Either way, going to be fun to watch. Luke Lindenmeyer time.
You do realize anyone can leave on their own volition and the team/school can't do anything about it, right?
 

king_kong_

Redshirt
Nov 3, 2021
24,413
4
0
This obviously must have caught the staff off guard? No way you let Boerkircher walk and don't get a transfer if you know Fidone is leaving?

Either way, going to be fun to watch. Luke Lindenmeyer time.
There’s some talk about Boerk not getting along with his position coach which is why he left as soon as he could

No clue how accurate that is
 

realHuskerDrew

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2001
13,138
3,690
81
I don’t mind going with Lindenmeyer, Haarberg, Markway, Flynt, and Ingwerson.

If limited by the number of TEs, Holgorsen can just run 11 personnel with 3 wide most of the time

I believe he likes that most anyway
 

anon1765477286

Sophomore
Sep 24, 2017
712
166
43
Big strong kid but as we've seen, just not explosive enough, not a good enough blocker to play in the NFL.

Rams are 4 deep between Allen, Long, Higbee (1) and Parkinson and Fidone wouldn't come close to any of those guys.
 

Suhrreal

All-Conference
Jun 1, 2009
7,380
1,049
0
Fidone has too many issues. He did fix up the drop issues he had from last season. That's a credit to him. But he cannot block bigger bodies. Gets dominated too easily and that will not change going up a level.

His route running is disjointed. Large catch radius sure but easily covered.

He does not want to play like a true tight end. All the horizontal passes seemed to end up with him thinking he's in high school still and instead of using his size advantage to get upfield and power through smaller defenders for small-medium gains, he would try to get outside and take the same hits to the side of his knee over and over for no gain or a loss of yardage. Was frustrating watching him try to pull this move off every time with the same result.

Verdict is that he is actually a blown up WR. The extra weight does him no good as he cannot block with any effectiveness and it hinders his mobility. Not a true WR, not a true TE. Classic tweener.

Don't be surprised if another highly-rated WR/TE ends up the same. They look to have very similar body types. Too early to tell there, but I think Matt Rhule is making the right call by going the WR route with that one.
 

Huskers123456

Redshirt
Feb 5, 2023
6,195
0
0
Your comment that Nebraska "let him walk", as if the team could stop him from leaving, was my first clue you didn't know what you were talking about. Glad I could set you straight.
If Boerkircher had a problem with Satterfield then probably nothing Rhule could do. But if it was a playing time/money issue, they absolutely could tried harder to keep him. The fact that he chose A&M, who is known for throwing money around, makes me think money had to play a significant role.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying Rhule did anything wrong. These are crazy times, can't keep everyone.
 

Man Woman & Child

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2003
3,254
1,116
113
If Boerkircher had a problem with Satterfield then probably nothing Rhule could do. But if it was a playing time/money issue, they absolutely could tried harder to keep him. The fact that he chose A&M, who is known for throwing money around, makes me think money had to play a significant role.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying Rhule did anything wrong. These are crazy times, can't keep everyone.

Both things can be true, you know? He could have wanted to leave for personal reasons and then went to the highest bidder.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,383
12,799
78
Fidone has too many issues. He did fix up the drop issues he had from last season. That's a credit to him. But he cannot block bigger bodies. Gets dominated too easily and that will not change going up a level.

His route running is disjointed. Large catch radius sure but easily covered.

He does not want to play like a true tight end. All the horizontal passes seemed to end up with him thinking he's in high school still and instead of using his size advantage to get upfield and power through smaller defenders for small-medium gains, he would try to get outside and take the same hits to the side of his knee over and over for no gain or a loss of yardage. Was frustrating watching him try to pull this move off every time with the same result.

Verdict is that he is actually a blown up WR. The extra weight does him no good as he cannot block with any effectiveness and it hinders his mobility. Not a true WR, not a true TE. Classic tweener.

Don't be surprised if another highly-rated WR/TE ends up the same. They look to have very similar body types. Too early to tell there, but I think Matt Rhule is making the right call by going the WR route with that one.
Just for reality’s sake, our TEs end up often trying to block future NFL edge players in the B1G. Some of the criticism is over the top.
 

king_kong_

Redshirt
Nov 3, 2021
24,413
4
0
I don’t mind going with Lindenmeyer, Haarberg, Markway, Flynt, and Ingwerson.

If limited by the number of TEs, Holgorsen can just run 11 personnel with 3 wide most of the time

I believe he likes that most anyway
we will continue to need to play multiple TEs to help our OL protect/run block
 

jteten

Senior
Aug 6, 2006
13,896
667
0
Even if he blocked well, I just done see him getting any separation in the NFL. He just instead a viable option with so many other talented TEs out there. Unfortunate.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,383
12,799
78

I keep watching that clip and can’t help but wonder if the snap timing was a little rushed. Fidone looks like he’s going to try to blow up the edge but doesn’t get there in time. Sure makes him look bad. Was that all on him or was the timing off that made him look so bad?
 
Feb 2, 2005
601
6
0
I keep watching that clip and can’t help but wonder if the snap timing was a little rushed. Fidone looks like he’s going to try to blow up the edge but doesn’t get there in time. Sure makes him look bad. Was that all on him or was the timing off that made him look so bad?
He appears to be the only one that is off timing wise. Nobody else is coming off the ball slow.
 

Baxter48_rivals204143

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2010
8,892
2,089
0
I could never figure out why he wasn’t used more in the red zone, satt tried those stupid screens that never worked! If you watch him he doesn’t look fluid it appears he’s struggling going in motion. I always had high hopes for him, good luck Thomas
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,383
12,799
78
He appears to be the only one that is off timing wise. Nobody else is coming off the ball slow.
Except he’s in motion and the snap is triggered by him going by the backside of the QB. I’m betting if we’re sitting in game film study with Rhule he says the ball was snapped a half a second too quickly. There’s no way with when the snap was made that any TE is going to make that block on a crashing edge. Timing is so important.
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,383
12,799
78
You are correct he’s taking to much time going in motion
Except the snap is initiated by him passing behind the QB. He could walk the first half and it shouldn’t matter. I think our QB was a hair quick on his cadence.
 
Feb 2, 2005
601
6
0
Except he’s in motion and the snap is triggered by him going by the backside of the QB. I’m betting if we’re sitting in game film study with Rhule he says the ball was snapped a half a second too quickly. There’s no way with when the snap was made that any TE is going to make that block on a crashing edge. Timing is so important.
Then it comes back to Raiola.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,459
2,000
113
I keep watching that clip and can’t help but wonder if the snap timing was a little rushed. Fidone looks like he’s going to try to blow up the edge but doesn’t get there in time. Sure makes him look bad. Was that all on him or was the timing off that made him look so bad?
Fidone just sucks and the clip proves it. I saw that in real time and it's the exact thing I'm talking about. It's been happening all year. He's a terrible blocker and a less than mediocre TE.
 

Shimmer003

All-Conference
Feb 25, 2005
10,027
2,631
96
The timing is just off by a half second at most and that’s all it takes to screw up a play. Maybe not enough reps in practice. Sh## happens and it sure made Fidone look bad.
I would agree with you if this was a single incident but I’ve watched TF whiff blocking on the edge and in space all year. This all goes back to his knees. He has no lateral movement. If you line him head up and have him block, I’ve seen him really move guys and open holes. But if he has to block a guy in space or while moving lateral, he can’t do it. Not a one time incident.
 

StayFrosty2

Sophomore
Nov 25, 2015
198
176
43
The timing is just off by a half second at most and that’s all it takes to screw up a play. Maybe not enough reps in practice. Sh## happens and it sure made Fidone look bad.
Looks to me more that he got juked rather than initiating the contact... edge ran by him after TF took a weird angle. If he squared up the block would be made. Not sure the timing was off so much as he anticipated wrong.
 

leodisflowers

Senior
Feb 25, 2011
14,801
808
0
I keep watching that clip and can’t help but wonder if the snap timing was a little rushed. Fidone looks like he’s going to try to blow up the edge but doesn’t get there in time. Sure makes him look bad. Was that all on him or was the timing off that made him look so bad?
He was that bad a lot when you go rewatch some of the games.
 

SLOHusker

Sophomore
Aug 7, 2001
2,740
123
0
I think he's making the right decision to turn pro, simply because of his knees. I find it very unlikely that he gets drafted even with a good pro day. The best thing for him was going two seasons in a row healthy.
 

RedBaloneyPony

Redshirt
Nov 14, 2020
2,579
2
0
I think he's making the right decision to turn pro, simply because of his knees. I find it very unlikely that he gets drafted even with a good pro day. The best thing for him was going two seasons in a row healthy.
You know that commercial that runs on game days about college athletes that more or less says they will all be turning pro "In Life", that is what I suspect will happen to TF after the draft, I expect him to maybe get an invite to a team but definitely will be done with football by next August.