JT Mapu looks an interesting guy.

[marius]

He signed a free agent contract with the Skins having played at Tennessee as a DE. While his stats aren't all that impressive and he went undrafted he did interrupt his college career to carry out his two year Mormon mission helping out hurricane victims. In 2003 he apparently showed good potential at DE, registering a couple of sacks and starting 11 games but then took his two years off and came back in 2006 rusty and out of shape. He attended a Redskins mini-camp and they have given him a free agent contract.

This may say more about the Redskins current DE depth but he must have shown something. From what we can tell he is clearly a 'high character' guy so let's hope that he can be a success and maybe make the team.

[chrisl4064]

I tried to look up some videos of him in games but got nothing. They must see a ton of potential, or at least I hope so. I dont want to just see medeocre guys in there anymore basically faking the funk at DE. We really need playmakers. The release of Mathis for this guy is interesting to me, I really didnt want to see Rock returning kicks again this year. I'm not a coach though so I will keep my faith, for now.

[marius]

I agree that we need more that mediocrity at DE but unless this guy has really well hidden potential the best we can hope for is that he provides some depth. Still, as an undrafted free agent if he even made the roster and provided some depth he would be a good find.

His signing reminds me a little of Robert McCune, the LB we drafted in 2005. He spent three years in the military before going to college. While I wouldn't equate that with Mapu's two years of missionary work it does make both a little different from the typical college product.

Let's hope that Mapu works out better than McCune!

[Schneed10]

Training camp body, that's it. He'll be gone in the first round of cuts.

[freddyg12]

When I first read he was signed, I believe it had him as a DT, but then read elsewhere he played DE. Maybe the plan is to try him at DT & get him to bulk up? Maybe he's a good athlete but not fast enough to play DE, not big enough to play DT.

[skinsnut]

No way this guy makes the team..practice squad at DT at best

[marius]

Originally Posted by skinsnut

No way this guy makes the team..practice squad at DT at best

I agree (although I think DE rather than DT) but I like to see guys like this make it as he appears a little more interesting than the usual signing.

[skinsfan69]

camp scrub

[cochise]

Why is it that time and again the Skins can't make a splash at the DE position? I remember the last time we had two decent bookends we won a Superbowl! And in grand fashion.

[MTK]

Actually the last time we had two quality ends was when we had Marco Coleman and Bruce Smith. In 2000 Smith had 10 sacks and Coleman had 12.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Actually the last time we had two quality ends was when we had Marco Coleman and Bruce Smith. In 2000 Smith had 10 sacks and Coleman had 12.

Looking at the numbers, that 2000 team had a really great passing defense.

Did the kicking game cost the team a lot of wins that season? Just based on the offensive and defensive numbers, you'd think that team made the playoffs and was better than the 1999 team.

But again, the special teams numbers are really pathetic. Did Brett Conway have an awful season or something?

[Dirtbag59]

I've actually heard some pretty good things about Mapu, and I don't think he's a long shot to make the team. If anything I'd say he has a pretty good shot to make the team, sure he might be a Ryan Boschetti type, but is that really such a bad thing? And remember the last samoan we had on our team was Joe Salvae and for a while he was pretty good.

So in the end samoan logic trumps all arguments against Mapu making the team.

[chrisl4064]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Actually the last time we had two quality ends was when we had Marco Coleman and Bruce Smith. In 2000 Smith had 10 sacks and Coleman had 12.

Please take this back, Bruce Smith was a waste, classic over the hill purchase. He struggled here and we kept him in until he got enough 1/2 sack to get the record, as soon as he got it he was off the field more than he was on it. I still think he was one of the worst free agent pick-ups this team has ever made. Notice I said "one of the worst" not to forget about Arch and Lloyd.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Looking at the numbers, that 2000 team had a really great passing defense.

Did the kicking game cost the team a lot of wins that season? Just based on the offensive and defensive numbers, you'd think that team made the playoffs and was better than the 1999 team.

But again, the special teams numbers are really pathetic. Did Brett Conway have an awful season or something?

kicking & crazy turnovers at crucial times, e.g. an int. that Samari Rolle took across the field in the closing seconds of the first half v. Tennessee, and a Stephen Davis fumble into the end zone v. Ariz which Aeneas Williams took back 103 yrds. for a td.

That team beat the 4 best teams in football that year but couldn't beat dallas & lost some other easier games.