DB Nate 'War Daddy' Ebner (3x Super Bowl Champ, USA Rugby)

[RugbyBuck]

If only The 300 had worn the Magic Shorts...

 

[Buckskin86]

Q: What's your early take on Nate Ebner? My guess is special teams. Though he is a DB, he seems to have some pretty good speed and moves. Have you seen any of his rugby videos? The caliber of some of the athletes aren't at the NFL level, but he seems to have a gear other players don't have. But given his performance as a rugby player, I wonder how he might do on punt returns as a special-teams option? -- Joe Lamoureaux (Plymouth, Mass.)

A: Joe, Ebner has practiced once in front of the media thus far, after rehabbing an unknown injury during rookie minicamp and the start of OTAs. He played only three defensive snaps last season at Ohio State and was a special-teams ace there, so certainly he projects to a similar role to begin his career in New England. In the first practice in which reporters had a chance to watch Ebner practice, he was on the first-team kick return unit, an indication that he might be part of the special-teams core group if he makes the 53-man roster.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/8011625/at-patriots-otas-hints-things-come

 

[Buckskin86]

On rookie Nate Ebner possibly fielding punts: ?I think that time will come. He?s done a really good job fitting in to what we?re asking him to do as a core guy in the big four. So he?s kind of absorbing that first. Then we?ll kind of deal with his ball skills when we get into training camp.?

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/blitz/?p=18516&srvc=blogs&position=recent

 

[Buckskin86]

On potentially using rookie Nate Ebner as a punt returner. "We?ve talked about him handling the ball. But I think that time will come. He?s done a really good job, after we got him out there, of fitting in to what we?re asking him to do as a core guy in the big four (punt, punt return, kickoff, kickoff return). He?s kind of absorbing that first, and then we?ll kind of get with his ball skills as we get into training camp."

More on Ebner. "He?s pretty instinctive. We?ve all seen players not play football very much and have a little bit of experience with, they just don?t have instincts. But I think when you talk about rugby now, those coverage instincts or defensive instincts showed up in him because of the background in rugby."

On if he had any input in drafting Ebner. "Everybody gets involved in that. We all rank players. Since I?ve been around Bill, he does an exceptional job as far as the detail of the number of reports and the future of what we?re looking for. We?re all on the same page there."

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-.../id/4723868/talking-special-teams-with-obrien

 

[Buckskin86]

Q. Mike, after watching this Nate Ebner story online, it's hard not to root for him. I'm hopeful he makes the team. What are your thoughts on Nate so far? -- neezo (Portland, Maine)

A. Neezo, there wasn't anything definitive that stood out to me in the few organized team activities I saw, as well as the two days of practices at mandatory minicamp. Ebner is going to have to make it happen on special teams, first and foremost, so his time to truly shine is going to be when the full pads are on and the players are banging. If I had to guess now, I'd think the practice squad is the likely destination for Ebner.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/8097468/did-fix-their-problems-defense

Bubble Watch: Nate Ebner
July, 2, 2012
By Mike Rodak | ESPNBoston.com

(Continuing a month-long series analyzing players who are on the roster bubble and where they may potentially fit in 2012.)

NAME: Nate Ebner

POSITION: Safety

AGE: 23

2011 STATS: 12 games (no starts), 11 total tackles, 1 sack -- with Ohio State

INJURY STATUS: No known injuries

CHANCE OF MAKING 53-MAN ROSTER: 65%

WHY HE SHOULD MAKE IT: A sixth-round pick despite only playing three defensive snaps for Ohio State last season, Ebner's potential on special teams could give him the edge over more known quantities such as Josh Barrett or Sergio Brown. After missing rookie minicamp with an undisclosed injury, Ebner was part of the top kickoff return unit during organized team activities this spring. If he can also carve out roles on the punt, punt return, and kickoff coverage units, then Ebner will be on the fast track to having a roster spot this fall.

WHY HE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT: While Ebner is considered a hard-nosed player with potential to be a special teams ace, he has very little experience playing on defense. When he returned to practice during organized team activities, Ebner stood behind the play with safeties coach Brian Flores, who will likely take on an important role of teaching Ebner the safety position. If this process is slower than anticipated, and Ebner has trouble emerging as one of the team's better special teams players during the preseason, then the Patriots may try to pass Ebner through waivers onto their practice squad.

CLOSEST COMPETITION: S James Ihedigbo, S Josh Barrett, S Sergio Brown

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4724605/bubble-watch-nate-ebner

 

[Buckskin86]

Nate Ebner: Patriots Rookie Reset
Nate Ebner Patriots Draft

After the New England Patriots drafted Tavon Wilson, most fans thought the ?What!?!? pick had already been made by the Patriots in the 2012 NFL Draft. However, Bill Belichick had another surprise in store for the New England faithful with his sixth round selection of Ohio State DB and rugby player Nate Ebner.

Will Nate Ebner make the Patriots roster? If he does, what sort of impact can he make?

Nate Ebner?s past, including his time playing rugby union, has been well documented. What remains to be seen is how he could fit on an NFL team?s 53-man roster.

Having only played a handful of defensive snaps at Ohio State, it is unrealistic to expect Ebner to contribute there right away, although he has been praised as a quick learner and hard worker.

Where Ebner can contribute right away is as a special teams ace, a role he already held as a Buckeye last year. If he can play on the punt return and coverage, as well as the kick return and coverage units, he just might buy himself some time to learn the defense.

If the Patriots can?t find a spot for him on the 53-man roster initially, look for them to try and slide him to the practice squad.

Ebner signed a four-year deal in May that includes base salaries of $390,000 in 2012, $480,000 in 2013, $570,000 in 2014 and $660,000 in 2015. Ebner received a $96,000 signing bonus.

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2012/07/nate-ebner-patriots-rookie-reset.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Patriots Rookie Nate Ebner Battling For An Opportunity to Earn a Roster Spot
Written by Ian Logue
Posted July 29, 2012

Nate Ebner isn?t a stranger to hard work and dedication.

As a matter of fact, it was his work ethic that allowed him to make a name for himself in college, with his former defensive coordinator at Ohio State, Paul Haynes, telling NESN.com that Ebner was one of their most valuable players and that he was the type of guy who could do almost anything.

Now that he?s in camp he?s battling for a role with the team that decided to take a chance on him in the sixth round back in April, and he?s in a situation where he?s once again going to be forced to make himself stand out. Patriots special teams coach Scott O?Brien talked briefly about the rookie on Sunday, telling reporters that it?s a little early to tell what type of role he?ll fill at this point.

?I think physically he has the skill set to have a chance to do what he did in college here and to compete here,? said O?Brien. ?That opportunity is going to present itself but as far as being a skill guy, to us, it?s really too early to tell because with all of our young players, we?re starting with them at a position with every phase so they can just get acclimated to terminology, techniques, before you can even advance.

?What we always try to do is to put our players in positions, no matter what it is, with us in the kicking game, it?s different from the standpoint of they have to have the physical skills with what we?re asking them to do. It?s not like being a running back or being a linebacker on offense or defense. We?re putting them in positions to do something physically that they have to be able to have the physical skills to do what we?re asking them to do and then work on the technique involved there.?

cont...

http://www.patsfans.com/ian/blog/20...ing-for-an-opportunity-to-earn-a-roster-spot/

 

[Buckskin86]

Nate Ebner puts rugby time to grid use
Karen Guregian By Karen Guregian
Saturday, August 4, 2012

FOXBORO ? Nate Ebner?s followers have grown by leaps and bounds thanks to a YouTube highlight video of his rugby exploits.

After he was drafted by the Patriots [team stats], Ebner?s new fans couldn?t wait to see how those skills might translate on a football field. Yesterday, they got a glimpse as the sixth-round pick out of Ohio State participated in his first practice.

Given the Pats engaged in two more full-team scrums, adding to Wednesday night?s skirmish in front of season ticket-holders, perhaps it was only fitting for Ebner to finally step in.

The rookie safety, however, wasn?t at the bottom of any of the piles, or the instigator of either scuffle. The former Buckeyes special teams standout is still just getting his feet wet. So he was simply following the leaders, as opposed to leading a riot.

Given an injury he suffered, he had been limited in rookie camp and minicamp, while participating in just walkthroughs prior to yesterday. Ebner passed his physical, but did not practice and didn?t shed much light on the problem keeping him away from the field.

?I just had a little injury, took care of it, and am trying to get better,? he said.

Ebner didn?t do much in terms of the defense yesterday, but he was involved in his specialty, participating in special teams drills.

?It was good (to be out there),? Ebner said. ?I?m just trying to get better every day.?

cont...

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...by_time_to_grid_use/srvc=home&position=recent

 

[Buckskin86]

Ebner overcomes early obstacle
August, 4, 2012
By Mike Reiss | ESPNBoston.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rookie safety Nate Ebner's first training camp with the Patriots got off to an unexpected start.

Mike Reiss/ESPNBoston.com
After missing eight sessions, Nate Ebner participated in his first practice Friday.

The surprising sixth-round draft choice out of Ohio State passed his initial physical, but apparently injured himself before the team's first practice (perhaps tweaking something in the conditioning run). That kept him out of practice for the first eight sessions.

"I had a little injury and took care of it," Ebner said Friday after his first practice.

Ebner, who wore a black band on his wrist with the words "finish strong", was all smiles after the practice.

"I kind of watch what the veterans do, and I want to earn their respect," he said.

If Ebner is to make the final 53-man roster, special teams will be the key. He was Ohio State's top special teams player, and that's where he spent most of his time Friday.

Last week, special teams coach Scott O'Brien touched on Ebner (6-0, 210).

"I think physically he has the skill set to have a chance to do what he did in college here, and to compete here," he said.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4726245/ebner-overcomes-early-obstacle

 

[Buckskin86]

Ebner finally gets to strut stuff
Posted: Tuesday, August 7, 2012
BY MARK FARINELLA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

FOXBORO - Brandon Morabito's favorite player is finally on the practice field for the Patriots.

Nate Ebner, the sixth-round choice of the Patriots whose name was announced on Draft Day by the 10-year-old Norton lad at Radio City Music Hall, has recovered from an undisclosed injury and has been doing what comes naturally to him - running up and down the field at breakneck speed, trying to hit someone.

Special teams are Ebner's forte. It's what he did at Ohio State when he wasn't playing rugby - he walked onto the football team to see what he could do in addition to being a world-class rugby player - and it's what attracted Bill Belichick's attention during the draft.

Technically, for classification purposes, Ebner is a defensive back. But he has been a regular participant in special-teams drills since returning to the practice field at the end of last week.

He said he wasn't worried that his absence from the practice field was going to hold him back.

"I'm not really worried about that," he said. "I'm just going to focus on getting better every day and taking it one step at a time. Wherever they want to play me, I'm going to do whatever I can for the team. That's all I'm worried about, doing the best I can wherever they put me."

Ebner is a rock-hard 6-0, 205 pounds and he's already established his toughness by playing rough-and-tumble rugby. In fact, he really doesn't have any football role models or Patriots to idolize because of his unique upbringing in the sport. But he said he still needs to be shown the ropes of this endeavor, and he knows where to look for examples of what he needs to learn.

"I just try to watch what the veterans do," he said. "I want to earn their respect. There's a bunch of great guys out here."

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/spor...cle_cef11c75-7edc-5e80-88e2-498486f9756d.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Catching up with Nate Ebner
By Mike Reiss | ESPNBoston.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Sixth-round draft choice Nate Ebner was selected with special teams in mind, as he was widely viewed as Ohio State's best player in the kicking game. Furthermore, he only played a few snaps on defense in his final season with the Buckeyes.

Still, one of the things that has stood out in recent training camp practices is Ebner's ball skills at safety (he's had a few interceptions this week).

On Tuesday, director of player personnel Nick Caserio was asked about Ebner and his work on defense.

"[He] didn?t really have a lot of experience just defensively at Ohio State but [he's a] smart kid, [and] understood what they were doing real well defensively. I think he?s learning. I think it?s a process for him," Caserio relayed. "But he has good size [6-0, 210], he?s smart, [and] he can run."

cont...

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4727198/catching-up-with-nate-ebner

 

[Buckskin86]

Nate Ebner starting to flash some defensive skills with pair of picks today

Thanks to YouTube, we?ve already gotten the sense Nate Ebner?s special teams abilities are off the charts. Now that he?s been on the field a few weeks as an active participant, we?re starting to see his potential as a defensive back.

Today, he picked off two passses, both off tips. One was thrown by Brian Hoyer, the other by Ryan Mallett. He had an interception on Wednesday, as well.

So we?ve seen some ball skills, along with Ebner (photo courtesy of the New England Patriots) having a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He?s turned some heads this week, no doubt about it.

?This is really the first week he?s actually been on the field and been able to do a few more things defensively. (He) didn?t really have a lot of experience just defensively at Ohio State but smart kid, understood what they were doing real well defensively. I think he?s learning,? Pats director of player personnel Nick Caserio said earlier in the week. ?I think it?s a process for him. But he has good size, he?s smart, he can run. I think there are just some things he?s going to have to learn technique-wise and just seeing things, whether it?s formation, empty, just the multiplicity that goes into defense in general but that specific safety position because there?s so much communication that?s involved in that spot.?

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/s...me-defensive-skills-with-pair-of-picks-today/

 

[NastyNatiBuck]

Interception!! Suck on that Nick Foles!!

 

[Saw31]

Just got a pick on Monday Night Football. Go Nate!!!

 

[OSU_Buckguy]