Tonga Talks About Raiders Camp

Manase Tonga made a nice impression this past weekend at the Oakland Raiders mini-camp. In fact, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report earlier this week, the former BYU Cougar looks to have a good shot at not only making the team, but starting at fullback for Al Davis’ squad.

“I definitely got the impression that the spot is wide open,” Manase told Deep Shades of Blue. “That was the thought of the two veterans that were at the camp as well.”

Tonga, a rookie free agent, may have the upper hand on both veterans Luke Lawton and Marcel Reese.

Lawton is currently serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy, while Reese is a converted wide receiver who saw action in just two games last season. Another veteran fullback prospect, Oren O’Neal, was recently released by the Raiders. Chase Moline, another rookie free agent fullback from UCLA, was also in Oakland’s camp last week.

Tonga says that it was a bit surreal during the first day of camp as he donned the Raider uniform for the first time.

“The first day I was getting taped up next to Darren McFadden, then later on I was out there catching passes from Jason Campbell. After the first day though it was just playing football, I wasn’t really paying attention to who was out there on the field with me.  I was really impressed with the players at camp, how humble they were and how ready they were to go to work. It kind of shocked me. I was expecting to see a lot of ego but it wasn’t like that at all.”

Prior to the draft last month, Oakland was one of the teams that showed interest in Manase, who grew up in nearby San Mateo and starred at Aragon High School.

“So far it’s worked out,” Tonga said. “It’s a good place, a good situation and it’s close to home. Nothing is guaranteed at this point though. I still have to work for it.”

Tonga said he is excited that his dream of playing in the NFL is within reach, and that he is thankful for the chance to wear the silver and black colors of the one of the most storied franchises in sports. “It’s just an honor. I’m privileged to put on the colors of some of the greatest players to play to the game. This organization has given me the opportunity to live out my dream. It’s just an honor.”

As Tonga arrived at camp he was able to reconnect with a couple of friends, a fact that made last weekend a little easier for the rookie. Former Cougars David Nixon and Todd Watkins are both Raiders, and gave Manase some insight and advise about how to make it in the NFL. “It was good to get reacquainted with both David and Todd and spend some time with them. They showed me the ropes and stressed that it’s a business now. They told me to approach it with a business mindset, to work hard and give the coaches a reason to keep me around and not cut me.”

Tonga is continuing to work out and work on aspects of his game that Raider coaches want to see him develop further. His quest to make the NFL resumes May 18 at the next Raider mini-camp.

Full Article

Raiders Sign UDFA FB Tonga of BYU

The Raiders have signed FB Manase Tonga out of BYU according Silver and Black Pride. The undrafted free agent was considered a priority free agent by many. I had him as the top blocking fullback and my number two priority among all undrafted free agents for the Raiders to consider.

And it seemed like a natural fit for the Raiders considering Tonga grew up in nearby San Mateo. It was no doubt was an easy decision for him to make when his home town team, Oakland Raiders came calling. And from the sounds of it, the decision to make the call was also an easy decision for the Raiders as Tonga becomes the first UDFA signing by the team since the draft ended a few hours ago.

In college, Tonga was oftenheld in high regard. Here is what was said about him in the Deseret News:
"At 6-foot and 248 pounds, Tonga is a devastating blocker with powerful drive in his lower body. As a lead blocker in Robert Anae's offense, he was fearless in tracking down and putting a bead on linemen, linebackers, safeties and corners for Harvey Unga. His pass protection is something Anae and position coach Lance Reynolds use as an example, a how-to tape"

The article also points out that just a year ago he was at a low point in his life. He was out of shape and almost dropped out of college and abandoned his dream of playing in the NFL. His onlyother blemish was having been arrested in 2007 due to a warrant out for the arrest of because he had not paid an $82 ticket.

If a little bit of down-on-his-luck and a traffic ticket are the only reasons he dropped out of the draft then that even speaks louder about the level of talent he possesses. But you needn't tell me how talented he is. I have seen him play. You needn't tell his opponents how talented he is, they have been hit by him.

This may just be the best acquisition the Raiders have made this offseason. There were a few great draft picks but Tonga was worthy of one of them so getting him as an undrafted free agent is a big time move.

Full Article

Manase Tonga Impresses NFL With Test Score

Manase Tonga continues to defy.

This is a guy who gray-shirted at Utah before an LDS mission, then came back and created a nice notch in BYU's football program as a devastating leading blocker.

But his junior year in Provo, Tonga lost focus academically, fell so far behind that the school released him and mandated strict requirements for him to catch up and return.

And he did in 2009, barely, not knowing if he'd succeeded until right before two-a-days began last August.

After attending Utah Valley University and doing a patch-up job on his transcripts, he found a way to jump over some extremely stiff hurdles and penalties and made it back to BYU for a senior year that included a key role on an 11-2 nationally ranked team.

Then came his NFL tests this winter, which included a 4.8 time in the 40-yard dash as a 245-pound man.

Two months ago at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, an event that requires an invitation from the league's franchises, Tonga posted the second-highest score among running backs in the Wonderlic test, an intelligence quiz. It's a 12-minute, 50-question test designed to measure aptitude for adapting to certain situations. It's a multiple-choice test with increasing difficulty.

Somehow, this doesn't add up. Literally.

"Man, I wasn't expecting that," Tonga said Friday from Indianapolis where he was doing some rechecks on some medical examinations for the draft.

"I was just filling in the bubbles, hoping for a score," he said with a stroke of humility.

"I got lucky."

This week his college position coach, Lance Reynolds, said it absolutely tracks with what he knows of Tonga, a guy with an impressive mind. With school, Tonga got casual with attendance and assignments; it wasn't that he couldn't do the work.

"The football part, he was always very, very smart. You could see it the way he moved around, not hesitating, getting to the right place at the right time, getting open on a route, doing it with speed a guy his size isn't supposed to have," said Reynolds.

Tonga finished second to Stanford's Toby Gerhart, who posted a score of 30.

Tonga had a 29. These scores are not available from the NFL, but they eventually leak out from agents of players who have access in the weeks that follow the combine.

"Manase didn't focus like he should have in the classroom, but he is very smart. It doesn't surprise me that he scored that well. In team meetings, you could ask him a question and he could be half asleep and give you the right answer, a good answer," said Reynolds.

To put the score in perspective, the average score for a quarterback is 24.

Florida Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow had a 22, according to the Palm Beach Post, and John Beck scored a 34 in 2007. The average score for participants is 21.

The NFL created a new Wonderlic test in 2007 because agents were obtaining copies and helped clients memorize answers.

Of note, since the NFL started to use the Wonderlic Test in the early 1970s, only one athlete, Harvard receiver Pat McInally, registered a perfect score of 50. Other interesting scores over the years include quarterbacks Alex Smith (40), Eli Manning (39), Steve Young (33), John Elway (29) and this year's QBs Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (36); Colt McCoy, Texas (25); and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen (23).

So, Tonga scored higher than Clausen, McCoy, Tebow and John Elway.

Sample Wonderlic questions include stuff like this: A train travels 20 feet in 1/5 second. At this same speed, how many feet will it travel in three seconds? And, when rope is selling at 10 cents a foot, how many feet can you buy for sixty cents? You might remember Texas quarterback Vince Young scored a 6, then upon taking it again, got a 15. The meaning of all this is a little dubious because Dan Marino and Terry Bradshaw both scored 15.

Tonga's score of 29 was ahead of LSU's Charles Scott (26) and Tennessee's Montario Hardesty at 25. While the Wonderlic doesn't accurately forecast how high a player will be drafted or if he'll even succeed in the NFL, it is a tool to tell if a player is capable of managing information. But even that isn't an exact science.

"Manase is a very sharp young man," said Reynolds.

"I think I did pretty well, and that Wonderlic score helped. I don't know what will happen. At the worst case, I won't get drafted but I think I'll get my shot."

Tonga's one solid workout came with the Patriots. "I'm waiting for a couple of more to come," he said.
The test.

In the case of Tonga, it adds to the anecdotal file of how impressive this guy is and what he's accomplished. It remains to be seen where he'll be drafted, or if he'll even make a team.

But it is said around BYU's campus that Tonga is a better blocker than Fahu Tahi and Fui Vakapuna — and they've cashed NFL paychecks.

Full Article

Manase Tonga Interview

We'd like to say a big thank you to BYU's highly rated FB Manase Tonga for taking some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for us.

Curt: What are your accurate measurements (height, weight, and 40 time)?
Manase: 6'0, 246lbs, haven't timed my 40 yet.. sorry! But if I had to guess it should be in the low 4.7 - high 4.6 range.

Curt: You have been a fun player to watch at BYU. What parts of your game do you think translate best to the NFL?
Manase: I think that my style of blocking, both pass and run blocking, translates very well to the NFL, but I know that my pass catching ability is the best part of my game and will translate the best to the NFL.

Curt: What things do you hope to improve on?
Manase: The things I need to work on the most is my explosiveness and movement.

Curt: Overall, what do you see your role as in the NFL?
Manase:Being a great lead blocker and catching passes out of the backfield on short yard situations, or any situation for that matter.

Curt: For anyone who hasn't got to lead block for a great back, what is the mindset you have knowing your job is to be the anchor of a run game?
Manase: The mindset that I have is that I must get to my block as fast as I can and with as much ferocity as I have in me. I must destroy whatever man I am responsible for and make sure he does not make the tackle.

Curt: What is your greatest football moment to this point?
Manase: My greatest football moment came my sophomore year when Curtis Brown broke the school rushing record and then my senior year when that same record was broken by Harvey Unga. Knowing that I played a huge roll in helping these two great running backs set records in their time makes me smile and makes me appreciate the kind of work that I do.

Curt: Who is the best player you ever went up against in college?
Manase: The toughest players that I have had the pleasure of playing against were Jason Beauchamp of UNLV and Daryl Washington of TCU. Both athletic, physical, and smart players. I have a ton of respect for these two and hope to play with or against them again in the future.

Curt: What current NFL players reminds you the most of you?
Manase: I liken myself to Mike Sellers. A fullback who is extremely versatile and can do it all.

Curt: Have you set any personal goals for yourself in term of draft position?
Manase: I hope to go at anytime really. I understand that the fullback position isn't an attractive position and I am comfortable with that. But I strongly feel that I can contribute to the success of any team, all I need is a shot.

Curt: What will your offseason consist of from this point, up until the draft?
Manase: I will continue training for the Combine and our Pro Day and work hard so that I can turn some heads come testing day.

Manase: I hope this will help Curtis. Thank you for this great opportunity to share with you some of my thoughts and memories. Take Care brotha!

Thanks again Manase. Fullback is an under appreciated role in the NFL these days but we're sure some NFL Halfback is going to be very glad to hear your name called by his team on draft day. Good luck, thanks for the Saturdays, and we look forward to seeing what you can do on Sundays.

Full Article