#1 pick

Given the eye test, I'll pass on Alshon.

 

Holy crap.

 

Hell no, don't pass on him. Draft his ass and move him to DT.

 

man tits and a gut.

you know Luck hauled in a one handed catch the other week

 

Luck would be an awesome tight end.

 

Al toon's kid up in wisconsin is good. So is the kid at oklahoma and the one at noted dame (though he has off-field issues).

 

Homer pick, obviously, but I do like Dwight Jones as a 2nd rounder. That said, I'd probably spend the first three draft picks on defense.

 

what is the ideal receiver to pair with Smitty? what are his characteristics? Run blocking possession receivers like Keyshawn or Moose? How about a deep threat? Someone who knows Croyell better have any insight?

Speaking of Smitty, loved these quotes in the Observer last week:

Keyshawn
"Most guys his size play the slot, and they beat a linebacker and catch 100 balls and everybody goes, " 'Ooohhhh. He beat a linebacker.' Steve is the rare guy his size who can play outside the hash marks. He can play anywhere. He can beat cornerbacks and safeties."

Muggsy Bogues
"People don't understand size. I do. (Bogues is 5-3.) There's a way you have to play when everybody is taller than you. You have to be intense and aggressive on every possession. You have to work harder. You have to play smarter. You have to push yourself and keep pushing. What Steve's been able to accomplish is unbelievable."


Here are some other college WR prospects I like:

Michael Floyd, ND, 6'3" 215 4.5 - physical beast with pro size/speed, 4 year player at top program with career totals of 224 receptions, 3,178 yards, & 32 touchdowns.

Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers, 6'2" 215 4.55 - Underclassman whose been the team's prominent offensive playmaker since freshman year and is happy to have upgraded to average QB play this year. He has a career stat line that indicates supreme versatility: 122 rushes for 658 yards & 9 TD's, 140 receptions for 1512 yards & 10 TD's, 8-18 passing for 207 yards & 4 TD's, 54 punt returns, 2 kickoff returns, 2 tackles, 1 defensive interception, & 2 punts with a long of 67 yards.

Dwight Jones, UNC, 6'4" 225 4.5 - As a true Carolina fan, I've seen him play as much as anybody & so hopefully can provide more insight than most. Jones is a true senior that is physically bigger than most pros at 6'4.5" 225. Broke out in a big way last year a few games into the season with close to 200 yards against UVA. Also dropped over 200 yards on FSU. Ended up with 74 receptions, 947 yards, 4 TD's. So far this year has 37 receptions, 605 yards, & 7 TD's. Was talked about as the hardest worker in the offseason, and has trained and practiced over the last couple years with Hakeem Nicks and Greg Little. Fans have been waiting for Jones to play like this since his freshman year, but it didnt happen till he was a junior. Coaching staff changed his running technique early in career, and it seems to have helped once he got adjusted and learned how to run his routes. Has Elite body control, good acceleration, good deep speed, good physicality running after the catch, very good hands but will let the ball into his body as opposed to snatching it out of the air like Hakeem and Greg used to do.

What I love best about Dwight, though, is his personality. He's not demonstrative in celebrating TD's, nor any other big play really. He's already moved on to the next play as soon as it's done, regardless of what happened. His body language doesnt seem to change much at all throughout the game, and in my mind, this trait helps him disguise from defenders not only his routes but also the arrival of the incoming football when its in the air. He's great at catching the deepball. He's a quiet guy who leads by example. His personality and his deep ball capabilities might be a good complement to Smitty. He's got that quiet confidence about him like Hakeem, and we have that same kind of confidence in him come gameday. He seems to play bigger with each passing game. There have been times earlier in career where he has been the opposite of clutch - dropping a sure 1st down on 4th & 20 in the waning minutes of regulation in the Music City Bowl against Tennessee - which has given me pause, especially given his history of inconsistency. But everything we hear about him behind the scenes is that he's one of the hardest working guys in the offseason, really trying to improve his game and push himself, and the results each of the past two years back this up. He's struggled with academics since high school, and thought about declaring last year, but decided to come back and endure the classwork once again. If Dwight and the rest of the offense stay healthy, he'll end up with numbers at least comparable to Hakeem's record setting junior season (68 catches, 1222 yards, 12 TD's).

This Seattle Seahawks blogger thinks Jones is a 1st rounder as well as the best overall receiver in the 2012 draft class: http://seahawksdraftblog.com/dwight-jones-is-a-first-round-pick

He does need to work on his route running and being more consistent. Due to his build (over 6'4" with long limbs), he should constantly be working to improve the quickness of his feet, which will help him get in and out of cuts better and improve his acceleration/deceleration. And while he's physical enough with the ball in his hands, he could be better here, and could probably be more physical in his route running as well, including becoming more aggressive in snatching the ball from the air. He certainly benefits from his long frame, but sometimes doesnt fully use it to his advantage. For instance, Hakeem's long arms & huge hands allow him to reach around defenders and catch the ball while still covered because Hakeem is adept at catching the ball at the furthest point from this body, whereas Dwight will often let the ball come to him. Kenny Britt is one player that I think compares favorably to Dwight.

A huge question for me will how he will test at the combine. I'm pretty confident his 40 will be around 4.45-4.55; I'm more interested in his 10 & 20 yard splits, 20 yard short shuttle, 3 cone drill, bench press, vertical, & wonderlic. I would think his 10 and 20 yard splits will be impressive as will the short shuttle and 3 cone drill, the vertical will be average, and he'll disappoint in the bench press & wonderlic. He'll measure close to 6'4.5" and weigh 225 +/- 5 lbs.

Chris Owusu, Stanford, 6'2" 201 4.45 - Love the size/speed as well as all I've read about this guy, though havent seen him play any. After catching close to 40 balls for 700 yards and 5 TD's two years ago, Owusu was limited to 25 balls, 400 yards, & 3 TD's while dealing with a knee injury last year, but is still highly thought of by scouts who have seen him extensively while scouting Andrew Luck. Has been in pro system with franchise level QB for three years, and last years leading receiver is kinda tearing it up (by Seahawk standards) opposite Sidney Rice the past couple games up in Seattle with 20 receptions, 330 yards, & 2TD's so far. Similarly, Owusu has logged 22 catches for 275 yards & 2 TD's thus far while Stanford cruises thru the Pac-12.

T.Y. Hilton, FIU, 5'10" 183 4.4 - This guy is a small school STUD, and kinda reminds me of Sproles, but this (from wikipedia bio) is the biggest reason I like him: '(in 2008) He made the choice to go to FIU over West Virginia the night before National Signing Day, when his son chose FIU eight times in a row when he put both an FIU and West Virginia hat in front of him.' Scary to think about this guy, Pat White, Noel Devine, & Tavon Austin on the field at the same time. Is a 4 year player that has close to 200 career receptions for over 3,000 yards and has 33 total touchdowns. Similar statline to Michael Floyd even if competition is vastly different. Will have to test well, showing elite speed and quickness, to maximize his draft grade.

DeVier Posey, Ohio State, 6'2" 213 4.51 - Physical talent is there, but draft grade could drop due to off the field issues/character concerns - has been suspended for all but two games in 2011. Has the tools (size, speed, pedigree) to be a very good if not elite #2 receiver. In the last two years, he's totaled 113 catches, 1676 yards, & 15 TD's.

Marquis Maze, Alabama, 5'10" 182 4.42 Was biding his time behind Julio Jones, Ingram, & Richardson in recent years, and now is the #1 receiver, but also has a new QB who's not as efficient as McElroy. Also adds great value as an explosive punt returner. Production is not overwhelming, but this isnt a concern given his offense and the role he's been asked to play in previous years. Could be a very good slot guy. I like his leadership potential.

Chris Rainey, Florida, 5'9" 178 4.33 - another player who's value is greatly enhanced by his return abilities. He's got more career rushes than catches, but returns both punts and kickoffs and is the fastest guy listed here. Played in the spread, and is a 5th year senior. Has career totals of 312 rushes, 2070 yards, 13 TD's, 54 receptions, 659 yards, 6 TD's, 3 return TD's, 25 punt returns, 15 kickoff returns.

Rueben Randle, LSU, 6'4" 207 4.49 - highly recruited, highly rated athlete with ideal size/speed, but has played in an inefficient passing offense in previous years. Caught about 35 balls, 540 yards, & 3 TD's last year, similar #'s to that of the other two receivers in the offense. To put into perspective, though the two both rushed for around 2,500 yards last year, Alabama threw for 3,300 yards whereas LSU barely scratched 2,000 due mostly to the difference in QB play between the two. Perhaps our experience with Lafell will help us better evaluate Randle. Numbers are trending up this year with 23 catches, 446 yards, 4 TD's thus far despite uncertain QB situation.



So, for all you Croyell experts, who from this list is best suited to play opposite Smitty in our offense? What about the slot?

 

If we did get the number one pick we should be able to trade it for something very nice. I really doubt that is going to happen though. I expect the defense and special teams to figure it out as the year goes on. We will probably win four or five games.

Miami may not win another game all year.......

 

By years end I don't see ourselves in the running for the #1 pick again. I think with our current DTs on our roster I don't think it will be in consideration for the 1st round selection which is good as it doesn't seem so far to be a strong (top heavy) DT class. I could see a CB coming to us. Morris Claiborne or Dre Kirkpatrick would work