WRs

[The Excellector]

I've heard about some character concerns with Cordarelle Patterson. Can anyone go into detail about them?

[alien bird]

I've heard about some character concerns with Cordarelle Patterson. Can anyone go into detail about them?

The only thing I have heard is that he sometimes takes off plays and doesn't show passion at times. That could be his personality, or it could be a maturity issue. It could also be that he just doesn't have a lot of experience, being a JuCo transfer with only one year at Tennessee under his belt. There are no red flags in terms of drug use or run ins with the law as far as I know. He might be one of those boom or bust kind of guys, because he definitely has the physical traits and a really high ceiling to be great.

[leachisabeast]

Everyone at Tennessee has character issues lol

[ursula]

Ha ha! That's so true about Tennessee it seems.

The only thing I read about him is that it makes no sense that he's saw god damn raw when it comes to even having the right stance at the line of scrimmage to catching the ball to...everything that has to do with technique which doesn't make sense since he's been playing the game at WR since high school. Does he just not listen to his coaches? That's the issue-that he's so physically gifted that he's been able to ignore coaching, That's the fear.

[bt12483]

Cosell:

...let’s look at Keenan Allen from California. Allen has excellent size at 6’2” and 206 pounds. He fits the “Joker” profile I described. He has extensive experience both outside and in the slot, and is more than capable of being an effective weapon out of the backfield, given his punt return background and his strong run-after-catch ability. More often than not he looked like a big running back with the ball in his hands. One thing I really liked about Allen was that he had a very compact vertical stem, making every route initially look the same. Corners will always tell you that that presents problems because there is no tell, no indication of what the route might be.

Allen is a fluid route runner with excellent quickness in-and-out of breaks. As I mentioned, he was very efficient with free access off the line of scrimmage, but he also showed the quick feet to defeat press man coverage, with the kind of short space burst and explosiveness that’s needed. He had a wide catching radius, consistently displaying the ability to snatch the ball with his hands, and away from his body. Many might see him more as a short to intermediate receiver, but I evaluated him as a smooth accelerator with deceptive speed, if not timed speed, and the ability to get on top of corners. Watching Allen reminded me of a pretty darn good NFL receiver when he came out of college in 2001 as the 30th overall pick in that draft: Reggie Wayne.

There are three receivers in this draft that have somewhat similar traits, and I liked each one of them on tape: DeAndre Hopkins of Clemson, Kansas State’s Chris Harper and Tennessee Tech’s Da’rick Rogers, who led the SEC in receptions at the University of Tennessee in 2011. All three are big bodies: Harper is the shortest at 6’1¾”, and Hopkins weighs the least at 214 pounds. They each attacked the ball, and they consistently made contested catches with excellent timing, body flexibility and strong hands. They were very competitive with the ball in the air. In that sense, they were reminiscent of Anquan Boldin. By the way, Boldin ran a 4.7 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine in 2003. That has not seemed to negatively impact his NFL career.

Rogers was the most surprising to me. Not only did I look at his Tennessee Tech tape, but I went back and evaluated his SEC tape the year before, including a fascinating slot matchup with LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu. It was a matchup Rogers dominated with his utilitarian combination of size, strength, aggression, short area quickness, and run-after-catch. The more I studied Rogers, the more I liked him. He played with an edge, demonstrating physicality, toughness and competitiveness. What I kept seeing was deceptive acceleration as a route runner. He did not have top end, or long speed, but he understood how to use his vertical stem to break down, or close the yardage cushion that existed at the snap of the ball between his alignment and the corner. That allowed him to get on top of corners and beat them deep. It’s a subtlety of route running that I saw from Rogers on a consistent basis.

Rogers, Harper and Hopkins raise fascinating questions about the value of wide receivers that would not, based purely on attributes, project as number one receivers, like a Calvin Johnson or an A.J. Green. Again, value is a word that’s freely tossed around this time of year, as if it’s more important when a player is drafted as opposed to what seems to me to be the whole point of the draft, which is to acquire good players who will improve your roster and your team. I would not have a problem with any of the three being chosen in the second round, or even late in the first, for a team that needs a receiver, such as the Houston Texans or the Baltimore Ravens. Again, the academic discussion of “value” has no meaning when it’s week six of the regular season and you’re lacking quality receivers, which handicaps your quarterback in a passing league, and thus limits your ability to win.

Two more receivers that intrigued me were Aaron Dobson of Marshall, and Aaron Mellette from Elon University. Again, both are big, which clearly seems to be an increasing trend as the game evolves. The 6’2½”, 217 pound Mellette carries the small school label, immediately diminishing his value in the eyes of many. His three year domination at a Division I-AA school is routinely dismissed due to the dreaded “level of competition” moniker, the ultimate cross to bear. I went back to 2011, when Elon played Vanderbilt. You may recall that Casey Hayward was on that Commodore team. Lo and behold, he had a difficult time with Mellette’s impressive mix of size, hands, and plus athleticism. Overall, Mellette gives you a lot to work with, with his size/movement combination.

Dobson, at 6’3” and 210 pounds, was a strong blend of size and fluid movement. He was quicker than fast, regardless of his outstanding 4.42 40 time at his recent pro day. Yet, like many tall wide receivers, his height and stride length generated deceptive speed on vertical routes. What continually stood out the more I evaluated Dobson were his vice grip hands, and his body control and flexibility to adjust to the ball in the air, resulting in both contested and difficult catches. He’s not quite Larry Fitzgerald (few are, plus Fitzgerald’s play speed is a lot faster than people think; just talk to NFL corners), but I saw some similar traits in Dobson. A year ago, Justin Blackmon, Michael Floyd, Kendall Wright and A.J. Jenkins were all selected in the first round. Are they significantly better NFL prospects than Dobson, Rogers, Hopkins and Harper? I would argue they are not.

I will end with Justin Hunter from Tennessee, the most physically talented wide receiver prospect in this draft class. He is, without question, the most explosive as a route runner with his long body (6’4”), route fluidity, vertical speed and playmaking ability at the catch point. Like every receiver entering the NFL, he is not a finished product. (Sometimes we forget that). He displayed inconsistent hands, with too many easy drops. And the lingering effects of his 2011 ACL injury, likely more mental than physical, cannot be dismissed in any evaluation. But he has legitimate acceleration and vertical explosion that clearly projects to the NFL, and it will impact games.

Hunter is the most intriguing receiver on the board. The tape shows you how he moves: he’s smooth, supple and explosive. He looks like AJ Green with his body type and his fluid strides. He’s not the receiver at this point that Green was coming out of Georgia two years ago, but if Hunter develops and grows as a professional, always a question with all but a few prospects, he has a chance to be a Pro Bowl player. I’ve talked to some who see Randy Moss comparisons. Regardless, there are not many with his height, length and movement. I’d be surprised if his name wasn’t called on the first night.

The common thread with all the wide receivers I’ve touched on: size. It’s a fascinating dichotomy that is now crystallizing in the NFL. Smaller receivers have increased value due to the expansion of the multi-dimensional “Joker”, the player who can align anywhere in the formation. On the other hand, bigger wideouts provide matchup problems for smaller corners on the outside. The NFL has always been cyclical. Is offense a step of the defense right now? Defensive coaches think so.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

[Carey]

^Good stuff, it's always good to hear Cossel's thoughts, his knowledge is extensive and not bias and he knows to how to communicate things i see but dont know how to say to speak lol.

I watched the same amount of Da'Rick Rogers and for those exact reasons he's my favorite WR prospect in this draft, he reminds me of Dez Bryant. He gets of the press with physicality and with his hands, quick feet for his size and enough long speed to make plays downfield, and he's a hands catcher from what i've seen

I watched Kenan Allen all weekend and after i got by the games where he just flat out wasnt asked to run many routes you saw glimpses of what he can do. He is so smooth for a guy his size and he runs everything the same not tipping his routes. I wanted to see him get off press with his hands but he just wasnt pressed enough for me to see it, he get's off with quick feet the few times i saw it, once for a TD where he just flat out undressed the guy with a quick move. I also think he's more 4.5 then 4.7 when healthy.

[bmorecareful]

Cosell:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

LOVE the writeup. I'm surprised to hear him say he would not have a problem with Harper going in the 1st round, but I recall Cosell saying that he doesn't really factor in actual draft positions, rather just how good he feels a prospect is on tape. Rogers also won't be a 1st rounder in all likelihood.

I continue to think top-tier WRs like Hopkins, Hunter, and Allen are all in play at #32. Rogers and Dobson should be in play in the 2nd, Mellette and Harper in the later rounds.

[Carey]

LOVE the writeup. I'm surprised to hear him say he would not have a problem with Harper going in the 1st round, but I recall Cosell saying that he doesn't really factor in actual draft positions, rather just how good he feels a prospect is on tape. Rogers also won't be a 1st rounder in all likelihood.

I continue to think top-tier WRs like Hopkins, Hunter, and Allen are all in play at #32. Rogers and Dobson should be in play in the 2nd, Mellette and Harper in the later rounds.

That's the thing about him i like, he kind of cuts to the chase and communicates how he thinks they project to the pro game

I agree with you, i think WR and S is shaping up to be BPA at 32 or if we trade down to the early 2nd

[GOTA]

LOVE the writeup. I'm surprised to hear him say he would not have a problem with Harper going in the 1st round, but I recall Cosell saying that he doesn't really factor in actual draft positions, rather just how good he feels a prospect is on tape. Rogers also won't be a 1st rounder in all likelihood.

I continue to think top-tier WRs like Hopkins, Hunter, and Allen are all in play at #32. Rogers and Dobson should be in play in the 2nd, Mellette and Harper in the later rounds.

I wonder if Rogers would have been a 1st round pick if he hadn't screwed up at Tennessee. I saw that LSU game Cosell mentions and Rogers was a real pain in the ass for the LSU defense. Honey Badger kept thinking he was going to jump in front and grab the ball and he was just plain outsmarted by Rogers.

Rogers looks good on the field and had a great Combine. It's failing drug tests that might be the difference between the 1st round and late 2nd or even 3rd for him.

[BigPlayReceiver]

Again, the academic discussion of “value” has no meaning when it’s week six of the regular season and you’re lacking quality receivers, which handicaps your quarterback in a passing league, and thus limits your ability to win.

I love this comment.
I realized the same thought-process behind it a couple of months ago.
#1, 2 and 3 WRs don't mean much with how I evaluate guys, nor reality on many occasions.
Who were our 1-3? Who were they in PHI? GB? WAS? DAL?

I've removed the terms from my football lexicon and I feel it's allowed me to keep a more open mind.

When speaking about the Ravens' plans specifically, it's been a bit tougher, but when I visualize a "not too unrealistic" type of line-up that features a combo of sure-handed, tall, quick-footed, RZ terrifying, YAC monster, speed-burners like Pitta - Torrey - Tommy - Chad Bumphis - Dion Sims, who really cares who's the #1?

[bmorecareful]

Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball reports that DeAndre Hopkins' stock has risen and multiple scouts expect him to be the 3rd WR drafted after Tavon Austin and Cordarelle Patterson.

Hopkins was considered a second-rounder early in the draft process. He had an impressive Combine performance on the field and teams came away from his interviews liking him. Hopkins is now considered the third-rated receiver in the 2013 NFL Draft - given the declining status of Keenan Allen - and stands a good shot of going in the top 25 picks...

If a team picking late in the first round - like the Packers, Texans, Patriots or Ravens - want Hopkins it will may have to trade up to get him. Scouts believe that Hopkins won't be there for those playoff teams, which would have to take another receiver if they don't more. Every year there are some players who go earlier or later than expected, and Hopkins could be one of the latter this year.

I love Hopkins, but I wouldn't be crazy about the idea of trading up for him. Better to just sit tight and take Keenan Allen or Tyler Eifert at #32 if that's the way the draft shakes out. They could also just wait for guys like Da'Rick Rogers or Markus Wheaton in the 2nd or so.

[Carey]

Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball reports that DeAndre Hopkins' stock has risen and multiple scouts expect him to be the 3rd WR drafted after Tavon Austin and Cordarelle Patterson.



I love Hopkins, but I wouldn't be crazy about the idea of trading up for him. Better to just sit tight and take Keenan Allen or Tyler Eifert at #32 if that's the way the draft shakes out. They could also just wait for guys like Da'Rick Rogers or Markus Wheaton in the 2nd or so.

I agree, the value is in staying put or trading down as far as our first pick then moving around round 2 to 4 which i think is the sweet spot of this draft