Scouting College WRs & 2 DEs

[Flugel]

Yesterday, I watched Vanderbilt's defense intercept Garcia 4 times. I thought their biggest worries were going to be WR Alshon Jeffery and RB Marcus Lattimore. Well, I got 50% of that right. Lattimore put about 55 YAC into a short catch for 1 TD and he scored again on a misdirection counter. Jeffery had some help being insignificant - the BAD Stephen Garcia showed up. The fun there was watching Spurrier react like he had another Garcia from the 60s on acid leading his offense and reading coverages. Anyway, last year we discussed Alshon Jeffery had some issues with seperation that he might not get away with at the next level. I was not impressed with his route running at all; BUT I'm not the one dealing with Jerry Garcia at QB. This kid could be a first round bust OR he could go to a QB better than he has today and make someone really happy. Today, I can only liken him to Michigan's David Terrell that took advantage of size perks in college but couldn't seperate at all in the pros.

Oklahoma State's Jus-tone Blackmon had over 10 catches for close to 130 yards and a TD. And he actually shows up for team meetings and comes to games on time like his teammates. Pretty cool when you don't have to motivate him to be on time or excited for the reason he got blessed with a free NFL audition and education while he's at it. I'm told that has always been possible for NFL prospects at Oklahoma State.

Believe it or not, Alabama found a replacement for Julio Jones in Marquise Maze (although he started opposite Jones last year). Maze only had 5 receptions for 40 yards yesterday; but he also had an 83 yard punt return for a TD. As our friend Shep likes to know "yaaa, but CAN he block as well as Robiskie?" Ummm, he's working on that feature so I'll try to update progress as I see it. Right now, there's only 1 Robiskie... Maze is going to have to do a little more for me to think 1st round but there's alot of season left for this playmaker on one of the best teams in the country.

You Tube

LSU's Rueben Randall stands 6'4" tall but he might even stand taller for the right NFL team in the near future. I think he might have more upside than the more heralded Alshon Jeffery. The cool thing in a draft projection sense is he can probably go somewhere in the vicinity of where the unheralded Mike Wallace went. As Wallace shows us, it IS possible to do better in the pro game which features the pass. Today, Randall has 12 receptions for 229 yards and 2 TDs in just 3 games. He's averaging 19.1 yards a catch where the end zone cut 2 of those yardages short. In 201, he averaged 16.5 yards a catch and over 15 yards per catch in 2009. I think the much improved J. Lee will showcase Randall's skillset more than Jefferson was capable of. Keep your eye on this guy folks.

Arkansas' Joe Adams has 15 receptions for 198 yards and 1 TD while Cobi Hamilton has 13 receptions for 252 yards and 1 TD. Hamilton's yards per catch average is 19.4 while Joe Adams sports a 13.1 avg with that. And then there's Jarius Wright with 11 receptions for 171 yards at 15.5 yards per catch. The interesting thing there is he has 3 TDs within those 11 receptions meaning 1 out of every 3-4 receptions = 6 points. Hamilton is 6'3" tall at 209 pounds, Adams is 5'11" tall at 190 pounds and Wright is 5'10" tall at 180 pounds. That translates to 2 slot receivers with Hamilton being the biggest intrigue.

Miscelleneous: That dline of South Carolina was VERY impressive. There were 2 guys coming off the edges senior Melvin Ingram (#6) and a freshman named Jadeveon Clowney that were about as good of a tandem as I've seen anywhere, ever. They helped their front/unit produces 12 tackles for a loss of 63 yards, force 2 fumbles, block a few passes and get 6 sacks. 5 of those tackles for losses came from the Ingram and Clowney. Another DE that rotated in had 2 more tackles for losses. The point that needs to be made here is Vandy was actually 3-0 coming into the game with a RB (Zac Stacy) coming off a 169 yard rushing performance last week in the SEC. Knowing we might need another DE, you might want to watch these Gamecocks cold cock offenses. This is the same school that Atlanta's All Pro John Abraham went to.

[Riffer X]

Good read Flugs, thanks for taking the time in and the research. Blackmon is one of the best WR's to come out in awhile IMO, just a pure stud who doesn't appear to have prima donna-itis.

I also really like the Broyles kid from Oklahoma. He is more of a Marvin Harrison type than a big, athletic guy like Blackmon or Jeffery. I do believe Jefferey may struggle a little in the pros sort of like Mike Williams (USC) did.

[nmills]

I don't think receiver is as big a need as other's on here so I'm not in the Blackmon/Jeffery's sweepstakes...I think Little is in the same mold as Blackmon so that's not a good complimentary fit. We need that quick speed receiver that can open up things for everybody else. I'm liking Travis Benjamin from the U alot right, thinking the overall picture on how he'd fit into the Browns is almost perfect. Little's the physical guy, MoMass is the reliable route runner and Benjamin is the deep threat/threat anywhere on the field. I'll probably get ripped for saying pass on the top 2 WR's but I think he'll be as good, and a much better fit.

[Dan in Florida]

Originally Posted by nmills

I don't think receiver is as big a need as other's on here so I'm not in the Blackmon/Jeffery's sweepstakes...I think Little is in the same mold as Blackmon so that's not a good complimentary fit. We need that quick speed receiver that can open up things for everybody else. I'm liking Travis Benjamin from the U alot right, thinking the overall picture on how he'd fit into the Browns is almost perfect. Little's the physical guy, MoMass is the reliable route runner and Benjamin is the deep threat/threat anywhere on the field. I'll probably get ripped for saying pass on the top 2 WR's but I think he'll be as good, and a much better fit.

I watched most of Blackmon's games last year and all his games this year. I can't disagree nmills! As much as I like Blackmon, I am starting to think Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles would be a better fit for us. Ryan is also in the mold of receivers that Heckert has drafted in the past when involved with Philly. Another thing about Blackmon, he's not that fast. Of course, neither was Jerry Rice. I watched Ryan and Oklahoma last night, and I think I will try to watch him the rest of the year. I just have a feeling, that he may be in our sights.

[Jax Dawg]

I've watched a few USC games (U of South Carolina) the last couple of years and Alshon Jeffrey just never impressed me much although others think he will be a high 1st rd pick. Their RB Lattimore on the other hand, who is only a true sophmore, is very good and is a real prospect at the next level. He will go high in the draft next year after his junior year if he declares.

[Brown Warrior]

You know, I agree with Mills: We had our big badass in Greg Little, our future slot in Massoquoi, and also Watson/Moore. We need some speed and quicks. Is Broyles fast?

[Solon16]

Hey flugs don"t sleep on Jeff fuller and his counterpart Whatchaku from Texas A&M, Also Michael Floyd aint too shabby...USC Trojans has a stud in making for future as well. Blackmon still best imo

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by nmills

I don't think receiver is as big a need as

Oxygen? Please tell me you were gonna say oxygen?

No. We will NOT say that for a third consecutive year!!! NO!!! AAAAAHHHHRGGGHHH!

[Alo]

A nice thing about Melvin Ingram is that he's a jack of all pass rushing trades: he's done good work rushing from DE and DT, a two pt and a three pt. He's even played some linebacker.

While some consider him a tweener, his versatility could be useful if the team continues to get good DE play but needs a pass rush infusion. You can mix him in there, having him rotate with Mitchell and/or sub in for Rubin/Taylor on passing downs. They dropped Mitchell on one play in the Dolphins game -- Ingram can do plenty of that kind of stuff as well.

[King of Kings]

Originally Posted by Jax Dawg

I've watched a few USC games (U of South Carolina) the last couple of years and Alshon Jeffrey just never impressed me much although others think he will be a high 1st rd pick. Their RB Lattimore on the other hand, who is only a true sophmore, is very good and is a real prospect at the next level. He will go high in the draft next year after his junior year if he declares.

I agree with Jax on Alshon. I've watched the kid in probably 7 or 8 games plus scouting and highlight clips on youtube and i'm not very impressed. Don't get me wrong he seems like a solid WR and a guy you'd grab in round 2 late or 3 but not a definitive first rounder. Blackmon on the other hand looks the part of a 1st round WR.

That said I would rather we pass on a 1st round WR, RB, QB or Defensive player. I'm thinking draft a right tackle and a left guard with our two firsts. Oky yeah i'm kidding. Calm down Shep I said I was kidding! I don't want that although it would be hilarious as hell reading R4E's rants if we did!

[Brown Warrior]

Originally Posted by King of Kings

I agree with Jax on Alshon. I've watched the kid in probably 7 or 8 games plus scouting and highlight clips on youtube and i'm not very impressed. Don't get me wrong he seems like a solid WR and a guy you'd grab in round 2 late or 3 but not a definitive first rounder. Blackmon on the other hand looks the part of a 1st round WR.

That said I would rather we pass on a 1st round WR, RB, QB or Defensive player. I'm thinking draft a right tackle and a left guard with our two firsts. Oky yeah i'm kidding. Calm down Shep I said I was kidding! I don't want that although it would be hilarious as hell reading R4E's rants if we did!

Very funny.

We trade down, accumulate 20 3rd and 4th picks, keep building "the infrastructure."

Man, if we end up with two starting DEs in Sheard and Mitchell... that really frees things up. Bank on a WR in one (one of the two) and perhaps an elite linebacker. Right tackle in 2, depth DL in 3, another linebacker in 4.

[Tobalaz]

I still think our biggest needs are RT, WR, corner, one more DE, and linebacker, in that order.