[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)

[Penguin]

Mariota has come back down to earth some in the past month

 

[tdmills]

I have the #1 pick I watching Ka'Deem Carey to see if he comes out and where hes drafted.

Carey is around #8 prospect for me right now

 

[loose circuits]

After watching Amir Abdullah live for like the 7th time this year, he still needs to add some bulk & work on pass protection. He's a ways away. Love his hands & quickness, vision good too and he breaks tackles for a small back but I don't think he's ready.

Quincy Enunwa on the other hand is a guy who will rise up draft boards. Does he have any invites for all star games yet?

No need for Abdullah to put another 250+ carries on his body. He should declare regardless. Most RBs, however talented they are as runners, are horrible pass protectors when they get to the NFL. So I'm not too worried about that aspect.

he doesn't have that many carries to begin with and Newby & Cross will be involved not to mention a dude they redshirted who I cant remember his name. I'd guess Amir wouldn't weigh more than 190 lbs which would impact his stock. Last time anyone asked him, he said he hadn't even thought about going pro.

 

[Andrew74]

Having a hard time figuring out the top 5 in leagues with increased qb value (2qb or 32 team leagues) it's early of course but are starstruck, Watkins, bridgewater, mariota top 4?

Isn't this guy a Transformer?

I remember Starscream but not Starstruck

 

[FUBAR]

Having a hard time figuring out the top 5 in leagues with increased qb value (2qb or 32 team leagues) it's early of course but are starstruck, Watkins, bridgewater, mariota top 4?

Isn't this guy a Transformer?

I remember Starscream but not Starstruck

He was the Hollywood wuss.

Meant Seastrunk

 

[Spike]

Please don't let the Jets draft Watkins.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Mariota has come back down to earth some in the past month

And the nit-picking of the QB prospects hasn't even begun yet.

 

[werdnoynek]

Evans a no show in a big game. Excuses?

 

[MoveToSkypager]

Evans a no show in a big game. Excuses?

It wasn't the right game.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Evans a no show in a big game. Excuses?

Guy had a terrible game

Though if you go back over his game log looking at how he performed in big games, I think you'll find he did quite well in them, to put it mildly.

 

[Faust]

Derek Carr Carries Fresno St.

 

[Xue]

Evans a no show in a big game. Excuses?

Guy had a terrible game

Though if you go back over his game log looking at how he performed in big games, I think you'll find he did quite well in them, to put it mildly.

Evans did pretty well against Alabama and Auburn. Those games not big enough? Then again Manziel did well in those games too, and poor vs Missouri. I'd say the offense as a whole didn't do well vs Missouri.

 

[Vincesanity]

Ya Evans sucked really bad against 2 Top 5 BCS teams and the best defensive backs coach in the game.

I really hope he stays 1 more year without Johnny and plays in an actual offense. I hate this backyard/scramble drill crap they do.

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: McCarron unable to shed 'game manager' label

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Fales outshines Carr in battle of star QBs

 

[Bob Magaw]

Yeah I think Evans is pretty underrated on these boards. Guy's a taller Alshon Jeffery/Michael Floyd, and has displayed no less speed than either of those two did in college imo. Given his nearly inevitable draft slot coming in the first round of the NFL draft combined with his flashy numbers at a high profile school, I think he's all but a lock to have an average ADP in the top 5 of rookie drafts.

You left out slower, heavier, worse hands and a no where near as talented Alshon/Floyd.

Why exactly would being heavier be a negative thing? Not to mention Alshon had some rather significant weight issues in college, and Evans is only listed as 5lbs than Floyd.

As for slower, you might want to re-watch some Jeffery/Floyd highlights from college. At worst, Evans gets behind defenders just as often as they did, though in actuality probably even more so.

As for hands, I think Evans is pretty much on par with Alshon/Floyd. All 3 are big bodied hands catchers who win jump balls and catch the ball with proper form even on simple screen passes.

I just don't see it with Evans... he's a bonafide TE - and looks to be about 240+. Everything thing you hear about him is he's a workout warrior and with that frame, I wouldn't be surprised if a team drafts him to be a TE. Alshon's weight "problem" was a picture blown way out of proportion. Jeffrey is a long-strider while Evans runs like he's 5'8" with awkwardly choppy steps. It seems he only runs one route atm - the fade, with an occasional post / corner and running back toward Manziel when Johnny is trying to make something happen. I agree he does get behind people but I think a lot of that has to do with CB's biting on Manziel running outside of the pocket and then getting burned. The one thing I like about him is how he uses his size and strength against the small CB's he's currently facing. He does have a solid hands, but he's no Alshon in that department.

I need to look again, but you are describing something I thought I detected, as well.

He has a funky stride, like he has a hitch in his gait (almost like he is favoring one leg, or as if one leg was shorter than the other - that last just an analogy).

Not expecting a 4.4 (but if he does, like Jeffery did at his pro day, that would get my attention and make me want to take a closer look look at his film).

 

[Faust]

What we learned from Week 14 in college football

 

[Faust]

5 up, 5 down: James Franklin rising, Tajh Boyd falling

 

[lod01]

Please don't let the Jets draft Watkins.

Geno needs weapons. He has no weapons.

I have no chance at Watkins so I would love to see him in NYJ.

 

[Gottabesweet]

Thoughts on the class in general compared to this time last year?

I have four picks in the top six in 2014 not sure if I should aquire players or move some to next season

 

[EBF]

Thoughts on the class in general compared to this time last year?

I have four picks in the top six in 2014 not sure if I should aquire players or move some to next season

There are probably quite a few posts in this thread that address this. The consensus seems to be:

QB - Good.

RB - Pretty good. Especially if Gordon declares.

WR - Good.

TE - Good.

So all around, this figures to be a strong class. There are some compelling names at the top of the food chain and the depth should be very good as well.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Albert Breer believes Alabama senior QB A.J. McCarron has chance to be the first prospect at his position to be selected in May.

"Enough people like him to where I think he has a shot to be the first quarterback taken," Breer tweeted. Even though we disagree with the evaluation, this result would not surprise us. McCarron compares to a poor man's Matt Ryan and is a "what you see is what you get" type prospect. We have read other evaluations that put him in the third-round range.


Source: Albert Breer on Twitter

NFL.com's Albert Breer spoke with one AFC college scouting director who believes Alabama senior QB A.J. McCarron is very similar to Tom Brady.

"Good size, outstanding touch on all throws, can make all the throws but only has average arm strength," the executive said. "Outstanding progression-read quarterback, makes throws to his second and third reads consistently. Doesn't turn the ball over. Winner. Mentally tough. Has the moxie and cockiness most great QBs have. Very similar to Tom Brady in stature, athletic ability, arm strength, touch..." These are all really positive traits, and obviously the unnamed evaluator is a fan. In fact, the AFC scouting director said McCarron could be the first quarterback off the board in May. Breer noted other circles see McCarron as a third rounder.


Source: NFL.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Colorado redshirt junior WR Paul Richardson will enter the 2014 NFL Draft.

Richardson, who missed last season with a knee injury, has collected 79 catches for 1,289 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013. His slender frame (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) will ensure durability questions persist, but we like Richardson's deep speed and big-play ability.


Source: Joe Schad on Twitter

Colorado WR Paul Richardson will enter 2014 NFL Draft

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Week 14 Stock Report

 

[FUBAR]

I have a hard time thinking McCarron could be taken that high.

I have no problem seeing him as a potential Alex Smith or Mike Glennon type QB. Put him on an otherwise solid team and he'll be in the playoffs. (Yes, I realize Glennon isn't doing that this year but that's not his fault)

 

[domvin]

Thoughts on the class in general compared to this time last year?

I have four picks in the top six in 2014 not sure if I should aquire players or move some to next season

There are probably quite a few posts in this thread that address this. The consensus seems to be:

QB - Good.

RB - Pretty good. Especially if Gordon declares.

WR - Good.

TE - Good.

So all around, this figures to be a strong class. There are some compelling names at the top of the food chain and the depth should be very good as well.

Not doubting your knowledge EBF, but I think the sweet spot in this draft will be TEs. Possibly from good, to great.

Ebron, Amoro, Sfarian-Jenkins.......I think you may be able to hit some gold with picks between 1.5-1.12 with these TEs. more and more teams are looking to deploy seam busting TEs, and I think these three will fit that mold(destination withstanding)

 

[Milkman]

Thoughts on the class in general compared to this time last year?

I have four picks in the top six in 2014 not sure if I should aquire players or move some to next season

There are probably quite a few posts in this thread that address this. The consensus seems to be:

QB - Good.

RB - Pretty good. Especially if Gordon declares.

WR - Good.

TE - Good.

So all around, this figures to be a strong class. There are some compelling names at the top of the food chain and the depth should be very good as well.

It's a good draft class. It doesn't seem to have any elite talent unless you consider Watkins elite. I see him as a level down from elite but we will know more when we get though the draft process.

You mentioned this earlier but I don't see any of the QB's going in the first round unless you're in a 2 QB league. Maybe someone takes one in the late first.

Guys that most likely would have been 1st rounder's last year.....

1. Watkins

2. Lee

3. Gordon

4. Seastrunk

5. Evans

6. Sankey

7. Ka'Deem Carey

8. Robinson

9. Jordan Matthews

10. Ebron

11. Amaro

12. Devonte Adams

13. ASJ

14. Brandin Cooks

15. Jarvis Landry

16. Beckham Jr.

17. Charles Sims

I'm sure I missing somebody. Like Maybe Devonta Freeman. It seems super deep.

 

[FUBAR]

"You mentioned this earlier but I don't see any of the QB's going in the first round unless you're in a 2 QB league. Maybe someone takes one in the late first."

Isn't this true every year? Possible exception of luck and rg3, but even they were mid firsts. Obviously with the exceptions of reaches and unique formats (24-32 team leagues will add value)

 

[EBF]

Thoughts on the class in general compared to this time last year?

I have four picks in the top six in 2014 not sure if I should aquire players or move some to next season

There are probably quite a few posts in this thread that address this. The consensus seems to be:

QB - Good.

RB - Pretty good. Especially if Gordon declares.

WR - Good.

TE - Good.

So all around, this figures to be a strong class. There are some compelling names at the top of the food chain and the depth should be very good as well.

Not doubting your knowledge EBF, but I think the sweet spot in this draft will be TEs. Possibly from good, to great.

Ebron, Amoro, Sfarian-Jenkins.......I think you may be able to hit some gold with picks between 1.5-1.12 with these TEs. more and more teams are looking to deploy seam busting TEs, and I think these three will fit that mold(destination withstanding)

I don't know if ASJ is going to be a seam buster necessarily. I said in the offseason that had been a bit mischaracterized. Yes, he has a basketball background, but he isn't Jimmy Graham or Jordan Cameron athletically. The talk of him as some kind of awesome slam dunk prospect was always just a little bit off base. He's agile with a big frame and soft hands, but not an explosive player by any means. I would not be surprised if he runs 4.7-4.8 in his workouts. I actually see him as being more of a traditional two-way TE as opposed to a receiving specialist. Probably a top 20-45 pick in the draft, but the next giant FF star? Not necessarily. I see the range of outcomes there being somewhere between Kyle Rudolph and Antonio Gates. Two other big body power forward types. The low end of that range doesn't justify a first round rookie pick unless you're in a TE-premium league.

I like Ebron. He has no major flaws. He should be pretty good, but in non-TE premium formats a TE still only has massive value if he hits the truly elite level. And while I think Ebron is a first round talent and a pretty safe projection to be a successful NFL player, it's hard to say he's definitely going to be ELITE. He's a good athlete, but he's not Jimmy Graham. Not quite that big or strong. Also probably not as explosive. He has very respectable speed for a TE and will be faster than many pro linebackers and maybe even some safeties, but he can be caught from behind though. Some examples of that from the past few weeks:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9985354

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10056322

Those are BIG plays for a TE, but as you can see he doesn't quite have pullaway speed. Not a huge deal. Not many TEs do. Quickness and acceleration are more important in football than top speed anyway. I think Ebron is a first tier talent in this FF class. I have already written a lot about him on these boards. I view his value as being pretty similar to Eifert's from the 2013 class. With the difference being that Eifert seems a bit bigger and better in contested situations whereas Ebron looks a little smaller and perhaps a touch more explosive. I would not take him over a first tier RB or WR prospect in a non TE-premium league, but he will be a candidate in the mid-late 1st for sure.

I am still trying to figure out Amaro. I think he's the least conventional of these three and the most difficult to evaluate. I'm not necessarily sold on his movement skills and athleticism, but there are some intriguing qualities and I'm keeping an open mind. I'll have to watch more of him.

 

[domvin]

Thoughts on the class in general compared to this time last year?

I have four picks in the top six in 2014 not sure if I should aquire players or move some to next season

There are probably quite a few posts in this thread that address this. The consensus seems to be:

QB - Good.

RB - Pretty good. Especially if Gordon declares.

WR - Good.

TE - Good.

So all around, this figures to be a strong class. There are some compelling names at the top of the food chain and the depth should be very good as well.

Not doubting your knowledge EBF, but I think the sweet spot in this draft will be TEs. Possibly from good, to great.

Ebron, Amoro, Sfarian-Jenkins.......I think you may be able to hit some gold with picks between 1.5-1.12 with these TEs. more and more teams are looking to deploy seam busting TEs, and I think these three will fit that mold(destination withstanding)

I don't know if ASJ is going to be a seam buster necessarily. I said in the offseason that had been a bit mischaracterized. Yes, he has a basketball background, but he isn't Jimmy Graham or Jordan Cameron athletically. The talk of him as some kind of awesome slam dunk prospect was always just a little bit off base. He's agile with a big frame and soft hands, but not an explosive player by any means. I would not be surprised if he runs 4.7-4.8 in his workouts. I actually see him as being more of a traditional two-way TE as opposed to a receiving specialist. Probably a top 20-45 pick in the draft, but the next giant FF star? Not necessarily. I see the range of outcomes there being somewhere between Kyle Rudolph and Antonio Gates. Two other big body power forward types. The low end of that range doesn't justify a first round rookie pick unless you're in a TE-premium league.

I like Ebron. He has no major flaws. He should be pretty good, but in non-TE premium formats a TE still only has massive value if he hits the truly elite level. And while I think Ebron is a first round talent and a pretty safe projection to be a successful NFL player, it's hard to say he's definitely going to be ELITE. He's a good athlete, but he's not Jimmy Graham. Not quite that big or strong. Also probably not as explosive. He has very respectable speed for a TE and will be faster than many pro linebackers and maybe even some safeties, but he can be caught from behind though. Some examples of that from the past few weeks:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9985354

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10056322

Those are BIG plays for a TE, but as you can see he doesn't quite have pullaway speed. Not a huge deal. Not many TEs do. Quickness and acceleration are more important in football than top speed anyway. I think Ebron is a first tier talent in this FF class. I have already written a lot about him on these boards. I view his value as being pretty similar to Eifert's from the 2013 class. With the difference being that Eifert seems a bit bigger and better in contested situations whereas Ebron looks a little smaller and perhaps a touch more explosive. I would not take him over a first tier RB or WR prospect in a non TE-premium league, but he will be a candidate in the mid-late 1st for sure.

I am still trying to figure out Amaro. I think he's the least conventional of these three and the most difficult to evaluate. I'm not necessarily sold on his movement skills and athleticism, but there are some intriguing qualities and I'm keeping an open mind. I'll have to watch more of him.

Good points on TE Premium leagues.

Ebron-Stud. No doubt.

Sefarian Jenkins-I see more some explosiveness here in a big body

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/members/ratings/profile.php?pyid=119337

Amoro, solid all around, I have slotted third.

 

[EBF]

Good points on TE Premium leagues.

Ebron-Stud. No doubt.

Sefarian Jenkins-I see more some explosiveness here in a big body

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/members/ratings/profile.php?pyid=119337

Amoro, solid all around, I have slotted third.

I don't know ASJ's actual height weight, but 276 pounds would actually be kind of a bad thing and would point towards him being more of a "third OT who can catch" type of TE as opposed to the "WR masquerading as a TE" type that's become trendy with the success of Hernandez and Reed. The guy is a solid player and I have no doubt that he will be a starter in the NFL, but there's definitely a question mark about what type of numbers he'll have.

My guess is that ASJ will be a 2nd round rookie pick in my final rankings. There is too much RB/WR talent out there to justify taking him top 10 IMO.

Maybe I will change my tune if he hits a home run at the combine, but that's my take for now.

 

[domvin]

ASJ does not move like a 276 pound guy though. Looks light on his feet, can move really well.

If you watch him running the wheel route on his Draft Scout Highlight reel, he looks like he is gaining separation from the db.....

Initially, I thought the same thing, dude is too big, but he moves like a 250 pound guy. I think he'll be a tremendous mismatch.

 

[Faust]

Risers-Sliders: Week 14

 

[Xue]

Ebron and Amaro share a common flaw. Neither guy is a monster in the Red Zone. I don't expect either guy to score many TDs. Both will do their damage between the 20s. Seferian-Jenkins is basically the opposite.

 

[Milkman]

Brandin Cooks = Randall Cobb only 10 pounds lighter. Not sure how big of a difference that makes but I would love to draft him in the later part of the first round.

 

[Vincesanity]

Let's say Ebron goes to a great QB like GB or NE, in a TE premium league do you take him as high as 3rd-5th overall?

 

[BigTex]

Let's say Ebron goes to a great QB like GB or NE, in a TE premium league do you take him as high as 3rd-5th overall?

Yes, without hesitation and I need some help at that position which is a premium position.

 

[BigTex]

Ebron vs. Amaro. Where do you guys stand here at this time?

Going back to this for a minute, Brugler and Rang at Draft Scout both have Amaro higher. So does Pete Fiutak from College Football News.

Something to think about.

To me, Ebron clearly moves better. Then again, I'd say the same thing about Eifert and Gronkowski and that doesn't mean Eifert is better. There are other variables besides being a fluid athlete. One advantage that Amaro seems to have is more height/weight/wingspan. It can he hard to assess accurate height/weight from the games, but my hunch is that Ebron is about 6'4". Maybe even somewhere in the 6'3.X" range. That's not short, but he doesn't appear to be a towering target like Amaro or the 6'5.5" Eifert.

I've already expressed how I feel about Amaro. I would clearly understand if he was the 1st TE taken in the draft.

Tex

 

[Adam Harstad]

Thoughts on the class in general compared to this time last year?

I have four picks in the top six in 2014 not sure if I should aquire players or move some to next season

There are probably quite a few posts in this thread that address this. The consensus seems to be:

QB - Good.

RB - Pretty good. Especially if Gordon declares.

WR - Good.

TE - Good.

So all around, this figures to be a strong class. There are some compelling names at the top of the food chain and the depth should be very good as well.

Not doubting your knowledge EBF, but I think the sweet spot in this draft will be TEs. Possibly from good, to great.

Ebron, Amoro, Sfarian-Jenkins.......I think you may be able to hit some gold with picks between 1.5-1.12 with these TEs. more and more teams are looking to deploy seam busting TEs, and I think these three will fit that mold(destination withstanding)

I don't know if ASJ is going to be a seam buster necessarily. I said in the offseason that had been a bit mischaracterized. Yes, he has a basketball background, but he isn't Jimmy Graham or Jordan Cameron athletically. The talk of him as some kind of awesome slam dunk prospect was always just a little bit off base. He's agile with a big frame and soft hands, but not an explosive player by any means. I would not be surprised if he runs 4.7-4.8 in his workouts. I actually see him as being more of a traditional two-way TE as opposed to a receiving specialist. Probably a top 20-45 pick in the draft, but the next giant FF star? Not necessarily. I see the range of outcomes there being somewhere between Kyle Rudolph and Antonio Gates. Two other big body power forward types. The low end of that range doesn't justify a first round rookie pick unless you're in a TE-premium league.

I like Ebron. He has no major flaws. He should be pretty good, but in non-TE premium formats a TE still only has massive value if he hits the truly elite level. And while I think Ebron is a first round talent and a pretty safe projection to be a successful NFL player, it's hard to say he's definitely going to be ELITE. He's a good athlete, but he's not Jimmy Graham. Not quite that big or strong. Also probably not as explosive. He has very respectable speed for a TE and will be faster than many pro linebackers and maybe even some safeties, but he can be caught from behind though. Some examples of that from the past few weeks:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9985354

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10056322

Those are BIG plays for a TE, but as you can see he doesn't quite have pullaway speed. Not a huge deal. Not many TEs do. Quickness and acceleration are more important in football than top speed anyway. I think Ebron is a first tier talent in this FF class. I have already written a lot about him on these boards. I view his value as being pretty similar to Eifert's from the 2013 class. With the difference being that Eifert seems a bit bigger and better in contested situations whereas Ebron looks a little smaller and perhaps a touch more explosive. I would not take him over a first tier RB or WR prospect in a non TE-premium league, but he will be a candidate in the mid-late 1st for sure.

I am still trying to figure out Amaro. I think he's the least conventional of these three and the most difficult to evaluate. I'm not necessarily sold on his movement skills and athleticism, but there are some intriguing qualities and I'm keeping an open mind. I'll have to watch more of him.

Just locked up the #1 pick in a league with an incredible TE premium (1.5 PPR + 0.15 points per yard), and I'm starting to look ahead. In a traditional format, it seems like Watkins is the slam-dunk pick at the top of the draft, but with the crazy scoring, any TE that gets drafted in the 1st round will always have to be in play. How would you say Ebron and Amaro compare to Eifert as a prospect?

 

[EBF]

Let's say Ebron goes to a great QB like GB or NE, in a TE premium league do you take him as high as 3rd-5th overall?

In a typical TE-required league he'll most likely end up around 5-9 on my board. Probably more towards the back of that range once a few RBs end up as high picks in favorable situations. In a TE-premium league I would at least think about him in the top 3-5. Exactly where I would take him would depend on his combine performance, landing spot, and how appealing the alternatives look. I think I have a pretty good handle on Gordon, Seastrunk, Watkins, Lee, and Robinson already, but the combine still looms as a relatively important variable. If for no other reason than to reinforce what I already think I know about those players.

 

[BigTex]

It seems Amaro is more of a long strider so it looks like he is slow but he's still flying. I mean it will be interesting to see how he times at the combine. The comparisons to graham are premature imo because one of the things that sets Jimmy Graham apart is that he is an elite athlete. Ebron reminds me more of a poor mans Vernon Davis. Maybe a little more fluid the Davis but Ebron isn't going to run a 4.3 40.

As much as I like Amaro, he's nowhere near Graham. His playing style is closer to someone like Dallas Clark. Amaro doesn't play "above the rim" like Graham does. He's more of a "catch and run" type.

Longhorns head coach Mack Brown sees "a bigger, thicker Jermichael Finley" when he sees Amaro (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) on tape, while defensive coordinator Greg Robinson is reminded of New England Patriots superstar Rob Gronkowski. "I know Rob very well, but he (Amaro) affects the game similarly," Robinson said. "He's a big-body guy. He's like a power forward playing basketball.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000288549/article/jace-amaro-plays-like-rob-gronkowski-texas-coach-says

Meaningless coachspeak. Amaro's weakness is his inability to catch in traffic. Nothing close to Gronk. Finley isn't a bad comp.

If there is anyone close to a Gronkowski in this draft it's Troy Niklas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0A7jHG92r4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC6M0SbNReM

His numbers can't be denied or overlooked.

WHERE AMARO RANKS

BIG 12 CONFERENCE:

- Receptions: 1st (92)

- Receptions/Game: 1st (8.4)

- Receiving Yards: 1st (1,157)

- Receptions in a Game: 1st (15, vs. Oklahoma State)

- 100-Yard Receiving Games: 2nd (5)

- Receiving Yards/Game: 2nd (105.2)

NCAA:

- Receptions: 2nd (92)

- Receiving Yards: 6th (1,157)

- Receptions/Game: 6th (8.4)

- Receptions in a Game: 7th (15, vs. Oklahoma State)

- Receiving Yards/Game: 12th (105.2)

*** John Mackey Award Semifinalist ***

*** Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist ***

*** Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist ***

- Ranks 6th all-time at Texas Tech in single-season receptions (92).

- Ranks 8th all-time at Texas Tech in single-season receiving yards (1,157).

- Broke school record for most receptions by a junior (88)... Previous record: Welker (86).

- Needs 105 receiving yards to set new Tech record for yards by a junior (Hill, 1,261 in '92).

- 92 receptions through 11 games - most by a Red Raider since 2007 (Crabtree - 113).

- Became the first Red Raider with 4 consecutive 100-yard games since 2007 (Crabtree - 7).

- Tied a school record with at least 8 receptions in 9 consecutive games (Crabtree, 2007).

- Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 21)

- Midseason 1st Team All-America (USA Today, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated)

- Midseason 1st Team All-America (NFL.com, FOX Sports South, Athlon Sports)

- Midseason 2nd Team All-America (Phil Steele)

- Midseason 1st Team All-Big 12 (FOX Sports, Phil Steele, San Antonio Express-News)

 

[EBF]

Just locked up the #1 pick in a league with an incredible TE premium (1.5 PPR + 0.15 points per yard), and I'm starting to look ahead. In a traditional format, it seems like Watkins is the slam-dunk pick at the top of the draft, but with the crazy scoring, any TE that gets drafted in the 1st round will always have to be in play. How would you say Ebron and Amaro compare to Eifert as a prospect?

I've already said quite a bit about those guys. My rapid fire take is that I liked Eifert a little more than both. A cleaner route runner than Amaro, who has a little bit of sloppiness in his movement. Bigger and sturdier than Ebron. More potential as a red zone weapon/jump ball guy too. Ebron may be more explosive though, so keep an eye on his workout numbers and see how he tests. He could end up doing better than Eifert, who was very solid in drills without being freakish. I've seen Ebron compared to Vernon Davis, but he's really not that thick or that fast. He's more like a lesser Kellen Winslow Jr.

Amaro is interesting because he's used primarily as a WR. He isn't an elusive/agility kind of guy like Reed or Hernandez though. He's more of a big-bodied intermediate possession target with sneaky downfield speed. The combination of height and speed could cause matchup problems in the NFL. I don't think he's as fluid or athletic as Ebron or Eifert, but he does have some FF upside and I can't rule out the possibility of him becoming the better pro.

 

[EBF]

His numbers can't be denied or overlooked.

WHERE AMARO RANKS

BIG 12 CONFERENCE:

- Receptions: 1st (92)

- Receptions/Game: 1st (8.4)

- Receiving Yards: 1st (1,157)

- Receptions in a Game: 1st (15, vs. Oklahoma State)

- 100-Yard Receiving Games: 2nd (5)

- Receiving Yards/Game: 2nd (105.2)

NCAA:

- Receptions: 2nd (92)

- Receiving Yards: 6th (1,157)

- Receptions/Game: 6th (8.4)

- Receptions in a Game: 7th (15, vs. Oklahoma State)

- Receiving Yards/Game: 12th (105.2)

The big problem there:

The two Texas Tech QBs (Mayfield and Webb) have combined for 660 pass attempts this season. The NCAA leader in attempts is Connor Halliday of Washington State, with 656 pass attempts. Can you guess who Halliday's head coach is? Mike Leach, the architect of Texas Tech's ridiculous passing attack. Texas Tech has been known for the last 10+ years as a team that passes like crazy. Leach might be gone, but it looks like his legacy is intact.

On the other hand, the two UNC QBs (Renner and Williams) have combined for just 415 pass attempts this season. So is Ebron's production (895 yards) worse than Amaro's production (1240 yards) because he's the less effective player or simply because his team passes a lot less? UNC has passed the ball only 62.8% of Tech's total number of pass attempts, yet Ebron has 72.2% of Amaro's receiving yards. If you put Ebron on the same Texas Tech team, how much better would his stats be? He has a MUCH higher YPC and at least three plays that are longer than Amaro's longest catch of the season.

I think it's important to consider context and not just raw stats alone. For example, Ty Montgomery's 868 receiving yards on Stanford's RUN-heavy offense (259 pass attempts) might be more impressive than Brandin Cooks's 1670 receiving yards on Oregon State's pass-heavy offense (570 pass attempts). Conventional wisdom would be that Cooks is "clearly outproducing" Montgomery, but that's not accurate. He's just getting way more targets.

 

[Milkman]

Nice post EBF. Post like that are why I come here.

 

[Xue]

It seems Amaro is more of a long strider so it looks like he is slow but he's still flying. I mean it will be interesting to see how he times at the combine. The comparisons to graham are premature imo because one of the things that sets Jimmy Graham apart is that he is an elite athlete. Ebron reminds me more of a poor mans Vernon Davis. Maybe a little more fluid the Davis but Ebron isn't going to run a 4.3 40.

As much as I like Amaro, he's nowhere near Graham. His playing style is closer to someone like Dallas Clark. Amaro doesn't play "above the rim" like Graham does. He's more of a "catch and run" type.

Longhorns head coach Mack Brown sees "a bigger, thicker Jermichael Finley" when he sees Amaro (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) on tape, while defensive coordinator Greg Robinson is reminded of New England Patriots superstar Rob Gronkowski. "I know Rob very well, but he (Amaro) affects the game similarly," Robinson said. "He's a big-body guy. He's like a power forward playing basketball.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000288549/article/jace-amaro-plays-like-rob-gronkowski-texas-coach-says

Meaningless coachspeak. Amaro's weakness is his inability to catch in traffic. Nothing close to Gronk. Finley isn't a bad comp.

If there is anyone close to a Gronkowski in this draft it's Troy Niklas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0A7jHG92r4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC6M0SbNReM

His numbers can't be denied or overlooked.

WHERE AMARO RANKS

BIG 12 CONFERENCE:

- Receptions: 1st (92)

- Receptions/Game: 1st (8.4)

- Receiving Yards: 1st (1,157)

- Receptions in a Game: 1st (15, vs. Oklahoma State)

- 100-Yard Receiving Games: 2nd (5)

- Receiving Yards/Game: 2nd (105.2)

NCAA:

- Receptions: 2nd (92)

- Receiving Yards: 6th (1,157)

- Receptions/Game: 6th (8.4)

- Receptions in a Game: 7th (15, vs. Oklahoma State)

- Receiving Yards/Game: 12th (105.2)

*** John Mackey Award Semifinalist ***

*** Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist ***

*** Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Semifinalist ***

- Ranks 6th all-time at Texas Tech in single-season receptions (92).

- Ranks 8th all-time at Texas Tech in single-season receiving yards (1,157).

- Broke school record for most receptions by a junior (88)... Previous record: Welker (86).

- Needs 105 receiving yards to set new Tech record for yards by a junior (Hill, 1,261 in '92).

- 92 receptions through 11 games - most by a Red Raider since 2007 (Crabtree - 113).

- Became the first Red Raider with 4 consecutive 100-yard games since 2007 (Crabtree - 7).

- Tied a school record with at least 8 receptions in 9 consecutive games (Crabtree, 2007).

- Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 21)

- Midseason 1st Team All-America (USA Today, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated)

- Midseason 1st Team All-America (NFL.com, FOX Sports South, Athlon Sports)

- Midseason 2nd Team All-America (Phil Steele)

- Midseason 1st Team All-Big 12 (FOX Sports, Phil Steele, San Antonio Express-News)

He faces weak defensive prospects and doesn't have much receiving talent on the field with him.

 

[Faust]

Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde keeps boosting NFL draft stock

 

[karmarooster]

LOL at that picture. The ref: "OMG his biceps are just breathtaking!"

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes it might be tough to sell Michigan senior WR Jeremy Gallon to NFL coaches.

"Although he catches the ball well and displays some impressive running skills with the ball in his hands, it's hard to sell an undersized receiver with questionable speed to coaches looking to juice up their offensive attacks," Brooks writes. The former NFL scout did add he expects Gallon to earn a roster spot as a receiver/return specialist. We think Gallon displays similar skills to Golden Tate, minus some explosion and burst after the catch.


Source: NFL.com

Rutgers redshirt junior WR Brandon Coleman is 50/50 on his upcoming NFL decision, according to draft insider Tony Pauline.

Pauline adds Coleman was set to make this his final year, but a down 2013 season may have altered that decision. Coleman has plenty of talent and an excellent frame, but he has failed to create as much separation this season and lost at the catch point too often. He has not been helped by quarterback play, however.


Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter

Florida State redshirt sophomore WR Kelvin Benjamin was ranked by NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah as the player who improved his stock the most this past weekend.

Benjamin caught nine passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's 37-7 demolition of Florida. "His combination of size and athleticism is rare, but I was most impressed with his ball skills on Saturday," Jeremiah wrote. "He made several impressive adjustments to corral the deep ball." Although Benjamin is criminally under-discussed, we think there is a good chance he bolts for the draft after this season. Benjamin, who turns 23 in February, dominates at the catch point, a vital skill at the next level.


Source: NFL.com

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Didn't realize Kelvin Benjamin was that old, it definitely makes a tonne of sense for him to declare then.

Probably should be noted that he had a few easy drops in the Florida game, but I'd agree he has some real nice ball skills, is quite athletic for his size, and is pretty severely underrated right now. Guy even has some decent YAC ability as well. I'd say his biggest weakness is definitely route running, but at that size and with that athleticism and ball skills he's not gonna need to even be an average route runner.

If Kris Durham is a 4th round pick, I think Kelvin Benjamin is a lock for the 2nd/3rd round, with some potential for the late first with a great combine.

 

[EBF]

Benjamin is a huge target. Biggest question for me would be about suddenness/explosiveness. He looks like he runs a bit heavy. Maybe it's just deceptive.