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Rookie WR's (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter biggamer3
- Start date
KellysHeroes
Footballguy
I am no means a rookie guru...
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EBF
Footballguy
I have it like this:
1. Calvin Johnson - He's not the quickest WR I've seen, but all the other skills are there.
2. Dwayne Jarrett - Slow with limited upside, but he's going to make plays upon plays upon plays.
3. Sidney Rice - Kind of a poor man's Calvin. Lacks blazing speed, but has good hands. I like the way he goes up and gets the ball. Back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in the SEC are a good sign.
4. Robert Meachem - Has speed and size. Only productive for one season. Lots of upside, but not as safe as Jarrett and Rice IMO.
5. Dwayne Bowe - Good news? Played well at the Senior Bowl, was drafted high, and has good physical skills. Bad news? Never really put up the stats you'd expect. Doesn't stand out as great in any way.
6. Ted Ginn - BLAZING speed. But a lot of people think he's more returner than receiver.
7. Laurent Robinson - Maybe the most underrated player in rookie drafts right now. Fits the mold of a Chad Johnson/Reggie Wayne type. Early word is that he's already outplaying Roddy White in camp.
8. Jason Hill - Good production and combine. But is he really a WR1 at the next level? To me he looks more like a complementary type in the mold of Greg Jennings.
9. Steve Smith - Productive with good skills. I just can't shake this nagging feeling that he'll never be a #1.
10. Anthony Gonzalez - I'm avoiding him at his ADP. Although he's on the same team as Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, he's not Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne. Those guys are vertical WRs. Gonzalez looks like more of a slot guy to me. He's basically a suped-up Stokley, which means you should be wary in rookie drafts.
1. Calvin Johnson - He's not the quickest WR I've seen, but all the other skills are there.
2. Dwayne Jarrett - Slow with limited upside, but he's going to make plays upon plays upon plays.
3. Sidney Rice - Kind of a poor man's Calvin. Lacks blazing speed, but has good hands. I like the way he goes up and gets the ball. Back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in the SEC are a good sign.
4. Robert Meachem - Has speed and size. Only productive for one season. Lots of upside, but not as safe as Jarrett and Rice IMO.
5. Dwayne Bowe - Good news? Played well at the Senior Bowl, was drafted high, and has good physical skills. Bad news? Never really put up the stats you'd expect. Doesn't stand out as great in any way.
6. Ted Ginn - BLAZING speed. But a lot of people think he's more returner than receiver.
7. Laurent Robinson - Maybe the most underrated player in rookie drafts right now. Fits the mold of a Chad Johnson/Reggie Wayne type. Early word is that he's already outplaying Roddy White in camp.
8. Jason Hill - Good production and combine. But is he really a WR1 at the next level? To me he looks more like a complementary type in the mold of Greg Jennings.
9. Steve Smith - Productive with good skills. I just can't shake this nagging feeling that he'll never be a #1.
10. Anthony Gonzalez - I'm avoiding him at his ADP. Although he's on the same team as Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, he's not Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne. Those guys are vertical WRs. Gonzalez looks like more of a slot guy to me. He's basically a suped-up Stokley, which means you should be wary in rookie drafts.
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EBF
Footballguy
Note:
The thing that strikes me about this year's crop is not the number of superstar talents, but rather the quality of the depth. The rookie WRs go about 15-16 deep in terms of quality guys who have a chance to start in the NFL. So while I rank guys like Jarrett, Meachem, and Bowe high, I think it's a very good year to trade down and maybe take a guy like Hill, Robinson, Higgins, or Smith in the 2nd or 3rd round.
The thing that strikes me about this year's crop is not the number of superstar talents, but rather the quality of the depth. The rookie WRs go about 15-16 deep in terms of quality guys who have a chance to start in the NFL. So while I rank guys like Jarrett, Meachem, and Bowe high, I think it's a very good year to trade down and maybe take a guy like Hill, Robinson, Higgins, or Smith in the 2nd or 3rd round.
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Iceman56751
Footballguy
I think Steve Smith might be one of the top three fromt his class.
He mixes very well with Plax and is that proto small WR now with wheels.
I like him.
He mixes very well with Plax and is that proto small WR now with wheels.
I like him.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
1. Calvin Johnson
2. Dwayne Bowe
3. Jason Hill
4. Steve Smith
5. Anthony Gonzalez
6. Mike Walker
7. Robert Meachem
8. Paul Williams
9. James Jones
10. Dwayne Jarrett
2. Dwayne Bowe
3. Jason Hill
4. Steve Smith
5. Anthony Gonzalez
6. Mike Walker
7. Robert Meachem
8. Paul Williams
9. James Jones
10. Dwayne Jarrett
EBF
Footballguy
Those guys aren't my favorite, but any WR chosen on the first day warrants consideration. Stanback was only a 4th round pick, but he gets a bit of a pass for obvious reasons.
EBF
Footballguy
Walker is no slouch. I'm not convinced he's any better than the other receivers on the roster, but he can definitely play.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
This rookie WR class offers 10 dynasty draft 1st round level prospects. You can get value in round 2 even if teams are drafting no other position but WR. I stocked up big time on WRs this year landing at least 3 from this top 10 group and sometimes more...
CalvinJohnson Det
S.Rice Vikes
R.Meachum NO
D.Bowe KC
A.Gonzales Ind
D.Jarrett Car
T.Ginn Mia
Jason Hill SF
Steve Smith NYG
C.Davis SD
In most years there would only be like 3 WR with the same level of talent. That is truly amazing. 2004 was close to having this many quality prospects and had a lot of depth as well. But not this much depth.
Aundrae Allison MIN
Jacoby Jones Hou
J.Higgins Oak
Paul Williams Titans
David Ball Chicago
Mike Walker Jax
David Clowney GB
James Jones GB
Laurent Robinson Atl
Honestly I do not know that much about Robinson. I had so many other WR I was looking at Robinson got neglected in my research. I was suprised when Atlanta took him in the 3rd round over some of the other guys I had ranked ahead of him. But then again.. this is Atlanta we're talking about. Great track record for seeing WR talent there.. although thier WR may have more talent than we know..
Dallas Baker Steelers
Joel Filani Titans
Jordan Kent Sea
Yamon Figurs Bal
Courtney Taylor Sea
I think you could easily go 6 rounds of drafting (even with extra picks) and draft nothing but WR this year and there still would be interesting prospects left...
There tiers here are based off of post draft rankings that I put together quickly based off of months of pre draft research. Some players moved several slots from pre draft rankings and I realise I did this in haste based off of team situation and also a little ADP intuition. However I did try to stick to my pre draft rankings based on talent as much as I could. NFL teams opinions have a lot of weight with me depending on who they are and also the QB and situation does matter.
My rookie drafts are complete so I do not mind talking about this stuff right now. My opinion has changed slightly about these players since I drafted and have had more time to let the players sink in, further gelling my perspectives of them.
CalvinJohnson Det
S.Rice Vikes
R.Meachum NO
D.Bowe KC
A.Gonzales Ind
D.Jarrett Car
T.Ginn Mia
Jason Hill SF
Steve Smith NYG
C.Davis SD
In most years there would only be like 3 WR with the same level of talent. That is truly amazing. 2004 was close to having this many quality prospects and had a lot of depth as well. But not this much depth.
Aundrae Allison MIN
Jacoby Jones Hou
J.Higgins Oak
Paul Williams Titans
David Ball Chicago
Mike Walker Jax
David Clowney GB
James Jones GB
Laurent Robinson Atl
Honestly I do not know that much about Robinson. I had so many other WR I was looking at Robinson got neglected in my research. I was suprised when Atlanta took him in the 3rd round over some of the other guys I had ranked ahead of him. But then again.. this is Atlanta we're talking about. Great track record for seeing WR talent there.. although thier WR may have more talent than we know..
Dallas Baker Steelers
Joel Filani Titans
Jordan Kent Sea
Yamon Figurs Bal
Courtney Taylor Sea
I think you could easily go 6 rounds of drafting (even with extra picks) and draft nothing but WR this year and there still would be interesting prospects left...
There tiers here are based off of post draft rankings that I put together quickly based off of months of pre draft research. Some players moved several slots from pre draft rankings and I realise I did this in haste based off of team situation and also a little ADP intuition. However I did try to stick to my pre draft rankings based on talent as much as I could. NFL teams opinions have a lot of weight with me depending on who they are and also the QB and situation does matter.
My rookie drafts are complete so I do not mind talking about this stuff right now. My opinion has changed slightly about these players since I drafted and have had more time to let the players sink in, further gelling my perspectives of them.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
chook
Footballguy
Me too.Here's how I'd list them:1 Calvin Johnson2 Robert Meachem3 Steve Smith4 Sidney Rice5 Dwayne Jarrett6 Anthony Gonzalez7 Jason Hill8 Dwayne Bowe9 Ted Ginn10 Paul WilliamsNotes:-I see no reason Colston & Meachem can't perform like Harrison & Wayne for some time in that offense.-If Tavaris Jackson comes along well over the next couple of years, Sidney Rice would go up to second on this list.-For that same reason I have Steve Smith so high. By no means am I an Eli fan but I think he'll still be good enough to run a fairly productive offense, one that Smith will flourish in for some time.-I agree with EBF - Gonzales is a suped-up Stokely, but a suped-up Stokely still has value.-I liked Bowe pre-draft. KC + WR =
-Like most I'm not sold on Ginn. But depending on how Miami utilize Booker (if indeed he will be Reggie to Brown's Deuce) and of course how Beck comes along, he could rocket up this list in a year or so. Forget how early they took him, Ginn is a playmaker.-I'm sold on Craig Davis even less.Gotta agree with others in saying that this year's WR crop is brilliantly deep, especially when compared to the last couple of drafts. If you were lucky enough to steer clear of rookie WR's during those barren years and take QB's RB's & IDP's, this is the year to trade down and get as many late round picks as you can to reload on your young WR's. Just don't trade away your first round chance to get McFadden next year.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
If Gonzalez is only a Brandon Stokely player then I guess you guys see Marvin being the #1 Colts WR for 5 more years.
Marvin is 35 guys. The opportunity is staring you right in the face yet you still don't see it?
Steve Smith is a guy I keep liking more and more as time goes on. I kept going back and forth with him and Jarret pre nfl draft. Then eventualy had to give Jarret the nod based off of production. That caused Smith to fall in my top 10. But honestly I think all 10 of those guys could be regular starters for fantasy teams in the years ahead.
I am sure some will bust and it is anyones guess as to which ones do. But as prospects I think all 10 are elite type prospects. There are some guys after those top 10 who will likely fill the bust slots.
This WR crop is going to be talked about for a long time I think.
Marvin is 35 guys. The opportunity is staring you right in the face yet you still don't see it?
Steve Smith is a guy I keep liking more and more as time goes on. I kept going back and forth with him and Jarret pre nfl draft. Then eventualy had to give Jarret the nod based off of production. That caused Smith to fall in my top 10. But honestly I think all 10 of those guys could be regular starters for fantasy teams in the years ahead.
I am sure some will bust and it is anyones guess as to which ones do. But as prospects I think all 10 are elite type prospects. There are some guys after those top 10 who will likely fill the bust slots.
This WR crop is going to be talked about for a long time I think.
EBF
Footballguy
Laurent Robinson, WR, Illinois State6'2" 199 pounds
Combine - w/ comparisons
Vertical Leap - 39" (Rice 39.5", Meachem 37.5", Bowe 33")
Broad Jump - 10'7" (Rice 9'11", Meachem 10'1", Bowe 10'5")
10 Yard Dash - 1.53s (Rice 1.58s, Meachem 1.53s, Bowe 1.64s)
40 Yard Dash - 4.41s (Rice 4.53s, Meachem 4.42s, Bowe 4.57s)
20 Yard Shuttle - 4.28s (Rice 4.34s, Meachem 4.31s, Bowe 4.35s)
60 Yard Shuttle - 11.45s (Rice DNR, Meachem 11.30s, Bowe DNR)
3 Cone Drill - 6.83s (Rice 7.09s, Meachem 6.97s, Bowe 6.81s)
College Stats
2003 - 19 catches, 260 yards, 3 TDs
2004 - 47 catches, 564 yards, 7 TDs
2005 - 86 catches, 1,465 yards, 12 TDs
2006 - 40 catches, 718 yards, 7 TDs (apparently had an ankle injury most of the season)
Games against D-1A teams
2005 vs. Iowa State - 6 catches, 177 yards, 2 TDs
2006 vs. Kansas State - 9 catches, 77 yards, 2 TDs
Highlights
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/...aft/2007/video/
Scouting Reports
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/robinson_laurent
Not the type of guy who blows you away in highlights, but it's important to realize that many of the top WRs in the NFL aren't 6'5" with 4.3 speed. Robinson seems to fit the mold of a Darrell Jackson/Chad Johnson/Reggie Wayne/TJ Housh type of receiver. He was drafted 75th overall (ahead of Jason Hill), which is within ten spots of where Chris Henry, Bernard Berrian, Nate Burleson, Kevin Curtis, Deion Branch, Steve Smith, Laveranues Coles, Darrell Jackson, and Marty Booker were taken.
It's pretty common to see good receivers come out of rounds 2-4. Robinson was taken pretty high, and when you factor in that small school guys tend to go a bit lower in the draft than their talent might justify, I think you have the makings of a pretty good sleeper.
Joe Horn is on the way out, Roddy White looks like a bit of a bust, and Michael Jenkins isn't the type of receiver who strikes fear into anyone's heart. The Vick factor is a bit of a concern, but there's opportunity here.
EBF
Footballguy
Disagree. Marvin beats people deep and makes ridiculous catches. Gonzalez is just a chain mover, IMO. He'll work the short stuff and take what's there. Nothing more. Nothing less. Ask yourself this, if he had been taken by any team other than the Colts, would you still compare him to Marvin Harrison?I think your totaly missing the boat on Gonzalez.Ask yourself what makes him a good WR?The answer is the same exact things that have made Marvin a future HOF WR.I see Gonzalez following in Marvins footsteps.Edit to add an "e"
ConstruxBoy
Kate's Daddy
I think a lot of you are missing the boat on Bowe and way too high on Meacham. Meacham seems to me like an outside the numbers speed guy who isn't as fast as he's timed and gets alligator arms when he hears footsteps. Bowe has some lapses in concentration but is fearless over the middle, runs nice routes and is a great blocker. He'll be on the field all the time for KC. I'll take Bowe's talent over Meacham's situation, especially at the WR position where it generally takes a couple of years for a player to hit stride.
My list:
1) C Johnson
2) D Bowe
3) D Jarrett
4) J Hill
5) S Rice
6) R Meacham
7) T Ginn
8) S Smith
9) L Robinson
10) A Gonzalez
My list:
1) C Johnson
2) D Bowe
3) D Jarrett
4) J Hill
5) S Rice
6) R Meacham
7) T Ginn
8) S Smith
9) L Robinson
10) A Gonzalez
Biabreakable
Footballguy
I felt very strongly about him as being perhaps the crispest route runner before the Colts drafted him.Marvin beats coverage with his cuts double moves and routes more than anything else. Yes that means he goes deep after he sets the coverage up for it. You have to have a uncanny accurate QB to make the superb route running this deadly. So Peyton and Brady are the masters there. Would think of him as this type of player if the Pats had drafted him. Possibly the Saints too.Disagree. Marvin beats people deep and makes ridiculous catches. Gonzalez is just a chain mover, IMO. He'll work the short stuff and take what's there. Nothing more. Nothing less. Ask yourself this, if he had been taken by any team other than the Colts, would you still compare him to Marvin Harrison?I think your totaly missing the boat on Gonzalez.Ask yourself what makes him a good WR?The answer is the same exact things that have made Marvin a future HOF WR.I see Gonzalez following in Marvins footsteps.Edit to add an "e"
EBF
Footballguy
True, but it's a dynasty league. Who knows where Vick will be in 2009? He could be a Dallas Cowboy for all we know. And although Vick has yet to produce a 1,000 yard receiver, can we agree that he hasn't had the best players to work with? Michael Jenkins and Roddy White are below average starters. Peerless Price hasn't done anything outside of one good year in Buffalo. Brian Finneran and Dez White?
Talent breeds opportunity. You ignore talent in dynasty leagues are your own peril.
EBF
Footballguy
Don't get me wrong, I think he's a solid player. I just don't think he's a great FF prospect. I expect him to be a slot guy like Proehl.And while it's conceivable that he'll eventually step into Marvin's role, there's no guarantee he'd be nearly effective (Terrell Owens is old, but that doesn't mean Patrick Crayton is the next Terrell Owens). Also, you can't ignore the possibility that Indy will add another WR in a year or two. Bottom line is that I just don't see Gonzalez as the type of special talent who can become a WR1 in the NFL.I felt very strongly about him as being perhaps the crispest route runner before the Colts drafted him.Marvin beats coverage with his cuts double moves and routes more than anything else. Yes that means he goes deep after he sets the coverage up for it. You have to have a uncanny accurate QB to make the superb route running this deadly. So Peyton and Brady are the masters there. Would think of him as this type of player if the Pats had drafted him. Possibly the Saints too.Disagree. Marvin beats people deep and makes ridiculous catches. Gonzalez is just a chain mover, IMO. He'll work the short stuff and take what's there. Nothing more. Nothing less. Ask yourself this, if he had been taken by any team other than the Colts, would you still compare him to Marvin Harrison?I think your totaly missing the boat on Gonzalez.Ask yourself what makes him a good WR?The answer is the same exact things that have made Marvin a future HOF WR.I see Gonzalez following in Marvins footsteps.Edit to add an "e"
toxicbees
Footballguy
Calvin Johnson, DET (6'5,239,4.35) - Could catch 10 TDs in his Rookie season
Dwayne Jarrett, CAR (6'4,219,4.62) - Smooth route runner, should have lots of open space playing opposite Smith.
Robert Meachem, NOS (6'2'',214,4.36) - There is more than enough to go around for both Colston and Meachem.
Ted Ginn, MIA (5'11,178,4.29) - Forget about the foot, just remember how good he was in college.
Jason Hill, Washington State (6'1/2'',204,4.32) - Alex Smith's favorite target by mid-season.
Dwayne Bowe, KCC (6'2,221,4.49) - He has the size, but in a couple years all of these WRs can bulk up like Bowe, then where does Bowe stand?
Sydney Rice, MIN (6'3'',200,4.55) - Red Zone upside.
Anthony Gonzalez, tOSU (6'0'',193,4.41) - Gotta love the fact that Manning will be throwing to him, but Harrison and Wayne aren't going anywhere for a few more years.
Steve Smith, NYG (5'11',197,4.40) - Great compliment to Plax, just like he was a compliment to Jarrett, but is he a WR1?
Craig Davis, SD
Jacoby Jones, HOU
Laurent Robinson, ATL
Johnnie Lee Higgins, OAK
Aundrae Allison, MIN
Dwayne Jarrett, CAR (6'4,219,4.62) - Smooth route runner, should have lots of open space playing opposite Smith.
Robert Meachem, NOS (6'2'',214,4.36) - There is more than enough to go around for both Colston and Meachem.
Ted Ginn, MIA (5'11,178,4.29) - Forget about the foot, just remember how good he was in college.
Jason Hill, Washington State (6'1/2'',204,4.32) - Alex Smith's favorite target by mid-season.
Dwayne Bowe, KCC (6'2,221,4.49) - He has the size, but in a couple years all of these WRs can bulk up like Bowe, then where does Bowe stand?
Sydney Rice, MIN (6'3'',200,4.55) - Red Zone upside.
Anthony Gonzalez, tOSU (6'0'',193,4.41) - Gotta love the fact that Manning will be throwing to him, but Harrison and Wayne aren't going anywhere for a few more years.
Steve Smith, NYG (5'11',197,4.40) - Great compliment to Plax, just like he was a compliment to Jarrett, but is he a WR1?
Craig Davis, SD
Jacoby Jones, HOU
Laurent Robinson, ATL
Johnnie Lee Higgins, OAK
Aundrae Allison, MIN
duaneok66
Footballguy
amen and amen . . .
Beaumont
Footballguy
Both Robinson and White are reportedly doing well ...
Some final minicamp thoughts
By Steve Wyche | Monday, May 14, 2007, 02:21 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hope everyone had a good weekend and, to those to whom it applies, I hope you had a wonderful Mothers’ Day. I had the pleasure, and I say that seriously, of watching five mini-camp practices at Flowery Branch.
Of course there was the issue of the Michael Vick, dog-ighting situation that hovered over the weekend, but like my astute colleague Mark Bradley wrote in his column Saturday morning, Vick’s off-field issues are getting tiring. So, if you don’t mind, lets talk about some of the things that took place at minicamp.
First off, I am not one to ever put a whole lot into how certain players look at minicamp because there are no pads on. I’ve seen a whole lot of non-contact Pro Bowlers who wither once they’ve had to go through the grind of a two-week, full-contact training camp. So it’s hard for me to really get a read on a lot of the interior guys.
That said Bobby Petrino has brought in some serious beef to compete for positions along the interior. There are 17 players over 300 pounds and several other just under the mark. It is a stark contrast to previous years, where, because of the system the team ran, opted to use sleeker type players.
With tight end Alge Crumpler recovering from knee surgery, Dwayne Blakley, Daniel Fells and Martrez Milner took the brunt of the offensive snaps. All three are big tight ends, who can run. I can see all of them being utilized in different ways, especially Fells, who not only has hulked up, but looks very comfortable blocking and passing.
The guy creating the most buzz at camp was rookie wide receiver Laurent Robinson. After a tough first practice, the third-round draft pick settled in to make some impressive catches at all stages of the field. Roddy White also looked very, very good. If he can transfer the focus he showed at mini camp to when it counts, the gifted first-rounder might finally materialize.
For those who might think Joe Horn has lost a step, he must have found it somewhere between New Orleans and Atlanta because he looked to be the best player on the field much of the time. He also was one of the most competitive. Though Petrino talked about trying to measure Horn’s workload, Horn was always the first guy in line, working the hardest to get open and running with the ball after he made a catch.
At quarterback, Vick looked fairly comfortable in the offense, in which he will throw more out of the pocket. The battle for the No. 3 quarterback spot is going to be very interesting. It looked like D.J. Shockley has changed his mechanics somewhat and he’s getting the ball out a lot quicker than normal. Chris Redman, meanwhile, has a very nice touch on all his passes and may throw the most catchable ball of the four backs in camp.
Defensively, end John Abraham looks healthy and hungry. He told my partner D. Orlando Ledbetter that he’s quite motivated to prove his naysayers wrong. If Abraham can stay healthy, the Falcons’ defense might not be as much of a concern as it is right now with all its injuries.
While, rookie cornerback Chris Houston might have some things to learn, he has the speed to make up for any one-on-one coverage breakdowns. He is a flyer and a mega-competitor. A player who also looks really solid is cornerback Lewis Sanders, who was signed from Houston in free agency. Though Houston might end up starting, Sanders should provide very reliable depth.
I know I skipped over a few positions, but those were just some of the more notable observations.
Some final minicamp thoughts
By Steve Wyche | Monday, May 14, 2007, 02:21 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hope everyone had a good weekend and, to those to whom it applies, I hope you had a wonderful Mothers’ Day. I had the pleasure, and I say that seriously, of watching five mini-camp practices at Flowery Branch.
Of course there was the issue of the Michael Vick, dog-ighting situation that hovered over the weekend, but like my astute colleague Mark Bradley wrote in his column Saturday morning, Vick’s off-field issues are getting tiring. So, if you don’t mind, lets talk about some of the things that took place at minicamp.
First off, I am not one to ever put a whole lot into how certain players look at minicamp because there are no pads on. I’ve seen a whole lot of non-contact Pro Bowlers who wither once they’ve had to go through the grind of a two-week, full-contact training camp. So it’s hard for me to really get a read on a lot of the interior guys.
That said Bobby Petrino has brought in some serious beef to compete for positions along the interior. There are 17 players over 300 pounds and several other just under the mark. It is a stark contrast to previous years, where, because of the system the team ran, opted to use sleeker type players.
With tight end Alge Crumpler recovering from knee surgery, Dwayne Blakley, Daniel Fells and Martrez Milner took the brunt of the offensive snaps. All three are big tight ends, who can run. I can see all of them being utilized in different ways, especially Fells, who not only has hulked up, but looks very comfortable blocking and passing.
The guy creating the most buzz at camp was rookie wide receiver Laurent Robinson. After a tough first practice, the third-round draft pick settled in to make some impressive catches at all stages of the field. Roddy White also looked very, very good. If he can transfer the focus he showed at mini camp to when it counts, the gifted first-rounder might finally materialize.
For those who might think Joe Horn has lost a step, he must have found it somewhere between New Orleans and Atlanta because he looked to be the best player on the field much of the time. He also was one of the most competitive. Though Petrino talked about trying to measure Horn’s workload, Horn was always the first guy in line, working the hardest to get open and running with the ball after he made a catch.
At quarterback, Vick looked fairly comfortable in the offense, in which he will throw more out of the pocket. The battle for the No. 3 quarterback spot is going to be very interesting. It looked like D.J. Shockley has changed his mechanics somewhat and he’s getting the ball out a lot quicker than normal. Chris Redman, meanwhile, has a very nice touch on all his passes and may throw the most catchable ball of the four backs in camp.
Defensively, end John Abraham looks healthy and hungry. He told my partner D. Orlando Ledbetter that he’s quite motivated to prove his naysayers wrong. If Abraham can stay healthy, the Falcons’ defense might not be as much of a concern as it is right now with all its injuries.
While, rookie cornerback Chris Houston might have some things to learn, he has the speed to make up for any one-on-one coverage breakdowns. He is a flyer and a mega-competitor. A player who also looks really solid is cornerback Lewis Sanders, who was signed from Houston in free agency. Though Houston might end up starting, Sanders should provide very reliable depth.
I know I skipped over a few positions, but those were just some of the more notable observations.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Well we disagree on this point.Gonzo is better than Ginn and Ginn was the 2nd WR taken. Lots of people were not high on Wayne when the Colts drafted him either. Both Marvin and Wayne took several years to develop chemistry enough to become the players they are with Manning. I could see Gonzo following a similar slow curve upwards as well. Starting out in the slot until Marvin declines/retires.From an economic standpoint it makes sense for the Colts to find Marvins replacement. If this draft were not so deep at WR they may not have had that opportunity with such low picks year after year.I am not saying that Gonzo is canton bound. But I do think he is more than a slot WR. He has proven that before allready.Being WR2 with Peyton is not at all a bad thing....
Colston had a bad minicamp last year.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Got to love some of these mentat qualities.And yes duaneok66 you are exactly correct, we are too involved with this stuff.What's your point?
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Point well taken on Meacham struxboy.Meacham is ranked so high because he is paired with Brees. My ranking of him has more to do with ADP than probobly anything else. I never intended to draft him with a top 6 pick or anything like that or what it would have taken to get him. I see this top 10 WR (which most people have almost the same players) as being fairly interchangable with one another. My draft strategy has been and was focused on getting late 1st to early/mid 2nd round picks and drafting multiple WR from this top 10 whichever ones fell to me. I like this play from a value standpoint and also from a position of hedging against bust with multiple picks. I just don't see a significant enough drop in talent from the tier of Meacham, Rice or Bowe to Gonzo, Smith or HillEarly on I latched on to Gonzalez Steve Smith and Hill as the value picks here and was willing to let the other ones go. I did get Rice and Jarrett in one league anyways but I had a lot of picks.I am impressed with how high almost everyone still is on Hill. I thought his post nfl draft may have caused him to fall a bit more in peoples eyes than that. He fell in drafts that I was involved in the early going (one week after nfl draft).I seem to have totaly wiffed on Robinson. Not sure why that is exactly. I still had him low even before he was drafted by Atlanta. Perhaps I saw somthing I did not like but have since forgotten. Or perhaps I just was not paying enough attention to him.. I'm not sure.
cstu
Footballguy
Meachem can't be that low if only because he's at least the #2 on a team that passes a lot. Think a poor man's Reggie Wayne.
jurb26
Footballguy
Not even close to being true.
pizzatyme
Footballguy
Says you. Only time will tell as to who is better. For this year, I'll take GonzoIINot even close to being true.
jurb26
Footballguy
There is no doubt that Gonzo has a better chance at early success. That is about all though.Says you. Only time will tell as to who is better. For this year, I'll take GonzoIINot even close to being true.
Bada Bing
Footballguy
Step 1 Ask for a ranking list...Step 2 Flip flop 2 names on list...Step 3 Post rankings as your ownPlagiarism
PatsWillWin
Footballguy
Winning IS Everything
Footballguy
Domination
Footballguy
I must be in the minority, but I don't think that Meachem is the #2 in NO. At least not to begin the year, and honestly don't think it will be until next year.
-OZ-
Footballguy
Time to throw my hat in.
1 Calvin Johnson - is there any debate?
2 Dwayne Jarrett
3 Robert Meachem
4 Sidney Rice
5 Anthony Gonzalez
6 Steve Smith
7 Paul Williams
8 Dwayne Bowe
9 Jason Hill
10 Ted Ginn
If each player reaches his "upside":
1 Calvin Johnson
2 Sidney Rice
3 Robert Meachem
4 Ted Ginn
5 Paul Williams
6 Dwayne Jarrett
7 Anthony Gonzalez
8 Dwayne Bowe
9 Jason Hill
10 Steve Smith
Rice, Ginn, and Williams are the biggest boom/bust risk/rewards.
1 Calvin Johnson - is there any debate?
2 Dwayne Jarrett
3 Robert Meachem
4 Sidney Rice
5 Anthony Gonzalez
6 Steve Smith
7 Paul Williams
8 Dwayne Bowe
9 Jason Hill
10 Ted Ginn
If each player reaches his "upside":
1 Calvin Johnson
2 Sidney Rice
3 Robert Meachem
4 Ted Ginn
5 Paul Williams
6 Dwayne Jarrett
7 Anthony Gonzalez
8 Dwayne Bowe
9 Jason Hill
10 Steve Smith
Rice, Ginn, and Williams are the biggest boom/bust risk/rewards.
it seems like craig davis is the odd man out on most of these lists. is it me or does he have a great opportunity in SD. Vincent or him will be the #1 in 2 years. sure, they will have to deal with LT and antonio gates, but i think he has just as much chance as vincent to be the #1 wr in san diego. unless eric parker steps up -lol
switz
Footballguy
1. Calvin Johnson2. Sidney Rice (especially for dynasty)3. Meacham4. Jarrett5. Gonzales (Harrison is long in the tooth)6. Davis7. Bowe8. Ginn9. Smith10 HillReally after the first three it's a crap shoot IMO, the only guy I really like long term out of the rest is Gonzales, but I see that in year 3+
switz
Footballguy
I like Davis, even though he's #6 on my list. He's just more set up to be a #2 WR. I see him starting right out of the gate though, and like him as a #4 FF WR this year.
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KellysHeroes
Footballguy
I see a lot of Jason Hill love here.. He was the 13th WR taken; right.. yet people have him in the top 5 rookie WRs
I landed him the bottom of the 2nd rd this yr
17.12 236. NO MA'AM Hill, Jason SFO WR ® Thu May 10 8:17:03 p.m. ET
I landed him the bottom of the 2nd rd this yr
17.12 236. NO MA'AM Hill, Jason SFO WR ® Thu May 10 8:17:03 p.m. ET
Biabreakable
Footballguy
The basis for my statement here comes from what Buckeye fans have told me. I figure they are in the best position to know. And there should be no bias since they are comparing 2 good players from thier own team.Not even close to being true.
prymetyme25
Footballguy
Yeah thanks EBF i think this post just made me miss oout on him in the 3rd round of the rookie draft. He went the pick right before mine and the guy that took him is a poster here. So thanks alot.Winning IS Everything said:Actually, absolutely brilliant posting EBF and thanks for the info!
Just kidding i'll just have to hope i get him in another league.
JayMan
Footballguy
WR gets 10pts for a 1st place vote, 9pts for a 2nd... 1pt for a 10th place vote:
Average results thus far:
Average results thus far:
Code:
WR Calvin Johnson, DET-----10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--10.0WR Robert Meachem, NO-------9--9--7--4--8--9--5--8--8--8---7.5WR Dwayne Jarrett, CAR------6--6--9--1--5--6--8--9--9--7---6.6WR Sidney Rice, MIN---------7--7--8--0--9--7--6--4--7--9---6.4WR Dwayne Bowe, KC----------8--8--6--9--7--3--9--5--3--4---6.2WR Anthony Gonzalez, IND----5--5--1--6--6--5--1--3--6--6---4.4WR Jason Hill, SF-----------1--4--3--8--3--4--7--6--2--1---3.9WR Steve Smith, NYG---------3--3--2--7--2--8--3--2--5--2---3.7WR Ted Ginn, MIA------------4--2--5--0--4--2--4--7--1--3---3.2WR Craig Davis, SD----------2--1--0--0--1--0--0--1--0--5---1.0WR Paul Williams, TEN-------0--0--0--3--0--1--0--0--4--0---0.8WR Laurent Robinson, ATL----0--0--4--0--0--0--2--0--0--0---0.6WR Mike Walker, JAX---------0--0--0--5--0--0--0--0--0--0---0.5WR James Jones, GB----------0--0--0--2--0--0--0--0--0--0---0.2jurb26
Footballguy
While I would not call myself a OSU fan, I watched at least 7 OSU games last year. Ginn scared teh daylights out of Ds. He stretched the field and made things so easy for Gonzo it was sick.Biabreakable said:The basis for my statement here comes from what Buckeye fans have told me. I figure they are in the best position to know. And there should be no bias since they are comparing 2 good players from thier own team.Not even close to being true.
-OZ-
Footballguy
I could be wrong, but as a Michigan fan, it seemed Ginn was the highlight reel who defenses concentrated on, but if you needed a sure completion, Gonzo was the better WR. Basically the same as Hines Ward vs. Santana Moss.While I would not call myself a OSU fan, I watched at least 7 OSU games last year. Ginn scared teh daylights out of Ds. He stretched the field and made things so easy for Gonzo it was sick.Biabreakable said:The basis for my statement here comes from what Buckeye fans have told me. I figure they are in the best position to know. And there should be no bias since they are comparing 2 good players from thier own team.Not even close to being true.
jurb26
Footballguy
I agree. Getting open for those short completions and finding holes in the coverage/zone is about 10x easier when Ginn was scaring the crap out of the coverage though. Again, I point to the Fla/OSU game when Ginn got hurt. Gonzo created practically 0 separation and found it amazingly more difficult to get open w/o Ginn pushing the Safeties back 25 yards.I could be wrong, but as a Michigan fan, it seemed Ginn was the highlight reel who defenses concentrated on, but if you needed a sure completion, Gonzo was the better WR. Basically the same as Hines Ward vs. Santana Moss.While I would not call myself a OSU fan, I watched at least 7 OSU games last year. Ginn scared teh daylights out of Ds. He stretched the field and made things so easy for Gonzo it was sick.Biabreakable said:The basis for my statement here comes from what Buckeye fans have told me. I figure they are in the best position to know. And there should be no bias since they are comparing 2 good players from thier own team.Not even close to being true.
Florida's starting corners were draft eligible this year and went in the 6th (Ryan Smith) and undrafted (Reggie Lewis), so it's not like Gonzalez just had the bad luck of facing a stud shutdown corner. Of course, Troy Smith was doing his Rex Grossman impression that night, so that's not all on Gonzalez.This is part of the reason I can't completely buy in to Gonzalez as the heir to Harrison yet. He's always had the luxury of facing defenses that were keyed up on Ginn (and before this year Holmes).I agree. Getting open for those short completions and finding holes in the coverage/zone is about 10x easier when Ginn was scaring the crap out of the coverage though. Again, I point to the Fla/OSU game when Ginn got hurt. Gonzo created practically 0 separation and found it amazingly more difficult to get open w/o Ginn pushing the Safeties back 25 yards.I could be wrong, but as a Michigan fan, it seemed Ginn was the highlight reel who defenses concentrated on, but if you needed a sure completion, Gonzo was the better WR. Basically the same as Hines Ward vs. Santana Moss.While I would not call myself a OSU fan, I watched at least 7 OSU games last year. Ginn scared teh daylights out of Ds. He stretched the field and made things so easy for Gonzo it was sick.Biabreakable said:The basis for my statement here comes from what Buckeye fans have told me. I figure they are in the best position to know. And there should be no bias since they are comparing 2 good players from thier own team.Not even close to being true.
