Bob Magaw
Footballguy
hopefully we can get a well rounded picture, including statistical, as well as scouting-type observation/insight/commentary.
below from last years week 15 column*... (recycling in the interest of efficiency... and because my observations haven't changed since then)...
a caveat/proviso... as parcells may have said... lets not enshrine them in canton just yet... but all these guys look like the real deal, with legit star potential... than again, the class with fitz, roy williams, reggie williams, michael clayton & lee evans (was 49ers supreme bust also in that class & highly regarded?) looked pretty good while still in the post-rookie after-glow... yet all but fitz & evans ended up disappointing, and a few completely washed out, and were utter, abject failures...
have a hard time seeing crabtree, nicks, harvin, maclin & britt deviating from their ascendant arc & trajectory... a few from this group could be at the inflection point of much bigger things in the future... my draft history honker tells me this class smells different.
there have been bigger individual efforts (boldin & clayton stand out in past decade, among best ever), but in aggregate, the collective showing last year was extremely impressive (if not unprecedented, not too many other classes this good spring immediately to mind?)...
* "Class of 2009 - WR Shock Troops
Has a chance to be a historically good class. With the exception of DHB (Derelict Hands Backfire, as a draft pick), the other five first rounders all look like keepers and perennial starters.
Michael Crabtree, SF, 1.10, Texas Tech (6'1" 215)
37-473-2 in eight games (#63 WR Overall and #11 Rookie WR)
Storied career in just two brilliant seasons at Texas Tech. Has some parallels with Larry Fitzgerald (college resume, questions about speed, phenomenal athleticism). Has already put concerns about his level of competition, functional game speed, and a foot injury to rest. Has emerged quickly despite his high profile, lengthy and ill-advised holdout leading to severely tempered expectations for his rookie campaign. Attacks the ball like few WRs since Jerry Rice. Flashes exceptional competitiveness, toughness and strength for his position, as well as outstanding burst into and out of his breaks, natural route running ability and potentially special balance, body control, field awareness, instincts and RAC skills. Seemingly destined for eventual top 10 potential.
Jeremy Maclin, PHI, 1.19, Missouri (6'0" 200)
46-623-4 (#38 WR Overall and #5 Rookie WR)
For the second year in a row (with luminously talented soph sensation, DeSean Jackson), a rookie PHI WR has defied expectations with initial success in what had been a morass for home grown talent at the position in recent seasons (remember Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston?). Maclin couples great initial quickness and big time deep speed with the open field moves of one of the best kick returners in the nation last season. Has succeeded at a relatively high level despite having somewhat raw route running skills, primarily on the strength of formidable natural talent. Came out early, and has the work ethic and personal makeup to get a lot better. Jackson and Maclin are already one of the best young WR tandems in the league, and will probably soon be one of the best duos period, without need for the age qualifier. The Eagles have a solid Plan B at QB in place with Kevin Kolb. Top 10-20 potential.
Percy Harvin, MIN, 1.22, Florida (5'11" 192)
48-681-6 (#20 Overall WR and Top Rookie WR)
The deserved favorite for Rookie of the Year. He has weaponized Favre (as Miles Austin has with Tony Romo), along with Sidney Rice. The description is overused, but he is a genuine threat to take the ball the distance every time he has the ball in his hands, whether from a reception, hand-off or return. Just scratching the surface of his full potential. Could be limited in mid-term by Favre's future retirement and vying for catches with Rice and Bernard Berrian. Long term - few limits given his supreme athletic gifts. For a player that spent a lot of time at RB while at Florida, has flashed relatively polished WR skills, including escaping the jam, separation and route running ability. Top 5-10 potential. Has as much upside as anybody on this list if he can avoid the character concerns and off-field transgressions that dogged him before the draft.
Hakeem Nicks, NYG, 1.29, North Carolina (6'1" 212)
38-685-6 (#24 Overall WR and #2 Rookie WR)
His hands are bigger than a junior league baseball mitt. Though not advertised as one of the fastest rookies (bust candidate DHB, Maclin and Harvin aren't just fast but have track star speed), he has deceptive, sneaky fast, competitive field speed, and has broken more big plays than any other rookie WR, with the possible exception of prohibitive ROY-favorite Harvin. The former North Carolina prodigy sports an impressive 18+ YPC average, and is rarely caught from behind. He was as advertised in terms of his already fully-formed, complete and pro-ready game. A Man-child that has at times looked like he has the capability for future dominance, with Pro Bowl-type natural talent and skill level. Even within an extraordinary class of WRs, he has managed to distinguish himself early. Could have eventual top 5-10 potential like Crabtree and Harvin, and in fact it wouldn't come as a huge surprise if he emerges as the top rookie from the class of 2009, given his incendiary start.
Kenny Britt, TEN, 1.30, Rutgers (6'3" 218)
38-642-3 (#40 Overall WR and #6 Rookie WR)
Best size of the group, and arguably the best size/speed combo among the top first rounders that have been successful (excluding DHB, who is a specimen physically, but also, alas, in terms of his upper body appendages that pass for arms/hands, appallingly and horrifically ill-suited for catching pigskins). A great intersection of BPA and team need at that juncture of the draft, as the Titans have seemingly needed a go to WR forever (one of the more conspicuous, glaring and chronic team positional holes across the league landscape for years). Fortuitous timing for him and his owners, as he arrived at the perfect time to leverage VYs reemergence and newfound relevance. Won't see a lot of two deep safety looks as long as Chris Johnson is running like his hair is on fire. Showed resiliency by making the climactic, game-winning catch in crunch time and under duress in the penultimate play of the epic 99 yard drive against the Cards. Top 10-20 potential.
Honorable Mention
Austin Collie, Johnny Knox, Mike Wallace, Louis Murphy, Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Hartline and Mike Thomas."
below from last years week 15 column*... (recycling in the interest of efficiency... and because my observations haven't changed since then)...
a caveat/proviso... as parcells may have said... lets not enshrine them in canton just yet... but all these guys look like the real deal, with legit star potential... than again, the class with fitz, roy williams, reggie williams, michael clayton & lee evans (was 49ers supreme bust also in that class & highly regarded?) looked pretty good while still in the post-rookie after-glow... yet all but fitz & evans ended up disappointing, and a few completely washed out, and were utter, abject failures...
have a hard time seeing crabtree, nicks, harvin, maclin & britt deviating from their ascendant arc & trajectory... a few from this group could be at the inflection point of much bigger things in the future... my draft history honker tells me this class smells different.
there have been bigger individual efforts (boldin & clayton stand out in past decade, among best ever), but in aggregate, the collective showing last year was extremely impressive (if not unprecedented, not too many other classes this good spring immediately to mind?)...
* "Class of 2009 - WR Shock Troops
Has a chance to be a historically good class. With the exception of DHB (Derelict Hands Backfire, as a draft pick), the other five first rounders all look like keepers and perennial starters.
Michael Crabtree, SF, 1.10, Texas Tech (6'1" 215)
37-473-2 in eight games (#63 WR Overall and #11 Rookie WR)
Storied career in just two brilliant seasons at Texas Tech. Has some parallels with Larry Fitzgerald (college resume, questions about speed, phenomenal athleticism). Has already put concerns about his level of competition, functional game speed, and a foot injury to rest. Has emerged quickly despite his high profile, lengthy and ill-advised holdout leading to severely tempered expectations for his rookie campaign. Attacks the ball like few WRs since Jerry Rice. Flashes exceptional competitiveness, toughness and strength for his position, as well as outstanding burst into and out of his breaks, natural route running ability and potentially special balance, body control, field awareness, instincts and RAC skills. Seemingly destined for eventual top 10 potential.
Jeremy Maclin, PHI, 1.19, Missouri (6'0" 200)
46-623-4 (#38 WR Overall and #5 Rookie WR)
For the second year in a row (with luminously talented soph sensation, DeSean Jackson), a rookie PHI WR has defied expectations with initial success in what had been a morass for home grown talent at the position in recent seasons (remember Freddie Mitchell and Todd Pinkston?). Maclin couples great initial quickness and big time deep speed with the open field moves of one of the best kick returners in the nation last season. Has succeeded at a relatively high level despite having somewhat raw route running skills, primarily on the strength of formidable natural talent. Came out early, and has the work ethic and personal makeup to get a lot better. Jackson and Maclin are already one of the best young WR tandems in the league, and will probably soon be one of the best duos period, without need for the age qualifier. The Eagles have a solid Plan B at QB in place with Kevin Kolb. Top 10-20 potential.
Percy Harvin, MIN, 1.22, Florida (5'11" 192)
48-681-6 (#20 Overall WR and Top Rookie WR)
The deserved favorite for Rookie of the Year. He has weaponized Favre (as Miles Austin has with Tony Romo), along with Sidney Rice. The description is overused, but he is a genuine threat to take the ball the distance every time he has the ball in his hands, whether from a reception, hand-off or return. Just scratching the surface of his full potential. Could be limited in mid-term by Favre's future retirement and vying for catches with Rice and Bernard Berrian. Long term - few limits given his supreme athletic gifts. For a player that spent a lot of time at RB while at Florida, has flashed relatively polished WR skills, including escaping the jam, separation and route running ability. Top 5-10 potential. Has as much upside as anybody on this list if he can avoid the character concerns and off-field transgressions that dogged him before the draft.
Hakeem Nicks, NYG, 1.29, North Carolina (6'1" 212)
38-685-6 (#24 Overall WR and #2 Rookie WR)
His hands are bigger than a junior league baseball mitt. Though not advertised as one of the fastest rookies (bust candidate DHB, Maclin and Harvin aren't just fast but have track star speed), he has deceptive, sneaky fast, competitive field speed, and has broken more big plays than any other rookie WR, with the possible exception of prohibitive ROY-favorite Harvin. The former North Carolina prodigy sports an impressive 18+ YPC average, and is rarely caught from behind. He was as advertised in terms of his already fully-formed, complete and pro-ready game. A Man-child that has at times looked like he has the capability for future dominance, with Pro Bowl-type natural talent and skill level. Even within an extraordinary class of WRs, he has managed to distinguish himself early. Could have eventual top 5-10 potential like Crabtree and Harvin, and in fact it wouldn't come as a huge surprise if he emerges as the top rookie from the class of 2009, given his incendiary start.
Kenny Britt, TEN, 1.30, Rutgers (6'3" 218)
38-642-3 (#40 Overall WR and #6 Rookie WR)
Best size of the group, and arguably the best size/speed combo among the top first rounders that have been successful (excluding DHB, who is a specimen physically, but also, alas, in terms of his upper body appendages that pass for arms/hands, appallingly and horrifically ill-suited for catching pigskins). A great intersection of BPA and team need at that juncture of the draft, as the Titans have seemingly needed a go to WR forever (one of the more conspicuous, glaring and chronic team positional holes across the league landscape for years). Fortuitous timing for him and his owners, as he arrived at the perfect time to leverage VYs reemergence and newfound relevance. Won't see a lot of two deep safety looks as long as Chris Johnson is running like his hair is on fire. Showed resiliency by making the climactic, game-winning catch in crunch time and under duress in the penultimate play of the epic 99 yard drive against the Cards. Top 10-20 potential.
Honorable Mention
Austin Collie, Johnny Knox, Mike Wallace, Louis Murphy, Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Hartline and Mike Thomas."
Last edited by a moderator:
Wallace as only an honorable mention (considering his opportunity is even greater this season) is problematic to me.
