What happened to Michael Clayton? (1 Viewer)

[Holy Schneikes]

Any insight on this guy?Going into the year, the guy was almost universally regarded as a top 10 type dynasty prospect. But his sophmore slump was the worst I remember seeing.Was the off-season knee surgery the primary factor? Was it the shoulder injury he had this year? Did he just get lazy in the off-season (which we heard a few reports about)? Is he just not as good as most of us originally thought? A combination of these things?What about Galloway? Is Galloway simply that much better when fully healthy?Seems like Galloway is one of those guys who COULD have been a superstar, but health and contract issues have kept him down throughout his entire career.What can we expect from Clayton in the future? Will Galloway continue to be the clear #1 for the next couple of years? Will Clayton ever become the go-to-guy on his team again?

 

[Texasmouth]

Over rated and over hyped. That should about sum it up.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

He's a helluva downfield blocker.

 

[Holy Schneikes]

Over rated and over hyped. That should about sum it up.

Quite possible.But can a mid-1st round draft pick in a remarkable draft year who had one of the better rookie seasons in NFL history be COMPLETELY based on hype?

Didn't seem to be hype when he was catching everything they threw at him last year.

I know opportunity is a big part of what gets numbers, but I watched a few of those games, and the kid looked GOOD.

Here's an example:

Last year, Clayton had 2 drops on 122 targets, caught 65% of the balls thrown to him (for 56 1stD), and had a 14.9 Yd/rec with a 6.5 YAC.

In 2005, he had 4 drops on 55 targets, caught 58% of the balls thrown to him (for 18 1stD), and had a 11.6 Yd/Rec on a BETTER team, with LESS focus on him.

If you said he's not as good as his 1st year's numbers indicate, I'd buy that. But to say he just plain sucks is hard to swallow baed on his how he looked earlier.

 

[Dreamer]

He played hurt all year, and was ineffective.

 

[squistion]

I was going to start my own thread on this subject, but you beat me too it.Clayton was unquestionably the worst pick I made in several leagues and I still have no explanation how I so thoroughly missed the mark on this one.Either his rookie year was a fluke or it wasn't. I will go for the latter and think his dismal performance this year was a bad combination of the cirumstances you mentioned: injuries, Galloway, Soph. Slump, losing the confidence of the QBs and Coaching Staff, etc.I still think over time, he will eventually return to form (although maybe not in 06) and for Dynasty Leagues I think now offers a good risk at bargain basement prices.

 

[Capella]

He was hurt in the off-season, and hurt all year.Guess it's just easier to say he was overrated and overhyped though. Makes it sound like you have a clue.

 

[warrior69]

He played hurt all year, and was ineffective.

Almost everyone playing football has one injury or another,depending on the injury thats no excuse for consistantly bad play.Sofmore slump perhaps,we`ll see what he does in his third year(i picked him up as my second rec. this year past and was burned alive ,he was usless)I dont think i would take a chance w/him next year unless he was still on the board in the 17th round.

 

[zamboni]

I would probably agree that his slow offseason recovery and injuries set him back, and he was probably just not able to get back to form. You don't put up 80 catches/1100 yards as a ROOKIE for nothing in this league.With Galloway emerging as well, it's not like the team needed him to step back into the go-to role.I think he'll inevitably return to the #1 WR role, as Galloway is no spring chicken. That said, the fact that the offense seems destined to revolve around Caddy may limit Clayton's upside.

 

[DropKick]

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe him, Nate Burleson and Keary Colbert ate at the same Chinese restaurant last summer. I've never seen so many WRs disappoint as I did this year.Looking forward, Galloway (I think) is 35 next season. Gotta believe Clayton has the inside track on becoming the Buc's #1.

 

[Nihilist Pig]

Over rated and over hyped. That should about sum it up.

Quite possible.But can a mid-1st round draft pick in a remarkable draft year who had one of the better rookie seasons in NFL history be COMPLETELY based on hype?

[1996]This is exactly why I'm so psyched about having Terry Glenn on my dynasty squad.[/1996]

 

[gman8343]

He was hurt in the off-season, and hurt all year.

Guess it's just easier to say he was overrated and overhyped though. Makes it sound like you have a clue.

The severity of his injuries went wayyyy under the radar if this is the case. Seems strange that there was so little news about him being hurt during the off-season onward. You'd think there'd have been more attention payed to what most regard as one of the top young WRs in the game.Does this make him a good value pick for next year?

 

[Dreamer]

He played hurt all year, and was ineffective.

Almost everyone playing football has one injury or another,depending on the injury thats no excuse for consistantly bad play.Sofmore slump perhaps,we`ll see what he does in his third year(i picked him up as my second rec. this year past and was burned alive ,he was usless)I dont think i would take a chance w/him next year unless he was still on the board in the 17th round.

I think you misunderstood. He started out hurt, remained hurt and it really affected his ability to physically do his job. Pretty obviously. It wasn't a matter of just getting dinged up over the course of a season.

 

[Bears_Man2]

He's still in my Top 20 dynasty WR's. If he does nothing in 2006, he'll fall to the mid/late 30's.

 

[JohnnyU]

He was hurt in the off-season, and hurt all year.

Guess it's just easier to say he was overrated and overhyped though. Makes it sound like you have a clue.

 

[Rounders]

I'm actually in the crowd that I think he will be a great value pick next year.He was injured, played on team that had a true #1 RB which the offense went through. Simms got comfortable with the veteran. That sums up 2005.But I think if Clayton is healthly, there's no reason he can't be 80/1000/8 guy.

 

[Chris Smith]

For those of you in Dynasty type leagues, now is the time to get him on your roster. He will be the 2006 version of Santana Moss. He has a great attitude, works hard but was derailed right out of the gate this year by injuries that he could not overcome. With Galloway being another year older next season, I expect a return to glory for Clayton and his value in drafts next season will likely be terrific.Target him in dynasty leagues and don't shy away from him next year if value is there. This season is the fluke, not his rookie season.

 

[H.K.]

Last year, Clayton had 2 drops on 122 targets, caught 65% of the balls thrown to him (for 56 1stD), and had a 14.9 Yd/rec with a 6.5 YAC.

In 2005, he had 4 drops on 55 targets, caught 58% of the balls thrown to him (for 18 1stD), and had a 11.6 Yd/Rec on a BETTER team, with LESS focus on him.

In summary of 2005 for Clayton's sharp drop in performance:

1) He wasn't 100% healthy

2) Galloway emerged

3) Bucs running game developed

4) Tampa's defense played much better, so fewer shoot-outs

All of these factors equated to Clayton getting a lot less opportunity than he had in 2004. He's a talented player who should rebound next season to produce between '04 and '05 numbers.

Edit to add: Don't forget TB drafted a TE last year, so between Smith, Galloway, Williams and even Pittman, I would not expect Clayton to return to '04 numbers next season....unless Galloway gets hurt.

 

[Holy Schneikes]

Over rated and over hyped. That should about sum it up.

Quite possible.But can a mid-1st round draft pick in a remarkable draft year who had one of the better rookie seasons in NFL history be COMPLETELY based on hype?

[1996]This is exactly why I'm so psyched about having Terry Glenn on my dynasty squad.[/1996]

Terry Glenn was/is a solid NFL receiver. Not great for fantasy (a category Clayton could fall into as well), but he's talented. Point is, if someone said he was all hype after his rookie season, they'd have been wrong. He has issues, but he has talent as well. In an admittedly very inconsistent career, she has put up nearly 800 yards, including 1100/7 this year.In fact ALL of the receivers I can think of who had excellent rookie years have turned out to be real players. I'm sure guys could come up with exceptions, but I'm think of Boldin, Moss, Fitzgerald, Keyshawn, Glenn.

 

[Rev]

I agree that Clayton could be a very nice value pick for dynasty right now.

However, if the Bucs go after a veteran WR in the offseason, such as TO (I've heard rumblings to that end), it greatly hurts Clayton's chances to reemerge as a viable fantasy wideout. The mere fact that they may be considering such a move scares me, because it would suggest that Clayton may not be the #1 caliber WR that they had envisioned after his first season.

Anyone aware of any long term injury, athletic, or skill concerns that have surfaced since the offseason?

That said, I'm looking to nab him and stash him until he shows flashes of his rookie season. Then I decide to keep him or sell him high.

 

[Texasmouth]

Over rated and over hyped. That should about sum it up.

Quite possible.But can a mid-1st round draft pick in a remarkable draft year who had one of the better rookie seasons in NFL history be COMPLETELY based on hype?

Didn't seem to be hype when he was catching everything they threw at him last year.

I know opportunity is a big part of what gets numbers, but I watched a few of those games, and the kid looked GOOD.

Here's an example:

Last year, Clayton had 2 drops on 122 targets, caught 65% of the balls thrown to him (for 56 1stD), and had a 14.9 Yd/rec with a 6.5 YAC.

In 2005, he had 4 drops on 55 targets, caught 58% of the balls thrown to him (for 18 1stD), and had a 11.6 Yd/Rec on a BETTER team, with LESS focus on him.

If you said he's not as good as his 1st year's numbers indicate, I'd buy that. But to say he just plain sucks is hard to swallow baed on his how he looked earlier.

I said OVERHYPED not just hype. Everyone was ready for him to have a break out Chad Johnson type year and he didn't. Overhype.

 

[Wheelhouse]

He's a helluva downfield blocker.

He may be the best WR downfield blocker this side of Muhsin Muhammad. I can see Clayton being a very good veteran WR someday who will get his day in the limelight once again - and when he gets it, he won't let it go. Coincidentally, much like Muhammad.

 

[Bears_Man2]

Michael Clayton - WR - Buccaneers

Michael Clayton sounded open to the Bucs welcoming Terrell Owens onto the team next season.

If T.O. was on the Bucs, Clayton and Joey Galloway would have to battle for scraps behind him. Considering the other areas of need for Tampa, we'd be surprised if the salary cap-tight team signs Owens anyway. Clayton also expressed regret for his lack of health (conditioning) after offseason surgery , and should rebound in 2006. Jan. 9 - 1:47 am et

 

[BassNBrew]

He was hurt in the off-season, and hurt all year.

Guess it's just easier to say he was overrated and overhyped though. Makes it sound like you have a clue.

Would have been nice for you homers to be a little more vocal about this before the season.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

He played hurt all year, and was ineffective.

You're what's called an 'enabler'.