It doesn't preclude him from it but it severely hurts his chances. He's got a chance to be the best in this class along with 3-4 other wr. He's probably the least likely to bust but WR's Evans and Matthews have higher ceilings.I have no idea where this kind of stuff is coming from. Compared to most shark pool player discussions, the Watkins discussion has been extremely rational and mostly made up of a good calm back and forth from both sides. This idea that Watkins is some shark pool golden boy that only 2 people on the forum wouldn't marry and are completely blackballed because of it is completely made up. There are plenty of folks that dislike him and no one has held it against them in the slightest, countering with only talk of why they like Watkins themselves and saying nothing of those people having the opposite opinion.I agree with some of this. I don't think Watkins is an elite prospect... But he's a very good one. Elite is Green/FitzCalvin to me. Nit picky? Perhaps so. I think people like throwing the term elite around too much though.Buf made a terrible move? Umm, no. I can't get on board with that. Watkins looks like a very good player who will be such for a long time. Will he ever be elite? I don't know. I don't think so but I'm open to it happening. He's got the intangibles I look for in those elite players. He loves putting the work in to become elite at his craft. That's a big plus IMO. I do think Buf gave up too much to move up. The future first was rich for my taste but I can't call it terrible move because I just don't see that.I'm trying to say that being a top 5 pick doesn't make you an "Elite" receiver. The Bills bought into the hype and made a terrible move. Sammy Watkins is not a bad receiver, but my god is he overrated. Do you remember all the reporters talking about how he "shredded the combine?" It's funny because I watched the combine and thought his performance was disappointing. Tavon Austin was last years #8 overall pick, Keenan Allen went in the 3rd round. There is a lot of hype out there, and the analysts, media, and scouts all but into it. It's not even an opinion that he's the best receiver in the class, it's a "fact" and anyone who disagrees with this groupthink gets laughed at.
His combine was disappointing. I expected more, personally. I can't speak for others. Maybe they found it impressive. I think Watkins lost some explosiveness, flexibility and overall atheticsim from his freshman year to now due to weight gain. I don't know if that weight game is good or bad. Athletic ability isn't everything when it comes to playing WR, ask AJ Green or Jerry Rice.
The backing for Watkins is remarkably strong, no doubt. Any objective criticism to his game seems to be met with relentless heckling and scoff in the SP. I'm not sure why. It seems there are guys like this every year that the overall community grabs onto like a python to bait. It would be nice if we could have more open discussion on a guy like him without it getting to a boiling point.
The only thing that the Watkins side has dug its heels in on is in the idea that Watkins can never be an elite receiver because he's 6'1" instead of 6'2". That's not even to say that he WILL be an elite receiver, just that his height does not preclude him from it. I don't think that's in any way unreasonable.
Beautiful.Steed said:
Yeah, didn't look bad at all. Hopefully nothing, I really would like to the Bills and Sammy have success.Looked pretty minor IMO but they're looking at him anyway. Not sure if he's coming back.
I agree that it didn't look bad at all but he didn't leave the field and he went down to one-knee and the trainers ran out to the field.Yeah, didn't look bad at all. Hopefully nothing, I really would like to the Bills and Sammy have success.Looked pretty minor IMO but they're looking at him anyway. Not sure if he's coming back.
Anytime they head to the locker room it's not good. My guess is he broke a rib somehow.I agree that it didn't look bad at all but he didn't leave the field and he went down to one-knee and the trainers ran out to the field.When he took his helmet off on the sidelines he was in obvious pain and was grimacing.Yeah, didn't look bad at all. Hopefully nothing, I really would like to the Bills and Sammy have success.Looked pretty minor IMO but they're looking at him anyway. Not sure if he's coming back.
Sheesh.Anytime they head to the locker room it's not good. My guess is he broke a rib somehow.I agree that it didn't look bad at all but he didn't leave the field and he went down to one-knee and the trainers ran out to the field.When he took his helmet off on the sidelines he was in obvious pain and was grimacing.Yeah, didn't look bad at all. Hopefully nothing, I really would like to the Bills and Sammy have success.Looked pretty minor IMO but they're looking at him anyway. Not sure if he's coming back.
Sammy Watkins goes to locker room with rib injuryPosted by Darin Gantt on August 16, 2014, 8:00 PM EDT
The Bills are holding their breath at the moment.
Which is something Sammy Watkins might be having trouble with at the moment.
Their first-rounder left tonight’s game with trainers, walking slowly to the locker room with trainers with an apparent rib injury, per Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.
Watkins was hurt after being wrapped up on an incomplete pass.
The Bills pushed a lot of chips to the middle of the table to obtain the Clemson wide receiver, sending next year’s first-rounder to the Browns to move up for him.
Right, people are still thinking elite i'm sure. Manuel has looked like crap, Watkins can do nice things in practice, but a game??? I was way off baseIf he were taller, he wouldn't have hurt his ribs.
Since it's Sunday and Baby Jesus is working today, I went ahead and asked him. He said Watkins is eliteRight, people are still thinking elite i'm sure. Manuel has looked like crap, Watkins can do nice things in practice, but a game??? I was way off baseIf he were taller, he wouldn't have hurt his ribs.![]()
PFT says that bruised ribs 'can' slow Watkins down and make it difficult to run, etc, so this 'could' slow him down early in the year till the ribs heal.... Rookie receiver Sammy Watkins hurt his left ribs on the eighth play and left the game for good.
The Bills announced after the game Watkins had bruised ribs. No timetable for his return was given.
On a third-and-3 play, Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen got his hand in Watkins’ facemask and was penalized. But the injury appeared to happen after EJ Manuel’s pass fell incomplete.
Steelers defenders went to tackle Watkins and partially wrapped him up before letting him go. Watkins’ torso twisted. He quickly grabbed his side and then bent over at the waist in pain.
The fourth overall draft choice had trouble walking off the field, was examined on the sideline and then went to the locker room for a more thorough evaluation.
...
Watkins has bruised ribsPosted by Mike Florio on August 17, 2014, 8:34 AM EDT
Bills rookie receiver (and potential savior of the employment of everyone in the football operation) Sammy Watkins gave the team (and everyone in the employment of the football operation) a scare when leaving Saturday night’s preseason game against the Steelers with a rib injury.
The good news? The ribs are not broken. The bad news? The ribs are still bruised.
The team announced after the game that it’s only a bruise, according to the Buffalo News. And while “only a bruise” sounds better than “broken,” anyone who has had bruised ribs knows that running, walking, moving, and/or breathing can be quite painful while the bruise heals.
Coach Doug Marrone specifically used the term “contusion” when describing the injury, which is the same thing as a bruise but sounds fancier. The Bills won’t be very fancy if the injury slows Watkins down into the regular season.
The undersized argument is undersized in merit. If he is on another level than the defender, he will catch tons of catches. This year I can surely see the argument that a QB needs the actually get him the ball. That's fair and I think Manuel is much worse than folks are thinking. He might be approaching Jamarcus levels of bad. That's a curse for Watkins.Undersized WR1 in a low volume passing offense with a bad QB. What's not to love.
If I went by what I see from college and this game (just my eyes).. that is about where I would put him size-wise.So that must make guys like Percy Harvin invisible???
Still not seeing it. Googling Watkins and tiny doesn't get a lot of hits, might be you.Still looks tiny to me on the field, despite his measurements. Looked no bigger than the DB covering him on the play.
Well Cortez Allen is 6'1" 200 pounds so....................Still looks tiny to me on the field, despite his measurements. Looked no bigger than the DB covering him on the play.
Maybe his upper body doesn't match his legs.. dunno. He doesn't look or play big when I watch him. Of course I've only seen a half dozen games or so.Still not seeing it. Googling Watkins and tiny doesn't get a lot of hits, might be you.Still looks tiny to me on the field, despite his measurements. Looked no bigger than the DB covering him on the play.![]()
There you go.Well Cortez Allen is 6'1" 200 pounds so....................Still looks tiny to me on the field, despite his measurements. Looked no bigger than the DB covering him on the play.
Since when is 6'0 3/4(not 6'1) prototypical WR1 height?since when is 6'1" 210 undersized?
WTF is prototypical anyway?Since when is 6'0 3/4(not 6'1) prototypical WR1 height?since when is 6'1" 210 undersized?
It's not, but it is continuously used as an argument that he is ineligible for the elite tiers.fruity pebbles said:since when is 6'1" 210 undersized?
That's a good question. I went back through the last 5 years in the NFL and pulled out every 1,000 yard receiving season. The sample was 96 names long, or 19.2 per year, which I think gives a pretty solid list of "prototypical WR1s". I averaged the height and weight of every receiver on that list and found that the "prototypical WR1" was... 73.54" tall and 208.09 lbs. I'd say Sammy's 72.75" and 211 lb. build is pretty much right on the money.tdmills said:Since when is 6'0 3/4(not 6'1) prototypical WR1 height?fruity pebbles said:since when is 6'1" 210 undersized?
I think you just nailed what I have been saying all along. He can and (if he ever gets a QB) will be any of the guys you listed second... good or damn good, but not physically elite. When placed on the outside against a top CB, I don't see anything physically that gives him the edge. Beyond that there is no judgement made on ability or possible production... he just won't be winning those balls that the true physical freaks we are seeing more of do.He's shorter than A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, and Demaryius Thomas, sure. He's also taller than Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Desean Jackson, who have 11 combined 1300 yard seasons between them in the last five years. He's essentially the same height as Roddy White (and 10 pounds heavier, to boot), who has two more 1300 yard seasons plus another season of 1296 yards for good measure over that span.
Mamula played well but not special during his college career and was a combine wonder. That's the opposite of Watkins. If you want to compare Watkins to highly drafted failures, there are many players with a resume more like his than Mike Mamula.Mike mamula
But at that point are you operating on or positing any meaningful definition of "physically elite"? I mean, isn't the ultimate point of physical ability in our hobby actual, observable and measurable production? If Watkins comfortably slots into a height/weight category for players who have for a prolonged period of recent NFL history been able to produce top seasons then what is the ultimate point of arguing over an inch or half an inch of height?I think you just nailed what I have been saying all along. He can and (if he ever gets a QB) will be any of the guys you listed second... good or damn good, but not physically elite. When placed on the outside against a top CB, I don't see anything physically that gives him the edge. Beyond that there is no judgement made on ability or possible production... he just won't be winning those balls that the true physical freaks we are seeing more of do.He's shorter than A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, and Demaryius Thomas, sure. He's also taller than Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Desean Jackson, who have 11 combined 1300 yard seasons between them in the last five years. He's essentially the same height as Roddy White (and 10 pounds heavier, to boot), who has two more 1300 yard seasons plus another season of 1296 yards for good measure over that span.
When we observe he looks small, it isn't a knock on skill... it is saying he looks small. About the extent of it, and really not requiring a thesis in response.
Meaningful if you care to note that he isn't a physical freak.But at that point are you operating on or positing any meaningful definition of "physically elite"? I mean, isn't the ultimate point of physical ability in our hobby actual, observable and measurable production? If Watkins comfortably slots into a height/weight category for players who have for a prolonged period of recent NFL history been able to produce top seasons then what is the ultimate point of arguing over an inch or half an inch of height?I think you just nailed what I have been saying all along. He can and (if he ever gets a QB) will be any of the guys you listed second... good or damn good, but not physically elite. When placed on the outside against a top CB, I don't see anything physically that gives him the edge. Beyond that there is no judgement made on ability or possible production... he just won't be winning those balls that the true physical freaks we are seeing more of do.He's shorter than A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, and Demaryius Thomas, sure. He's also taller than Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Desean Jackson, who have 11 combined 1300 yard seasons between them in the last five years. He's essentially the same height as Roddy White (and 10 pounds heavier, to boot), who has two more 1300 yard seasons plus another season of 1296 yards for good measure over that span.
When we observe he looks small, it isn't a knock on skill... it is saying he looks small. About the extent of it, and really not requiring a thesis in response.
Looks to me like Adam didn't aim this "thesis" at you. He quoted the guys arguing over typical WR height, and he defined it for us, using the last 5 years. He explained how he did it, and many of us found it pretty informative.I think you just nailed what I have been saying all along. He can and (if he ever gets a QB) will be any of the guys you listed second... good or damn good, but not physically elite. When placed on the outside against a top CB, I don't see anything physically that gives him the edge. Beyond that there is no judgement made on ability or possible production... he just won't be winning those balls that the true physical freaks we are seeing more of do.He's shorter than A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, and Demaryius Thomas, sure. He's also taller than Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Desean Jackson, who have 11 combined 1300 yard seasons between them in the last five years. He's essentially the same height as Roddy White (and 10 pounds heavier, to boot), who has two more 1300 yard seasons plus another season of 1296 yards for good measure over that span.
When we observe he looks small, it isn't a knock on skill... it is saying he looks small. About the extent of it, and really not requiring a thesis in response.
IMO part of the confusion in calling a (nearly) 6'1", 211 lb. WR "tiny" is if you mean, for an elite WR, though that wasn't qualified in this case - I did see the later note about being in the context of a thread making a physical freak comparison.I think you just nailed what I have been saying all along. He can and (if he ever gets a QB) will be any of the guys you listed second... good or damn good, but not physically elite. When placed on the outside against a top CB, I don't see anything physically that gives him the edge. Beyond that there is no judgement made on ability or possible production... he just won't be winning those balls that the true physical freaks we are seeing more of do.He's shorter than A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, and Demaryius Thomas, sure. He's also taller than Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Desean Jackson, who have 11 combined 1300 yard seasons between them in the last five years. He's essentially the same height as Roddy White (and 10 pounds heavier, to boot), who has two more 1300 yard seasons plus another season of 1296 yards for good measure over that span.
When we observe he looks small, it isn't a knock on skill... it is saying he looks small. About the extent of it, and really not requiring a thesis in response.
, upper to lower body, or vice verce?). Below is a picture (you can find lower body versions, he doesn't have big legs, I wouldn't call them Todd Pinkston skinny, either). Knowing he is 6'1", 210, looking at the photo, and others, tiny doesn't come to mind for me.If Watkins were 6'2 220, 1.01 owners would be clinking beer mugs together and high fiving, not looking for validation that he was the right pick over Evans.IMO part of the confusion in calling a (nearly) 6'1", 211 lb. WR "tiny" is if you mean, for an elite WR, though that wasn't qualified in this case - I did see the later note about being in the context of a thread making a physical freak comparison.I think you just nailed what I have been saying all along. He can and (if he ever gets a QB) will be any of the guys you listed second... good or damn good, but not physically elite. When placed on the outside against a top CB, I don't see anything physically that gives him the edge. Beyond that there is no judgement made on ability or possible production... he just won't be winning those balls that the true physical freaks we are seeing more of do.He's shorter than A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, and Demaryius Thomas, sure. He's also taller than Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Desean Jackson, who have 11 combined 1300 yard seasons between them in the last five years. He's essentially the same height as Roddy White (and 10 pounds heavier, to boot), who has two more 1300 yard seasons plus another season of 1296 yards for good measure over that span.
When we observe he looks small, it isn't a knock on skill... it is saying he looks small. About the extent of it, and really not requiring a thesis in response.
If we are just talking about WRs in general, Watkins is at worst average size, not small, let alone tiny. Tiny WRs/returners would include Trindon Holiday (5'5", 177 lbs.), Tavon Austin, De'Anthony Thomas. Austin is about 5'8", 180 lbs. Watkins is about 5" and 30 lbs. bigger than that. To be proportionately bigger than Watkins (than Watkins is over Austin), that WR would be about 6'6", 240 lbs. Think a little bigger Calvin Johnson. Nobody would collapse the difference in size between an even bigger Johnson and Watkins, that wouldn't make sense. Proportionately, doing the same thing in the opposite direction doesn't make any more sense, imo. Everybody is welcome to report what they see and think, but if you explain that with unconventional descriptive terms, that can lead to miscommunication.
At least in the recent example above, the reason you cited for thinking Watkins looked tiny was being the same size as a CB. I looked at the link you provided and thought they looked about the same size, than immediately after fruity pebbles got to the bottom of the confusion and mistake (they looked the same size because they are about the same size). It wasn't a reason to think he looks tiny, which you acknowledged. The clip you linked wasn't a closeup, sometimes players are crouched with knees bent, one play makes it hard to judge relative size. In this case, though, we don't need to guess. We have his measureables, he is nearly 6'1", 211. You alluded to proportion, I don't know if you had something specific in mind or were hazarding guesses about what was amiss for you (proportionately, or tiny, rather, upper to lower body, or vice verce?). Below is a picture (you can find lower body versions, he doesn't have big legs, I wouldn't call them Todd Pinkston skinny, either). Knowing he is 6'1", 210, looking at the photo, and others, tiny doesn't come to mind for me.
http://www.thestate.com/2014/02/16/3272187/clemsons-sammy-watkins-says-hell.html
Hypothetically, at what size do you think you would cease to think he looked tiny, 6'2" - 220 lbs. (Bryant), 6'3" - 230 lbs (Thomas), 6'4" - 240 lbs. (Johnson), etc. Not trying to be ridiculous, but I wouldn't call a (nearly) 6'1", 211 lb. WR tiny, so just curious how different we are seeing things. Maybe if he gets up to 215 lbs., you won't think he looks tiny any more, and it is much closer, I have no idea. Maybe you just mean tiny in an exagerrated sense, like not TINY "tiny", but slightly below average ?
The next question is not just to you but the thread as well.
If Watkins was 6'2", 220 lbs., in other words, about 1" & 10 lbs. bigger, how much would it really move the dial on your dynasty projection, a lot, a little, not at all?
What I'm trying to get to the bottom of, for those that have gone on record being down on Watkins (in terms of his prospects to ever be elite) for height reasons, is that the ONLY reason, or are there other, and perhaps more serious concerns. As you said, not only doesn't he look big to you, but play big, either. I agree, I don't expect him to be like Rob Moore and make jump out of the stadium plays where he elevates over and snatches the ball away from the entire secondary. I did see him knock back and run over tacklers in ways that I didn't find common for a college WR, which is a way of playing big. But I don't know if you didn't see plays like that, maybe you did but it is more common in your exerience for college WRs to make plays like that, or you just weren't impressed with that dimension of his game.
If Watkins was 6'2", 220 lbs. (same 40 and VJ) and you still didn't like him that much AS AN ELITE WR PROSPECT, even though he would be about the same size as Dez Bryant and Julio Jones (6'3"), than size could be a red herring, for the thread. We tend to discuss what comes up, and size has been a topical issue, but maybe the bigger issue for some is just perceived lack of talent, in which case maybe we should be discussing that. Maybe there are people in which the dial WOULD move a lot if he was just 1" and 10 lbs. bigger, but it would at least be helpful to know what we are talking about, and recognize separate discussions for what they are, so we are talking with each other instead of across each other (again, meant collectively, addressed to the thread). There could be those who have issues with both his size and game, and both discussion could be relevant.
If a company was thinking of bringing on an employee (not unlike our position, whether to add Watkins to a dynasty roster), and they mentioned during the interview two health related issues, a tendency to have the sniffles and a bombshell announcement of a mutated, incurable form of ebola that enabled a worker to be functional and probably wasn't transmittable, and you discussed the prospective hire later, the meeting probably wouldn't spend a lot of time on the sniffles issue, and cut right to the chase with the ebola part.
Sammy Watkins - WR - Bills
Sammy Watkins (ribs) is sitting out Monday's practice, and coach Doug Marrone is unsure of when he'll return.
"When (Watkins) comes back, I don't know," Marrone said. "Unless I know for sure, I'm not going to comment." Marrone always treats injury information like a state secret, but it's notable nonetheless. The Bills originally called Watkins' injury a "bruise," but were less forthright on Monday. Watkins is still likely nothing more than day to day, but he's in danger of missing this week's regular-season dress rehearsal. Watkins has consistently lit up practice, but has just three grabs through three exhibition games.
Source: Bills on Twitter
Aug 18 - 5:56 PM
If Watkins was 1 inch taller and 10 pounds heavier with the same speed as he has now he would be an elite prospect. He's not so he's not an elite prospect because he is not going to dominate the redzone. He's still a good prospect but he's in a crap offense with a crap QB.1) Watkins isn't tiny in conventional terms.
2) Are you concerned about his height, overall talent, both, neither - does anybody think he is merely a good to average prospect, but would have been an elite prospect if he was 1" taller and 10 lbs. heavier, or if size wouldn't make a difference either way in projecting him as merely a good to average prospect but non-elite, than for what reason/s?
3) It also might be instructive if more people "weighed in" on the two picture links in the post above under the one for Watkins, for similarly sized Michael Crabtree and Roddy White. Do they look "tiny" to anybody else?
Please stop with the size stuff. Jesus was only 5'9" and ran a 4.7 40, but I bet you he could play WR. The only thing holding him back is that crap QB.If Watkins was 1 inch taller and 10 pounds heavier with the same speed as he has now he would be an elite prospect. He's not so he's not an elite prospect because he is not going to dominate the redzone. He's still a good prospect but he's in a crap offense with a crap QB.1) Watkins isn't tiny in conventional terms.
2) Are you concerned about his height, overall talent, both, neither - does anybody think he is merely a good to average prospect, but would have been an elite prospect if he was 1" taller and 10 lbs. heavier, or if size wouldn't make a difference either way in projecting him as merely a good to average prospect but non-elite, than for what reason/s?
3) It also might be instructive if more people "weighed in" on the two picture links in the post above under the one for Watkins, for similarly sized Michael Crabtree and Roddy White. Do they look "tiny" to anybody else?