Mr. Laz
04-13-2010, 03:26 PM
Jacksonville is likely to add WR in draft, but probably not with the No. 10 pick
Posted: April 13, 2010 - 12:22a
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Brody Schmidt/Associated Press
Dez Bryant is regarded as the best receiver in the draft. But the Jaguars dropped him from their board because of character concerns, multiple sources say.
Player, School, Ht./Wt., Projected round
1. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, 6-2/224, Round 1
2. Golden Tate, Notre Dame 5-9/199, Rounds 1 or 2
3. Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech 6-3/224, Rounds 1 or 2
4. Arrelious Benn, Illinois, 6-1/219, Round 2
5. Damian Williams, Southern Cal, 6-1/197, Round 2
6. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati, 6-0/187, Rounds 3-4
7. Brandon LaFell, LSU, 6-3/211, Rounds 2-3
8. Carlton Mitchell, South Florida, 6-3/215, Rounds 2-3
9. Emmanuel Sanders, SMU, 5-11/186, Rounds 3-4
10. Taylor Price, Ohio, 6-1/204, Rounds 3-4
The next 10: 11. Eric Decker, Minnesota, 6-3, 217; 12. Jacoby Ford, Clemson, 5-9, 186; 13. Blair White, Michigan State, 6-2, 209; 14. Andre Roberts, Citadel, 5-11, 195; 15. Riley Cooper, Florida, 6-4, 222; 16. Jordan Shipley, Texas, 5-11, 193; 17. Joe Webb, UAB, 6-3, 223; 18. Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, 5-11, 187; 19. Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas, 6-2, 207; 20. Jeremy Williams, Tulane, 6-0, 206.
Analysis: Dez Bryant appears to be the class' only bona fide first-round pick. But even his stock is in question after average performances in pro day workouts. Don't count on the Jaguars even sniffing this position in the first round, given all their past failures on receivers in the draft. Converted quarterback Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State appears to be one of the class' most intriguing prospects.
By Michael C. Wright (http://jacksonville.com/authors/michael-c-wright-0)
The Jaguars drafted wide receivers with their first-round pick more times than all but one position (defensive line) in franchise history.
By now, the club has learned its lesson, it appears. But the Jaguars aren't the only team in the NFL to have been victimized by first-round busts at wide receiver.
"That's a position that's been tricky," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "Some years you hit. But there have been some major disappointments at the position."
Look no further than Jacksonville to find three of them. Since 2000, the club has used first-round picks to draft R. Jay Soward (29th overall), Reggie Williams (ninth) and Matt Jones (21st). Over a combined 10 years, Soward, Williams, and Jones produced an average annual stat line of 37 catches for 462.9 yards and 3.4 touchdowns.
Hardly the numbers of No. 1 draft picks.
In addition, Soward, Williams and Jones also experienced plenty of turmoil off the field related to drugs and alcohol.
So the Jaguars aren't interested in repeating past mistakes. While it's likely the club will add a receiver at some point in the draft, don't count on the Jaguars picking one with the 10th overall pick in next week's draft.
"I would say that we remain open-minded," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "Like running back, we'd take a receiver. I think we could use a guy to bring into the mix to compete. So I wouldn't rule out that position."
But it might be safe to do so in the first round. According to multiple NFL sources, the Jaguars eliminated Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant - widely regarded as the top receiver prospect in this year's draft class -from their draft board because of concerns about his character (Bryant missed 2009 because of an NCAA suspension for violating NCAA rules).
"I just made a mistake," Bryant said. "Dez Bryant's a great person to be around. He loves the game of football. He can't wait to get back on the field and do whatever to help the team."
Notre Dame's Golden Tate and Georgia Tech's Demaryius Thomas - ranked just behind Bryant - aren't considered by the Jaguars to be top-10 selections although they could be picked in the mid to late first round or early second.
Without a clear-cut No. 2 receiver to play opposite Mike Sims-Walker (the team released Torry Holt), the Jaguars would like to create more competition for the final three spots. They added Kassim Osgood (the Jaguars like his size, but he's not considered a polished route runner) in free agency to compete with rising second-year players Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood for roles. Veteran Troy Williamson - who might be the favorite to win the No. 2 role - is also in the mix, along with Nate Hughes.
It's also worth keeping in mind that Sims-Walker, who has endured injury issues for most of his career, is entering the final year of his contract. Uncertainty at receiver still exists, given Sims-Walker's contract and injury situation, in addition to the fact there's not much proven depth behind him. That means the Jaguars will likely look to the draft to bolster the position.
"Not that we wouldn't [use a first-round pick on a receiver this year], but I don't think there are any this year [where] that's merited," Del Rio said. "It's not a great year for wide receiver, but there will be some guys in the mid rounds that have a shot."
Florida's Riley Cooper could be a potential mid-round target for the Jaguars, who have shown some interest in the receiver, along with Minnesota's Eric Decker, Ohio's Taylor Price and Syracuse's Mike Williams. Cooper and Decker have backgrounds in college baseball.
"A lot of it transitions over," Decker explained. "The biggest thing for me was the mental aspect. Baseball, being kind of a roller coaster [in which if] you fail three out of 10 times you're still a Hall of Famer. I think [baseball] also [helps] with the physical attributes - hand-eye coordination at the plate, [at] center field being able to track a ball over the shoulder and track a ball in the gaps."
Del Rio explained the upcoming season as "crucial" for taking the passing game to the next level.
"It's a solid group," Del Rio said of his team's receivers. "But we need to have them take a step beyond [what they did last season] and become more. There are still unknowns there. We would be open to getting a guy if he were there. But we're not gonna force any of these positions."
michael.wright@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4657
Posted: April 13, 2010 - 12:22a
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Brody Schmidt/Associated Press
Dez Bryant is regarded as the best receiver in the draft. But the Jaguars dropped him from their board because of character concerns, multiple sources say.
Player, School, Ht./Wt., Projected round
1. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, 6-2/224, Round 1
2. Golden Tate, Notre Dame 5-9/199, Rounds 1 or 2
3. Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech 6-3/224, Rounds 1 or 2
4. Arrelious Benn, Illinois, 6-1/219, Round 2
5. Damian Williams, Southern Cal, 6-1/197, Round 2
6. Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati, 6-0/187, Rounds 3-4
7. Brandon LaFell, LSU, 6-3/211, Rounds 2-3
8. Carlton Mitchell, South Florida, 6-3/215, Rounds 2-3
9. Emmanuel Sanders, SMU, 5-11/186, Rounds 3-4
10. Taylor Price, Ohio, 6-1/204, Rounds 3-4
The next 10: 11. Eric Decker, Minnesota, 6-3, 217; 12. Jacoby Ford, Clemson, 5-9, 186; 13. Blair White, Michigan State, 6-2, 209; 14. Andre Roberts, Citadel, 5-11, 195; 15. Riley Cooper, Florida, 6-4, 222; 16. Jordan Shipley, Texas, 5-11, 193; 17. Joe Webb, UAB, 6-3, 223; 18. Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State, 5-11, 187; 19. Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas, 6-2, 207; 20. Jeremy Williams, Tulane, 6-0, 206.
Analysis: Dez Bryant appears to be the class' only bona fide first-round pick. But even his stock is in question after average performances in pro day workouts. Don't count on the Jaguars even sniffing this position in the first round, given all their past failures on receivers in the draft. Converted quarterback Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State appears to be one of the class' most intriguing prospects.
By Michael C. Wright (http://jacksonville.com/authors/michael-c-wright-0)
The Jaguars drafted wide receivers with their first-round pick more times than all but one position (defensive line) in franchise history.
By now, the club has learned its lesson, it appears. But the Jaguars aren't the only team in the NFL to have been victimized by first-round busts at wide receiver.
"That's a position that's been tricky," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "Some years you hit. But there have been some major disappointments at the position."
Look no further than Jacksonville to find three of them. Since 2000, the club has used first-round picks to draft R. Jay Soward (29th overall), Reggie Williams (ninth) and Matt Jones (21st). Over a combined 10 years, Soward, Williams, and Jones produced an average annual stat line of 37 catches for 462.9 yards and 3.4 touchdowns.
Hardly the numbers of No. 1 draft picks.
In addition, Soward, Williams and Jones also experienced plenty of turmoil off the field related to drugs and alcohol.
So the Jaguars aren't interested in repeating past mistakes. While it's likely the club will add a receiver at some point in the draft, don't count on the Jaguars picking one with the 10th overall pick in next week's draft.
"I would say that we remain open-minded," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "Like running back, we'd take a receiver. I think we could use a guy to bring into the mix to compete. So I wouldn't rule out that position."
But it might be safe to do so in the first round. According to multiple NFL sources, the Jaguars eliminated Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant - widely regarded as the top receiver prospect in this year's draft class -from their draft board because of concerns about his character (Bryant missed 2009 because of an NCAA suspension for violating NCAA rules).
"I just made a mistake," Bryant said. "Dez Bryant's a great person to be around. He loves the game of football. He can't wait to get back on the field and do whatever to help the team."
Notre Dame's Golden Tate and Georgia Tech's Demaryius Thomas - ranked just behind Bryant - aren't considered by the Jaguars to be top-10 selections although they could be picked in the mid to late first round or early second.
Without a clear-cut No. 2 receiver to play opposite Mike Sims-Walker (the team released Torry Holt), the Jaguars would like to create more competition for the final three spots. They added Kassim Osgood (the Jaguars like his size, but he's not considered a polished route runner) in free agency to compete with rising second-year players Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood for roles. Veteran Troy Williamson - who might be the favorite to win the No. 2 role - is also in the mix, along with Nate Hughes.
It's also worth keeping in mind that Sims-Walker, who has endured injury issues for most of his career, is entering the final year of his contract. Uncertainty at receiver still exists, given Sims-Walker's contract and injury situation, in addition to the fact there's not much proven depth behind him. That means the Jaguars will likely look to the draft to bolster the position.
"Not that we wouldn't [use a first-round pick on a receiver this year], but I don't think there are any this year [where] that's merited," Del Rio said. "It's not a great year for wide receiver, but there will be some guys in the mid rounds that have a shot."
Florida's Riley Cooper could be a potential mid-round target for the Jaguars, who have shown some interest in the receiver, along with Minnesota's Eric Decker, Ohio's Taylor Price and Syracuse's Mike Williams. Cooper and Decker have backgrounds in college baseball.
"A lot of it transitions over," Decker explained. "The biggest thing for me was the mental aspect. Baseball, being kind of a roller coaster [in which if] you fail three out of 10 times you're still a Hall of Famer. I think [baseball] also [helps] with the physical attributes - hand-eye coordination at the plate, [at] center field being able to track a ball over the shoulder and track a ball in the gaps."
Del Rio explained the upcoming season as "crucial" for taking the passing game to the next level.
"It's a solid group," Del Rio said of his team's receivers. "But we need to have them take a step beyond [what they did last season] and become more. There are still unknowns there. We would be open to getting a guy if he were there. But we're not gonna force any of these positions."
michael.wright@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4657