madd futher mucker breaks down the 2011 WR Class

[cmh6476]

http://www.fftodayforums.com/forum/i...owtopic=380865

WRs: - Much like the RB class, I see a group here that is both very very talented at the top and very deep.

Tier 1. These two deserve a tier of their own as both players should immediately make their presence felt at the pro level, and both have great potential to be uber-studs in the NFL.

1. A.J. Green – WR Georgia (6‘4” 210# 4.48) Very fluid, natural hands catching WR who will get any ball that is even close to his frame. In the mold of a more slender version of Calvin Johnson, he's probably one of the Top WR prospects over the last decade.
2. Julio Jones – WR Alabama (6‘4” 220# 4.50) He's just a very physical, very atletic and talented WR capable of highlight reel catches and is a tackle breaker after the catch. But he will lose focus and sometimes drops the very catchable ones.

Tier 2. Any or all of these guys could develop into stud WRs.

3. Vincent Brown - San Diego State (5’11” 184# 4.5) Brown consistently gets separation from defenders, and he goes after every catch with absolute focus and a ’my ball’ mentality. He understands the game, and his routes are the best of any prospect in this draft.
4. Leonard Hankerson - WR Miami (6' 1 1/2" 205 4.54) Runs better than average routes, and catches the ball away from his frame. He’s a consistent hand catcher who can take balls away from a defender and make tough catches in traffic.
5. Jonathan Baldwin – WR Pittsburgh (6‘5” 225# 4.50) Long strider with build up speed and slow off the LOS, but he has great strength and leaping ability, and good soft hands.
6. Greg Little – WR North Carolina (6‘2’ 220# 4.55) His game is very similar to Tar Heel alum Hakeem Nicks. He has similar high upside as a strong, physical WR with great body control and good strong hands. A former RB, he lacks top-end speed but runs extremely well after the catch.
7. Jerrel Jernigan - WR Troy (5’-9” 189# 4.38) Jernigan’s game is a combination of Jacoby Ford and Mike Thomas - a combination of great explosiveness and game-breaking speed. He has great ball tracking skills and is fearless over the middle. Although he has elite speed, I believe he will probably translate as a very productive NFL slot receiver.
8. Titus Young - WR Boise State (5’ 11 ¼” 174# 4.43) If Jernigan a combination of Ford and Thomas, then Young’s explosiveness reminds people of both Eagles receivers, Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson. He is quicker than Maclin on his underneath routes and he has Jackson’s deep speed. But he’s one of the more controversial WRs in this draft because, like Julio Jones, he is prone to concentration lapses and dropped passes.
9. Randall Cobb - Athlete, Kentucky (5’11” 188# 4.43) Usually it is the kiss of death to call a guy ‘athlete’ rather than position player. Cobb may be the exception. While he has shown his playmaking ability as a WR, RB, AND QB, he is just a natural as a complete football player, and is very fluid as a WR with break-away abilities.

Tier 3: I believe that any or all of these guys can become impact WRs in the NFL.

10. Niles Paul WR Nebraska (6‘1“ 225 4.52) His game reminds people of Anquan Boldin’s (as well as Greg Little‘s game, just above). He is fairly good, but not great in his routes, but he has an outstanding physicality to his game. He has small but strong hands and he catches passes away from his body.
11. Torrey Smith - WR [s]Ohio St[/s] Maryland (6’1” 205# 4.40) Smith gets good separation in and out of his cuts because of his quick acceleration. He can get downfield in a hurry with exceptional speed. He has excellent body control, but he is not a natural hands catcher - he lets too many balls come into his body.
12. Austin Pettis – WR Boise St (6‘2“ 205# 4.56) A fluid possession receiver with terrific hands, Pettis is in the mold of TJ Houshmandzadeh. Since he lacks speed and quickness, he really needs to refine his total game, especially his route running.
13. Jeremy Kerley - (WR TCU 5’ 9 ¼” 188# 4.54) Jeremy is another nice slot guy who gets off the line quickly , runs great routes, shows reliable hands and terrific pass catching technique. His speed is only average, but he always gets separation and he can find soft spots in a zone
14. Greg Salas - WR Hawaii (6’1” 206# 4.60) “Salsa” is a very productive and has a smooth athletecism to his game that will serve him well in the pros. His game is more quickness than speed. He could be a very productive WR2 at the NFL level, because he consistently gets open, is a natural hands catcher, and can make yards with his feet after the catch.

Tier 4: These guys could become impact players, but on the field they'll have to answer a few more questions about their game. An outstanding combine could also move them up.

15. Tandon Doss - Indiana (6’ 3” 200# 4.53)
16. Edited in: Here's our small school diamond-in-the-rough from NFLPA week (Tx v Nation): Ricardo Lockette, WR Fort Valley State, huh?? (6'2" 207# 4.35). The kid is raw as hell, but he has near world-class speed and looks like a baller, not a track star. He will be at the combine and expect one of the fastest times there. He's impressed scouts with his hustle and ability to make tough catches in a cold, extremely windy week of practice. A 2 or 3 year project, but one with longer term stud potential.
17. Ronald Johnson – WR USC (5‘11“ 186# 4.44)
18. Ryan Whalen - WR Stanford (6’ 204# 4.54)
19. Chris Owusu – WR Stanford - (6' 2" 202# 4.40)
20. Dwayne Harris - WR/KR East Carolina (5’11” 205# 4.52)
21. DeAndre Brown – WR Southern Miss (6‘6” 228# 4.50)
22. Tori Gurley - South Carolina (6’ 5” 230# 4.60)
23. Armon Binns - WR Cincinnati – (6” 2 ¼” 211# 4.58)
24. Edited in: Edmund Gates, WR Abliene Christian (6' 1/4" 189# 4.45) Sentimental favorite - I love Abilene Christian guys (see Johnny Knox and Bernard Scott).
Makes it now an even two dozen!

[Hammock Parties]

3. Vincent Brown - San Diego State (5’11” 184# 4.5) Brown consistently gets separation from defenders, and he goes after every catch with absolute focus and a ’my ball’ mentality. He understands the game, and his routes are the best of any prospect in this draft.

Haven't heard much about this guy. Just what we need?

[Chiefnj2]

Vincent Brown #80, starts off on bottom of screen. Looks a little small and he might have trouble getting off the LOS in the NFL.

[Hammock Parties]

Doesn't look small to me.

Guys who are 6-2, 215 and separate like him go in the top 10.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by ClayWhit

Doesn't look small to me.

Guys who are 6-2, 215 and separate like him go in the top 10.

Except he's listed as 5-11, 184lbs.

[The Franchise]

I'll take any one of these guys.

Leonard Hankerson
Jonathan Baldwin
Greg Little
Titus Young
Austin Pettis

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

I'll take any one of these guys.

Leonard Hankerson
Jonathan Baldwin
Greg Little
Titus Young
Austin Pettis

I was hoping Little could have obtained an invite to the Shrine or Texas games. His one year as a receiver was pretty damn impressive.

[jd1020]

I cant believe he has Torrey Smith as a 3rd tier. I'm liking Smith more and more as our first round pick.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by ClayWhit

3. Vincent Brown - San Diego State (5’11” 184# 4.5) Brown consistently gets separation from defenders, and he goes after every catch with absolute focus and a ’my ball’ mentality. He understands the game, and his routes are the best of any prospect in this draft.

Haven't heard much about this guy. Just what we need?

Great receiver. I've seen him play numerous times, both television and live. He plays exceptionally long despite his lack of physical height, has huge hands and really goes after the ball. Isn't scared about contact and will go over the middle. He'd be an excellent slot type receiver.

I don't think he's above Pettis or Hankerson though due to the both of them having the exact same traits but both being taller receivers.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

I'll take any one of these guys.

Leonard Hankerson
Jonathan Baldwin
Greg Little
Titus Young
Austin Pettis

Greg Little I'd have questions about as he was one of the Tar Heels suspended for the 2010 season for receiving improper benefits. The physical body is there, but there isn't a lot of games under his belt. Might be a nice later round pick if he's still on the board.

Titus Young...I don't know. Pettis always looked like the best player on the field for Boise State and usually got the defenders #1 CB. (Pettis torched potential first round cornerback Brandon Burton for 147 yards and a TD in their bowl game this year.) In addition, Young is small. I think he's a good receiver, and got a lot of hype at the Senior Bowl because of his route running, but Boise State guys tend to be pretty good at that anyway. (Having a solid QB like Kellen Moore, who, if the Chiefs don't take a qb in this next draft, I would love them to take a mid-rounder on Kellen Moore in 2012. The guy can flat out play the quarterback spot.)

jd1020: I cant believe he has Torrey Smith as a 3rd tier. I'm liking Smith more and more as our first round pick.

Smith is a Heyward-Bey type of player, and was used exactly like him in the same system. I think he's more of a kick returner than possession type receiver. His hands are a little questionable, but he's got superb speed. When people started mentioning him as a second round draft choice, I thought that was really overvaluing his actual production on the field.

Hell, I'm not that worried about speed on this team anyway provided that Kevin Curtis sticks around for a couple of seasons. I think people forget that Curtis was the fastest guy at the Combine in his draft class with a 4.35 forty and he's a pretty good route runner. (He also has the second highest Wonderlic score ever.) When given the opportunity, he's put up excellent numbers. As well, he's a tough guy. Signed on with the Chiefs and was on the field four months after getting a nut pulled due to testicular cancer.

I'd rather see a long, sure handed possession type receiver. Pettis or Hankerson would be at the top of my list.

[The Franchise]

I didn't put those in any certain order. That's just how they were listed previously.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Smith is a Heyward-Bey type of player, and was used exactly like him in the same system. I think he's more of a kick returner than possession type receiver. His hands are a little questionable, but he's got superb speed. When people started mentioning him as a second round draft choice, I thought that was really overvaluing his actual production on the field.

Hell, I'm not that worried about speed on this team anyway provided that Kevin Curtis sticks around for a couple of seasons. I think people forget that Curtis was the fastest guy at the Combine in his draft class with a 4.35 forty and he's a pretty good route runner. (He also has the second highest Wonderlic score ever.) When given the opportunity, he's put up excellent numbers. As well, he's a tough guy. Signed on with the Chiefs and was on the field four months after getting a nut pulled due to testicular cancer.

I'd rather see a long, sure handed possession type receiver. Pettis or Hankerson would be at the top of my list.

And I'd rather have an explosive WR opposite Bowe who's going to get seperation, we dont need another big corner endzone fade WR. Haley has a pretty good track record when it comes to receivers so I have faith in him working with someone like Smith and teaching him to catch with his hands and not his body. Not to mention, Smith is definitely "Right 53."

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by jd1020

And I'd rather have an explosive WR opposite Bowe who's going to get seperation, we dont need another big corner endzone fade WR. Haley has a pretty good track record when it comes to receivers so I have faith in him working with someone like Smith and teaching him to catch with his hands and not his body. Not to mention, Smith is definitely "Right 53."

I'd love to have a "stretch the field" guy as well. However, I'm pretty sure that this offensive line doesn't have the capability to allow the quarterback to attempt those long throws. I'm also pretty sure that the quarterback doesn't have the touch and field awareness to make such throws, particularly under the duress that exists due to the ineffectualness of the said offensive line.

I think that upgrading both of those positions would actually give a speed guy a chance. However, if they aren't upgraded a speed guy is almost a wasted roster spot and bigger possession receivers would be a better alternative at this juncture. (And Haley has always seemed to have or feature those big possession receivers versus the Al Davis stretch the field guy. His teams in Dallas had those guys, as did his Arizona team.)

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I'd love to have a "stretch the field" guy as well. However, I'm pretty sure that this offensive line doesn't have the capability to allow the quarterback to attempt those long throws. I'm also pretty sure that the quarterback doesn't have the touch and field awareness to make such throws, particularly under the duress that exists due to the ineffectualness of the said offensive line.

I think that upgrading both of those positions would actually give a speed guy a chance. However, if they aren't upgraded a speed guy is almost a wasted roster spot and bigger possession receivers would be a better alternative at this juncture. (And Haley has always seemed to have or feature those big possession receivers versus the Al Davis stretch the field guy. His teams in Dallas had those guys, as did his Arizona team.)

... Torrey Smith isn't just a straight line runner. He's going to get seperation on short, intermediate, and deep routes. Unlike Baldwin, Hankerson, and Pettis.

[Bewbies]

I don't think speed is what makes a WR get separation. Hines Ward and Tony G get great separation and both run like they have cement shoes on.

Personally I'd love to see us get Julio Jones, but I don't know if he'll fall to us. Big powerful WR's (as long as they get separation) work just as well as fast midgets. We have one of those too.