Expectations for Jeff Demps?

[Rich<3TheWoodhead]

Gator Football Roster/Bios - GatorZone.com

CAREER: Saw action in 51 games, with 27 starts in his career as a Gator…Since 1996, has twice as many 60-plus yard career rushes (four) than any other Gator…Eighth all-time at UF with 2,470 yards rushing on 367 carries, a 6.7 average, and 23 touchdowns on the ground…Had 481 yards receiving on 57 receptions (8.4 avg.) and one receiving TD…Was also a member of the UF men’s track team running sprints and is the only UF athlete to win a national championship in two different sports.​

Jeff Demps - College Football


NFL Draft Scout | Jeff Demps


Pro Football Weekly | Jeff Demps

Positives:
Has world-class track speed that translates to the football field. Possesses game-breaking explosiveness — accelerates in a blink and shows an extra gear very few players have. Only needs a crack, gains the edge and outruns angles in the open field. Has enough shiftiness to sidestep the first tackler. Cuts at high speed and turns on the afterburners. Good potential as a receiver — is agile and pops out of breaks to create separation. Special-teams standout. Surprisingly tough and durable. Mature, motivated, competitive athlete praised for his makeup and football character.

Negatives: Short and small-framed with very small hands. Limited run strength — too easily turned on contact or tripped up. Marginal inside runner. Never carried 100 times in a season. Is a bit straight-linish and does not string moves together. Could stand to refine route-running ability. Underpowered blocker. Questionable mental and physical toughness. May take some time to grasp a playbook.

Summary: A versatile, super-quick slasher with turbo speed and a shredded physique, Demps is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball, as he rips off yards in big chunks. Will have to be used strategically to maintain his durability, but can be a dynamic utility player and mismatch weapon as a change-of-pace back, slot receiver and returner. Could warrant late consideration despite choosing to pursue a track career and graded as middle-round pick on talent alone.​

Good info, he skipped on the combine right? So that was informative above.

 

[Sciz]

All of the kick returns, possibly punt returns as well, and an average of two offensive touches a game.

 

[fgssand]

Personally my expectations are fairly high. He should make the team as a KRer and he should be one of the better ones in the league.

My expectations are a little less as a RB but still pretty high he should be pretty explosive draw back and screen back. How many reps he can get will depend on his protection but either way he with Vareen will need to replace 40 catches from Woody and I see no reason they shouldn't come close. Anything else he can give competing for the RB1 reps will be gravy.

His speed is very rare and he has a football background no reason he can't have role and succeed.

DO IT!

Just for fun assume he can fill the role explained above and we re-sign Wes and trade up for Austin or Goodwin.

DO IT!

Demps will hopefully fill the role you described above KR supreme and if he can learn to pick up a blitzer, watching him on screens & draws, with his speed and elusiveness would be an incredible threat to add to the mix.

As for Austin (probably mid first now) & Goodwin (probably be there in the 2nd and 3rd round), let the eye candy (Austin) go early and I would rather see the guys that can really stretch the field and go up for the ball, fall our way.

In this draft, there seems to be a lot of 6' + guys that are being clocked from 4.4-4.5. These are high production guys and hopefully the one that comes our way will be the guy that is smart enough to learn our offense and continue to produce at NFL level. Maybe Cordarelle Patterson, Keenan Allen (injured), Quinton Patton or Terrence Williams might be there for us?

Can any students of the draft tell us who are some of the smart WR's that have some breakaway speed and can go up and come down with the ball. Tell us which you all think would best fit our needs....and coudl possibly come in and do it day one. A tall order, I know.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

3 KR for TDs you heard it here first

 

[RayClay]

3 KR for TDs you heard it here first

He has a lot less experience at returns than I thought (any at PR?) but when he returns them, he doesn't hang around.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

You said he has only been trained to run staight ahead not to cut.
That suggests he only trained for track, which is wrong since he has played football. How would any played 'train to cut' other than playing football?

I can see where you made the mistake because I don't talk about his stature as a football player, but the reality is...I was talking about his training for the Olympic Team about running straight. I don't think he was doing agility drills taking on tacklers/blockers, running routes while he prepared for his "Olympic trials" and the such. His training regimen would have taken him away from football shape to runner shape which is where i was going with my comments.

Sorry, I lead you down he wrong road, but you took the information and went the wrong way. The reality is, Demps has had a year to get back into a football frame (by the time camp opens back up) and I'm excited to see what he can do.

 

[Ring 6]

I get it. What I am saying is that with Ridley, Vereen and Boldin healthy, there is little reason for Demps. I would rather see Vereen develop.

Sure there is. Look at 2011. BJGE, Ridley and Woodhead all had roles.
There is no reason that Ridley, Vereen and Demps cannot as well, with the split to be determined.
Ridley = BJGE role
Vereen = most of Woodheads role and most of Ridleys
Demps = the rest

Woodhead and Ridely played more snaps that BJGE that season.

Bolden, IMO, is injury insurance and no more.

 

[Brady6]

IMO Demps will receive 8-10 targets/touches a game. With plays designed to get him the ball in space with blockers, draws/tosses and isolated deep routes.

I think he will be a rather unique weapon for us.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

I'd like to see Ridley continue to develop, and if Vareen can turn his houston playoff game into a regular occurance; I'd be thrilled

I consider Demps to be a wild card we dont need up, but he's got potential to be a difference maker --
hopefully he turns into a good returner
And if he can turn into a good rb, that would be awesome

 

[BlueThunder]

RB shouldn't be a problem area for the Pats this coming season. Demps on KR/PR will be exciting. Great potential to break one all the way on every KR.

He'll make Julian look like he's running in quicksand.

 

[RayClay]

If he makes the team as a kick returner, which we badly need, why can't we use him on offense when we want?

Most games are decided by a couple plays anyway and a little swing pass that goes to the house from deep in your own territory can be a back breaker.

I know some will argue, but even in a blow out, it's often a defensive battle, or swapping hard fought scores, until a KR, interception, or some little guy turning a 3 yard pass into an 80 yard TD, opens the floodgates.

He just needs to male the team as a KR first.

 

[mgteich]

IF HE MAKES the team as a kick returner, I expect that he will have the occasional touch as a running back. After all, he would active for every game. Perhaps, he might sometimes be one of three active running backs.

Of course, Demps who returned a TOTAL of 23 kicks and punts (2 total punt returns) over four years at Florida isn't exactly a lock to make the team.

If he makes the team as a kick returner, which we badly need, why can't we use him on offense when we want?

Most games are decided by a couple plays anyway and a little swing pass that goes to the house from deep in your own territory can be a back breaker.

I know some will argue, but even in a blow out, it's often a defensive battle, or swapping hard fought scores, until a KR, interception, or some little guy turning a 3 yard pass into an 80 yard TD, opens the floodgates.

He just needs to male the team as a KR first.

 

[mgteich]

I won't hold my breath. Demps received a TOTAL of 2 punts in his four years in college.

RB shouldn't be a problem area for the Pats this coming season. Demps on KR/PR will be exciting. Great potential to break one all the way on every KR.

He'll make Julian look like he's running in quicksand.

 

[BTTA]

I won't hold my breath. Demps received a TOTAL of 2 punts in his four years in college.

And this seems to be a bigger need for us than kickoffs, where we've been middle of the pack. Even if they re-sign Welker, I don't want him back there any more than necessary.

 

[RayClay]

IF HE MAKES the team as a kick returner, I expect that he will have the occasional touch as a running back. After all, he would active for every game. Perhaps, he might sometimes be one of three active running backs.

Of course, Demps who returned a TOTAL of 23 kicks and punts (2 total punt returns) over four years at Florida isn't exactly a lock to make the team.

The percentage where he makes the team as a running back, but can't beat McCourty out at KR is one in a million IMO, so he makes the team as a KR, if at all.

If he does, he's on the freakin team, meaning we can use him in the offense as needed.

If you want to see how effective a quick tiny running back can be against certain teams, just go back to films of our late 2000s aging linebacker core against Leon Washington or any number of little smurfs my memory has blocked out because the horror was too much.

It looked like grandparents tryin to chase down five year olds.

 

[RayClay]

And this seems to be a bigger need for us than kickoffs, where we've been middle of the pack. Even if they re-sign Welker, I don't want him back there any more than necessary.

Edelman*cough* Maybe best punt returner ever.

Better than Mike Haynes, Troy Brown, Irving fryar or stanley Morgan, at this point.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/career-returns.htm

 

[IllegalContact]

Edelman*cough* Maybe best punt returner ever.

Better than Mike Haynes, Troy Brown, Irving fryar or stanley Morgan, at this point.

interesting because he didn't do it in college.......so the conventional thinking is that demps should not have a problem picking this up for the pros notwithstanding the 'small hands' comment in his bio previously posted.

his speed combined with his level of experience provides tons of intrigue and potential.

one note to make is that in college, he was constantly training for 2 sports (both football and track)......his sole gig now is football, so if he applies himself in the one sport regard (he appears to have a top notch level of commitment as his intagibles are outstanding) my expectation is that he shows up in the 190-200 lb range.

as much as I like woodhead, my hope is that demps' presence prevents the pats from having to put up a couple of mil for him adding a potential higher end to that spot.

 

[Nunchucks]

I really have to wonder why a guy with his speed and quickness would not return punts in college. There might be a red flag there? Anyhow, if he makes the team, I expect he will return kicks and occasionally line up in the backfield.

I can only hope he returns punts, but the fact that he did not do it in college makes me think that he cannot do it.

 

[BTTA]

Edelman*cough* Maybe best punt returner ever.
Better than Mike Haynes, Troy Brown, Irving fryar or stanley Morgan, at this point.
New England Patriots Career Kick & Punt Returns Register - Pro-Football-Reference.com

I get that, but he just hasn't been out there enough to be reliable and he isn't even signed for next year, right? I'd love for him to be The Guy if he gets signed and can stay healthy. But Welker and others have had to return far too many.

In 2011 Edelman is 13th in the league in average with one taken to the house.
In 2012 Edelman doesn't return enough to show up in the league stats.

 

[RayClay]

interesting because he didn't do it in college.......so the conventional thinking is that demps should not have a problem picking this up for the pros notwithstanding the 'small hands' comment in his bio previously posted.

That is not logical.

One person turns out to have a knack for something, therefore every person who tries it will also. not