Next Stop, the Underwear Olympics

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

There was some besmirching of Jimmie Ward's good name last night. He is in fact 5'11" and not 5'9" as was reported. The same height as Calvin Pryor.

Haha. To be fair though, my issue was his weight. However a 5'11" frame can add more weight than a 5'9" frame.

Odell Beckham Jnr passed every Patriot measure with flying colours. I think he's a legit potential First round pick for us, particularly if we sign Bryant and Michael Johnson for example. He would be a massive upgrade on Thompkins and improvement on Boyce. I think the drop of TE stock to the second round or later also makes it more likely.

I still think it's a bit of a longshot because of last year and the fact that we haven't drafted a first round WR but he is one of the few first round box tickers so far as a prospective Patriot.

I love Beckham Jr, but if I was going to take a WR in the first round he would have to be an absolute slam dunk. Beckham Jr isn't that to me.

 

[manxman2601]

I'm just going over the numbers from yesterday and had reason to look at LeGarette Blount's combine. Can I just say wow!

His 40 yard dash wasn't great (4.70), but he had a 1.52 10 yard split which only two RBs beat yesterday (Dri Archer - 1.47, Tre Mason - 1.50). He also had a 6.85 3-cone which is very good at 240lbs. Only six WRs beat that 10 yard split time.

 

[manxman2601]

One under the radar player I think we should give some consideration to is Ju'Wuan James, Tennessee's RT.

He's 6'6" and 311 with 35" arms and he had a surprisingly good under the radar combine, very Vollmer-esque (aside from vert. which Vollmer did well at).

He started all 49 games at Tennessee which will appeal to BB who likes experience and it should also be noted that in his pre-combine press conference, BB commented on the Tennessee OL.

 

[zimmy]

Odell Beckham Jnr passed every Patriot measure with flying colours. I think he's a legit potential First round pick for us, particularly if we sign Bryant and Michael Johnson for example. He would be a massive upgrade on Thompkins and improvement on Boyce. I think the drop of TE stock to the second round or later also makes it more likely.

I still think it's a bit of a longshot because of last year and the fact that we haven't drafted a first round WR but he is one of the few first round box tickers so far as a prospective Patriot.

Glad to see some people are finally coming aboard the first round WR bandwagon. The value seems to be there this year. I'd take Beckham or Cooks with 29.

I agree with the Beckham-Harvin comparison. Cooks is sort of a cross between Steve Smith and Tavon Austin.

I'd also take Landry at 61 if we went a different direction with 29 (or hopefully later if his 4.65 makes him fall like Keenan Allen last year)

 

[manxman2601]

What was that about a strong WR class? Oh yes.

Some excellent 20 yard shuttle performances. This is generally a great indicator for slot receivers, but a strong time certainly can't hurt an outside receiver.

Odell Beckham Jr.: 3.94
Isaiah Burse: 3.94
Michael Campanaro: 4.01
Brandin Cooks: 3.81
Damian Copeland: 3.90
Bruce Ellington: 3.95
Jeff Janis: 3.98
Marqise Lee: 4.01
Allen Robinson: 4.00
Devin Street: 4.01

That is 10 scores of 4.01 or lower in 1 combine. Only 11 WRs timed in at 4.01 or lower in the previous 8 combines.

From a forum so not verified but if true, a real indicator of the strength of this class.

NFL Forum :: - More Combine Talk

 

[mayoclinic]

What was that about a strong WR class? Oh yes.

Some excellent 20 yard shuttle performances. This is generally a great indicator for slot receivers, but a strong time certainly can't hurt an outside receiver.

From a forum so not verified but if true, a real indicator of the strength of this class.

NFL Forum :: - More Combine Talk

Here's last year's WR results form the Combine:

2013 NFL Combine Results: Wide Receivers | Steelers Depot

TJ Moe 3.96
Quinton Patton 4.01
Tavon Austin 4.01

Marcus Wheaton had a 4.02, FWIW.

I'm not sure that the short shuttle is the be-all-and-end all of WR success. Deandre Hopkins (4.5), Justin Hunter (4.33), Terrance Williams (4.32) and Robert Woods (4.47) all had strong rookie seasons, as did Aaron Dobson (4.33 at his pro day) and Cordarelle Patterson (4.40 at his pro day).

 

[manxman2601]

Here's last year's WR results form the Combine:

2013 NFL Combine Results: Wide Receivers | Steelers Depot

TJ Moe 3.96
Quinton Patton 4.01
Tavon Austin 4.01

Marcus Wheaton had a 4.02, FWIW.

I'm not sure that the short shuttle is the be-all-and-end all of WR success. Deandre Hopkins (4.5), Justin Hunter (4.33), Terrance Williams (4.32) and Robert Woods (4.47) all had strong rookie seasons, as did Aaron Dobson (4.33 at his pro day) and Cordarelle Patterson (4.40 at his pro day).

no-one made any such claim.

Hopkins, Williams, Dobson et al aren't slot receivers. For teams that are impressed by short area quickness, like us, it's certainly a helpful indicator. You mentioned TJ Moe there, well Wes Welker had a 4.01, Edelman had a 3.92, Chad Jackson a 4.03 and Deion Branch had a 3.76. Boyce and Amendola were slower (4.10 and 4.25). there is certainly evidence there that it's a stat the Patriots take into consideration.

 

[manxman2601]

Jerick McKinnon continues his excellent combine with a 6.83 3 cone and 4.12 short shuttle to go on top of his outstanding explosion numbers (10 yd split, vertical).

 

[Patriot Missile]

Odell Beckham Jnr passed every Patriot measure with flying colours. I think he's a legit potential First round pick for us, particularly if we sign Bryant and Michael Johnson for example. He would be a massive upgrade on Thompkins and improvement on Boyce. I think the drop of TE stock to the second round or later also makes it more likely.

I still think it's a bit of a longshot because of last year and the fact that we haven't drafted a first round WR but he is one of the few first round box tickers so far as a prospective Patriot.

The guy was just excellent at the combine. No jitters, just plain fluid across the board. I was very impressed. I liked the Dobson pick last season but not like Beckham. Reminds me of a better Marvin Jones who I thought would of been a great Patriot. Like you mentioned, it would be hard to justify the pick when there are needs like TE and DT etc. still, it would be interesting.

 

[manxman2601]

The guy was just excellent at the combine. No jitters, just plain fluid across the board. I was very impressed. I liked the Dobson pick last season but not like Beckham. Reminds me of a better Marvin Jones who I thought would of been a great Patriot. Like you mentioned, it would be hard to justify the pick when there are needs like TE and DT etc. still, it would be interesting.

You are preaching to the converted on Marvin Jones.

 

[sircole]

7. WR Albert Wilson, Georgia State: Wilson is another small-school prospect who displayed big game skill at the Combine. His 40-yard dash time, which clocked in the low 4.4s, ranked as one of the better marks from the receiver group. During drills Wilson displayed terrific quickness, route-running ability and caught the ball exceptionally well.

philadelphiaeagles Draft-Risers-And-Sliders-RB-WR-And-TE/0ecb4802-8459-4f0d-9b1a-8bcd50223ba2

I think he not only a good, very durable(underrated asset with all our injury receiver problems this past season)receiver but could backup Shane Vereen because we really do not have another pass-catching running back.

Plus, it's another positive story about Georgia State.

 

[manxman2601]

Dee Ford has been withdrawn from taking part today. Shame.

 

[mayoclinic]

Dee Ford has been withdrawn from taking part today. Shame.

He's already said that he's better than Clowney, so he must have nothing to prove.

 

[manxman2601]

This is good for Taliaferro



Was expecting him to be much slower as he's such a big guy.

Also had a 6.88 3 cone. People were talking about him as a FB conversion, but these are really decent numbers for him (4.58 40, 1.63 10 yd split). He was the best RB blocker at the Senior Bowl and he's shown the ability to catch and run routes well too. Very interesting prospect for the later rounds.

 

[Patriot Missile]

He's already said that he's better than Clowney, so he must have nothing to prove.

Yep, he's a once in a generation talent alright.

I understand Tuitt and ASJ not being able to work out but it really is a big turn off when someone chooses not to work out. Aka teddy bridgewater.

Maybe it's something medical related?

 

[mayoclinic]

Dee Ford has been withdrawn from taking part today. Shame.

He's already said that he's better than Clowney, so he must have nothing to prove.

Per Josh Norris on Twitter, Ford was held out at the last minute because of a medical issue. He was caught by surprise by it.

 

[mayoclinic]

3-cone and short shuttle numbers finally up for the RBs on Steeler's Depot:

2014 NFL Combine Results: Running Backs | Steelers Depot

- Dri Archer 6.86
- Devonta Freeman 7.10
- Ka'deem Carey 7.08
- Jerick Mackinnon 6.83 - continuing to kill the Combine
- Bishop Sankey 6.75, 4.0 short shuttle -outstanding
- James Wilder 6.92 - darn good for a 230# guy

 

[mayoclinic]

Will Clarke 4.72, 1.69 10 yard split. Solid time for a 6'6" 271# guy.

 

[mayoclinic]

Clowney: 4.47, 1.56 10 yard split. Impressive speed.

 

[manxman2601]

Clowney: 4.47, 1.56 10 yard split. Impressive speed.

Clowney. wow!