Had a quick and random question about Shepard. So all reports seem great so far and even when the Giants drafted him, people were gushing.
One question I had was why he fell to the 2nd round? Furthermore, several other receivers were drafted ahead of him? Is it because he's more of a slot guy or what?
Just wondering what his potential negatives could be.
I was bouncing off the walls when he was selected!
Yup. And he ran in the high 4.4s not the high 4.3s. Two more inches or a .1 and he's in top of the first round. That said, his route running and ball skills will show leaving him for us in the 2nd was their mistake and our good fortune.
The reality is that teams have value boards and positional needs.
Also, maybe we were smarter than other teams (or not).
The guys that went ahead of him have potentially more "upside" and possible #1 WR skills.
I loved the Shepard pick and do believe he'll produce year 1 right out of the gates.
Fuller is the burner of the Draft (Although, Kolby Listenbee 5th rounder from Buffalo is too). Fastest guy in the draft, potential big play guy BUT hands of stone, I prefer Shepard. Houston wanted someone to take the top off the Defense, should compliment Hopkins well.
Doctson is well-rounded overall, has a big frame. Can go up and get it, can run routes fairly well, has good hands. But I don't see any star potential in him but I know a lot of people on BBI liked him coming out. Cousins needs a weapon and he can step up and be productive for Washington year 1.
Treadwell just made a ton of plays at Ole Miss, a lot of people said he is a similar player to Dez Bryant or that he has potential to be that player I would have took Treadwell over Shepard but there was no chance of Treadwell falling out of Round 1. I almost thought we would take Treadwell at 10. He can go up and get it against anyone in this league.
With all that said, Shepard is a small guy, shifty, fast but quicker than fast. Has elite jumping ability which helps him play bigger and gives us hope he can man more than just the slot spot. I was shocked as were many others that he lasted to our second pick. One of the rare times I was screaming at the TV for us to draft someone and we actually did. I think Shepard holds his own against any first round WR and I think everyone else knows this too.
Fuller is the burner of the Draft (Although, Kolby Listenbee 5th rounder from Buffalo is too). Fastest guy in the draft, potential big play guy BUT hands of stone, I prefer Shepard. Houston wanted someone to take the top off the Defense, should compliment Hopkins well.
Doctson is well-rounded overall, has a big frame. Can go up and get it, can run routes fairly well, has good hands. But I don't see any star potential in him but I know a lot of people on BBI liked him coming out. Cousins needs a weapon and he can step up and be productive for Washington year 1.
Treadwell just made a ton of plays at Ole Miss, a lot of people said he is a similar player to Dez Bryant or that he has potential to be that player I would have took Treadwell over Shepard but there was no chance of Treadwell falling out of Round 1. I almost thought we would take Treadwell at 10. He can go up and get it against anyone in this league.
With all that said, Shepard is a small guy, shifty, fast but quicker than fast. Has elite jumping ability which helps him play bigger and gives us hope he can man more than just the slot spot. I was shocked as were many others that he lasted to our second pick. One of the rare times I was screaming at the TV for us to draft someone and we actually did. I think Shepard holds his own against any first round WR and I think everyone else knows this too.
Corey Coleman is absolutely not the "best route runner behind Shepard".. the biggest knock on Coleman is exactly that. His route running. He ran a very limited tree in Briles' offense.
That's not to say he can't become a good route runner or won't be but there's really little evidence to make that type of claim.
He was a good player for Oklahoma over his entire career there, but not "special" until his senior season.
So he was a bit under the radar for some scouts.
He basically ran no outs, comebacks or digs and to be a great NFL reciever, you have to be able to run all of these crisply.
He was also basically never asked to block nor does he have a great catching radius (a lot of body catching) but those are separate issues.
Love the potential but he's a very raw prospect.
So I wouldn't go around bragging "I saw it myself watching him play at Baylor" because that leaves only 2 possibilities. Either you are lying, or you don't know what the heck you are watching.
Which is OK (the latter) we are not a bunch of pro scouts here.
But I wouldn't be arguing about it too much...
I thought the same until someone told me that is how he was coached up. He isn't "lazy". He was coached not to do anything on run plays. Crazy, I know. But the coach's memtality was to conserve your energy for running routes.
Sterling can certainly play outside, but his height and skillset is best suited for the slot.
He is not ever going to be Randy Moss, or Calvin Johnson. He can however be like Victor Cruz, and that's what we needed.
Quote:
But from what I saw Coleman could move better than Shepard.. His routes weren't as crispy but his movement alone was special, he has OBJ type agility from what I saw, he was lazy when he wasn't the target. But he can move and I believe he will excel as a route runner in this league.
I thought the same until someone told me that is how he was coached up. He isn't "lazy". He was coached not to do anything on run plays. Crazy, I know. But the coach's memtality was to conserve your energy for running routes.
That's crazy. Ok. We shall see how he does in the pros.
So I wouldn't go around bragging "I saw it myself watching him play at Baylor" because that leaves only 2 possibilities. Either you are lying, or you don't know what the heck you are watching.
Which is OK (the latter) we are not a bunch of pro scouts here.
But I wouldn't be arguing about it too much...
Practice?? Spring.. Practice??? Lol your right dude no one is arguing as far as I see. And your right no scout just a big fan like yourself. I still stand by what I've wrote we shall see soon enough they will need him to produce early. And i did say "maybe the 2nd best route runner.."
Funny, I keep seeing this concussion mantra but can't find any evidence that he's any more (or less) susceptible to concussion than any other player. I'd be shocked and would look askance at any player who supposedly never suffered a concussion and would suspect that it was just never reported.
My understanding is that Shepard was likely the most "NFL ready" wideout and that he'd certainly be a superb slot receiver in the NFL. Today's 3rd receiver gets almost as many snaps as the #2 WR. I think Shepard will do fine as a #2 wideout, but for this year he won't beat out a healthy WR V. Cruz. Not yet, maybe next year.
Almost every excellent route running receiver in college seems to have at least some success in the NFL and its been Reeses pattern with almost all his recievers hes chosen in the top 2 rounds.
Smith,Nicks,OBJ,Shepard, Randle. All superior route runners in college. Randles demise was work ethic and desire but even with that he was at least moderately productive.
Quote:
last to the sixth round? It is impossible to completely figure out the draft.
He was a rather unexciting, unspectacular college QB. He was drafted into the right pro-system for his skills and blossomed as success built on success.
Brady also didn't have the measurables coming out. He was a skinny lanky dude until he got into a pro workout routine. He was also only a starter like 1 year.
Vikings will regret the choice they made. Treadwells Mike Williams type game won't work especially with that QB. He won't get open enough and the QB won't go his way.
Other WRs you can see why they went earlier especially Coleman and Fuller who can run past anybody.
This is why NFL guys go for the speed and explosion. If it's elite the route running isn't difficult.
This is why NFL guys go for the speed and explosion. If it's elite the route running isn't difficult.
Agreed re Coleman
I think our first five picks ar all starters in 2017 and #6 TE Adams is the #2 TE behind Tye. It is of course but a gut feeling but Iike the feeling I have about this draft.
I believe they'll go deep to Cruz at least once vs Dallas,likely in the first half, to show them he can still run and be a viable threat. That will keep the safeties honest and help our run game.
Look for Eli to have his best deep game year ever.
There is no guarantee R. Jennings, A. Williams or O. Dwarka are the answer as top back. I mean, would you be totally shocked if Jennings was released at the end of camp and Rainey is named the starter? Nothing would surprise me right now.
You have to believe LT E. Flowers improves. Had we taken Tunsil at #10 (he went #13) over Apple, well, we'll always be wondering should he develop to be a standout tackle. He feel from potential first pick in draft to #13 for a reason but I am not sure what the reason truly is. Giants passed on him so that was telling.
roster pick who most think is camp fodder .
IF Perkins develops that would be best case scenario .
Darkwa need's to stay healthy or Williams all of a sudden
blossoms (which I doubt) .
We can ill afford to over use Jennings and to me he is a Key
player on the team I think not only as a tough runner but
a true leader and he did block a punt as well .
I think Williams is the odd man out unless he actually
shows Vast improvement .
Wow, BBI is tripping. He has legitimate size limitations. Maybe be is talented enough to be a #2 guy, which is what we need, given our glut of #3 guys, however, no one here expects him to be our #1 guy. We already have Beckham.
Who's trippin here?
Who's trippin here?
You.... Shepherd is shorter than Beckham. About an inch and a half or more. Beckham is also faster.
Look at the history of the NFL and you'll find age 31 normally shows big fall off in terms of production. So if guys like Williams, Dwarka and Rainey all show well in camp along with rookie Perkins you could see him a "surprise cut" . Chances are 1 out of say 20 that happens, sure, but to say at 31 Mr. jennings is the same guy well we just can't be sure until the pre-season games.