Posted 07 March 2013 - 01:43 PM
Raw is made up of shades, and no two raw players are the same, so comparisons are pointless.
Some players, like Cam, are considered raw because they haven't done something (like take snaps from under center or reading a defense) and people assume it will take time for them to learn how...if they can ever learn it. But others, like Patterson, are considered raw because we have seen them do everything they will be expected to do in the NFL, but have clear weaknesses that must be corrected before they can live up to their potential.
I like Patterson, and was high on the possibility of taking him at 14. However, the more I hear and see about him, the more wary I become. There is no doubt that he is explosive...particularly with the ball in his hands in the open field. My concern comes with pretty much every other aspect of his game. They were talking the other night on Path to the Draft about how he jumps for most balls, even when he doesn't need to, and that receivers like that are almost always body catchers...and when I watch clips of him, that is exactly what I see. He also is not a skilled route runner at this point. And from what I have heard and read, he is not considered the most intelligent of guys and was not giving teams a good impression in the interviews at the combine.
With that said, I think he will be a good receiver, and definitely worth at least a 2nd, but I am not sold on the fact that he will fix his flaws to the extent that he will ever become a clear #1 receiver. But I do believe he can be at least a solid #2, so if we do take him, I think he does add value and makes the team better.
