top dawg

Nice post. A couple of thoughts... I don't think that teams necessarily overlook the first three. I just think that sometimes it's difficult to calculate what weight to give to which, all while trying to figure out if this guy can be one of the pieces that fit into your puzzle. Given that most of these guys have a lot of learning to do in all aspects of receiving at the professional level, part of the evaluation process has to be trying to figure out if a guy can learn in whatever area of deficiency that he has, and how quickly he will be able to do it. Now sure there may be some cowboys out there that get enamored with speed only, but they probably aren't going to last over time (unless they are an owner). Kind of off the subject, but I tell my son all the time that sports is about talent, yes, but that you also have to be motivated and willing to put in the work. If you don't have the talent, motivation and willingness to work, then you're probably not going to make it. I also tell him that in all sports, "you have to think!" Gamesmanship and outsmarting your opponent by observing tendencies and being able to adapt by using appropriate techniques in a given situation in order to exploit their tendencies/movements is what will make you great. In sports in general, and particularly the skill positions of football, you must have a good chess game, so to speak, if you want to rise above the rest. Nice work! I don't necessarily think anyone that is smart wants to draft a speed merchant in the first couple of rounds (or even three or four) just because a guy can run fast. It is the totality of the guy. I could be wrong, but I believe the OP was indirectly talking about Perriman, whom he is being jaundiced against due to negative Huddle narratives based upon incomplete information. In terms of guys like Perriman, who are big and fast, that has the possibility of being a killer combination. Other than a good QB, a big, fast, savvy route runner, adept blocker, good-handed receiver is the holy grail for the passing game. Now I am not saying as of now that Perriman does or doesn't have all that, but it is up to Gettleman and company to evaluate whether Perriman does or can be all that at some determined time in the future. All things being close (because they're never equal), why wouldn't you want a fast and big receiver that has all the tools to succeed, than a fast and small receiver that has the same? Or, maybe a big and slow or small and slow guy? When you think about all they have to do, including the much overlooked blocking, big receivers are at an advantage. Moreover, they are usually stronger and provide a much bigger target, so when you add speed to that---provided they can catch and run some savvy routes---you have someone who is as close to unstoppable as you're going to get in this league.

I am not wishing for anyone to drop because it's pretty useless. I am not going to hope that a possibly superior player is taken before Gettleman has the opportunity to make his choice either. That way I pretty much know that we've gotten the receiver that Gettleman would have chosen. At the end of the day, If Gettleman picks a receiver in the first, regardless of who it is, I am going to be satisfied.

As for actual draft experts, I really don't think there are any, because no one gets it 100 percent right. It's kind of like a March Madness bracket. But let me say that as far as scouting and evaluation, I have read that Gil Brandt pretty much transformed the process into what it is today. The guy has a lot of knowledge.

It's just all speculation based on his short history as GM, so I don't know how anyone can say anything with any surety. One thing about it: both have done enough on tape to warrant further examination, and both are coming to Charlotte to compete for Gettleman's eye.

If Dorsett and Perriman are there in the first or second, who do you really think that Gettleman would pick knowing Gettleman's history? Yeah.

Well, he basically dared him. I must say that there is some comedic irony akin to a form of poetic justice in that brief exchange.

Damn, I took a little time to eat dinner, and something interesting that I still don't know the details to must have transpired.

Damn! I wish a mod would just lock this motherfuger. Every time I see it, it just makes me angry. What a crock o' shat!

How true, how true. I'm beginning to think that Nicks is just in it for the most money that he can get with what time that he has left. At this point it may even be presumptuous that Gman would even consider signing him here, but it seems like there wouldn't be a better opportunity to rise from the dead than with the Panthers. I mean, I can't hate on a guy for exploring his options and trying to earn the most money that he can, but damn. Boldin, Smith, Patton and Ellington are some competition for a receiver whose reputation for having WR1 upside in this league has taken perhaps a near mortal hit. Why not try Cleveland, the Panthers, or Miami or something? Maybe his window for even above 'averageness' (yes, I made up a word), much less any semblance of greatness, is closed.

Does that mean DMo can still be signed...?

Big Frank says "Hello!"

I am not gonna believe any rumors anymore until they happen.

I don't necessarily think that they would be asked to run deep up the field, especially initially. I could easily see all of these guys as a primary slot receiver also, though I will admit that I see more for Hardy and possibly Montgomery. By the way, Montgomery has size. He may be 6'0. But he is well put together. He is Boldin-esque as far as his build, but admittedly will take a little time to polish up.

I mean, I saw your comment in a thread before, went to read up on him, and nothing really screamed out at me. Now you do have a good point about chemistry with KB. In those mid rounds, Hardy, Montgomery Dorsett and Lippett just seem more enticing for different reasons.

Honestly, his size leaves a lot to be desired. We already have a smallish receiver who has 4.5 speed.

Put me in that number as well. I still like Strong, but not as strong. But if Gettleman picks him over Perriman or any other player, I will accept him with open arms. Unlike some of these bozos, I have literally had my eye on Strong for at least a year and a half. I even mentioned him in this thread way back in 2013. I have watched video and read his story a long time ago. I like him. I do think that he's a little stiff, is not as physical as his stature would suggest, and plays a lot slower than his 40. He is a very efficient WR, but less fluid receiver in my opinion, and that's why I would go with the naturally stronger, smoother, explosive Perriman, whose upside is higher in my estimation. I must admit that I didn't even have Perriman on my first or second round radar until hipped to his meteoric rise by J.Jones, but after researching him, particularly that he improved as his senior season progressed (one of the reasons that Gettleman expressed that he used in determining KB to be his pick), I became very intrigued. Someone was trying to intimate that Perriman appeared explosive because of playing in C-USA, so I said that I'd wait to see what he did at his pro day before making up my mind to go with Perriman over Strong. Of course he was obviously as explosive as I saw on the tape, and his streak of displaying good hands continued. I mean, why wouldn't I change my mind? That being said, if Strong is the pick, then great. i think that he's a little close to the same type of receiver that Benjamin is in his movements and ability to separate (and actually think that KB is more fluid), but I am just a fan. The professionals get paid money to scout.

You will probably disagree, and perhaps you will believe it coming from a coach more than me, but it is way more easy to teach a natural hands catcher to focus on seeing the catch in and securing it with his hands than it is to teach someone that naturally wants to catch with his body to catch with his hands, because the problems of focusing are compounded.

Actually I agree with you in theory. I just keep hearing Gettleman espouse the virtues of BPA, which I really can't argue with. Depending on how everything shakes out, I could easily see Gettleman having Gurley as the BPA. I just don't think that Gettleman would consider any BPA a luxury pick, especially in the first two rounds where you have to hit that nail on the head. I just don't think that Gurley's health problems here and there are going to trump his talent in G-man's mind provided that Dr. Anderson gives him the thumbs up. Hopefully Gurley will be drafted higher (because i actually think he deserves it), and Gettleman won't be put to the test. I'm sure Gurley will be looking like a mighty tasty morsel. One thing that I would like to note is that you may not think RB is a priority this year, but Gettleman is probably thinking long term. In that sense, he probably won't view Gurley as such a luxury pick, as much as he deems Gurley a future game changing playmaker.

It's hard to argue with that. I will say that Perriman did not have any drops his last four games, or at his pro day. The theory that it may have been concentration drops due to whatever reasons may be valid, and there just may be a real reason to be optimistic about Perriman's chances to be a good pro. Even if he doesn't go in the first...

Honestly, like I told someone else, Agholor could turn out to be one of the better receivers in this draft. There is always some second or third round pick that plays above their pay grade so to speak, and I really think that Agholor could be that dude. He is a smart, instinctive, versatile player that has good hands and runs good routes. I am high on Agholor, and Hardy actually. Any time that you have a great route runner with excellent hands, you have found a guy that may be able to make the leap to stardom a little easier than guys with questionable hands and route running.

As I already pointed out to you, Clayton Geathers is worth drafting, as is Perriman. To say anything less is just ignorant.

Whatever. You obviously missed the buzz weeks before his workout. Many so-called professionals hadn't even done their due diligence on Perriman until later on in the process. Some of these draft profiles and mocks that you see are woefully out of date, but it's all good. I don't even care that much. Like I said, I will be happy with whoever the pick is.

All this same stuff and more was being said about Kelvin Benjamin. Oh, he has bad hands. Oh, he is not first round material. Oh, this and that. Those opinions don't amount to a hill of beans. The fact is that no one really knows, but I will give Cosell's and Brandt's opinion more credence than I will anyone on the Huddle. Moreover, to be making absolute statements when you still have more than three weeks to go to have private workouts is even more of a reason that opinions of people who don't have anything to do with scouting evaluation fall on my deaf ears.

Personally I think that if Gurley is there, we are picking him, regardless of Peat, Perriman, Strong or anyone else. But that's just a guess.