Rants Sports Scouting Report: Benjamin and Coleman

[top dawg]

Patrick Karraker of Rants Sports provided scouting reports on these two trees (Benjamin and Coleman). I suggest that you read both.  So as not to blow sunshine up our collective asses (as tends to happen sometimes regarding draft prospects), I decided to emphasize the negatives. Most people here are salivating over Benjamin who had the much better championship year, but Coleman may be available later in the draft. A lot is going to depend on the Combine and team workouts, but it would definitely be nice to draft either of these guys as a value pick (round 3/4). Most of us are thinking that Cam would benefit from a skyscraper being that Cam is tall and throws high at times, and that is food for thought, but perhaps neither will be our next WR1.  Not trying to be funny, but we do have Marvin McNutt waiting in the wings, so I'm sure that the FO will be questioning whether these guys are so different than him. But it is nice to dream, and I am hopeful. 

 

 

 

 

On the flip side, there are plenty of aspects of Benjamin’s playing style which leave something to be desired. He’s not the fastest receiver in the world and has been projected to run around a 4.6 40-yard dash. More importantly, though, he has displayed a lack of effort which could test the patience of his coaches, teammates, and fans if he doesn’t make a change in his approach. He often looks as if he is jogging through routes, he doesn’t always give all he has when he’s trying to break away from defensive backs, and he drops balls that should be easy catches purely because he slows down while running towards the ball.

Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2013/12/27/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-florida-state-wr-kelvin-benjamin/?oVHS16JhP2ThRFaW.99

 

 

 

 

 

Coleman also needs to prove during the build-up to the draft that he is not going to be permanently affected by a seemingly minor knee procedure that he underwent last offseason. His production dipped significantly in 2013, and he was said to be affected by the ailment during the season. Interested teams will undoubtedly be hoping that Coleman’s issues were more of a matter of him being limited during his preseason preparation than they were sustained pain.
Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/01/18/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-rutgers-wr-brandon-coleman/?JUrWyIwdIr7Cvxxc.99

 

 

 

 

Kevin Benjamin:

 

 

Positives

• Big, athletic body
• Positions himself well to make tough catches
• Nearly impossible to take down once he gets into the open field
• Long arms allow him to stretch for balls that most receivers wouldn’t get to
• With only three years each of high school and college experience, still has the ability to improve significantly

Negatives

• Doesn’t fully use his size to his advantage when getting off the line; needs to be more physical when he is battling defensive backs to get open
• Lackadaisical, sluggish running style
• Effort seems inconsistent; looks like he’s jogging through some routes
• Catching skills need to be improved
• Over-aged; two years less developed than players who are a year or two younger than him

 

•  

 

Brandon Coleman:

•  

  Positives

  • Massive; will be one of the biggest wideouts in the NFL
  • While his breakaway speed is not elite, he has enough of it that he can combine it with his physicality and long stride to get yards after the catch
  • Legitimate deep threat; great perception on long passes allows him to be in the right spot to make the catch
  • Strong and resilient in the end zone
  • Long, smooth stride
  • Surprisingly elusive for a player of his size

  Negatives

  • Hands are inconsistent
  • Catching skills still need a lot of work, catches too many balls close to his chest
  • Not a great route runner
  • Concerns about lasting effects from his 2013 offseason knee surgery

   

  
  Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2014/01/18/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-rutgers-wr-brandon-coleman/?JUrWyIwdIr7Cvxxc.99

[The Huddler]

Nice good stuff

[imminent rogaine]

Watching Bejamin, I always felt like he should be more productive than he was. I agree that we need a big guy but I don't know that he is the one.

[Razeyfingers]

Cooks is the only dude Ive seen that can come in and do a lot of what 89 does. So far, thats my guy.

[h0llywood]

I've said it multiple times in multiple threads, these two WR's are going to be great and Coleman will be that one guy everyone sleeps on. He is legit.

[SauceBoss]

Ask Alshon Jeffrey about how much he got poo on before his draft.

[Riverboat Ron]

I didn't like Benjamin at first, but he does have massive potential. I'm hoping scouts take these articles as seriously as we do, would love it if Benjamin fell to our 2nd round pick, even though I still think he goes late 1st to early 2nd. 

[countryboi]

I want to caution everyone from falling in love with Benjamin. he has some major effect issue and before the miami game the canes made a tape just about how many plays Benjamin takes off apparently it was pretty damn long. 

[L-TownCat]

 

Over-aged; two years less developed than players who are a year or two younger than him

 

 

This sentence is hard to digest.  Does this mean he is 2 years under developed or Is he 2 years less developed than people 2 years younger than him meaning he is a total of 4 years behind?

[top dawg]

I want to caution everyone from falling in love with Benjamin. he has some major effect issue and before the miami game the canes made a tape just about how many plays Benjamin takes off apparently it was pretty damn long. 

 

You don't say... 

 

Before I started looking up these scouting reports, I was admittedly a Coleman guy (which I still am provided his knee is fine), but after being bombarded with Benjamin after Benjamin after Benjamin in the Huddle (and I ain't talkin' money), I just had to look up some reports to see why he is so hyped to the point of being a 28th pick prospect in many eyes, and compare him to Coleman.  I didn't know that Benjamin was older or that he had questions about his work ethic. I have a raised eyebrow I'll tell ya, especially when I'm thinking that Coleman may ultimately turn out to be the better prospect.

 

I'm afraid that the whole discussion may be useless as both these guys, who really rate too low at this point to be taken at 28, will be gone by the time we pick in the second. But, I also know that they could fall (with the nature of the draft being what it is), the more likely being Coleman because of Benjamin's hype. 

 

I would absolutely curse the football gods if the Saints snap up Coleman in the second as Karraker projects in his early mock.

[carolina-chuck]

Id still take both of them in a heartbeat.

[Captain Morgan]

Coleman being projected as a 4th rounder.

[Evengelion]

Nice! More WRs who can't catch. give us more!

[top dawg]

This sentence is hard to digest.  Does this mean he is 2 years under developed or Is he 2 years less developed than people 2 years younger than him meaning he is a total of 4 years behind?

 

I am taking it to mean, in a literal sense, that Benjamin is at the stage of development of a normal-aged WR, coming out at age 21(perhaps 22) as most of them do because he is 24. So basically his career is going to be virtually two years shorter than most of the younger guys coming out this year. 

 

In the grand scheme of things, I suppose that it could make a little difference towards the middle to end of his career, but I don't see it as a deal breaker.  If he breaks out at 27/28 years old as opposed to 25/26, who cares? I guess it could matter on some level.  If he comes out balling immediately, then he'd be 23, whereas most of the guys will be 20 or 21.