MHS831

I see XL this way---great athlete. Good person. When we drafted him, we knew he was raw. One year of WR in college (starting) and in HS, he was a QB, I believe. We knew we would need patience with him. I think year 3 will be make or break. He is older, and I think that people with his athletic ability have always been better than those with less---but those with less can become more successful. Why is that? in my view, it is mental. XL can learn the mechanics and nuances of playing WR if he becomes focused on it and works at it. I had the opportunity to talk to Armanti Edwards one day after OTAs (great guy) and he discussed how overwhelming it was. He seemed shocked. At that time, I knew that Fox hated the pick (I heard him mock Armanti to another coach when he saw Edwards drop a punt from a jugs machine--then I saw Armanti look back at Fox as if to suggest that he was feeling the pressure to please the coach. We forget that these are kids in their early 20s. At the time, Fox was a lame duck. Remember when he had Clausen as the #3 QB and was forced to move him up the ladder? I liked Fox, but I think the climate and culture was influenced by the politics. Currently, I see another Wr from SC who is struggling, but he is ina very nurturing, positive culture. Let's see what happens with XL. I am frustrated too---but XL was a second round talent who was raw and we traded up to get him. He had 500 yards as a rookie--lets call 2025 a sophomore slump and see if we can't get at least 50 yards per game out of him. If not, cut bait.

I love the bottom feeding approach. Not to say I was the only one, but I was screaming to draft Coker and then screaming to get him in here as an UDFA. There were criticisms about him, etc. As a Gamecock baby (Dad was a Tight End for them when I was born) I was against Legette. I wanted the kid from Georgia. All that to say this: I am afraid of drafting a WR (I spent some time today researching) a few of the top names: 1. Jordan Tyson. MCL, ACL, NHL---he has injured everything he could that ends in "L" and some things not related to his body. He will drop, and everyone will start getting excited around 15. NO! take him off the board. 2. KC Concepcion. I want to like him, but is he not John Metchie III II? I can't stand drops. To me, the most important characteristic for a receiver is hands. I do not buy the "He can be taught." I disagree to a degree. Catching a football at a high level when you are being hit by someone behind you as you run full speed across the field is more about concentration and focus than anything else. You gotta trust your eyes, your instincts, and your QB. Hard to teach someone not to fear something that hits you that you cannot see. Dropping passes gets into your head--that makes you second guess yourself. if it doesn't, it should. Either way, it is a mental issue. 3. Omar Cooper. I like him enough, but at 19? No. He is a good YAC guy with solid hands. However, he had a good WR across from him, the best QB in the country, a pretty easy schedule (He had his best games against FCS schools) and I wonder how much of the route tree he ran. I am torn, not sold. Of the three just mentioned, he has the worst skillset but I would like him the best as our Z. Who then, do I want, you ask? If it has to be WR, trade back. If you can't, draft the slow guy who can't get a good release. 1. Denzel Boston. If it has to be a WR at 19, I think I would take Denzel Boston. His biggest criticism is the release (and 40 speed) but he had great hands and runs good routes. as the Z, which is what we need, he would be perfect because he could motion toward the LOS and even when on the LOS, he is off the ball. Lets do some bottom fishing in Coker Lake: Round 2: Ted Hurst. He is a model Z WR for this offense. Drops too many balls to my liking, but as a second rounder, I can tolerate that a bit more than a first rounder. Round 5: Kendrick Law (UK): This is the guy I am most comfortable drafting. His average route at KY was under 4 yards. He is great at running after the catch. Stats? don't look at the game stats--look at the measurables. A 42-inch vertical, a 10-foot-8 broad jump, and a 9.60 Relative Athletic Score place him among the most explosive receivers in this class. That kind of lower-body power, paired with his balance through contact and proven ability to generate yards after the catch, gives him a real foundation to develop beyond what Kentucky asked of him. I think they were considering drafting a WR in the first round. I get it, but as with the tackles in round 1, "Buyer Beware." I have not given up on XL but I am very concerned that his mind is not right for the NFL.

Yet there was enough interest to read the thread and post his interest in expressing his disinterest.

They addressed D in free agency in a big way (Edge, ILB) and they signed a starting OT and a player they think could be a swing OT in reserve. They have claimed to be adding "Weapons" to the offense. I think that will be their focus. I agree 100% that we need a T, but a reserve, developmental OT in a weak (at the top) draft does little to address that weakness in 2026. If they are telling the truth, a reserve developmental OT is not a weapon. The will draft a WR if that statement and their actions in free agency are accurate. That does not mean we ignore OT--I just dont see where he takes a T if he is filling holes. As a coach, I am concerned about OT, but when I look at the roster, I see bigger immediate problems. S: We are OK if you want Scott for another season. Not ideal. There is also talk of Smith-Wade being moved to S. If so, we need a CBN. DT: Who took Robinson's job? He played a lot. All DTs (NT-DE) were average to below average, (except Derrick Brown) including 280 lb wharton. We need a DT (my preference for the first pick, to be honest) I am guessing a DT will be our third rounder? ILB: Unless we want Wallace out there in coverage, we need a compliment to Lloyd. I think Lloyd's starting mate is the second rounder. (speculating) This pick is likely to occur in the second round because it is for a starting position. WR: Some are fine with what we have. sIn 2025, Coker had 3 TDs on 394 yards. Legette had 3 TDs and 363 yards--and only 1 drop. I love Coker, but neither should make us feel secure about WR with those numbers. A lot depends on both stepping up in 2026, but Canales has been screaming weapons. Could he mean Tight end? That depends on how good they feel about Coker and XL. Center: You can get a player ready to start relatively early in the middle rounds. Very similar to the OT situation but I think C may be more of a priority right now than OT. Tight End: They seem to like Delp from Georgia who projects round 4. CB: There was some talk of moving Smith-Wade to S (to learn for a season with Scott, maybe?) and that might require adding CB depth inside. Tackle?: I agree that we need one, but this draft is simply not strong at the top at T. The ONLY way to get a quality OT that is still developmental is to take one in round 1. Canales has all but said we are not doing that. But after the first 40 picks or so, they pretty much level out for a good while. The fifth rounders and the third rounders are about the same. For that Reason, I am guessing (It is all guesses) that they take someone like the OT from Boston College or Memphis. Work with the OL coach (OT specialist) for a season. I dunno

If you throw Boston into that mix, I think that is what they do if I were forced to bet. I think they have Delp (TE UGa) on their list; if he is there, watch him in round 4. Rodriguez (going at the end of round 1) and Hill and maybe Golday as the second pick. I think they would like to trade back a bit in the first round and add a third. With those picks, a G/C, DT, or maybe a S makes sense. I don't see OT until the fifth round or so. There are some projects with upside there.

It allows us to trade back without compromising quality. If a team wants a player or has a huge need, we are open for business. We pick just ahead of Pittsburgh, and I am confident that a team like the Jets or Cardinals or even the Rams will want to move ahead of them for Ty Simpson. A lot of people are down on him, and I get it, and next year is a QB draft--so they say (I think they said that about this year--but the QBs from South Carolina, Miami, Penn State, LSU, etc. fell off the map.) Simpson could use a year behind Rodgers or Smith or Stafford or even Brissett. I see the Cardinals being the team to watch. Some say, "They will take Simpson in Round 2..." Not if they want the fifth year AND not if they think others might be interested. I know this is a reach, but I see it happening.

I never said "I want a WR" I said that it is time to consider the possibility. Keep up. But your premise is based on the fact that you think a WR would be sitting on the bench and not part of a rotation or certain sets. Would Cooper be better than XL? The only way a T plays in 2026 is in the event of injury, for the most part. We have 2 starting tackles right now--2 is how many we need. We have 2 starting WRs right now. We need 3 or 4.

I appreciate the honesty in your posts--I am not sure Canales is rusing(?) because I don't think we are good enough yet to draft players for depth on day 1. I do think we are in limbo, fwiw. At 19, I think you are drafting second rounders in the first.

Rodriguez will not only be a first rounder, he might be the second or third LB taken.

Here is how I see it--he is good--but do we not already have 2 safeties in that mold? Rodriguez could be late first early second.

Thanks Bro.

STOP HURTING MY FEELINGS!!!

Yeah, I just really enjoy this time of year and all the tea leaf reading, etc. Some attack any idea that is not consistent with their own--I knew the critics would emerge because that is what they do--much easier to critique than create, but this really is based on what I was able to round up--I tried to take it from the angle that if we are going to draft a T, and we probably all agree that is a need, these are the items on the shelf and here are the "buyer beware" warnings. These are good players, no doubt.

Understood. Based on information I have been reading. Not really my thoughts--but a synthesis of comments--some may be poker comments and some may be a result of over analysis, but it is what it is.

You would have stopped reading anyway. It was long and the lexile level was up there (way high). They will give him a shot at T, but many project him to guard.