Player Highlight Videos: Wide Receivers

[scpanther22]

I am hope we look at eric decker in the later rounds..

[Samuel L. Jackson]

Taken straight from one of the many draft scouting sites and magazines I frequent this time of year:

Thomas played in an offense that did not require him to run pro-style routes, and featured a heavy dose of simple deep routes

As I said, his offense did not cater to making a great WR out of him. He plays stiff as hell, and relies mostly on outpositioning the defender when the ball is in the air...

That said, I agree, he did a great job with what he was given. He should be a decent pro, but isn't the type of WR our offense needs... We need someone to stretch the field, run crisp routes, and be able to get open to take the pressure off Smitty... He may have run deep routes in college, but NFL DBs will eat him alive on those in the pros... Plus, he's coming off a broken foot, which should be a red flag to anyone who believes he doesn't run great routes in the first place...

Will I be upset if we draft him? No... but I think it will be the wrong choice and you'll all be screaming Keary Colbert by the time his tenure with the Panthers is up...

[jramsey4]

Taken straight from one of the many draft scouting sites and magazines I frequent this time of year:

As I said, his offense did not cater to making a great WR out of him. He plays stiff as hell, and relies mostly on outpositioning the defender when the ball is in the air...

That said, I agree, he did a great job with what he was given. He should be a decent pro, but isn't the type of WR our offense needs... We need someone to stretch the field, run crisp routes, and be able to get open to take the pressure off Smitty... He may have run deep routes in college, but NFL DBs will eat him alive on those in the pros... Plus, he's coming off a broken foot, which should be a red flag to anyone who believes he doesn't run great routes in the first place...

Will I be upset if we draft him? No... but I think it will be the wrong choice and you'll all be screaming Keary Colbert by the time his tenure with the Panthers is up...

Keary Colbert was nowhere near the athlete as Thomas. I think he is a perfect for what we need. He has proven he can be a deep threat, he has great YAC ability, and he is very good at high pointing the ball. He is a very good hands receiver and also is a good blocker.

Yeah his route running is sloppy due to not needing to run as crisp of routes in college and his offense but to me that is coachable. You either have his god given ability or you don't you can't coach that. I think he has the potential to be the next Brandon Marshall.

[Lout]

Calvin Johnson?

As Ramsey said, the triple option didn't come to Tech until after CJ was drafted.

Also, you said that Bay Bay ran deep routes in college.. doesn't that equate to "stretching the field"?

Bay Bay is a physical freak for the most part, I will give you that.. but that's what makes him so intriguing. Like Ramsey said, running routes can be taught, but physical prowess can not. That is what makes elite WRs in the NFL.. when you can get both physical ability with the mental aspect clicking. He probably has one of the highest upside's for any WR in the draft.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

What role do the wide receivers typically play in the option? With the popular wide receivers these days being 6'4" big guys (like GT's former star Calvin Johnson), do typical option offenses get these type guys? What do you think are the ideal traits of a WR in this system?

The main thing the option gives them is predictable coverages – and the option almost assuredly eliminates the defense’s ability to double-cover any one receiver. I personally think that the option has allowed the teams I’ve coached to have a very explosive passing games. I’m not talking 20 completions a game but more like 6-12 completions with 3 being genuine big plays that went for big yardage. Think quality and not quantity. You aren’t likely to see an option team make a living off short passes thrown in the flat. But you are likely to see long balls like a backside Post, or a playside Fade or Wheel route go all the way for a score. The defensive coordinator must use his DBs as run support and it really puts them in a bind. I really hate that for ‘em.

Straight from one of the most studied individuals of the option offense... from a GT perspective...

http://gtsports.blogspot.com/2007/12/into-mind-of-triple-option.html

He's a big, physical guy, but from a receiver standpoint, he doesn't fit the Panthers' schemes...

Sure, we could make some subtle changes to get him open, but the run game would suffer...

I'm not arguing that he can't be a good WR in the NFL... I'm just saying for our needs, he isn't a good fit...

We'll just have to agree to disagree, and I hope whichever WR the Panthers take will succeed and help us more than anything else...

[Lout]

I don't think the run game would suffer.. the WR's are made to block in the option scheme. Bay Bay is a very experienced run blocker.. and he is big to boot. He should do a great job taking Moose's spot in that regard.

It appears that Hurney was at the Ohio pro day watching Taylor Price (WR), who has been impressing people with his athletiscm since the combine. Appears to rose his stock to the 2nd round. I think the Panthers are adament at taking a WR with their first pick. They have been looking at LB's projected anywhere from 3rd through 5th. And they have been looking at QB's projected from 2nd through 4th. Also, CB's from 2nd to 7th. So I would guess WR, QB, LB will be our first 3 picks in this draft with CB somewhere near behind.

[KDawg004]

I think we can have a player very similar to Thomas in Marcus Easley. Not to mention the fact that we can have him in the 4th, maybe even later.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I still think one of the top defensive guys (Weatherspoon, or a DE) slides to the early second where nobody is projecting them to be available...

If so, I think we'll move up with someone like KC (for next year's first, of course) and snag him...

That said, WR is still the biggest hole on the team (aside from depth at LB)... and we will be taking one within our first three picks of the draft...

The good news is, I think we have a great shot at actually having three picks in the second round... Ours (#48), someone else's for Richard Marshall (Baltimore, Cleveland, and Minnesota lead my list of potential teams interested), and another one in the top of the second (after trading our 2011 first rounder)...

We could get a WR, an LB, and a DE (our three biggest needs in my opinion) right there where the talent pool for those positions will still be pretty deep... Then we could use our 3rd on another WR if we chose to, or even a QB (I'm starting to think we'll actually draft one pretty early on this year)...

It is an exciting time given our possibilities, but whether or not the team actually takes those chances and runs with them remains to be seen...

[Mr. Scot]

Gonna post a few more WR that should be around in the later rounds, but still could help our team.

Eric Decker, Minnesota

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[Mr. Scot]

NFL Draft Bible says we're scouting Jeremy Horne (UMass).

[SorthNarolina]

David Reed I like in the later rounds.

[jramsey4]

I still think one of the top defensive guys (Weatherspoon, or a DE) slides to the early second where nobody is projecting them to be available...

If so, I think we'll move up with someone like KC (for next year's first, of course) and snag him...

That said, WR is still the biggest hole on the team (aside from depth at LB)... and we will be taking one within our first three picks of the draft...

The good news is, I think we have a great shot at actually having three picks in the second round... Ours (#48), someone else's for Richard Marshall (Baltimore, Cleveland, and Minnesota lead my list of potential teams interested), and another one in the top of the second (after trading our 2011 first rounder)...

We could get a WR, an LB, and a DE (our three biggest needs in my opinion) right there where the talent pool for those positions will still be pretty deep... Then we could use our 3rd on another WR if we chose to, or even a QB (I'm starting to think we'll actually draft one pretty early on this year)...

It is an exciting time given our possibilities, but whether or not the team actually takes those chances and runs with them remains to be seen...

I doubt we trade next years pick if Marshall is gone.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

I doubt we trade next years pick if Marshall is gone.

I think it depends on where he goes and who we want in the draft...

[Swarly]

I still think one of the top defensive guys (Weatherspoon, or a DE) slides to the early second where nobody is projecting them to be available...

If so, I think we'll move up with someone like KC (for next year's first, of course) and snag him...

That said, WR is still the biggest hole on the team (aside from depth at LB)... and we will be taking one within our first three picks of the draft...

The good news is, I think we have a great shot at actually having three picks in the second round... Ours (#48), someone else's for Richard Marshall (Baltimore, Cleveland, and Minnesota lead my list of potential teams interested), and another one in the top of the second (after trading our 2011 first rounder)...

We could get a WR, an LB, and a DE (our three biggest needs in my opinion) right there where the talent pool for those positions will still be pretty deep... Then we could use our 3rd on another WR if we chose to, or even a QB (I'm starting to think we'll actually draft one pretty early on this year)...

It is an exciting time given our possibilities, but whether or not the team actually takes those chances and runs with them remains to be seen...

If we trade Marshall it instantly opens another need for CB. It kind of defeats the purpose unless you're talking about moving Martin/Godfrey to CB. Don't fix what ain't broke! Marshall is fine, the 2nd round tender was only to show Marshall he's not worth the money he thinks he is.

Also thought I'd mention that those that love Thomas are going to be sad. On some mocks I'm seeing him move up to near the top 10 area. His value is skyrocketing, and will only go higher once he has his pro day.