Chucky loves Tavon Austin

[Squirrel]

Actually Austin isnt a Smitty clone. Austin will be better than Smitty.

[LinvilleGorge]

Actually Austin isnt a Smitty clone. Austin will be better than Smitty.

[top dawg]

Actually Austin isnt a Smitty clone. Austin will be better than Smitty.

Blasphemy!

Even if you believe it to be true, no need to go there.

/End melodrama

There is only one 89. We will never see the likes of him again in our lifetime. All things being equal, Smitty is the best.

[beastson]

His size really concerns me. Steve Smith is a freak. He plays a helluva lot bigger than he actually is and he's tougher than fuging nails. Tavon is nowhere near as stoutly built as Smitty and I don't know how he'll hold up taking hits from NFL DBs and LBs going over the middle.

I wish he were bigger. But pound for pound he might be the best player in the draft. I just don't know if he can stay healthy. This is the NFL, not college.

Tavon will be fine

[LinvilleGorge]

Successful NFL WRs under 5'10" are the exception, not the norm. We already struck gold with one of the exceptions.

[Squirrel]

Blasphemy!

Even if you believe it to be true, no need to go there.

/End melodrama

There is only one 89. We will never see the likes of him again in our lifetime. All things being equal, Smitty is the best.

Think Barry Sanders when thinking of Austin.

[IGSaint]

Successful NFL WRs under 5'10" are the exception, not the norm. We already struck gold with one of the exceptions.

How many under 5'10 wr has failed for you to make that opinion? I don't think there is a wide enough sample of under 5'10 wr that you could say, "ok he and he failed but smitty didn't". You are basing your opinion on purely conjecture, assumptions, and prejudices against receivers like him.

[LinvilleGorge]

Of the top 40 WRs in 2012, exactly 4 of them are under 6' tall - those 4 are Wes Welker, Steve Smith, TY Hilton, and Jeremy Kerley. Only 2 of those - Welker and Smith - had over 1000 yards receiving. 3 of them - Welker, Hilton, and Kerley - are primarily slot receivers, not starting outside receivers. The average height of the top 5 WRs was just shy of 6'4". The average weight was just under 232 pounds.

Steve Smith is an anomaly. It's pointless to try to find the "next Steve Smith" because there probably won't be another one. You just don't find guys who are under 6' who have the strength, leaping ability, timing, and just downright tenacity to be starting outside receivers in the NFL.

The numbers say that if you want a starting outside WR, you need to be looking for a guy over 6' tall unless his name is Steve Smith. The numbers also say that if you're looking for a top 5 WR, you need a freak who is 6'3"+, 225#+ and runs like a damn deer. Cordarrelle Patterson is the only guy in this draft who really fits that profile, but he's raw as hell and that scares me to death.

[Mr. Scot]

I think it is a moot point talking about Austin. Just dont see him falling to 14. Think Tampa Bay sees him as their Smitty and wont let him pass them.

If the Bucs get Austin, I will be one sad fan :(

[jarhead]

If the Bucs get Austin, I will be one sad fan :(

ME TOO!

[CRA]

Seems to be a better fit for a Tom Brady than Cam Newton....

Austin needs quick throws that give him the about to use his talents on screens, quick hitters, etc. Not Newton's game....Hopkins fits better IMO

[Falcons1stPanthers2nd]

Austin is a perfect fit in Atlanta. :(

[Frank Hollywood]

Of the top 40 WRs in 2012, exactly 4 of them are under 6' tall - those 4 are Wes Welker, Steve Smith, TY Hilton, and Jeremy Kerley. Only 2 of those - Welker and Smith - had over 1000 yards receiving. 3 of them - Welker, Hilton, and Kerley - are primarily slot receivers, not starting outside receivers. The average height of the top 5 WRs was just shy of 6'4". The average weight was just under 232 pounds.

Steve Smith is an anomaly. It's pointless to try to find the "next Steve Smith" because there probably won't be another one. You just don't find guys who are under 6' who have the strength, leaping ability, timing, and just downright tenacity to be starting outside receivers in the NFL.

The numbers say that if you want a starting outside WR, you need to be looking for a guy over 6' tall unless his name is Steve Smith. The numbers also say that if you're looking for a top 5 WR, you need a freak who is 6'3"+, 225#+ and runs like a damn deer. Cordarrelle Patterson is the only guy in this draft who really fits that profile, but he's raw as hell and that scares me to death.

I think Justin hunter could be that guy. He'd have to bulk up, but that's what strength and conditioning coaches are for.

[Peppers90 NC]

Can anyone tell me a good player the Buccs drafted under Gruden?