Gil Brandt wishes Brandon Coleman would have stayed in school, but...

[top dawg]

Gil Brandt obviously thinks that Brandon Coleman has some talent. After reading a piece by Dan Duggan of NJ.com, I get the impression that he is concerned that Coleman will be sold short due to Coleman's perceived lack of speed, and the fact that he is coming out along with many other underclassmen who may be ranked higher. To me, this could be a good thing, especially for the Panthers considering that we will pick so late in the top rounds.

 

 

"I wish he'd have stayed in school," Brandt told NJ.com. "By my count, there's 19 underclass wide receivers coming out, and historically guys that stay in school emerge a lot faster. I think he's a good prospect, but 19 wide receivers, that's a lot to go against. I have nine of them ranked ahead of him. That probably will change after the Combine. There's some question of how fast he is and all of those types of things, but he is a good player."

 

 

If Brandt doesn't think that Coleman's draft stock was hurt "significantly" by coming out early, then I really don't see what the big deal is at the end of the day. It hurts Coleman's paycheck, but may end up being a four-year bargain for someone else.

 

Brandt believes the NFL Scouting Combine next month in Indianapolis will be an opportunity for Coleman to shine. Brandt described the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Coleman as "ripped" and he expects the receiver to do well in the physical testing.

 

"He's got a great job interview coming the 26th of February at the Combine," Brandt said. "I hope he understands that he needs to get in optimum shape, he needs to practice catching the ball every day, so he has this one chance to move up. 

 

 

 

It's like I have been saying, a lot of people are going to sleep on this guy because there are definitely faster and perhaps even flashier guys, but Coleman may turn out to be a real gem.  If he turns out to be there in the third or fourth round, I don't see how we could pass this guy up.

 

Others have questioned Coleman's hands and route-running, but Brandt is more interested in his speed than those areas.

 

"You can improve a person's hands catching the ball," Brandt said. "Route-running you can improve. You can't improve speed. You can make them stronger, but you can't make them faster. We'll just see when you put everything together, how he runs as opposed to 19 guys there."

 

Brandt doesn't have any concerns about Coleman's effort level.

 

 

Some analysts are harping on Coleman's speed, and yet Kevin Benjamin and Coleman are basically right there in the same projected 4.6 area (the same as Keenan Allen last year).

 

Gil Brandt knows a thing or two about football---and wide receivers, and the success of the Cowboys throughout the late 70s and 80s are a testament to that fact.  Of course Brandt may have gotten to the point where he wants to talk sunshine about all the kids, but that didn't stop him from being truthful about 49ers tackle, Anthony Davis basically dogging it during his pro day, so I suspect that Brandt's words should be taken seriously. 

 

We'll see how it all pans out, but I'm thinking that we could do worse than a big, "ripped" receiver like Coleman. And if we benefit from Coleman coming out early against all the flavor-of-the-day WRs, then I''ll be smiling come May.

[Peppers90 NC]

i'd be somewhat surprised if he is available at our 4th pick

[Dex]

Brandin Cooks 1st, Stanley Jean-Baptiste 2nd, Brandon Coleman in the 3rd and I just don't give a fug.

[LinvilleGorge]

I'm not sure how much I agree with him on the ability to improve a WR's hands.  Obviously he knows far better than I do, but for the most part, WRs who come into the league with issues with their hands continue to have those issues throughout their career.  They may improve somewhat, but they don't turn into Larry Fitzgerald by any means.

[C47]

I really don't think he's lasting till our third round pick guys. Teams are going to fall in love with him at the combine is he has anything remotely respectable as a 40 time...

[frash.exe]

What was Alshon's 40 time?

[DaCityKats]

A WR that size has natural separation because of his throwing radius. I wouldn't be mad if he is the pick at 60.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Just draft him in the second. He will be there.

[top dawg]

I'm not sure how much I agree with him on the ability to improve a WR's hands.  Obviously he knows far better than I do, but for the most part, WRs who come into the league with issues with their hands continue to have those issues throughout their career.  They may improve somewhat, but they don't turn into Larry Fitzgerald by any means.

 

I don't necessarily think that he meant being able to catch as much as he meant catching balls with his hands as opposed to using his body.

[LinvilleGorge]

A WR that size has natural separation because of his throwing radius. I wouldn't be mad if he is the pick at 60.

 

A lot will change between now and the draft through workouts, interviews, and the like, but I wouldn't be too thrilled about taking the 9th rated underclassman WR in the 2nd round.  That seems like a 4th rounder to me.  But, like I said, we'll see.

[LinvilleGorge]

I don't necessarily think that he meant being able to catch as much as he meant catching balls with his hands as opposed to using his body.

 

Quite possibly so.

[Kuech the Sneak]

I'm a fan of his, was hoping we could get him with our third pick but well see. Maybe he rises to the second

[DaCityKats]

A lot will change between now and the draft through workouts, interviews, and the like, but I wouldn't be too thrilled about taking the 9th rated underclassman WR in the 2nd round. That seems like a 4th rounder to me. But, like I said, we'll see.

A lot does not change, the media just catches up with the nfl big boards late. The CB the raiders took last draft supposedly had a mid round grade, but went in the top 15. Matt Barkley had a 2nd round grade from media pundits but went in the 4th.

[LinvilleGorge]

A lot does not change, the media just catches up with the nfl big boards late. The CB the raiders took last draft supposedly had a mid round grade, but went in the top 15. Matt Barkley had a 2nd round grade from media pundits but went in the 4th.

 

If a lot doesn't change, then why bother having the Combine, Pro Days, interviews, and individual workouts?  GMs of playoff teams are just now starting to get heavily involved in the draft process now that their seasons are over.  Up until then, they're pretty much leaving it to their scouting team.  You're high off your ass if you don't think there won't be a ton of changes between now and the draft in terms of how teams view prospects.  They're just now starting to form those views.  Hell, most teams probably don't even have a big board right now.  Why would they?