Michael Sam:The Football player.

[Camsfanclub]

So he wants to be judged as a football player, well I can do that.

 

At the combine today he was mediocre at best. 

 

Here are his stats compared to other DL:

• 40-yard dash: 4.91 seconds (tied for 18th
• Bench press (225 pounds): 17 reps (tied for 47th/second to last)
• Vertical jump: 25.5 inches (tied for 39th)
• Broad jump: 114 inches (tied for 14th)

 

I just cant see a team taking him very high as a football player, i think he benefited from being on a great DL at Missouri and even though he was a sack machine, he will most likely have to make the transition to a 3-4 OLB given his size. So the fact that he isnt a great athlete and that he will be a project changing positions makes it seem that a 6th round pick will be his ceiling. However, we all know it only takes 1 team to see something in a player, but no one will be clamoring to pick him in the 4th or 5th rounds.

 

I pray the panthers dont draft this guy, i dont think he will be a good DE at the next level.

[stirs]

I think they are being kind now to say a 5th rounder.

 

Not athletic enough to play OLB in a 3-4

Not big or fast enough to play 4-3 DE

 

I wish him well, but he sure did not have a great day today.  Who knows, maybe his pro day will be better

[bababoey]

I watched 3 or 4 games of his after he had 2 big games in the early part of the season.  He's not big, he's not that fast off the edge, he's stiff and not that strong.  He had 3 games, 1 against some div II team and one against florida after they lost their qb for the year, where he had 3 sacks in each of the games.  The rest of the year he had a total of 2 1/2 sacks.  He works hard.  He's got a non stop motor but the reality is he is just not that good.  Great story.  But not that great of a player.

I just hope if he is not drafted people won't say "well if he would not have come out he would have been drafted."  The reality is if he did not come out he still would not be that good of a football player.

[carolina-chuck]

He's still worthy of a pick.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Probably a late round guy.  Could be a special teams guy and maybe break into a rotation somewhere. 

[d-dave]

I think with his Combine performance, we can almost safely say that he's helped us forget about his sexual orientation. He just didn't have a good Combine. I'm not sure if putting better numbers helps. If won't change the fact he is a marginal player. Maybe one day he can develop into something. These workouts confirm what the games said.

Sent from my VS980 4G using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[Evengelion]

It's ironic how him and Manziel get the most attention this off season to the detriment of more talented players. Talent doesn't pay in the media's eye. The pursuit of a story is the only thing that matters.

[TheRumGone]

It's ironic how him and Manziel get the most attention this off season to the detriment of more talented players. Talent doesn't pay in the media's eye. The pursuit of a story is the only thing that matters.

 

don't lump together a drunken frat boy who sold his autographs for cash in college to a guy who is the first college player to come out as gay with the chance of being drafted in the nfl.

 

one is a historical, huge deal, the other not so much.

 

but to the thread:

 

i knew michael sam would not have a good combine and would look average. He's got some great intangibles but he is a "rudy" type of player.  it is yet to be seen if he can make the jump and have a successful nfl career but i think he will get drafted.

 

[d-dave]

don't lump together a drunken frat boy who sold his autographs for cash in college to a guy who is the first college player to come out as gay with the chance of being drafted in the nfl.

 

one is a historical, huge deal, the other not so much.

 

but to the thread:

 

i knew michael sam would not have a good combine and would look average. He's got some great intangibles but he is a "rudy" type of player.  it is yet to be seen if he can make the jump and have a successful nfl career but i think he will get drafted.

 

 

I like the Rudy comparison with Sam, as he's been a rallying point and leader.  Those are great qualities to have.  But what I see on the highlight videos is someone who does get to the QB against lesser competition with a good first step and move, but against the better SEC tackles, doesn't have that same success.  The combine just put numbers to that.

 

I see him as a possible pre-season all star type for someone.  Again, I applaud that he took control of his own narrative, and had the courage to come out to the most macho sporting league in the world.  That's awesome.  As a player, I can't see more than a camp body right now.  

 

Then again, I'm not a GM or football expert.  You never know, he could develop some moves and become a successful 3rd Down Pass Rusher in the NFL.