Ricky Proehl and Don Gregory having dinner with WR Lattimer

[gettlemanjack]

Todd McShay on Latimer:

"I was blown away by his game when I finally got to study his tape recently. He does a great job of getting off the press, has extremely reliable hands and is a threat after the catch — three things that make him a perfect fit (for the Chiefs at #23)"

[Rags]

I'm lovin this

 

Now without a doubt one of the Tier two guys is gonna get to us

 

Cooks, Beckham Jr, Lee, Latimer or Benjamin

 

[gettlemanjack]

Chargers blogger:

Latimer "has a ridiculously big catch radius, and when the ball is near him he almost always comes up with the catch."

Lions beat writer:

"Latimer is built like Anquan Boldin, possessing a thick frame with a strong upper body. He put up the most bench press reps among receivers at the combine and is equipped to handle the NFL's physical cornerbacks. That strength also make him an exceptional blocker for his position."

Seahawks blogger:

"The Seahawks brought in Cody Latimer for a visit on April 15th... As has often been discussed, Seattle could draft a WR in the 1st round and Latimer certainly has the skills to warrant that high of a selection.... (he missed the combine due to a foot injury but) Latimer got everyone's attention at his Pro Day after he ran a 4.38-4.44 40 (various sources had different times) and jumped 39" with a still-injured foot. ... Latimer is not only an athletic freak but he...has phenomenal body control, terrific hands, is a tremendous blocker, and plays with aggression...Latimer's leaping ability and body control are what make him a top-32 talent. There are tons of fast WRs in the draft but few are capable of making the catches that Latimer snags with ease. ... Latimer certainly has the potential to be a star in the NFL and should definitely be in consideration as the Seahawks' first round pick."

[gettlemanjack]

former NFL scout Bucky Brooks:

"I'm intrigued by the sudden interest in Indiana WR Cody Latimer after he put on a spectacular performance at his pro day. A 6-2, 215-pound junior, Latimer clocked 40 times ranging from 4.39 to 4.44 despite recently recovering from a broken foot that kept him from working out in front of scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine . He also posted a 39-inch vertical jump, silencing the doubts about his explosiveness and athleticism. I thought I should pop in the tape to see if the recent buzz about his NFL prospects is warranted. Here's what I discovered:

Athleticism

It's hard to find big, athletic pass catchers with the kind of speed and explosiveness that Latimer displays on the field. He shows exceptional first-step quickness out of his stance, but I was more impressed with his balance and body control when changing directions. Additionally, Latimer flashes outstanding leaping ability on the perimeter, which makes his combination of size, speed and length tough to defend in one-on-one situations. Given the challenges Latimer's overall athleticism poses to defenders, I believe he will rank as a blue-chip athlete on most draft boards.

Ball skills

Latimer is a rare size-speed athlete with long arms and outstanding leaping ability. He expands the strike zone for the quarterback with his athleticism, which is a critical asset at the next level. As a pass catcher, Latimer shows strong hands and superb ball skills. He easily tracks and adjusts to errant passes, exhibiting tremendous body control snagging bad balls near the sideline....his hands and length should make him a terrific pass catcher in traffic as a pro.

Route-running ability

Latimer didn't have a lot of exposure to advanced route-running concepts in Indiana's spread offense, but...he has the straight-line speed to excel on vertical routes, yet also has the body control to get in and out of breaks on short and intermediate routes.

...

Running skills

Latimer is a legitimate big-play threat with the ball in his hands in the open field. He possesses the size, physicality and toughness to run through contact but is also fast enough to separate from defenders in space. Placed in an offensive system that places a premium on "catch-and-run" playmakers, Latimer could thrive on slants, crossing routes and dig routes between the hashes. With more teams seeking big-bodied receivers on the perimeter to anchor the passing game, Latimer's running skills will make him a coveted prospect in several draft rooms around the league.

Conclusion

After studying Latimer's performance, I believe the buzz surrounding his game and potential is legitimate.

...

Latimer suddenly is one of the hottest names in the draft, following a spectacular pro-day workout that showcased his explosive athleticism -- just a few months after foot surgery, to boot. With the game tape confirming Latimer's dynamic traits as a playmaker in space, scouts and coaches are pegging the Indiana product as a potential No. 1 receiver. Thus, he has emerged as a legitimate candidate for selection at the bottom of the first round.

Potential team fits: Philadelphia Eagles , Kansas City Chiefs , Carolina Panthers , San Francisco 49ers .

[Creepster]

Since when is latimer considered a guy "likely" to go in the first or early second? I've read probably hundreds of mock drafts and done at least 50 myself. I don't remember ever seeing him go before out second pick. I like him as much as the next guy but to say he (almost definitely) won't be there by our second pick is silly and uninformed. There will be better value available in the first. This board goes through the same rigamoral every few weeks about its latest favorite draftee. Until this dinner meeting it was widely assumed that he would be a 3rd round target. I can tell you that he is being projected to go later than that, though sounds like a riser so I doubt he would drop much more than that. I don't think id be angry with him in the first but geez.

 

 

llmao

[Creepster]

I'm increasingly getting the feeling that we don't go receiver in the first.

 

 

 

 

 

Based on what ?

[Panthro]

sign me up for him or KB

[gettlemanjack]

ESPN:

"WR prospect Latimer has Eagles' attention...With DeSean Jackson signing with the Washington Redskins following his release from the Eagles, this is an interesting player to watch as the draft inches closer....The Eagles pick at No. 22 in the first round and it looks as if they’re keeping a close watch on Latimer...he could wind up being a nice fit in Eagles coach Chip Kelly's high-octane offense."

[gettlemanjack]

Eagles blogger:

"Indiana's Cody Latimer could be an intriguing option for a team that appreciates size, speed and blocking.... he is very quick and can get open with his burst. He has very good size for the position as he is both tall and thick. He carries his frame well and is aggressive with the ball in the air, which is likely an ode to his time as a basketball player. He is a dominant blocker and may be the best blocking wide receiver in the class. He finishes blocks and he has some nastiness to his game. ... He has very strong hands and will win by either going up and grabbing the ball or ripping it away from a defender. He will sell out for passes out of his reach. He also possess great concentration in crowds and can make a contested pass into a catch.... He makes a lot of contested catches.... The Eagles seem to be infatuated with size, speed and blocking. Luckily, Latimer has all three"

[gettlemanjack]

couple NFL writers:

-"there may not be a player in all of college football climbing draft boards faster than Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer.... if the last couple of months are any indication, Latimer is going to open some eyes in the NFL."

-"Cody Latimer may not be a popular name, but his raw athletic ability immediately pops out on tape. Latimer is well built with both NFL size and strength, put on full display when he posted a position-high 23 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the scouting combine. He has a great NFL frame that should create a ton of mismatches at the next level.

Alongside his coveted stature, Latimer makes some amazing catches and has shown very impressive hands in my tape study. ... Latimer is one of the more explosive receivers I’ve scouted over the years. This explosion shows up all over his tape as he cuts, jumps and moves with incredible power and quickness. In addition, he possesses the type of breakaway speed that can really stretch a defense.

When you watch tape of this kid, you’re sure to fall in love with his effort as a blocker. Why? Because there’s a real nasty streak in the way he goes about his blocking that you rarely see from a wide receiver

...

So if you’re wondering just how impressed I am with Latimer, allow me to put it to you this way:...Simply put, this guy is going to shine on Sundays and it’s about time more people started talking about it."

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

It seems the only pushback on drafting Latimer is bc it messes up one's previous mock draft they posted lol.. Or they never heard of him and he did not get the hype till just now.

Understood as I was hoping we would get him in the third or fourth but like a Stephon Gilmore in the draft two seasons ago...the more tape watched...size/speed/ability is broke down the more that player looks like an elite player in the draft.

Latimer looks the part of a number one more than a Cooks(slot), Odell B jr(slot), K Benj(raw and possibly too big to be no.1), Marquse Lee(run blocking).

I would be happy with any of the above players but the more you see Latimer..the more you hear scouts break him down..the more he seems like a no brainer WR in the first.

[JerrichoScores]

I'm a huge Cody Latimer fan.  I won't complain no matter where we take him, but, in the first round, I can see them going OL if a guy they like is there.

[gettlemanjack]

Chargers blogger:

"Is Cody Latimer this years Keenan Allen?

...

One of, if not the most important thing a receiver has to be able to do is make contested catches at the next level. That's what separates Keenan Allen to most rookies, and why it's easy to see why Latimer will be successful. Latimer has very strong hands, and does a good job of catching the ball away from his body. I saw one drop in 7 games, and that was in the rain.

...

He has great body control, and does a good job of high pointing the ball, and not only coming down with it, but coming down with it in bounds. He makes spectacular catches look routine....he plucks the ball away from his frame, has strong hands and adjusts to the ball. He can win the 50/50 ball, and has enough speed to stretch the field. ... Latimer appears to have the talent to develop into a special player. Latimer reminds me of Brandon Marshall + Keenan Allen."

[gettlemanjack]

Sigmund Bloom of Football Guys on Latimer:

"maybe a top 5 WR in this class, no joke"