WR talk.
Michael Crabtree: surgery to fix his injured foot was successful. Recovery is expected to take 8-10 weeks. Crabtree was advised by at least one team picking in the top 10 to go ahead and get the surgery, meaning, they’re not concerned about it. (Then again, that could have been Seattle, who just signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh anyway.)
Crabtree is still Mike Mayock’s top wideout. He can create separation with his first step. He understands how to get open in the zone. Runs well with the ball and is a willing blocker. Great burst, acceleration, suddenness. Who he’s not is Larry Fitzgerald. He has neither Fitzgerald’s size nor his ball skills.
Top 5 WRs: Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Percy Harvin, Kenny Britt, Darrius Hayward-Bey. Hakeem Nix and Brian Robiskie are also in the mix.
Kenny Britt: 6’3”, 218, ideal WCO receiver. Big, tough, physical, excellent size. Has size and speed to break tackles in secondary. Ran at combine in low 4.5s. Had 1300 yards receiving as a senior, 1200 as a junior. Dropped too many easy balls early this season but improved as the year went on.
Hakeem Nicks: 6’1”, 212. Strong, physical, strong after the catch. Very good hands. Transitions from receiver to runner quickly.
Brian Robiskie: 6’3” 209. Work ethic and professionalism beyond his years. Raised to be a WR. Knows how to run routes and set up defenders. Catches everything, and his 4.49 at the combine was faster than it was thought he’d run. Can work underneath all day and then shock you with his deep vertical speed. Has the IQ, work ethic and ability to develop into a #1 WR. Should be an immediate contributor for whoever drafts him. Should go early 2nd round. (How about #35?)
Darrius Hayward-Bey: His sub-4.4 40 was the fastest at the combine. He can outrun everybody, and his speed translates to the field. He’s not afraid of contact or going over the middle. Caught well at the combine and gets up to speed quickly after the catch. Minuses: Rarely saw press coverage. Inconsistent hands. Route-running is an unknown quantity. (Charles Davis echoed my thoughts exactly by describing him as a bigger Donnie Avery.) Davis and Charlie Casserly projected Hayward-Bey as a late first-round pick; Mayock says he’s just second-round quality.
Writer from scout.com projects their pick as Georgia Tech DT Michael Johnson. Fittingly for Jevon Kearse’s old team, Johnson’s described as a “freak”, 6’7”, 266. He wasn’t productive in college this year but impressed in the drills and the 40 at the combine. Another possibility named was Utah CB Sean Smith (though at 6’3”, 214 and a high 4.5s 40, he sounds more like a safety to me).
All till next time.
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