He was a mid 4th round pick that a lot of people had going in the 3rd. He has the speed we've been lacking in our offense. Even if he turns into Ted Ginn v2, it gives us a return guy and gives us the ability to run 4 WR sets. Before the draft, we had 3 WRs that were worthy of being on the field (and 2 of them were injured this past season). Even if Gates isn't the best football player in the draft, he is going to scare defenses.
He needs NFL level coaching. This kid has good potential to be a gamebreaker, love this pick. Ireland seems to struggle in rounds 2-3, but he is good with the day 3 guys.
i never really understood why we got rid of Ginn as soon as we got Marshall. This offense clearly needed a burner that could run straight down the field when the defense was paying too much attention to Marshall/Bess underneath. Now Gates can be that guy. All this talk about Mallets great arm and I think people forgot Henne has one too, he just didn't have anyone who could burn anybody. This is a fantastic pick and I could easily see this guy have 4-5 Tds.
The Dolphins got rid of Ginn because the 49er's were dumb enough to offer them a draft choice for him. Ginn was not an effective down field threat because he was afraid to get hit while he was in the game. He had great speed but when all was said and done, he was scared and he was always looking to avoid contact. I thought it was very telling that while the Ravens needed a deep threat before last years draft. Cam Cameron did not use his influence to try and get the Ravens to trade for Ginn. Perhaps Cameron realized that he drafted the wrong member of the Ginn family when he was the head coach of the Dolphins. Perhaps it was Ginn's little sister he should have drafted, since she is probably tougher and has more balls than her big brother.
Looking at 18 minutes worth of highlight film... He's thicker than Ginn (although not stocky by any means) and he's got better short-area burst. He's got some elusiveness to him in the open field. Ginn was long strides, straight-line and not much wiggle. Gates also posted a 40-inch vertical. Dude can get up.
still didn't make sense. All we needed him to do was run straight down field. He never had to go over the middle again with Marshall and Bess on the team. Ginn wasnt tough and he did avoid contact, but his new role would have been "run as fast as you can in a straight line" he never had to get hit again. Now that's Gates is role. Which is cool with me. I know they got rid of Ginn mainly because the negatives of the past regime surrounding him, but he was something this offense needed last season. Briant Hartline (whom i really like!) did not become the deep threat we were hoping. He played very well anyway though, just not the deep ball guy. We tried, it didnt work.
Uuuuhhh... Run down the field...and do what, exactly? Because the whole time Ginn was this awesome weapon some make him out to be, we were seeing 8 and 9 in the box CONSISTENTLY. Ted Ginn scared NO ONE on any Defense we played. His one great game and one good game against the Jets stand as one of the truly epic illustrations of the phrase, "exception to the rule."
every team took players earlier than maybe valued, w fa and trades all but null, draft was huge, couldnt in our position reall just go bpa we had to address need n govget players u want ro make sure u get him. ne can afford bpa they dont need as much. we need core iffensive guys
with Kendall Hunter, Quiz Rogers and Dion Lewis on the board, not a huge fan of the move. Im assuming they must have some FA targets at RB then to get some big play ability. Id like to see James Rogers late then as a punt returner.
I love this pick, Gates will bring lots of speed to our offense and should be able to help out on ST as well. Just glad we finally have a fast WR.
I like them over all. I'm not crazy about trading up for Thomas, and I would have rather taken Brandon Fusco than Edmond Gates, but the picks aren't bad. It isn't like they took Pat White. The thing with Gates, his biggest impact will be on special teams. I can already see some fans thinking that this receiver will make the offense take the next step though. It won't happen. I have to reiterate that receivers have very little impact overall in the grand scheme of things. They are shiny hood ornaments. Gates's ability as a return guy makes him worth the pick though.
He's taller than Ginn and Mike Wallace though. He's also an athletic beast. If you watched him at the combine, you were impressed. He and Julio Jones tore it up.
He's not going to make a major impact until he learns how to beat press coverage and block well. He certainly has the talent to do it. He has loads of talent. Hopefully he will make some contribution offensively as a rookie. 2-3 TDs next year and I will be very happy.
Look like this kid has a good head on his shoulders. Tried his hardest to stay out of trouble, failed in basketball, picked himself up again and tried again, then succeeded in football. Also, the kid calmly shakes his teammates hands as his football celebration after a touchdown. and he's a devout Christian. this kid has a lot of positives about him. I am really loving this pick. [video=youtube;m_GNnqtxCnM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_GNnqtxCnM[/video]
I've been overdosing on Edmund's scouting reports. This kid is a natural... -"I've never lost a race" -"My fastest 40 time is 4.21 on a track" -Dude ran that 4.37 at the combine with a groin pull. -40 inch vertical -The fact that some scouts see his hoop dreams as a detriment has me laughing and shaking my head. -Long arms -Not just a fast guy, but has serious quickness, as well. -Great on bubble screens, has Bess' lateral quickness with Ted Ginn's speed. I don't want to see this pure talent wasted by "easing" him into the lineup like we did with Wake. This kid has legit star potential. He should easily overtake Hartline for the #2 spot right away (if there is a season). I can't believe he fell to the fourth round. I guess we can thank that groin pull for dropping his forty time a bit, even though it was still the fastest for a receiver in the combine. Miami sent one scout that remained in contact with him, but it was so low key that Gates didn't even remember his name. He was the first of a slew of WR's taken in the 4th, Ireland was in a zone. [video=youtube;GGqDTqpa5FQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGqDTqpa5FQ&feature=related[/video]
You do realize that Hartline is just about perfect for his role on the field right? He plays the split end position extremely well, run blocks, and has good downfield speed, with great quickness. No reason for him to lose his job. If anything Bess though he's done nothing wrong should sit with Gates, Marshall, and Hartline out there so that each player can be in his most effective position. Perhaps you use Gates on first and second down and Bess on third as well as the red zone.
yup...... 350 yards and 2-3 TDs would be fine with me, too. Although having Brandon on the field may help facilitate those numbers.
Hello, Just joined the board and wanted to pass some info on about Edmond "Clyde" Gates. Really hope Fins fans embrace calling him Clyde because that's been his nickname for some time and ACU folks know hime as that. As I mentioned on another thread I'm an ACU alum and have the pleasure of seeing most of Clyde's games either in person or streaming on internet. My thoughts: - A high character guy. Right off the bat I want to make sure everyone knows that he has had NO character issues whatsoever and he is a guy who very easily could have chosen a different, more destructive path. It is true that his dad served time in prison for murder but he has completed that sentence and he and Clyde have been getting to know each other since he was released last October. The ACU coaches, first and foremost, want to shape their players into men of faith who will be contributors to society, good fathers, leaders, and Christian examples. It is true that his cousin, Bengals RB Bernard Scott, has had several off-field issues (most were later found to be nothing), but Clyde has been squeaky clean. Despite being in an environment full of temptations to take the wrong path, Clyde didn't. - A guy with ridiculous speed. Most of you know he played a couple of years with the Bears Johnny Knox. Clyde's faster. - A guy who can, but won't always, go up and fight for the ball. He is so athletic and has such body control that he can make some circus catches. However, there were times he "heard footsteps" and didn't go after passes that seemed catchable, albeit with a DB waiting to knock him into next week. - I don't see him as a #1 receiver any time soon. He is going from D2 to the NFL. That's a huge adjustment for a WR. If he can get on the field some this year and get comfortable with the offense I think he'll really begin to contribute in 2012. - He returned kicks early in his ACU career but once he became "the guy" after Knox left, he was basically a WR only. He's definitely got the straight line speed and some moves to be successful, but he'll need some coaching. I see his KR style much like Knox's - pick a direction and try to shoot through a hole and outrun every one. This is much different than Danieal Manning, another ACU guy and Bear KR, who gets to full speed quickly, lowers his head and just crashes into whatever is in his way. - If he returned punts at ACU it must have been early. I really don't remember it. He could do it but, again, he would need some coaching. - As for his style, think thoroughbred with a long, graceful strides, that make it seem like he's running effortlessly. He's not a Devin Hester-type guy who will juke/jive/reverse direction to escape defenders. He's more of a side-step, stutter step guy that will just turn on the afterburners and leave guys looking at the back of his jersey. - I believe he has better than average hands, but he will drop an easy one now and then and that will be frustrating. - My biggest concern will be his adjustment to press coverage at the NFL level. This has been an issue with Knox and I see the same challenge for Clyde. He's going to have to get stronger to do battle with the AFC East DBs twice a season. I couldn't be happier that Clyde is a Dolphin and am working on figuring out how to get to the Dolphins/Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day at the Death Star (Cowboys Stadium in Arlington). Hope this helps. Peace.
my opinion on opening the gate: Edmund Gates fasted run @ 4.21 & slowest @ 4.35, gives him the speed to take the top off a defense or go all the way on a return. although, he was very productive while in college, he needs to be brought along intelligently in NFL level competition to achieve full potential. He has all the necessary tools & upside: can catch the ball using his body & uses his hands going up getting excellent extension & height as he goes after the ball. Gates is not timid in traffic. he moves across the middle without fear or hesitation & holds onto the ball when caught. (Thank God he's is no GinnJr. Lets hope he's more consistent than Chris Chambers) All these things bode well for the possibility of Edmund Gates making a potential & immediate impact on our game. Question: can he adapt to NFL size, speed & talent? the answer may take the 2011 draft from the category of good to great.
one HUGE difference between gates and ginn is that gates doesnt shy away from contact. i thnk his main impact will show up in marshalls stats when he will be opening up the medium routes and keep safeties deep for marshall to get back to using his YAC like he did in denver aslo a lot are comparing him to wallace but i might compare him more to johnny knox