What is funny is he is pretty raw from a WR standpoint and he was able to just hurt teams. If he keeps developing he is going to be a monster.
That's the upside argument. For sure. There's a natural speed, agility, burst and size combination that will be tough for defensive backs to handle IF he starts doing things right.
Hell if I know. On the one hand, didn't exactly get a lot out of Rishard Matthews. On the other hand, Brian Hartline had a career year. So who knows.
Mathews I thought did decent with what little time he got. I'm not sure Ireland hates playing rookies when our wr core was injury riddled. Or falling down after a catch.
I don't know. When Mike Sherman was asked about Michael Egnew later in the year and being inactive, whether he can find a way to get him in there and see what he's got, Sherman said that "Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin make that decision, not me". I thought it was very strange. Easiest thing in the world for Sherman to simply say that the head coach makes that decision. But he included Ireland.
I agree. I think the issue comes down to production. With Patterson, you have this big, fast wide receiver with tremendous agility and overall athleticism. He looks like he was cut from the mold that God made when he decided to make wide receivers. With that said, when you look at the numbers, this is a guy who only averaged a shade under 4 receptions per game and scored 5 TDs on the season. People see a dominant looking receiver that does not have dominant production as compared to guys like Stedman Bailey and Terrance Williams.
My question is, would you be willing to spend a 1st round pick on this player after investing in a veteran WR? Because I honestly don't see how the Dolphins don't do the latter. They need a guy that's going to come in and be an instant impact guy in the receiving corps. Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin's job could depend on it and so could the development of their young QB. So whether it's one of the big 3 FA's or a trade I think the Dolphins will make a significant investment in a good veteran WR. So would you still take Patterson even if that were the case? It would allow him to develop more naturally and not be asked to do too much too early. It could also give the Dolphins a potentially dynamite receiving corps for years to come. Obviously though, that would be spending big resources on one position with other big needs. I think I would choose to pass on him in the 1st and take a good look at what's there in rounds 2 and 3.
He has the speed of a guy 5'10 180 but is 6'3 210+. Really a freak athlete I will be shocked if he is around at 12. he is easily top 10 talent but the risk might be too high for some teams. I hope the Jets pass on him.
I don't agree that Stephen Hill is a bust. He showed flashes he can play but injuries set him back. Also I find it hard pressed to hold any WR accountable when he has Sanchez throwing the football.
Yeah I mean between Sanchez being Sanchez and the injuries, dont know how Hill is a bust. I'd have loved to have him this year, would've given exactly what we were missing. Sanchez couldn't see the field and couldn't hit a target when he did see it. Demaryius Thomas had the same background at Georgia Tech with the triple option and lack of route tree experience. Virtually same production at GT, about 25-30 yards per catch for the two in their final years. Virtually same strength/weakness profile coming out. BeyBey had the same production as Hill in his rookie year, virtually. He's turned out OK.
1) Matt Ryan is not a second tier QB imo 2) A recent thread showed that the impact of WR performance being considerably better actually only has a modest impact on Qb rating... I bring it up because, while disputable, it suggests that no Qb is really going to be 'made' by the receivers around him unless he is pretty decent himself (or herself). 3) Banks is not worth the #12, from what I've heard/seen of his year this year 4) Taylor Lewan has decided to STAY at Michigan. This matters why? Because he was top ten and all the guys are bumped up... the odds a Dee Milliner or aDion Jordan makes it to us now is decreased. (I personally don't think Dion should go top ten. And Dee Milliner is the best CB in a weak class. In a normal year he goes #12-#17 somewhere.)
While signing a WR and drafting Patterson would not necessarily be my preference, I wouldn't be all that upset if it were what the Dolphins end up doing. I'm a WR coach, I would love to see a lot of very good WRs on the team. I seriously doubt though that Patterson would be the highest graded player on the board when the Dolphins pick though. There are some very good edge rushers that I think will provide good value at 12 and will make a big impact on our defense. I'm also curious to learn more about a couple of the safeties, and I also think the two TEs could be good value there. Plus, Patterson looks to be a boom or bust type player. If you draft say, a Bailey or a Hopkins, they may not have the ceiling of Patterson, but they could reasonably end up giving you more early as well as end up being better players in the long run. If you don't have a Greg Jennings you can gamble on that big time talent, but if you do, you might be better served going the safer route.
Just some more article pulls on Patterson... http://espn.go.com/college-sports/r...darrelle-patterson-signs-tennessee-volunteers The break did him some good. When you watch the tape it's highly evident how good of a time he's having out there and how much he's enjoying it. The big or small quote is an important point about him.
I just watched the highlight vid ck posted. If I were to say Patterson reminds me of Chris Chambers a bit, would I be wrong? It's not the 84, it's just something about the way he catches the ball. This kid does look like a guy that would be a big help right away.
Don't know if I see Chambers in him aside from the long limbs but I think Patterson is better with the ball in his hands. I mean really the only guys I can compare him to with the ball in his hands would be return guys like Cribbs, Hester, etc. Maybe Harvin.
I originally wanted banks at our 12th pick. Have heard bad things about this season but haven't actually sat down to watch Banks 2012 stuff so maybe reports of his struggles are exaggerated.
He reminds me of a taller Pierre Garcon [who looked like a stud in the making at Mount Union]..... and Cribbs is a good comparison, too. This first punt return TD is in the Texas vs The Nation game. [video=youtube;vvzTkNIVEj0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzTkNIVEj0[/video] [video=youtube;NCVzsENMUAI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCVzsENMUAI[/video]
Kudos. Pierre Garcon is an EXCELLENT comparison. He's Pierre Garcon but 3 inches taller. Note that it took Garcon a little bit of time to really absorb the nuances of the position but he always made plays, and he's flat out deadly right now.
On the other hand, I like Milliner more than Banks and I absolutely abhor Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Some guys have stop ability, fewer have start ability. DeAndre Hopkins is a guy that I think has stop ability, very quick feet and good body control, can really arrest his momentum and stop on a dime. But he doesn't have start ability, IMO. The burst off his cuts and the ability to pull away in those first few steps or in short areas isn't really there. For Patterson, I believe those things are there. There's a chance Patterson is slower on a straight line compared with Pierre Garcon but there's also a chance he's faster, lol.
1) Why did he lose passion or football suddenly? And then get it back? I don't like unpredictable inconsistent emotional stuff. Best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. 2) Not caring about your marks, schooling or future isn't a great sign. Maybe he has overcome that attitude, but what caused it in the first place? Is there stuff about his home life, role models, or environment that caused it? If so, where and when else could issues sprout up that come from that backstory? It's not probable... But it is possible. 3) Trouble respecting authority and coaching? Bad sign and even if he has started to improve that, if there was a problem there it's like an iceberg...7/8ths of the issues are still hidden under the water. There are already enough variables that can cause a prospect not to pan out. Adding possible question marks is not what I want with a high first round investment.
Because he was 14 years old? I mean come on, let's be reasonable here. You have no idea what was going on in his home life at the time. At the same time he got burned out on football which he'd been playing his whole life, and he spent freshman and sophomore years out of it, he also let his grades slip. Suggests there was something else going on in his life. Either way he was 14 to 15 years old and you're treating it like it's the kind of inconsistency that tells you what kind of 24 and 25 year old he's going to be. That's a fallacy. There goes 40% of the NFL. And probably 70% of its touchdowns. That's a pretty heavy spin cycle you just put that load of laundry on.
It's actually pretty common for athletes to get burned out during high school. It happens more than you think and I have read it happening with baseball quite a bit. High School is the first time where sports becomes pretty serious when you're playing for your school rather than little league. It's around that time when the workload becomes a lot more than they're used to. I'm not saying it happens a lot, but it does happen. It's nothing to be concerned about. You can't get to where these guys like Patterson get to without having a passion or love for the game. He would never had made it in Tennessee.
Either way I'm not inclined to start projecting his 24-25 year old behavior based on his 14 year old behavior. God if people did that with any of us none of us would have women or jobs.
I agree with all this. Good point about start-stop ability. In my eyes Garcon & Patterson seem to have similar speeds in all phases- deep speed, get off, intermediate, lateral. BTW, I'd take a 2-3 inch taller Garcon any day of the weak.
Exactly my point. And I used to tutor teenage boys for many years. Let me tell you, the ones who had issues with emotional inconsistency, or motivation coming and going, and all that, it was part of a problem pattern that showed up in other areas... and years after I had worked with them it was still cropping up. it's a specious argument to say 'oh well, he was 14'. Because a LOT of athletes who achieve to the highest levels of their sport (that's what we are assessing him for, right? to see if he can be that) *never* doubted that they loved or were committed to the path they were on. If he had doubts, it raises questions as to why. Questions I'd want to understand the answers to before simply whitewahsing it as 'he was young'. Did his Dad push him too hard? Did something inside him get scared of jumping from Jr high to H.S. level? I mean, I don;t know, but I'd like to know. This is not a $15/hr dishwasher you are hiring and can just replace, CK. This guy is a 12th overall pick (which you can;t get back if you don;t like what you bought) and then there is the money part, and there is us relying on him. I'm not saying to discount the kid over this. It is probably nothing... but if you take what I am saying at face value, it is just that it raises more questions for me that I'd want answers to. That's all. And I dislike that happening at 12th overall. A lot. So you think a disporportionate amount of the best TD scorers never gave a crap about their schooling? I would think it's more like 40% of the players, but about 20% of the actually GREAT players. At any rate, this one is entirely opinion and holds the least water of any of my points, admittedly, so I won't argue it. Well, I'm not trying to convince anyone else. What I am realizing is that I tend to think little indicators could mean emotional landmies that affect a guys performance. I am still convinced Egnew's ****ed up childhood is why he can;t block worth a **** (I'm convinced he was physically abused as a kid). So there's little chance we'll agree on this. And I am in no way claiming I see anything I know to be wrong with Cordarrelle... I amm just saying that to me this is smoke, and it has me wondering if there is fire. Again.. at #12 I want to sleep like a baby at night knowing he has his emotional, personal, mental **** squared away. Now, if Cordarrelle is there in round two, I don;t care if he has a history of streaking train stations dressed as a blonde transvestite, I take him, throw him the ball and never look back. I am very particular with our most valuable resource, though. That top pick... because it can become a Ryan Tannehill or it can become a Jason Allen.
