Vance McDonald's numbers are worthy of a look... 6-4 267lbs 34 3/8 inch arm length (just 1/8 shorter than Toilolo who had the longest arms of any TE at the combine, Vance being seonc-longest) 31 reps bench press (best among TEs. Next best was Ertz at 24) 4.69 40-time (5th fastest TE, just 0.01 seconds behind Eifert) 33.5 inch vertical (6th best of TEs) 119 inches Broad Jump (tied for 2nd best, behind Gragg and tied with Eifert) 7.08 sec Cone (tied for 3rd best, with Gragg and Ertz) 11.73 sec 60-yd Shuttle (3rd best, right behind Eifert) This is a guy whose buzz at the Shrine week and game helped get him invited to the Combine. Just how good a prospect is Vance? He's certainly rising on boards.
I find most of the tight ends tend to be more comfortable catching the ball away from their body than inside the frame. It stood out to me with Eifert and Fauria.
I have never ween this guy play... so I will ask the question.... is this guy a football player or a workout warrior?
He's not as naturally smooth a hands catcher as the Killer Es are. He'll double catch a few. Still well worth taking in the 3rd or early 4th though. I'm guessing he moves into the top 5 and Reed drops to 6th before draft day.
Where he can move past Reed is in blocking. That's what I want to see of Vance. I have to go watch his film. I really can't speak to his ability until then. for now, I am very very intrigued. I plan to watch Kelce and McDonald this weekend.
I dunno. You can see a lot of instances with some where they are facing the passer, and feel they are wide open where they'll cradle the ball or catch it into their body rather than pluck it. It's not ideal, but it happens enough to notice IMO.
there are a couple guys on youtube talking about McDonald and they said the one thing you can count on McDonald NOT doing is blocking… having said that, I have no idea who they are or if they are credible. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w19...35op4gFT5t86kwojzdA1TcJ&feature=results_video 3:45 mark
* I will eat a baby horned owl live on TV if Austin goes before the 25th pick of the first round. *not really
How did Dion Jordan gain 20 pounds on a torn labrum? Better question is why did he postpone surgery (and it's lengthy rehabilitation) in favor of spending a few months to gain weight which I'm guessing involved strength training, if this all is indeed the case?
I rewatched every Jordan Reed snap at tight end and I gotta say, go right ahead and doubt the guy. He's a football player. He's 9 lbs lighter than Hernandez was at the combine, same height, shorter arms... and I'm thinking similar 40 times. Hernandez only ran at his pro day, and he ran a 4.64. I'd be stunned if Reed didn't hit that. If he falls to the bottom of the 4th I'm laughing, grabbing him, and saying goodbye to the Charles Clay experiment
Tavon Austin is a player you take if you already have your receiving corps established. He's not a player you take as a building block of your receiving corps. He is a luxury pick, similar to the way a Ted Ginn Jr. is more of a luxury pick than a building block and Mike Wallace would be a luxury signing instead of a building block.
It's possible he added more weight to his body (for the combine) than he is currently strong enough to carry. He seemed really disappointed in himself running those 40's. A season + NFL off season will likely do him some good (like it did for Hernandez). Wouldn't hate it if we drafted him 3b/4. I don't see Miami going after Reed. With Clay and Egnew, I think we're in need of a true #1 TE. Clay is raw at TE. It's not his natural position. We drafted him as a FB. I think he's clearly versatile enough use much like Hernandez is with NE. He has flashed some real potential. Maybe Reed is overall better. But they're still too similar and I can't see Miami giving up on Clay. And then there's Egnew. Regardless of what anyone thinks (myself included, I'm not high on him), we drafted him in round 3. He has some great physical tools. Whether anyone likes it or not, I can't see us giving up on him, either. If it's true he's Philbin's pick, I would assume there's a reason why. To me, guys like Eifert/Ertz/Escobar/Kelce are more of what Miami will be interested in to be our #1.
I agree with you but I'm not drafting Reed as our #1 TE at all. I'm drafting him as the utility man. Hback, Split out, Inline WR... you name it, he can do it. Reed is just a special talent. I really love watching this kid play. Same feeling I got with Jared Cook, same feeling I got with Ty Hilton, same feeling I get this year from Stedman Bailey. I just watch them play and I can't see a reason they won't make plays.
I think there is now a bit of exaggeration gong on, my stance has been simple, and not wanting it to become some big debate, it started as a joke but obviously because Eifert looked the best today, that joke is being twisted around, and because I pointed out those two plays and your now using them against as a good laugh for yourself, chump stuff to me...no one has called him a fu&$ing saint, merely stated he was the best tightend this draft had to offer, and he projects to stay that way at the next level imo, if y'all wanna turn this into a cry baby situation so be it..
Correct me if I'm wrong but the worst thing I said about Ertz is that he's not on Eiferts level, sorry that pisses you off my friend.jmo.
Ridiculous run by Austin. Never understood the Twitter wannabees talking about him running a 4.5. Watch the tape. Watch the Oklahoma game. That isn't a man running 4.5 in the forty. I think Ireland has talked about people questioning whether people think the pick at 12 is a reach. I think they get FA on offense right and you take Austin at 12. But you better have the offense right for him to succeed. Given how much he loved Harvin, to me he's absolutely in the mix at 12.
Just goes to show you that 40 times don't mean much, because Bailey is the better receiver between the two of he and Tavon Austin.
I struggle with the Harvin comparison because Harvin was a much stronger runner coming out of Florida than Austin is coming out of West Virginia. I think Harvin had the better build. He legitimately could play running back in the NFL. To me, Austin is limited to being a slot guy. I don't see him being physical enough to play either of the outside receiver positions.
Amen! I love hearing that stuff. It's not like we're talking about just another guy at the slot position. How many slot guys can kill you downfield like Austin on one play and the very next line up at tailback in the pistol with Tannehill running the read option? Plus, you know he's gotta have some good football smarts to learn and execute at a high level all those different roles at WVU. I know he gets knocked for "not playing on the outside", but so what, he had enough on his plate as it was w/o adding flanker or split end to the mix. I had no idea there were Twitter idiots thinking Tavon runs a 4.5. I was thinking 4.3-4.32 range so the 4.25 was like HELLO.
...... in college maybe. Pros are yet to be determined. If Bailey is drafted to play the slot, which is quite possible and perhaps even likely, he's gonna be in Austin's rear view mirror in total scrimmage yards, big plays, and touchdowns IMO.
and Harvin IMO doesn't have the same level of route running ability or maximum level of quick twitch ability that Austin possesses. DeSean Jackson has played quite well on the perimeter, so I don't see why a stronger player with as good or better natural ability couldn't do the same for a handful of snaps a game.
I disagree, because Bailey has shown he can get open against cornerbacks. Austin has shown that he can get open against linebackers. 53% of Austin's receptions have come when he has been covered by a linebacker.
I disagree here too, because Harvin and Austin pretty much ran the same routes in their college offenses. Austin probably ran more routes out of the backfield than Harvin, but neither ran a full route tree in college. What's Austin going to do when a guy like Xavier Rhodes gets his hands on him at the LOS when he has to line up on the line and not off the line? These are things that you didn't see him put into a position to do at West Virginia, and with his size limitations, it is questionable whether he will be able to beat the jam at the LOS. Harvin was a much stronger player from a physical standpoint.
Bailey vs college cornerbacks, but it doesn't matter b/c if the GM who drafts him wants him in the slot he's gonna be in the slot. Why are you knocking Austin just b/c his position kept him from showing how often he could eat up cornerbacks? 47% is enough of a sample size to go on. Hell, he demolished one of the best nickel corners in college football in Tyron Mathieu..... as well as that entire high ranked LSU passing defense that allowed 170 passing yards/game in 2011.
Justin Hunter making good on his claims of sub 4.3 stuff. I wouldn't have this kid on our board. Agree with Barry about too much bust potential.
