So I was bored and watched the pre combine videos on NFL.com and I stumbled across this particular video: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80ea9db1 Check out the last minute or so. It has Michael Crabtree and Jerry Rice standing right next to each other and I'll be damned if Rice - who is listed at 6'2 on his NFL.com profile - isn't a good inch taller than Crabtree. Unless Rice miraculously grew another inch at 46 or is wearing high heels (well ... he did play in San Francisco ...) then I'd say that we might be in for a little surprise at the combine measurements. Crabtree actually looks about the same size as Deion Sanders, who's listed at 6'1. Sure, colleges lie about their players' height all the time ... but Crabtree's draftstock will be interesting to watch if he turns out to be a good two inches smaller than Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson. Thoughts?
So if he measures at 6'3 or 6'2 there ... does that make Jerry Rice a biological miracle? The Incredible Ever Growing Man?
If it turns out he is only 6'1" that brings him down to Hakeem Nicks size, affect his draft status? Who knows unless he bombs on his 40 time.
Considering that Crabtree is first and foremost coveted because of his size, it would be interesting to see how 6'1 affects his draftstock. Your analogy to Hakeem Nicks is very relevant - why would I rank Crabtree so much higher and shell out so much more if all I get is a somewhat faster Nicks with less route running skills? As for the 40 time, I will be a lot more interested in his short shuttle time and how it compares to his 40.
I don't think it would affect his draft status but it wouldn't surprise me if he was a little under 6'2".
I remember listening to a radio show where McShay and Kiper mentioned everyone will be watching to if Crabtree runs the 40 at the combine and what his time would be since no one has an accurate time on him as of yet.
As for me, I would take Nicks over Crabtree if they are basically the same size and about the same speed. Crabtree coming out as a Sophomore makes me hesitate, only in the sense of how will he handle the off the field things like money, notoriety?
I've thought about this question a lot, because I've been pimping Hakeem Nicks since October. But, the reality is that if I ranked Nicks ahead of Crabtree, I'd only be doing it to make a point. When I watch the two play, Crab is the faster, more jittery player. They've got about the same size, I've never considered Crab to be appreciably bigger than Nicks. I'm really not sure how the 40 speeds will compare but I've considered them about the same. I always thought that if Nicks played in Crab's offense he'd have the same numbers. But, Crab has caught a lot more balls and does appear to be the more sudden player right now. So, even though I adore Nicks, I have to keep Crab at the top.
I'm afraid Crabtree's 40 time will be the talk of the next weeks (if not at the combine thenn until his pro day) but personally, I couldn't care less. In a vaccum, the 40 tells you next to nothing in relation to his ability on a football field. I'd be much more interested if he participated in some other drills (short shuttle being one of them) and then compare the results. Heyward-Bey being another guy who's probably getting pimped for his speed and whom I wouldn't even consider drafting unless his shuttle is at least 0.3 seconds better.
Crab has those long legs that make him look taller...I remember being in shock when I realized Chamber's was only 5'11 because he looked about 6'3n and sometimes played like he was 6'3.
Ok, I just watched some of the video. One thing to also consider is when you look at him standing next to Deion Sanders, he looks a good inch taller than Deion, and Deion is 6'1". And to be honest I always thought Jerry Rice was closer to 6'3". So I'd say that Crab is probably a shade under 6'2".
But then the difference would really be marginal and only in terms of who has played in the more receiver friendly offense. I'm not saying you're wrong, it just seems that size is a bigger factor (not necessarily in your opinion but in the overall comparison between the two) than one would think. I can see why NFL scouts would drool over a productive 6'3 WR from a prolific offense ... they simply aren't available all too often. A guy under 6'2 on the other hand ... they are much more readily available. Sure, you can still rank Crabtree ahead of Nicks for the reasons you mentioned but suddenly the difference seems a lot more marginal to me ... certainly not enough to shell out that high a pick and that much money if I can get a marginally worse prospect later.
How much later can you get that player, though? Hakeem Nicks is on his way up and he's training his 40 pretty well.
Fixed my mistake earlier fella's I was comparing him To Chambers in that he plays even taller than he really is. I forgot to put Chamber's name in like a dumass.
True. But if Crabbtree ends up at 6'1 something, the question is no longer "Do I draft a rare physical speciman in the mold of Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald in the top 5" but "Do I draft a receiver in the mold of Hakeem Nicks or Dwayne Bowe in the top 5". Sure, some FOs might still say, we don't care, Crabtree is one heck of a player but I wouldn't be surprised at all if some other FOs said, you know what, a WR like this simply doesn't warrant a top 5 selection. Most years, you can get one like this in the 15-30 range.
1st. how are you going to say in the mold of someone that hasnt played a down in the nfl in Nicks? lol. specially one that he is better then. I love Nicks as much as the next guy, but Crabtree is the much better prospect. 2nd. you can still ask yourself "Do I draft a rare physical speciman in the mold of Anquan Boldin in the top 5?"
don't quote me on this but i heard on nfl network this morning that crabtree was not running the 40 at the combine. this was in a little section of the show where they were discussing players to keep an eye on and crabtree was the only reciever they talked about that i recall. can anyone confirm that he is not running the 40?
I think Crab has differentiated himself from Hakeem Nicks on the field. He doesn't need to be worlds apart on the measuring tape.
yea thats what i thought,thanks for confirming my delusions. i was a little dissapointed he isn't running at the combine but he's training for the forty which is good because we all know he wasn't the speediest guy so it may help his stock by not running yet. that is if he can get a little faster.