Cordarrelle Patterson, WR - Tenn.

Seems like a draft pick if you have a long term plan. Doesn't seem to be the type to come in and set the league on fire. Might have a good Josh Gordon type year, which would be nice.

Looks like he is going to be a great kick returner.

 

That's pretty funny.

No offense I just meant from a stream of consciousness standpoint.

 

Interesting pair of statements. I was about to disagree with you with respect to the first statement but then when you said might have a Josh Gordon type year I got confused and wanted to agree with you.

Gordon had 50 catches for 805 yards and 5 touchdowns this year. Everyone has gone positively gaga over T.Y. Hilton but Gordon had virtually the same year and his physical prowess holds the promise of more development.

To me that kind of IS coming in and setting the league on fire for a rookie. It's definitely upper echelon amongst rookie receiver performances of the decade.

I think Cordarrelle Patterson is exactly the kind of guy that can make an immediate impact. The less explosive technique guys, they're the ones that to me have trouble right away until they've perfected their technique. Guys with great physical gifts have it easier, IMO. I think of Cordarrelle as probably being the most gifted receiver in this Draft from a pure physical talent perspective. He's 6'3" and outruns guys vertically, yet can cut and juke like Tavon Austin.

 

This is an excellent video of Cordarrelle Patterson, actually. YouTube being what it is, still an excellent video.

[video=youtube;rIXqAtF1--M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIXqAtF1--M[/video]

 

It kind of is. When thinking of "Setting the world on fire" I am more thinking about Randy Moss or a #1 type receiver everyone loves to say.

I am always scared of receivers with the negatives of "Needs a year to learn how to run routes."

I hate when people use former Dolphin players as comparison, however it does remind me of Ted Ginn. Just of course very different since Ginn looks like he relied MUCH more on speed and doesn't have the elusiveness.

At the same time, with Miami being 7-9 with a few games that could have really used a player who has the ability to take a bubble screen, reverse, or just fly pattern to the house.

 

He's a lot tougher than Ginn.

 

I am not trying to say he is Ted Ginn. Just another reciever that has me on edge when pointing out he needs to learn routes. Like Heyward-Bey for example.

 

I think the Combine is going to be big for Cordarrelle Patterson because his pure long speed is really hard to gauge on tape.

The problem lies in his cutting. He does a LOT of it on most of the plays you see the ball go his direction. Every time you cut, you lose speed, and you can really only regain a marginal amount of it back. Sometimes it's kind of remarkable how much speed he does recover after cutting so many times on some of these plays. But it could be why I noticed before that from a pure long speed standpoint there are definitely guys running faster. David Amerson is estimated to be only a 4.59 guy by NFL Draft Scout. Toward the end of one of Cordarrelle's runs, it's clear the two are at about the same long speed.

But then you see Cordarrelle just flat out beat a guy like Jaylen Jenkins of Florida with straight speed, and you're like whoa, wait a minute...how fast IS this guy after all? Jenkins looked helpless trying to close even while Cordarrelle was looking up for the ball which slows you up. Jenkins is estimated to be a 4.42 guy.

Also this is just from an experience standpoint in terms of watching guys run at the Combine for a long time, you look at Cordarrelle's body type, leg length and his high gait, and you can imagine him flying down the track like a Travis Benjamin did.

So...it'll be interesting.

Two angles to keep in mind about Patterson:

1. Growth. A year ago he was playing JUCO ball. He comes right in and faces one of the highest rated corners in the country in David Amerson and burns him to cinders. Was Amerson overrated? Probably. But then he's out there taking Louchiez Purifoy to school, and he's the #1 rated sophomore CB according to NFL Draft Scout. Then he's taking on Johnthan Banks with some success, and Darius Slay with even more success. He made a nice play against Robert Lester of Alabama.

2. Route running. It isn't just about technique. There's a lot of innate ability involved in that. One of the reasons I like him is because that same cut-n-go ability which proves absolutely ridiculous against even SEC defenses, is present in a simple slant play, or in a back shoulder throw. And he loves to use his hands on his routes to keep defensive backs at bay.

 

If Ted Ginn were this big and had these kinds of open field running skills we would be having a different conversation. In the back of our minds I think we always knew we were counting on Ginn's incredible long speed to make up for the fact that he was an unexciting open field runner.

 

Do you really think the Dolphins will take into consideration in their evaluation of Cordarrelle Patterson that they have a crappy wide receivers coach and so they shouldn't bother trying to develop a young guy?

If that was their line of reasoning they'd just fire him.

 

What an exciting player. I had visions of the 2007 Ronnie Brown, pre-injury, when he was a flat-out jukebox. We won't take him, but that doesn't stop me from paying attention to the team that does. He seems to play fast regardless of what his timed numbers will be. Seems much more stout upon contact than his frame appears.

 

His hands worry me, but everything else looks good. He's just such a body catcher it's tough to judge IMO.

 

Patterson seems to have confidence in his hands or else he wouldn't be attempting a few of those unnecessary 1 handed grabs IMO.

 

seems to me like he has pretty good vision. and is either smart or very instinctual.

 

Reminds me of Roddy White. I don't think he's much of a deep threat, but I think he will be a good route runner in the NFL.

 

I hate to dismiss that but at the same time I know that Roddy White was a body catcher and so was Golden Tate. It's a fine difference but I think there's a difference between a guy that cradles a ball into his body trying to shield it away from the defender and a guy that does so to try and increase his chances of catching the ball. If you have time look through all the catches and judge how often he catches it unnecessarily with his body when a defender isn't really around to try and challenge the catch.

 

Actually that's the thing that worries me most about his hands because the tendency to try for that can show his lack of polish. A lot of times it's easier to try and stab the ball with one hand, while you're on the move and your body is leaning this way or that. When Matt Jones made the transition to wide receiver he did it all the time. It takes discipline and technique to make sure you get two hands on the ball in all but the most extreme situations.

 

That's the only video I saw of him, and only other time I remember seeing Tennessee was against Akron (and I don't specifically remember Patterson in that game). I didn't notice a lot of unnecessary body catching just more than I am used to seeing. One of the slants vs Vanderbilt in the highlight eased my concerns a bit because he cleanly snatched it out of the air. I did see a drop or two (in my opinion) and while that's not unexpected they were all catches away from his body. That's the only thing thy gives me pause.

Believe me though, concerns or not, I won't complain if we take him.

 

That's the thing. You watch him running in the open field and he cuts so damn much by the time he's getting into a deep gait to try and judge speed against others, he's already lost a lot.

But look at this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=GOXSDNMCp-8#t=145s

That's Jaylen Watkins. No, he didn't actually catch the ball and that's a problem. But if we're talking about deep threat ability, outside of maybe a Mike Wallace eating up an 8 yard cushion and still blowing by his corner, this is pretty good because Watkins had legit 4.42 speed. What is of particular interest to me is at the point where Watkins stops hand fighting with Patterson, he starts pumping his arms and trying his damnedest to gain speed and close on Patterson while Patterson is looking up for the ball which would tend to slow you down. But look close, and pay attention to the body language. Not only is Watkins completely at a loss to try and close up any distance, his body language shows that he knows he can't catch up. Those horses eyed one another, and Patterson won.

If he can do that to a guy with 4.42 speed then I imagine at 6'3" then he really is a deep threat.

Does the same beating Robert Lester vertically here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=kGZVE1p6Q40#t=3s

And then of course there's this infamous play which he made on David Amerson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QypUGJch5yk#t=30s

 

What impresses me the most is his acceleration and lateral quickness for a guy that size. He is certainly an interesting prospect.

 

Incidentally the Florida game was one of the games that I hadn't seen before but when I saw it, it really moved the needle for me on Patterson.

 

Similarly, here's Cordarrelle Patterson matched up on CB Branden Smith of Georgia, whom in my humble opinion Patterson got open on at will when he was actually running a route. So bad I thought Georgia actually adjusted the matchups and responsibilities so that Smith wouldn't find himself in a high pressure technique against Patterson again. Not that it mattered as I thought Patterson got open just as easily on Sanders Commings, especially on slant patterns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=CiH27BqHHqI#t=250s

Same thing. Branden Smith is a guy that has run a 4.43 at campus testing. He gets into a press, tries to be physical with Patterson but is unsuccessful, but most importantly pause when the ball is in the air and they come back into frame. Look what happens when the ball is in the air and Patterson is looking up for it and trying to run under the pass. Smith isn't trying to be physical anymore, he's pumping his arms and putting on the afterburners to try and close the separation. It's not happening. Look at the body language and how far out in front Smith's got his head trying to catch up. This is a Cordarrelle Patterson that has his head up in the sky trying to track the ball and adjust his speed to get under it, and a 4.43 guy is at a loss to try and close the distance no matter how hard he runs.

 

His Florida tape is really impressive, even more so when you consider Florida had one of the best defenses in the country. In that game he really showed he can be productive in all levels of the passing game. Had a great slant in a goal line situation where the CB is taught to prevent the receiver from getting inside. Patterson uses his quickness to cut in front of the CB and then shields him with his 6'4" frame. Had a nice intermediate dig route where he just sat in the soft spot of the zone and caught the ball. In the deep part of the passing game, he showed that he can make big plays in all of the clips that CK just posted above, including one against Florida CB Jaylen Watkins.

This guy is a starter Day 1 for the Dolphins. Would be very happy taking him at 12. Maybe move back a couple spots to gain an extra pick to try to move into the late first round with some packaged picks, but wouldn't want to move too far back to risk losing him.

 

Agree, it concerns me as well.

 

I see a mix of a young Randy Moss and a old Randy Moss

He jumps like an old Randy Moss but runs after the catch like a young Randy Moss.

I don't think his hands are as good as Moss', but he is probably a little more physical.

Should be good to see him run the gauntlet at the combine and run the 40

he is electric with the ball in his hands

 

He would be a great fit for this offense. Can you imagine him catching one of those comebacks and being all alone on an island against the cornerback after that? He would probably win more than half of the time. I honestly hope he blows the pre-draft events up, which would vindicate Ireland's selection of him at 12.

 

I'm going to put 20:1 odds that Miami doesn't draft him. I get excited about him but let's be honest here.

 

Some notes from the South Carolina game which was his worst game statistically I believe with 1 kick return for 13 yards, 1 punt return for -8 yards, 3 catches for 26 yards and 3 runs for 21 yards.

On kick returns he made an impact no matter what the stats say. South Carolina did all they could to avoid kicking to him, including kicking one out of bounds which gave it to the Vols on the 40 yard line, and a squib which gave it to them on the 36 yard line. Those are as good as 40 and 36 yard returns. There were other shenanigans in there just doing whatever they could to keep Patterson from getting the kickoff returns.

On offense, the mark of a good player is how statistically you can look at 3 runs for 21 yards and say "meh" but then watch the plays and be really wowed. One end-around he just blazes so fast that he gains 9 yards even though the Gamecocks had great pursuit. There was a jet sweep (might've technically been a catch) where he he gets to the perimeter and starts turning up field and a corner goes down to the turf with the receiver blocking him, getting in Patterson's way. Patterson hurdles over the both of them and clears no less than 15 or 16 feet (just over 5 yards) in the air before being met as he came back down, stayed on his feet initially despite the wallop, gang tackle...only a 5 yard gain. Got open vertically against Jimmy Legree and was overthrown. Got REALLY open on a nice little fade-stop, good gain. Took a snap from tailback executing a toss play and the guy's vision and cutting ability availed him plenty there as he found the creases inside the blocking, gained some good yardage. Did the same thing lined up as a tailback on the toss, this time had to make a man miss in the backfield right off the toss, still got out and gained like 5 or 6 yards. What a weapon. His final catch of the day was yet another nice example of how he can instantaneously get his hips around after the catch and begin running with the ball in his hands. Justin Hunter can't do that.

 

The Dolphins have a return guy they like in Thigpen. I think Patterson has so much to learn they'd want him focusing on receiver.

I heard reference to Patterson really only arriving at UT shortly before the start of the season. I guess he arrived a month after most incoming freshman so he got maybe like a month or so of FBS coaching before he had to go into regular season mode.

Have an article saying he posted a 10.33 second 100 meter dash just before arriving to the football team. Also says he did a 39 inch vertical and a 22 foot long jump. And I'm telling you he actually did at least 16 feet on the football field during a jet sweep.

 

Well it is Ireland.

 

I feel like this whole season there has been so much talk about a lack of speed and playmaking on offense, especially at the wide receiver position. Everybody has said that was our biggest weakness. By taking Patterson at 12, I think you add a guy that can really add some playmaking ability to our receivers group and will make guys like Hartline and Bess better by being able to stretch the defense a little bit. And then you can bring some variety into the offense with his ability on sweeps and reverses and things start to look a lot more dynamic.

Clearly the strength of this draft is on the line of scrimmage. I think it really comes down to a couple choices: if one of the elite top 12 prospects (Joeckel, Werner, etc.) falls to us then you take him; otherwise, you have to look at a guy like Ansah or Sheldon Richardson compared to Patterson and decide which position will have the better prospects available in rounds 2 and 3. That's my take on it. What do you guys think?