I am no Draft Guru(tm) , but if at least 2 QB's, (Barkley and Smith), are not picked before 12 I will be surprised. Kiper and his ilk always modify their draftboard as the draft nears. They are just soliciting web site views. Like my old boss Smilin' Jack always said "keep'em owin' and keep'em payin' ".

 

Would be OK with that pick/10.

 

i think patterson is going to be the guy i want. size, speed, and a playmaker. we need that. we need that like a virgin on prom night.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx6pGFvDqt0

Never thought I'd love kiper. Patterson is a beast. Where do I sign to sell my soul?

 

I prefer Bailey and Hopkins. I don't believe that Patterson's skills will be nearly as special at the next level. And I also see considerable risk in a player that has only played 12 games and hasn't shown that he will put in the work. Every year there are a dozen players with the physical ability to be #1 WRs. Fuller on our practice squad is one them. One year into college he looked like a future first round pick, but he never developed the consistency. Patterson may be great. He has great tools, but so do literally dozens of prospects. In my experience, the biggest determinants of what makes great NFL WRs (given some minimum physical characteristics) is the personality and work ethic.

 

Arguably, we would be better served offering Fuller the opportunity to earn more playing time rather than rolling the dice on a Wr at #12.

The deal with Wr's is very much akin to running backs, it is all about opportunities to make things happen, this is one of the reasons why I want to retain Reggie Bush, say what anyone will, he makes good things happen on the football field.

I suspect Fuller is a casualty of over caution, typical of NFL coaches' approach:

"oh but in practice"

This is one of the ways imo the NFL does a poor job of talent management.

Look at Donald Thomas, Sparano got him out of here, he bounced around, and now was PFF's second highest rated Guard for the patriots, and of course we have a hole at guard, could not use him right now..fools.

 

I think Fuller's problems are more Fuller based than opportunity based. With many players (and it seems more prevalent at WR) the player has to figure it out on their own. IMO the WR position is so bust prone b/c people see players with physical measurables or fast guys who make impressive runs against far slower opponents and then when they get to the pros they can't figure it out and aren't so much faster and more dynamic against the upgraded competition. I think you significantly cut your bust risk if you find WRs who have demonstrated a willingness to put in the work already.

 

Thing is, unless you put the guy on the field to prove or disprove a staff's opinion of him, it is all kabuki theatre.

"Oh, he struggled on the mid range route getting off the los in practice"

Uhm, in a game situation, perhaps the technique comes into focus more so than in practice, or maybe the Db does not respect them etc etc

NFL coaches do not roll like that, and imo, that is a mistake.

This is one of the reasons why I'm a CFL fan, for example Chris Williams, who did not make it to opening day, but anyone could see the talent, he has his chance in the CFL and *gosh* he scored 8 Td's on returns let alone as a Wr.

CFL is far more fearless than the scared coaches in the NFL.

 

That's b/c they have less at stake and less to choose from after all the real talent has been picked over by the NFL. They can go after those talented but less refined players b/c the competition faced is significantly less than in the NFL.

 

I watched Fuller a lot at the same time various people were nosing his backside. I didn't agree with them at all. Thought he was very overrated. Regardless not sure how Fuller relates to Patterson.

 

Not at all, what happens is, it is "we will let you do what you do well, if you fail at what you do well..GTFO"

The NFL is so entirely system based it is a management nightmare, and poorly run.

 

you make it sound so simple.

 

Not really. You can see if guy is figuring it out or not. Despite the physical stats to be a #1, he didn't produce more than the one year in college. He was one of those you saw had not put in the work (or if he did, it still didn't take). I'm generally not over impressed by guys with the physical stats and little evidence that they will get it at the next level.