Mario Manningham

[DonCanabis]

• There are always some prospects who surprise and some who perform poorly at the Scouting Combine but Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham probably qualifies for both categories.

I think Mike Mayock of the NFL Network put it best when he said most of us thought Manningham could "get out of bed and run a 4.4" but that was not the case in Indy. In fact, depending on whose stop-watch you go by the former Wolverine might not have even cracked the 4.5 mark!!! Unofficially Manningham ran anywhere from 4.59 to 4.68 but even if you give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was a 4.59 that is a terrible time for him. It's never good sign when guys like Limas Sweed and James Hardy, who weigh almost forty pounds more than you, run better times but for a player like Manningham who is known as a vertical threat it hurts that much more. A week ago Manningham was in contention to be the first wideout selected but now he's fighting for a spot in round one. Manningham did look pretty good in the rest of the drills but he'll have to really improve on that forty time at Michigan's Pro Day if he hopes reestablish himself as a Top 3 receiver in this draft.

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Again going to game speed if al lthsi reports keep it will be good news for us because there's a bigger chance we could get him with the 28 pick. i've seen enough of the kid to know he could help us so if his 40's time has scared some GMit will help us more to get him

[CowboyzAdam]

See this is one of those times where the Game tapes tell me a lot more about the player than the Combine does. You are not going to make me believe all of a sudden Mario cannot run fast just because he had a bad day at the Combine. That is why I say you have to keep a common sense approach when evaluating these players numbers.

[CowboyFan-n-GA]

Well TO ran a 4.49 before he was drafted, and we all have seen him blow by guys including D. Hall who ran like a 4.29 or 4.3. Maybe we can get him in the second round now.

[SmilesAustin]

What he runs on his Pro Day will make a big difference. T.O. ran a 4.49, which I agree is nothing to get excited about, but that is still a respectable time. 4.59 is Tight End and Linebacker speed.

The reason Manningham's 40 time is a concern is because it is so bad. If he'd slipped up and ran a 4.49, I think people would have given him the benefit of the doubt, but one important thing to remember is that in college you are "blowing by" college cornerbacks. If you guys think Jacques Reeves is bad, imagine the fact that less than half the STARTING corners in college will ever make it to an NFL roster. At least Jacques Reeves is playing in the NFL.

Again, I'm not trying to make the case that Manningham is going to be slow, but when you watch those tapes, make sure you're seeing a player that is actually fast, and not a player that is just beating a college cornerback. You can't look at relative speed in a college game tape, because everyone is much faster in the NFL. You've got to look at "is he really running fast."

I'll look up some game tapes of Manningham myself and I'll get back in here and update later. To be honest with you guys, I know very little about the guy.

[SmilesAustin]

*Update*

Has Manningham ever been known for his speed? I'm looking at highlights on youtube, and while he looks like a very impressive player, I thik it's easy to see that it's not because he is fast. He looks like he plays more like T.O. with clutch catches and the ability to get open. But watching his highlights, I can't imagine why anyone would think "he could just get out of bed and run a 4.4."

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2PsEgtIZleA

I do see a possible future T.O. Is he tall? If he is a decent sized guy, I think a lot of teams will look past his speed.

[thevalleyranchreport]

Here's another update: He's a project bust, in a long line of Wolverine busts... Ill pass on him.

[CowboyFan-n-GA]

I like the kid. He comes back to the ball, or goes up after it. Looks like he has game speed too. Here is a highlight.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TgvJHEjhcBI&feature=related

[b_cadvantag]

If we cant get a good Vet WR in FA, then I would be Very Happy with Super Mario! He is a stud WR, problem is most rookies take awhile to learn the WR position...

[dwaresackattack]

I'm a huge Michigan fan, and have watched most of Manningham's games since he came on as a freshman. He was definitely the big play threat for Michigan after Braylon went pro, but there's a huge gap in performance between the two of them. I like Mario and think he has the potential to be a playmaker, but I don't think he'll ever be at T.O's level. Probably end up being a solid #2 type of receiver in the NFL.

[DonCanabis]

Totally agree I see him as a complement like Terry G. was, a guy that can get seperation, spread the defense and open some holes