dcfanatic
04-20-2009, 10:54 PM
For the last few weeks I have looking through all the WR prospects in the draft and we all know that there are some guys that will be long gone before the Cowboys go on the clock at #51.
Then you factor in the idea that I am not sold the Cowboys will look at the WR position until the 3rd round at the earliest.
So who could be there in that round and more importantly to me is which one of them can also double as a punt returner.
Here's some names....
Mike Thomas from Arizona
Here's what Goose Gosselin had to say about him, read here (http://nflblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/anatomy-of-a-prospect-arizona.html).
Take one look at Mike Thomas and you see a commodity the NFL does not want -- a 5-7 1/2 wide receiver. Big people play at the next level and big people survive.
But the more you look at Thomas, the more you like him -- which is why he's going to turn up in this draft in the middle rounds. What he lacks in size, he makes up in speed. Thomas ran a 4.30 40-yard dash for the NFL at the combine. That showed the NFL he certainly has the speed to play at the next level. Thomas also launched a vertical jump of 40 1/2 inches, so he has the athletic ability to play at the next level as well.
I saved the best for last -- watch tape of what Thomas does with the football in his hands. He was a two-time All-Pac 10 selection as a wide receiver. He leaves Arizona as the Pac 10's all-time leading receiver with 259 receptions. He also was a two-time All-Pac 10 choice as a kick returner and leaves campus with career averages of 23.5 yards on kickoffs and 13 yards on punts. He scored 28 career touchdowns -- 23 on receptions, two on runs and two on kickoff returns.
With the NFL moving more and more toward the pass and the influx of three- and four-receiver sets, Thomas pencils in as an elite slot receiver. Think Steve Smith.
I think we all remember how exciting Steve Smith was when he first came into the league as a punt returner.
Here's some film on Thomas...
ksI1AG9G18M
NFLDraftScout.com has more info on Thomas, read here (http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=57211&draftyear=2009&genpos=WR).
http://images.quickblogcast.com/1/3/2/0/2/128698-120231/cowboyshelmet_small_blog.jpg
Brandon Tate from North Carolina
He was overshadowed because his teammate Hakeem Nicks for the last few seasons. Then last season he went down with a knee injury that sidelined him after only 6 games. He is looked at by Pro Scouts as a potential Pro Bowler in the kick/punt spot at the NFL level.
Here's some film on Tate...
fS6L070REw0
Here's more info on him from Draftcountdown.com, read here (http://www.draftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/wr/Brandon-Tate.php).
http://images.quickblogcast.com/1/3/2/0/2/128698-120231/cowboyshelmet_small_blog.jpg
Johnny Knox from Abilene Christian
Where is Abilene Christian? I said the same thing. But this is a small school prospect who pretty much out himself on the radar at the NFL Combine by running a 4.34 40 time and impressing scouts with his interviews. Now it looks like he's a sure mid round draft pick despite his small size and small school background.
Here's some film on Knox...
BNFsIp26RlY
Here's more info from NFLDraftScout.com, read here (http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=81194&draftyear=2009&genpos=WR).
If the Cowboys can grab one of these guys in the I would be happy that we addressed the need for more competition at the WR position and we have a guy who can beat out Patrick Crayton for the punt return job.
Then you factor in the idea that I am not sold the Cowboys will look at the WR position until the 3rd round at the earliest.
So who could be there in that round and more importantly to me is which one of them can also double as a punt returner.
Here's some names....
Mike Thomas from Arizona
Here's what Goose Gosselin had to say about him, read here (http://nflblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/anatomy-of-a-prospect-arizona.html).
Take one look at Mike Thomas and you see a commodity the NFL does not want -- a 5-7 1/2 wide receiver. Big people play at the next level and big people survive.
But the more you look at Thomas, the more you like him -- which is why he's going to turn up in this draft in the middle rounds. What he lacks in size, he makes up in speed. Thomas ran a 4.30 40-yard dash for the NFL at the combine. That showed the NFL he certainly has the speed to play at the next level. Thomas also launched a vertical jump of 40 1/2 inches, so he has the athletic ability to play at the next level as well.
I saved the best for last -- watch tape of what Thomas does with the football in his hands. He was a two-time All-Pac 10 selection as a wide receiver. He leaves Arizona as the Pac 10's all-time leading receiver with 259 receptions. He also was a two-time All-Pac 10 choice as a kick returner and leaves campus with career averages of 23.5 yards on kickoffs and 13 yards on punts. He scored 28 career touchdowns -- 23 on receptions, two on runs and two on kickoff returns.
With the NFL moving more and more toward the pass and the influx of three- and four-receiver sets, Thomas pencils in as an elite slot receiver. Think Steve Smith.
I think we all remember how exciting Steve Smith was when he first came into the league as a punt returner.
Here's some film on Thomas...
ksI1AG9G18M
NFLDraftScout.com has more info on Thomas, read here (http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=57211&draftyear=2009&genpos=WR).
http://images.quickblogcast.com/1/3/2/0/2/128698-120231/cowboyshelmet_small_blog.jpg
Brandon Tate from North Carolina
He was overshadowed because his teammate Hakeem Nicks for the last few seasons. Then last season he went down with a knee injury that sidelined him after only 6 games. He is looked at by Pro Scouts as a potential Pro Bowler in the kick/punt spot at the NFL level.
Here's some film on Tate...
fS6L070REw0
Here's more info on him from Draftcountdown.com, read here (http://www.draftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/wr/Brandon-Tate.php).
http://images.quickblogcast.com/1/3/2/0/2/128698-120231/cowboyshelmet_small_blog.jpg
Johnny Knox from Abilene Christian
Where is Abilene Christian? I said the same thing. But this is a small school prospect who pretty much out himself on the radar at the NFL Combine by running a 4.34 40 time and impressing scouts with his interviews. Now it looks like he's a sure mid round draft pick despite his small size and small school background.
Here's some film on Knox...
BNFsIp26RlY
Here's more info from NFLDraftScout.com, read here (http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=81194&draftyear=2009&genpos=WR).
If the Cowboys can grab one of these guys in the I would be happy that we addressed the need for more competition at the WR position and we have a guy who can beat out Patrick Crayton for the punt return job.