Thread: Jay Says, "Anybody Over 6'2" Will Do...................

The guy we need to get use to talking about is Rueben Randle from LSU.

He is one of the few big WRs [6'4" 210lbs.] with the speed and quickness to be a dominant WR in the NFL. He has climbed recently when people have seen his tape and realized that he played in a terrible offense with pathetic QB play and I expect after the combine he may pass Michael Floyd.

I think he has the most upside of any WR in this draft.



Rueben Randle Highlights 2011 [HD] - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXexXpY6Gb8

Originally Posted by WindyCity

The guy we need to get use to talking about is Rueben Randle from LSU.

He is one of the few big WRs [6'4" 210lbs.] with the speed and quickness to be a dominant WR in the NFL. He has climbed recently when people have seen his tape and realized that he played in a terrible offense with pathetic QB play and I expect after the combine he may pass Michael Floyd.

That's very possible and over the next couple of months we'll see how that goes. It's too damn tough to predict what Emery will or won't do at this point in time. I'm still waiting to hear decisions on Forte and our other UFA's. Who we retain and who we don't will make a difference in how we define needs to FA and the Draft.





Rueben Randle Highlights 2011 [HD] - YouTube

Rueben Randle vs Arkansas 2011 - YouTube

All the experts say that FA is where you go to meet your immediate needs and your draft should emphasize talent over position. Never reach for a guy just because you need a RB when there are better players on your board still available at other positions.

Like I said it all comes down to value and that's a real big factor in the first round from what I can see. I think its' funny how we say a guy isn't worth the #19 pick yet he's great value at #25. How the hell much difference can there be yet I get caught up in all that myself. If he's the guy you want 5 or 6 places shouldn't make a difference unless you know you can trade down and still get your guy and extra picks to boot. Depending on how this goes on draft day it wouldn't shock me to see us move around a bit for the right player (s).

Originally Posted by WindyCity

The value question is one that plagues me and I am just happy that the combine is here so we can get a better read on many of the players in the draft.

The value point is the only reason I have been bringing up the interior OL prospects so much because, to use one of your sources, NFP has Glenn as the 9th Prospect in the draft and Konz as the 17th.

They might represent a better value that Floyd and the DEs that seem to be falling.

That's just the way it always goes. The draft never follows the order of how guys are ranked overall. Look at teams who reach for QB's or RB's out of need and leave better players at other positions on the board. Happens every year. That's part of the reason I'm opposed to drafting Floyd when there are guys who aren't to dissimilar who'll still be on the board in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

I just posted a thread about Mike Wallace and his potential availability as a RFA for a team willing to trade a 1st for him. There's a guy who couldn't command as much as the elite guys yet a better version of Meachem and another guy who was drafted in the 3rd round. Like I pointed out the probabilities of getting a great WR are just as great after the 1st than in the first.

I absolutely hate the thought of trading this years 1st for him but I doubt it could get done any other way. We could try offering two 2nds this and next which is what the price for Marshall was and I'd go that route first. It may not even happen and Pitt extends his deal but it is something to be watching.

Rogelio-taller WR have the advantage of higher windows to throw to. For example they can outreach on a diagonal plane where a shorter defensive back cannot defend the pass. They can also work the out of bounds lines with more latitude and when a qb "throws them open" to spots where they can get to the height gives them a greater advantage as well in the passing arc.

At least that's my non-expert .02

Originally Posted by WindyCity

If I could have 1 WR in the draft or in free agency [outside of the franchised Bowe] it would be Mike Wallace.

He might only be 6'1" 200lbs. but he is an elite game changer with speed and hands. I do not care if he out leaps someone as long as he runs by them.

He's Bennett's size and Jay has no problem finding him. I think in a case like this you prepare for it by asking Cutler what his thoughts are about Wallace. He may not be calling the shots but getting his input would be valuable in making a final decision. If you're looking for a receiver he'd be glad to have why not sit down with the list of who we could afford to pursue and run it by him. For once I'd like to see this team acting more logically than it did under Angelo.

Originally Posted by Rogelio

I have really enjoyed reading these boards so far. I have learned a lot in just a short time.

For people more in the know than me, what is the benefit of having a taller receiver? I understand that in the endzone you can throw jump-balls, and that it is very hard for a 5'10" DB to outleap someone 6'5". Other than in the redzone, is height all that important for receivers?

Like everything else in football, its all about the mismatch. CB's typically cover the WRs, and the average height in the NFL of CBs is 5'11" so a taller WR creates an immediate mismatch with just about every CB in the league. Also, the rule in the NFL is that you can jam a WR at the line, but only out to 5 yards from the LOS, and if you have a larger WR, it makes it that much more difficult for the CB to jam them on the line, so the WR can get to his route quickly, whereas with a smaller WR, the CB can jam them pretty well, throwing the WR off his route, ruining the timing of the pass and/or leaving one less WR open downfield. This can cause havoc in the passing game.

Safeties, arent much taller either. in the Cover-2 that the Bears run, the CB (like Tillman who is a good 6'2"....good size for a CB), jams up the WR at the line, then instead of following him downfield, passes him off to the Safeties. Of course the downside to the cover 2 is this passing off point, good QBs actually look to exploit that period, and some times do. (But it still rarely results in big gains...first downs, yes).

Also, taller WRs have longer reach, so they can usually position themselves better then the Corner at pulling in the catch. Jump balls only typically happen on hail mary endzone throws, but just about every other pass happens "in stride." You can hear commentators make reference to this all the time, either the QB was unable to throw it to him "in stride" or he DID do so. the point being that having longer arms and reach helps with this tremendously.

*edit...to put it in perspective....lets say you have a 10 year old son, and he is lightning fast..can run the same speed as you. But, he is shorter then you, and obviously has less reach then you. Now, imagine you are the WR, and he is the CB. You both are running downfield, and he is keeping up with you step for step. But the ball is thrown to you, do you honestly expect your son to be able to reach farther then you to disrupt the pass while you are both running downfield?