Is WR Maclin Going to be a Bust? [Split Thread]

[barrett]

Maclin has rare football speed. Maybe even once in a decade type football speed. I would suspect how he performs in the NFL will be more about where he goes and how he is used than anything else.

He is not going to dominate at WR like AJ or Fitzgerald or any other big WR, because unlike those guys, when you bracket him, he does not have the body to still screen off tight coverage and make catches. If you just line him up at WR he is a deep threat, but that doesn't do you a ton of good without other weapons to free him up. You have to find creative ways to involve him in the passing game, the return game, and as a decoy/weapon in trick plays. And you have to do it all while minimizing the wear and tear he takes.

The Saints have done a terrible job of this with Reggie Bush. You can't make a mis-direction guy option one in an offense. The whole idea of screens/draws/trick plays is that you catch the defense going the wrong way. But it loses it's value when you try it 20+ times a game and the defense can just spy him with a fast LB. But they feel the need to force feed him the ball so much due to his contract and draft positon, so the offense is worse when he's on the field despite his obvious talent. You guys all mention Bush as some kind of cautionary tale, but he'd be great if he hadn't been a top 10 pick.

As for picking these guys, I don't think I'd want a small WR or an all-purpose threat in the top half of the first round because teams picking early generally have greater needs. But if you have the right offensive mind pulling the strings, Maclin could be more dangerous offensively than any player in the draft. Just look at Chicago. They don't do anything other than send Hester on go routes, and they pick up 50 yards a game in PI calls and a long touchdown of some type every other week. And he doesn't even know how to play the position or run a route.

I'd stay clear of Maclin because I don't see how we pass up improving our defense, but if someone uses him right he will be just fine.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by barrett

Maclin has rare football speed. Maybe even once in a decade type football speed.

I'd stay clear of Maclin because I don't see how we pass up improving our defense, but if someone uses him right he will be just fine.

Ok, I'm taking Maclin and Crabtree off the board. That hurts, but I'm going to focus on Clay Matthews and Vontae Davis at #15.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Ok, I'm taking Maclin and Crabtree off the board. That hurts, but I'm going to focus on Clay Matthews and Vontae Davis at #15.

Matthews in the low 20's is the target, IMO, but does he continue to climb?

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Matthews in the low 20's is the target, IMO, but does he continue to climb?

Let's take a look at the tale of the tape

---Clay Matthews------DeMarcus Ware
-------6'3"------------------6'4"
------240lbs----------------251lbs
----4.62 - 40--------------4.56 - 40
----1.49 - 10--------------1.62 - 10
--4.18 - Shuttle----------4.07 - Shuttle
--10' 1" - Jump------------10' 2" - Jump
--35.5" - Vert-------------38.5" - Vert
---6.9 - Cone-------------6.85 - Cone
----23 Reps----------------27 Reps

He very well could continue to climb. Especially with the number of teams who are converting to a 3-4 defense.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

Maclin has rare football speed. Maybe even once in a decade type football speed. I would suspect how he performs in the NFL will be more about where he goes and how he is used than anything else.

I'm a fan of Maclin myself, but I don't think he's that fast, atleast not as fast as you make him out to be ? You make him out to be the Usain Bolt of football. I dunno but wasn't there several WRs at the combine who cranked out faster 40s times than Maclin ? Guy couldn't even break 4.40. Just being the Devils-advocate here, because I really like Maclin.