when you look at the redbird roster we have lots of WR's... the problem is, other than Fitz, none of them are very big. It makes it difficult to run fade routes or throw up 50/50 balls when most of our WR's are only as tall as the DB's,...or in some cases even shorter. No matter what we do in regards to our QB situation we need good targets in order for the guy to be successful. Having a WR that can win jump balls, or reach for a high pass and pull it in with one hand would greatly increase any QB's chances to be successful.
as far as projected first rounders go... the only guy with size is St.Brown from Notre Dame... and honestly I think this staff may be hesitant to draft a big WR from ND right now....The drunken Champion is still a little to fresh. Not to mention, we may be drafting a QB in that first round.
So who fits the bill with a later pick??
Simmie Cobbs Jr
6'4" and 210 lbs
This kid from Indiana fits the bill... good speed, great hops,..and very reliable hands. When a guy plays for Indiana it is normal to be concerned over the level of competition he has faced. But take a look at this game tape from Indianas 2017 meeting with then #2 ranked Ohio state...
in several plays on that tape Cobbs is being covered by Denzel Ward who is the #2 ranked CB in this draft.. you will notice on the TD catch Ward is obviously guilty of serious PI... but it didnt matter
against Ohio states defense Cobbs totaled 11 catches for 149 yards and 1 TD...
I think there were three one handed catches in that game alone. I realize OSU didnt have an all world defense, but you play the schedule you are given.
My biggest concern over Cobbs is the fact that he is so wirey... but he plays stronger than his frame would suggest and he will add weight at the next level and only get stronger.
Auden Tate
6'5" 225 lbs
Auden Tate from Florida State also fits the bill. Big solid WR who catches with his hands and knows how to get open. Playing for Florida State there are less questions regarding level of competition. Tate does not make as man "spectacular" catches as Cobbs does... he is a very big sure handed possession type WR with a knack for getting open.
These guys are both big targets who can ball... for body type,... think of Randy Moss Vs Calvin Johnson because thats what these guys look like... not saying Cobbs and Tate are going to match Moss and Megatron in production,... but in body type comparison...and in measurables.
Moss and Johnson both ran 4.38 at the combine...
Cobbs is expected to run 4.4 and Tate is expected to run 4.45
Cobbs missed his Junior season due to injury...recovering from that may have affected his senior season as well...it often does
COBBS G REC YDS AVG TD
*2015 Indiana Big Ten SO WR 13 60 1035 17.3 4
2017 Indiana Big Ten SR WR 12 72 841 11.7 8
TATE
REC YDS AVG LG TD's
2017 40 548 13.7 51 10
2016 25 409 16.4 39 6
You can clearly see that Cobbs is the more dynamic player... which is why Cobbs is a 2nd round pick and Tate is a 3rd round guy. But Tate has all of the measurables and skills one seeks in a young WR... he very likely suffered due to Florida State having a whodat at QB,.. because he is obviously better than his stats indicate. Also due to his size Tate can be a slot WR similar to Larry and pick up those seal blocks... he is 225, but also young...quite conceivable he will be 235 in a couple years, perhaps even 240... he could be one of those "Tweener" TE/WR hybrids similar to Jimmy Graham of Tony Gonzalez.
Our team is lacking a big WR,... these two guys both bring different assets to a team.... and as crazy as it sounds I would be completely stoked if we came away from this draft with both of these guys. I could see Tate working the middle of the field while Cobbs streaks down the sideline.
While I would not balk at getting the next "Steve Smith" on our team... barring that type of talent we dont need any more 6 foot WR's...we have those guys,...we also have a couple of guys who are supposed to be blazing fast... how many times have we seen those guys alone behind the defense exactly?
Speed is fantastic, especially when a guy gets in the open field... but the ability to climb the ladder and come down with the ball...is equally fantastic... the ability to reach out and nab a pass with just the fingertips of a single hand...is even more fantastic.
In round two of the 2018 NFL draft the Arizona Cardinals select.... Simmie Cobbs Jr... Wide Receiver Indiana....
it would be a good thing.
as far as projected first rounders go... the only guy with size is St.Brown from Notre Dame... and honestly I think this staff may be hesitant to draft a big WR from ND right now....The drunken Champion is still a little to fresh. Not to mention, we may be drafting a QB in that first round.
So who fits the bill with a later pick??
Simmie Cobbs Jr
6'4" and 210 lbs
This kid from Indiana fits the bill... good speed, great hops,..and very reliable hands. When a guy plays for Indiana it is normal to be concerned over the level of competition he has faced. But take a look at this game tape from Indianas 2017 meeting with then #2 ranked Ohio state...
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
in several plays on that tape Cobbs is being covered by Denzel Ward who is the #2 ranked CB in this draft.. you will notice on the TD catch Ward is obviously guilty of serious PI... but it didnt matter
against Ohio states defense Cobbs totaled 11 catches for 149 yards and 1 TD...
I think there were three one handed catches in that game alone. I realize OSU didnt have an all world defense, but you play the schedule you are given.
My biggest concern over Cobbs is the fact that he is so wirey... but he plays stronger than his frame would suggest and he will add weight at the next level and only get stronger.
Auden Tate
6'5" 225 lbs
Auden Tate from Florida State also fits the bill. Big solid WR who catches with his hands and knows how to get open. Playing for Florida State there are less questions regarding level of competition. Tate does not make as man "spectacular" catches as Cobbs does... he is a very big sure handed possession type WR with a knack for getting open.
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
These guys are both big targets who can ball... for body type,... think of Randy Moss Vs Calvin Johnson because thats what these guys look like... not saying Cobbs and Tate are going to match Moss and Megatron in production,... but in body type comparison...and in measurables.
Moss and Johnson both ran 4.38 at the combine...
Cobbs is expected to run 4.4 and Tate is expected to run 4.45
Cobbs missed his Junior season due to injury...recovering from that may have affected his senior season as well...it often does
COBBS G REC YDS AVG TD
*2015 Indiana Big Ten SO WR 13 60 1035 17.3 4
2017 Indiana Big Ten SR WR 12 72 841 11.7 8
TATE
REC YDS AVG LG TD's
2017 40 548 13.7 51 10
2016 25 409 16.4 39 6
You can clearly see that Cobbs is the more dynamic player... which is why Cobbs is a 2nd round pick and Tate is a 3rd round guy. But Tate has all of the measurables and skills one seeks in a young WR... he very likely suffered due to Florida State having a whodat at QB,.. because he is obviously better than his stats indicate. Also due to his size Tate can be a slot WR similar to Larry and pick up those seal blocks... he is 225, but also young...quite conceivable he will be 235 in a couple years, perhaps even 240... he could be one of those "Tweener" TE/WR hybrids similar to Jimmy Graham of Tony Gonzalez.
Our team is lacking a big WR,... these two guys both bring different assets to a team.... and as crazy as it sounds I would be completely stoked if we came away from this draft with both of these guys. I could see Tate working the middle of the field while Cobbs streaks down the sideline.
While I would not balk at getting the next "Steve Smith" on our team... barring that type of talent we dont need any more 6 foot WR's...we have those guys,...we also have a couple of guys who are supposed to be blazing fast... how many times have we seen those guys alone behind the defense exactly?
Speed is fantastic, especially when a guy gets in the open field... but the ability to climb the ladder and come down with the ball...is equally fantastic... the ability to reach out and nab a pass with just the fingertips of a single hand...is even more fantastic.
In round two of the 2018 NFL draft the Arizona Cardinals select.... Simmie Cobbs Jr... Wide Receiver Indiana....
it would be a good thing.