Jay
06-01-2006, 03:52 PM
Rookie Draft Analysis (Second Day)
Second Day strategy – After the first three rounds, there was only one quarterback (Jacobs) and several wide receivers that I thought could eventually be starters in the NFL.
Acquisitions
1) Omar Jacobs – Jacobs entered his Junior year neck and neck with Matt Leinert as the best projected quarterback in the 2006 draft. He had a very solid, but unspectacular Junior season that was riddled with injuries. He was somewhat inconsistent, especially against quality competition, and his mechanics did not improve significantly from the previous year. He has a low throwing motion, and a “hitch” in his throw that will need to be corrected, but he does all the things that you expect an NFL starter to be able to do. Considering the talent that he flashed as a sophomore, there is a lot of upside here, and it was surprising that he passed up his senior year. It looks like Pittsburgh got a steal here, but from a fantasy perspective, it will take a few years until Jacobs can get out from behind Roethlisberger to have a chance.
2) Reggie McNeal – With a 6’2 frame and 4.3 speed, McNeal looks to have the tools to make the transition from quarterback to wide receiver in time. An incredible athlete, McNeal appears to be well suited to be the next “Antawan Randel El” conversion. Clearly a project, but if there is one thing the Rage has, it’s time to wait. McNeal was by far my favorite of the quarterback conversion projects.
3) Ruvell Martin – With a 6’5 frame and incredible leaping ability and hands, Martin brings a very nice goalline skill set to the table. He has also shown ability to use the “jump ball” in deep 1-1 situations in a “Moss-like” fashion. He doesn’t have Moss-type speed, but he is also not a plodder. A raw product that came from a very small school, he was sensational in NFL Europe two years ago with the Chargers before spending the year on the Packers practice squad last year. He might have an uphill battle to make a team without bringing special teams skills to the table, but he has the skill set to catch on somewhere. I had slotted Martin for my 6th round pick, but he started getting some press on fantasy football news agencies, so I pulled the trigger a round early.
4) Todd Watkins – Watkins is another height and speed prospect at 6’3 and reportedly sub-4.3 speed, though he clocked at a clean 4.40 at the combine and chose not to run on-campus. Originally projected as a 2nd or 3rd round pick in the draft, he fell because of concerns about his work ethic and a drop in production from his junior to senior year. Already a premier deep receiver, Watkins needs coaching and development on his short and intermediate routes, but appears to be an excellent developmental prospect and has a couple of hard-working role models to learn behind in Arizona. He's frequently compared to Ashley Lelie, who was a first round pick.
Departures
1) Stephen Davis – Davis had a remarkable season for an aging veteran that entered the season coming off of major knee surgery. He likely will have a role as a backup/part-time and goalline back for a couple more years prior to retirement. It’s a bit depressing to trade a former franchise back for a middle-late round pick, but Davis clearly has very little left in the tank. He will not be a factor when the Rage come full circle.
Overall –
The intention was to get some long-term prospects that have high upside, especially at the wide receiver position. Jacobs was a bonus addition, as he was not expected to be there when I picked in the 4th. If Williams was gone in the 3rd, I would have considered McNeal at that spot, so I’m really happy with the players I got. Whether the plan is successful or not,
the “Day 2” execution of the strategy was successful. I got every player that I was targeting. Second Day Grade = A
Second Day strategy – After the first three rounds, there was only one quarterback (Jacobs) and several wide receivers that I thought could eventually be starters in the NFL.
Acquisitions
1) Omar Jacobs – Jacobs entered his Junior year neck and neck with Matt Leinert as the best projected quarterback in the 2006 draft. He had a very solid, but unspectacular Junior season that was riddled with injuries. He was somewhat inconsistent, especially against quality competition, and his mechanics did not improve significantly from the previous year. He has a low throwing motion, and a “hitch” in his throw that will need to be corrected, but he does all the things that you expect an NFL starter to be able to do. Considering the talent that he flashed as a sophomore, there is a lot of upside here, and it was surprising that he passed up his senior year. It looks like Pittsburgh got a steal here, but from a fantasy perspective, it will take a few years until Jacobs can get out from behind Roethlisberger to have a chance.
2) Reggie McNeal – With a 6’2 frame and 4.3 speed, McNeal looks to have the tools to make the transition from quarterback to wide receiver in time. An incredible athlete, McNeal appears to be well suited to be the next “Antawan Randel El” conversion. Clearly a project, but if there is one thing the Rage has, it’s time to wait. McNeal was by far my favorite of the quarterback conversion projects.
3) Ruvell Martin – With a 6’5 frame and incredible leaping ability and hands, Martin brings a very nice goalline skill set to the table. He has also shown ability to use the “jump ball” in deep 1-1 situations in a “Moss-like” fashion. He doesn’t have Moss-type speed, but he is also not a plodder. A raw product that came from a very small school, he was sensational in NFL Europe two years ago with the Chargers before spending the year on the Packers practice squad last year. He might have an uphill battle to make a team without bringing special teams skills to the table, but he has the skill set to catch on somewhere. I had slotted Martin for my 6th round pick, but he started getting some press on fantasy football news agencies, so I pulled the trigger a round early.
4) Todd Watkins – Watkins is another height and speed prospect at 6’3 and reportedly sub-4.3 speed, though he clocked at a clean 4.40 at the combine and chose not to run on-campus. Originally projected as a 2nd or 3rd round pick in the draft, he fell because of concerns about his work ethic and a drop in production from his junior to senior year. Already a premier deep receiver, Watkins needs coaching and development on his short and intermediate routes, but appears to be an excellent developmental prospect and has a couple of hard-working role models to learn behind in Arizona. He's frequently compared to Ashley Lelie, who was a first round pick.
Departures
1) Stephen Davis – Davis had a remarkable season for an aging veteran that entered the season coming off of major knee surgery. He likely will have a role as a backup/part-time and goalline back for a couple more years prior to retirement. It’s a bit depressing to trade a former franchise back for a middle-late round pick, but Davis clearly has very little left in the tank. He will not be a factor when the Rage come full circle.
Overall –
The intention was to get some long-term prospects that have high upside, especially at the wide receiver position. Jacobs was a bonus addition, as he was not expected to be there when I picked in the 4th. If Williams was gone in the 3rd, I would have considered McNeal at that spot, so I’m really happy with the players I got. Whether the plan is successful or not,
the “Day 2” execution of the strategy was successful. I got every player that I was targeting. Second Day Grade = A