Rich wrote:
wkloiber13 wrote:
Hunter - Big receiver with big play ability. Experienced in West Coast Offense as an X and Z receiver. Polished receiver with ability to win jump balls. Would give the Dolphins a great redzone target. The biggest question about this kid is can he recover the elite speed he once had? Perhaps the biggest upside of any receiver in the draft if he regains his speed. Could compete for playing time right away even in Miami's deep receiver group.
The biggest question is his hands. His hands betrayed him this past season and is one of the reasons he isn't a top 15 pick. Before his injury, he looked like a sure thing. After his injury, not so much.
Wouldn't mind him in the 2nd round at all, though.
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Banks - Big, physical, cornerback with plus ballskills. Excellent fit for a scheme that switches between press-man and zone, with zone being the dominant scheme. Gained a ton of experience playing against top competition in SEC as a four year starter. Questionable speed and could be exposed against elite speed if put "on an island". Could be elite in right situation. Could compete to start right away.
Amerson - Big corner with elite hands and ballhawk skills. Good fit for a zone scheme where he can freelance and make splash plays. Physical corner with ability to jar ball loose or step up in run support. Questionable backpedal and has a tendency to get beat as he is a bit of a gambler. Often is beaten by double moves. But has the potential to be elite if he can become more consistent. Could compete for playing time as a corner or free safety.
I don't know how I feel about us investing in TWO corners with questionable speed. Yes, I know the Dolphins run a zone scheme and they aren't going to ask their corners to run up and down the field with wide receivers, but there are still instances, even in zone coverage, in which corners are asked to cover deep portions of the field and they find themselves on an island because of the type of zone coverage being run (primaly cover 3 type zones).
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James - Good build for the position. Solid runner that despite lacking elite tools could project to be a good backup with upside on special teams due to his good blocking skills. Petient runner that lets the holes open up, but has a tendency to tap-dance from time to time and his vision is questionable. Would be a good player to bring into camp and let compete for the 3rd/4th runningback spot.
Love the U, but was never a fan of Mike James. He's a guy that falls forward and gains you 3 yards.
We need something a little more dynamic than that, even as a UDFA.
You're right, when Hunter was asked to take on a more versatile role after his injury, he did have some drops (similar to what Wallace went through this year in Pittsburgh), although not a severe case of the drops. I think he provides us with excellent value in the 2nd, and would give Tannehill a great downfield threat that also excels in the redzone. He'd really give us value if Hartline's back acts up again.
With Banks and Amerson, Banks is the only one with questionable speed, but both players have shown good closing speed and an ability to break on the ball and make plays. Both guys know how to create splash plays, and both are experienced in zone systems. While I agree with you 100% Rich that these guys will need to develop their press-man skills at the next level. I believe that because of their natural size and strength, they should be able to develop those skills at the next level. I also like their abilities against the run. Both guys are downhill players that aren't afraid to mix it up and get involved against the run.
At the end of the day, I think Banks is someone who could start across from Grimes this season. Amerson is someone who I think has the potential to develop very quickly, and even compete for playing time this year, whether it be at corner or free safety. But because of his skills I think he has the potential to be a good corner at the next level.
As far as James goes, I simply want to keep the Dolphin / Hurricane connection going. That and I think he'd have a real shot to unseat Gray on the practice squad.