Al Messerschmidt - Getty Images
5 months ago: ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 29: Wide receiver Michael Floyd #3 of the Notre Dame Fight Irish chases a long pass against the Florida State Seminoles in the Champs Sports Bowl December 29, 2011 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. FSU won 21 - 7. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
The debate about the top receivers in the 2012 NFL Draft figures to be more of the more heated discussions leading up to this year's event. One name in the mix among first rounders is Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd. After missing the Senior Bowl last month, he needs to make a big splash at the Combine later this month. And he might be primed to according to Tony Pauline of SI.com.
Floyd missed the Senior Bowl to recover from injuries sustained late in the season. He plans to to run at the Combine, and he might impress with the results. Per Pauline, Floyd's forty time should beat expectations. Some have Floyd running a 4.54 forty right now. If he were to get that number down to the upper 4.4s, his draft stock would catch fire.
The consensus top receiver now is Justin Blackmon. The Oklahoma State product is a very good receiver, but he is not on the same level as a last year's top receivers, A.J. Green and Julio Jones. That has pushed back on the predictions that Blackmon merits at top five pick, where some want the Rams to take him.
Floyd has the size and hands to win physical battles with defensive backs. He does not explode off the line, but he does know how to use his skills to work well against the press. He also has very quick feet to work his way through defenders. Floyd would be a nice fit for Schottenheimer's offense. He can work the slot or the outside, and he does a good job picking up yards after the catch on short passes.
If the Rams trade down and Floyd looks the part, he would almost certainly have to be in play for the pick.
Posting a surprise forty time will not be Floyd's only task in boosting his draft stock. He will have to satisfy concerns stemming from his alcohol arrests in college as well as his injury history.
For a complete scouting report, check out Mocking the Draft.
0 recs | 17 comments
Hmmmm im split on this one.
Off the field issues plus being hurt. Hmmm what’s his stats for 2011
Ramzman18 - February 11, 2012 via mobile
I am so tired of injuries
I honestly don’t know much about Michael Floyd’s injury that kept him out of the Senior Bowl but I feel like we need to only draft players who don’t have a history of injuries in college. If they have injuries in college or miss games like the senior bowl they will have injuries in the NFL. Everyone plays tougher and harder in the NFL. I want whatever receiver is going to give us the most production and not get hurt all the time I feel like we need to be factoring in durability.
I mean this for every position we draft not just WR. Of course off-field issues are a concern as well but I think Jeff Fisher could handle players with a little off-field issues. Depending on whatever that would be.
Anyone else overly concerned about injuries?
KeSt - February 11, 2012
+100
Thomas W - February 11, 2012
NO, NO
Please do not take this kid. It would be a total waste of a pick. I have said it a million times. He is going to be the biggest bust in this years draft.
johnny scuba - February 11, 2012
Floyd is a lot like Jimmy Clausen was coming out
A lot of pre-draft hype, not a ton of stats, and lots of excuses for miscues. He doesn’t do anything too special either; I could be wrong about him but I’m not a big fan.
and IMO Blackmon is definitely not AJ Green but for sure is a better player than julio jones, i don’t know where the jones over blackmon judgements come from. Blackmon can do way more than just run straight downfield, or in/out routes a la julio.
Bronx_Bomber26 - February 11, 2012
can I just ask why people hate on Julio Jones so much?
that dude looks fantastic to me (no homo), and his stats aren’t too damn shabby either
DCRamFan - February 11, 2012
Agreed
I dnt get the julio hate. Rumor last year was that justin woulda came out last year but julio was graded higher. And his combine was as good as you will ever see from a wide reciever. Julio is just under green. Blackmon is not
Ram_Redemption - February 11, 2012 via mobile
Agreed with all of this..
RG31 - February 11, 2012 via mobile
totally agree bro
theirishsmurf - February 11, 2012
I believe I'd pass on Floyd
I haven’t seen a lot of tape on him but what I did see gave me big time concerns about his ability to get off the line and beat coverages. His size is nice but he just seems like a slug. Also I’m always concerned with talent coming out of Notre Dame as they tend to get way over hyped.
Sggladden - February 11, 2012
Wish there were two stand out receivers in this class like last year
Not much difference in blackmon floyd and jeffery imo. One played in a wide open system while the other two are more “physically gifted”but they all have similar ceilings to me
Ram_Redemption - February 11, 2012 via mobile
Seriously VanRam, are you just trying to turn everyone against Blackmon?
I know you love Matt Kalil and want him at 2, but answer me this… when is the last time a top ten OT played in a meaningful playoff game? Joe Thomas?Jake Long?Jason Smith?Eugene Monroe?Trent Williams? OT’s in the first aren’t a necessity for a good football team. And give me a break about Blackmon not being in the same class as Julio or Green, why because his numbers in college are comparable to Julio’s and Green’s combined? I usually don’t waste time even posting on draft speculation because it is so bad, but I cannot believe you actually think Blackmon isn’t as good if not better than both Green and Jones. If anyone says otherwise, just google all their stats and compare them and watch the Stanford game compared to the BCS game last year, Julio Jones was in that game I think.
wilystyle - February 11, 2012
Your argument chauncy left tackle is spot on and valid. Do with there
But u list me at blackmon being better than julio and green when you used the word STATS.everyone knows stats don’t tell the whole story as much as level of competition and pure ability. I will agree with u on this, blackmon is better mentally than green and jones. But he its slower shorter not as fast or explosive. Blackmon could be a stud but no way do I base that on stats alone. Thats exactly why many ppl compare him to crabtree (perhaps wrongfully). Because they only saw stats when they looked at him.
Ram_Redemption - February 11, 2012 via mobile
Oops I meant against
Ram_Redemption - February 11, 2012 via mobile
Van bibber
I may be one of few, but think this is a great post. I see Malcolm Floyd as one of a handful of receivers that show characteristics on the field that translate to the next level. The beauty of it, is that we as armchair GM’s have 4 years of solid tape to review. Floyd has been dominating since his freshman year. I have seen him in person twice and he is impressive. Not being the fastest or the quickest, it has become noticeable that he runs his short and intermediate routes extremely well. He uses his body to shield defenders exceptionally well. Redzone threat is an understatement. This guy reminds me of Brandon Marshall, minus the split personality.
I know there are red flags based on his drinking incidents in college, but those who have been to south bend know that there isn’t shit to do there. And when you’re a star on the ND football team it becomes even harder for your mesh into the crowd.
If we are in a position late in the first or early in the second, then I absolutely think we need to seriously consider Floyd.
All those who are saying that he is going to be a bust, have no grounds to base their argument.
CaliRamMan - February 12, 2012
Well said
Josh Wehrle - February 12, 2012
I thank you sir!
CaliRamMan - February 13, 2012
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