bubba9497 Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Redskins size up wide receivers By Jody Foldesy THE WASHINGTON TIMES http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20050418-115248-6839r One has the rare frame to be the next Randy Moss. Another has enough talent in his diminutive body to fill out a modern-day version of the Smurfs. And another has the speed to match Torry Holt stride for stride and chase down 50-yard rainbows. All those projections, of course, are just that -- optimistic guesses as to what this year's top receiving prospects will become following the NFL Draft this weekend. The Washington Redskins are mulling those possibilities even though the club has five capable wideouts and ostensibly no holes at receiver. Mike Williams, Mark Clayton or Troy Williamson -- the three college players described above -- could be selected by Washington with the ninth overall pick. Cornerback remains the odds-on top choice for the Redskins, but a number of highly rated receivers were invited to tour Redskin Park recently. If Washington opts for one, it could have the pick of the litter: Varying opinions around the league mean Williams, Clayton and Williamson could be available at No. 9 and perhaps much later. "I don't think there's an Andre Johnson in this draft," Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly said at February's NFL Scouting Combine, referring to 2003's third overall pick who already has made the Pro Bowl. "I think we have a lot of good receivers in this draft, but it might be spread out in first-, second-, third- and fourth-round players." The only receiver mentioned consistently as a top-five pick is Michigan's Braylon Edwards, whom Washington opted not to invite to Redskin Park because of his expected unavailability at No. 9. But there is considerable debate as to whether Williams, Clayton or Williamson would be next off the board and doubt as to whether any would be selected before Washington picks. For Williams, this is a second stab at the draft after being locked out last year. Williams attempted to follow running back Maurice Clarett into the 2004 draft, but a federal appeals court blocked a lower court's ruling that underclassmen could go pro. Both Williams, who caught 95 passes for 1,314 yards and 16 touchdowns for Southern California in 2003, and Clarett were forced to spend last fall out of football. That year-long absence is one of the questions about Williams. Personnel evaluators also wonder about his speed, which lags behind that of most usual first-round wideouts, and his frame, which is a prototypical 6-foot-5, 225 pounds but could swell in coming years. At the combine, Williams weighed nearly 230 pounds, and some scouts are projecting him as an NFL tight end. "I've met with doctors, met with physicians, met with trainers to really understand my body," Williams said. "I spent November and December at 216 pounds, but I just didn't feel as explosive. I didn't have my kind of my football swagger about myself. ... Most likely when I enter the season I'll be at 224, 225." At the opposite end of the size spectrum is Clayton (5-10, 193), who entered Oklahoma as a 150-pound weakling (by his own description) and exited with virtually every major receiving record at the school. Williams said his "heart and work ethic" more than compensate for lack of size. "I go out, and every day I don't take a play off," Clayton said. "I run my route. I block. Whatever it is that the team may need as far as special teams or returns." Clayton has legitimate speed, having been clocked in the 4.4-second range in the 40-yard dash, but it's unlikely anyone in this draft could run by South Carolina's Troy Williamson, the final receiver who gets legitimate top-10 consideration. A junior entry, Williamson never caught more than 835 yards worth of passes in a season with the Game****s. But he has the size (6-1, 203) and a lot of speed. It remains unclear where a first-round receiver would fit in Washington's corps, given that newly acquired Santana Moss and David Patten are scheduled to start and James Thrash, Taylor Jacobs and Darnerien McCants all have legitimate claims to playing time. Plus, there's former starter Rod Gardner, who's likely but not guaranteed to be dealt for a mid-round pick this weekend. The other scenario in which Washington could select a highly rated receiver is if it traded back from No. 9 and landed an extra pick in the first or second round (the club currently has no second-rounder). If that occurs, prospects like UAB's Roddy White, Texas A&M's Terrence Murphy and Georgia's Reggie Brown could be in play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truant Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 "Williams said his "heart and work ethic" more than compensate for lack of size. " Awesome reporting... I wouldn't take a WR unless Williams was available. There are good WRs in every draft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MumboSauce Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 ^^^ did they mean Clayton? (lack of size) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thinking Skins Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Originally posted by ciresolstice ^^^ did they mean Clayton? (lack of size) I was thinking the same thing. Williams may have problems, but lack of size is definately not one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinned Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 GW was talking about Clayton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktball74 Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 The way ESPN was talking this morning, they said Williams could very well fall out of the top 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyholetsgogrant Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 If Mike Willams falls to us dont be surpised if Danny Boy steps in and makes the pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commander Adama Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Originally posted by ktball74 The way ESPN was talking this morning, they said Williams could very well fall out of the top 10. Yeah, and Braylon Edwards COULD be drafted after Mike Williams. I swear I should be a Reporter / ESPN Analyst....just make stuff up having make believe sources, speculate on a draft where they haven't a clue who's going to be drafted where or who even is going to be good, blast teams that I do not like, etc. Anything being said about the draft is pure speculation, nothing more. I just find it funny that ESPN try to pass that crap off as fact from people they call their "Analysts". Analysts my butt! They couldn't Analyze their way out of a paper bag! Ok, I'm composed now. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Originally posted by heyholetsgogrant If Mike Willams falls to us dont be surpised if Danny Boy steps in and makes the pick. Synder has nothing to do with making a draft pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Gut Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Originally posted by heyholetsgogrant If Mike Willams falls to us dont be surpised if Danny Boy steps in and makes the pick. Quit falling for the hype sports writers create by saying "bet on Snyder getting who he wants in this draft." :doh: He has nothing to do with the draft, except signing players.It's all on the back of Gibbs & Co. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooper Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Yeah, you don't think Snyder had a little input with the Coles for Moss fiasco? He's wanted Moss forever. He's not the meddler that the mediots say he is, but he definitely puts in his two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaSkinsNut Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Yeah, you don't think Snyder had a little input with the Coles for Moss fiasco? He's wanted Moss forever. First off, I doubt there's an owner in the NFL who doens't have the right to put in his :2cents: when a player UNDER CONTRACT, much less barely into his, says they want out of town. Second, the Jets contacted The Redskins about Coles being on the block and offered up Moss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Prime Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 five capable wideouts and ostensibly no holes at receiver Ehhh wtf.. We have no true number 1 receiver.. That imo is a huge hole .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cphil006 Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 we don't have a great WR. Patten was #4 at New England and Moss had one decent year on a team that has a good passing game, that doesn't translate to our team. Mike Williams is exactly what we need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMagicJuan Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Originally posted by ktball74 The way ESPN was talking this morning, they said Williams could very well fall out of the top 10. Well Stephen Jackson(RB who went ot St Luis) dropped like 20 spots and he was rated #1 RB to alot of teams and he dropped hella far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek1973 Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Originally posted by Gothtimus Ehhh wtf.. We have no true number 1 receiver.. That imo is a huge hole .. --- like we had one last year? Man Coles is finished IMO if he doesn't get that toe fixed and 50/50 can't be a go to guy because you just don't know if he is going to drop the pass that hits him on the numbers. Coles also had the case of the drops last year. I can say with confidence that if a ball hits Moss or Patten in the hands they will catch it. Could we have said that last year with either of our starting WRs? Is that what you mean by saying we don't have a number one? Because when I say our number one receiver I think of a guy like Monk that will get open on 3rd down and 5 that will not drop a pass, that will make a play such a break a tackle and take it another 20. How many tackles did Coles break last year? He probably broke as many tackles as his TD total. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotgunner Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Will Williams be there or not, that seems to be the key to our draft and trading down.:cool: :notworthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illone Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 I like Clayton. He's gonna be something special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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