Like the recent UTH Academy shows, I am becoming more receptive to new content streams. A discussion with someone on twitter can turn into content. A conversion via Google Hangout, same thing. Also, I have enjoyed giving a platform to new or new-ish writers at a moment’s notice. Tyler Gardner is a UTH listener and reader and we pass notes back and forth through twitter DM and email fairly regularly. Tyler recently was charged up about Michael Thomas (Ohio State) and formed a well-based argument against Thomas as a top NFL and dynasty prospect. Below is Tyler’s case and I throw in a few bullet points to close out the post. Find him @THEtylergardner on twitter.
————
I wanted your opinion on a guy that everyone has top-10, sometimes as high as 5 overall; a guy that I just CANT seem get behind. This seemed to be a common theme amongst friends (Twitter dynasty family lol), so I decidedly went to the tape @ 50% speed, trying to go into it with an open mind, to see what it was that was “missing” to his game. Watching his tape, the one thing he does well, almost every time, is yards after catch, juking the first defender on screens, wheel routes, etc, combined with the physicality offered by his large frame, allowing him an extra 4+ yards. This usually happens within the first 5-10 yards off the LOS, but he is very good and very consistent in this aspect of his game.
Route running is something I’ve heard praised of 6’3″ wideout, yet Thomas, from what I saw, looked very inconsistent. I say this because I saw it on almost every play where the corner is playing man coverage, off about 3-5 yards, where Thomas gets within 4-5 yards of the defender and puts on a juke move that rarely causes the desirable separation that was so often see with elite wideouts. I like to call these air jukes part of an elementary route running plan, because it just slows him down and the DB is rarely fooled, always right on his hip step for step. Every once in awhile it’ll work and he hits a 40+ yard TD. In press man coverage, Thomas struggles mightily for a 6’3″ WR who looks to have the BMI you like to see of that prototypical receiver size. I see him getting bullied around on the field right off the line of scrimmage. From there he can rarely shake his defender and why, in my opinion, his tape and overall production is lacking immensely.
Yet another aspect to Thomas’ route running problems you begin to see the wideout running into and literally tripping over defenders regularly, I dare say clumsily. This even seems to translate to his run blocking, whether it’s his QB, RB or WR needing a screen about 3-5 yards downfield, he ends up running into the runner while trying to set up what can only be described as a poorly timed block. He seems to have a lack of awareness of his role in relation to the play at hand, and this makes me worry about his overall understanding of what is transpiring on the field. For me, a 1st round dynasty asset should not raise these questions – ones I don’t even see in most Day 3 receivers.
I am curious if I’m missing something or if you have seen something different or similar to what I’ve described above. I know in your comparable prospects and early metrics you weren’t high on him, but I’m ready to move this guy even further down my board, which is 16th overall BTW, despite what the popular belief might be. Again, yards after catch, yes I see it, he does it well. His hands are just okay, but he needs some catch radius to go with it and the guy just loses consistently in the 50/50 jump ball, where a 6’3″ WR should win out vs a 5’10” DB. He does have some drops, but everyone does, so I’m not going there, just trying to gauge what gives Thomas an overall perception as a consensus 1st rd dynasty asset.
If you’re thinking the same thing I was before getting deep into his tape, then you probably feel like you’re just not too sure what to think about the guy, you feel like you need to see more tape or maybe the combine numbers, but you know that SOMETHING is missing; that “something” is the “jump off the page” play style that drew us to guys like Amari Cooper, Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins, etc. Every top asset has that “WOW factor” to their game and I’m just not seeing and definitely not spending a 1st, or likely even a 2nd round pick, to acquire a guy who seems to be lacking what can only be called fundamental football skills.
Chad’s Take
Get the rest of this content plus Rankings, Metrics, and 100s of Premium Podcast Episodes becoming a General Manager subscriber!
As a BONUS, General Managers received a free week of the ground-breaking UTH Dynasty Trade Calculator. Prepare to dominate your league.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/209755982?secret_token=s-LP3JT” params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
No thanks, I don’t want all the premium audio content, metrics, or rankings. Sign up for written content and UTH-2-GO shows only as an NFL Scout.
