2013 ATH/Multipurpose Players Thread

Caulibflower · 01-15-2013, 08:56 PM

Figure there ought to be a thread for the players "without true positions" in the pros who will nonetheless provide a lot of value to their teams, whether as special teams standouts or player who get worked into a variety of packages offensively or defensively to capitalize on their unique skillsets. I'm also going to include players who will clearly be viewed as "athlete" prospects and will be projected to another position in the NFL.

I have a few in mind, but there are surely many more:

MarQueis Gray, Minnesota - 6'4" 250 est. 4.60

Was regarded as one of the premier dual-threat QB prospects in the nation coming out of high school. Played both QB and WR for the Gophers, with his most prolific season being his junior year, where he started at quarterback and passed for 1495 yards and ran for almost a thousand. The season before that he was second on the team in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns as a wide receiver. He has very good movement skills for how big he is - it goes without saying that you rarely see a 250-lb wide receiver. My eyeball test wants him to play tight end, but I have no idea what kind of blocker he is. He was replaced at QB this year but was again playing in a reserve role at QB instead of going back to a receiving position, so he's most likely going to be a bit of a project. The triangle numbers alone scream TIGHT END to me and make me think of other big-bodied athletes who've come into the league without a lot of experience at the position but have a natural physical advantage over the defenders who have to cover them.

Tavon Austin, West Virginia - 5'9" 175 est. 4.40

Most people will just say he's a wide receiver, and that's fair enough, but seeing him line up at running back late in the season this year was eye-opening for me. It made me think that he could have a future in the NFL doing a lot more than just catching passes. Simply as a wide receiver prospect, he's undersized and isn't known for making spectacular catches. It's not that his hands are bad but that his forte is running in the open field. He's going to be a few notches down on my list of perimeter wide receivers, but he's my no. 2 prospect at the position you'd get if you pooled players like Percy Harvin, Dexter McCluster, Danny Woodhead, Darren Sproles and Randall Cobb together and named it.

Denard Robinson, Michigan - 5'11" 200 est. 4.40

One of my absolute favorite players in this draft, I see him being primarily a running back, or at least will be listed as a running back on a roster, but will contribute by running the ball, catching passes, returning kicks and running the wildcat as often as his future coach likes. He's my no. 1 in the aforementioned category of utility offensive players. I like him more than I liked Reggie Bush. Seems like a really down-to-earth, hardworking player and you never see him in the news except for his highlight reels. I like that a lot, and his cutups are as jaw-dropping as anybody's. Even moreso than with Tavon Austin, Denard's late-season work at running back left little doubt in my mind that he will be able to run the ball effectively in the NFL.

SeanTaylorRIP · 01-15-2013, 08:59 PM

Robinson definitely gives off Josh Cribbs vibes but with better straight line speed.

Caulibflower · 01-15-2013, 09:09 PM

What do people think of Theo Riddick? Is there anything there?

kwilk103 · 01-15-2013, 09:16 PM

tavon played primarily in the slot at wvu

Babylon · 01-15-2013, 09:18 PM

Barrett Jones is good for all offensive line spots.

Caulibflower · 01-15-2013, 09:33 PM

How about Tyrann Matheiu? Does anyone think he'll stick at a particular position? He strikes me as a miniature strong safety, but he's even smaller than Bob Sanders and we all know how that turned out.

holt_bruce81 · 01-15-2013, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

What do people think of Theo Riddick? Is there anything there?

I love Theo, I took him in our forum mock. Next Kevin Faulk.

edgrenade · 01-15-2013, 11:15 PM

Collin Klein?

Caulibflower · 01-16-2013, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgrenade

Collin Klein?

What do you think he is? 3-4 OLB? The next Aldon Smith?

Duffman57 · 01-16-2013, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

What do you think he is? 3-4 OLB? The next Aldon Smith?

WHAT?????? Klein weighed in at 6'4" like 218....he's just nothing anywhere.

Caulibflower · 01-16-2013, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duffman57

WHAT?????? Klein weighed in at 6'4" like 218....he's just nothing anywhere.

Joke. I think I agree. He's too small to be a tight end, too slow to be a wide receiver. He's a good fit for what he does in college, but I'm having a hard time coming up with a job for him in the NFL.

SeanTaylorRIP · 01-16-2013, 01:58 AM

He might get a look from a team looking to implement some kind of read option set since no doubt some new teams will be looking to give it a try at least in doses but now will also be looking for a guy who can take some hits not just any running QB. Also any chance Logan Thomas moves back to TE or is he strictly a QB prospect? He definitely has the size and throwing motion of an NFL QB but I dont think he'll ever develop the QB intangibles to even stick as a backup. He's not a better QB than Andre Woodson. Whoops my bad forgot he's just a junior, but I guess future talk he's 6-6" 260.

TACKLE · 01-16-2013, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanTaylorRIP

He might get a look from a team looking to implement some kind of read option set since no doubt some new teams will be looking to give it a try at least in doses but now will also be looking for a guy who can take some hits not just any running QB. Also any chance Logan Thomas moves back to TE or is he strictly a QB prospect? He definitely has the size and throwing motion of an NFL QB but I dont think he'll ever develop the QB intangibles to even stick as a backup. He's not a better QB than Andre Woodson. Whoops my bad forgot he's just a junior, but I guess future talk he's 6-6" 260.

Logan's got a top 3 arm in football. Someone will try to make him work as a QB.

Caulibflower · 01-16-2013, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TACKLE

Logan's got a top 3 arm in football.

I'm kind of curious what you mean by this. Are you just talking about arm strength, or overall talent as an amalgamation of placement, anticipation, touch and velocity?

TACKLE · 01-16-2013, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

I'm kind of curious what you mean by this. Are you just talking about arm strength, or overall talent as an amalgamation of placement, anticipation, touch and velocity?

Pure, unadulterated arm strength.

(and anticipation has nothing to do with 'arm')

Caulibflower · 01-16-2013, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TACKLE

(and anticipation has nothing to do with 'arm')

Sure it does. Smoothness of transition from decision to release. If you're using 'arm' to mean 'throwing ability,' then you might as well add how well he throws to a moving target. There's more than one kind of accuracy, and I think anticipation on throws is more muscle-intuitive than cerebral. That's pretty much my original question anyways, though - what you meant by having the best arm.

niel89 · 01-16-2013, 03:38 AM

Denard Robinson is going to play at WR for the senior bowl so we will get to see how he fairs there for the week. Maybe they give him some RB work too if the scouts express interest in that. Can his body handle NFL RB carries? My impression is that he was beat up & injured quite a bit in college. I just seem to remember him not finishing games.

I don't see him like Cribbs. Cribbs just seems thicker. Is he similar to maybe a Antwaan Randle El? Similar size, both could be NFL utility players, college QBs.

duesouth · 01-16-2013, 03:45 AM

Sleeper - Greg Jenkins - QB at Alabama State, but runs well. Has drawn some interest from the CFL - might be better to sign him as a undrafted free agent than spend a 3rd/4th rounder on Denard.

Caulibflower · 01-16-2013, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niel89

Denard Robinson is going to play at WR for the senior bowl so we will get to see how he fairs there for the week. Maybe they give him some RB work too if the scouts express interest in that. Can his body handle NFL RB carries? My impression is that he was beat up & injured quite a bit in college. I just seem to remember him not finishing games.

I don't see him like Cribbs. Cribbs just seems thicker. Is he similar to maybe a Antwaan Randle El? Similar size, both could be NFL utility players, college QBs.

It's true he's had some injury problems. I'm looking forward to seeing him catch passes, too. Is he going to be returning any kicks?

Don Vito · 01-16-2013, 05:43 AM

Randall Mackey from Ole Miss. He might be our only draftable prospect but he will latch on somewhere. Was our starting QB in 2011 and this year was moved to a RB/WR role. Is a dynamic athlete who is just scratching the surface of what he can do because he had been playing QB for so long. Has good size/speed and just makes plays. He will be playing for someone in this league.

seamase · 01-16-2013, 07:52 AM

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Don Vito · 01-16-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamase

Hi that's a great information.

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jrdrylie · 01-16-2013, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caulibflower

How about Tyrann Matheiu? Does anyone think he'll stick at a particular position? He strikes me as a miniature strong safety, but he's even smaller than Bob Sanders and we all know how that turned out.

The only position I see him sticking at in the NFL is in handcuffs. He'll have more arrests than interceptions in his career and he'll be out of the league in three years.

dabears10 · 01-16-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holt_bruce81

I love Theo, I took him in our forum mock. Next Kevin Faulk.

Riddick I think could get as high as the 4th Round. I think some OC will love the ability to use him in the slot and in the backfield in 3rd down situations where he can succeed in both. I wouldn't mind him for the Bears.