Is WR Maclin Going to be a Bust? [Split Thread]

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Keith

I imagine I'm in a minority here, but I see Maclin as a bust.

As for Maclin, is that a gut feel or something you have seen? I understand gut feelings and they cannot be explained. I had a gut feeling Reggie Bush was Desmond Howard, and so far I am right. I had a gut feeling that Slaton was Desmond Howard and so far I am wrong, Slaton has shown a willingness to go inside and fight for inches. Boy was wrong on him.

I have not watched much of Maclin because I have not been thinking WR in the top 2 rounds. But the team could be looking for a returner/WR to replace both Jones and Davis. So anything can happen.

[Keith]

Honestly, I am still in big-time catch-up mode when it comes to reviewing prospects. So I didn't watch a lot of Mizzou games, just highlights, videos, etc.

Maclin has some traits of a first rounder, but mostly those of other first round busts. He's a long strider with some deep speed, but I get some Troy Williamson and Ted Ginn family shivers here. Maclin has some straightline speed and vision, which I think is pretty evident in his returns, but I am having a hard time seeing the short area quickness and good route running, critical for most offenses for a WR1. His hands seem okay though, which would separate him from Williamson, but I worry maybe I'm not seeing the full picture.

So Maclin to me looks like a good WR2 candidate, something I do not want with my first round pick, which makes me think bust for anyone selecting him that high.

[Mike]

He certainly is a home run threat in the spread offense and in the return game. The Ginn comparison is valid IMO. The receivers from the spread do concern me, they often win in a scheme or reakdown to get free and not necessarily in a 1:1 match-up. Might be a stretch here, but is he the same type of electric athlete in college similiar to Reggie Bush?

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Mike

He certainly is a home run threat in the spread offense and in the return game. The Ginn comparison is valid IMO. The receivers from the spread do concern me, they often win in a scheme or reakdown to get free and not necessarily in a 1:1 match-up. Might be a stretch here, but is he the same type of electric athlete in college similiar to Reggie Bush?

You're right, Ginn is one of the first comparables that jumps to mind for me when somebody mentions the Mizzou WR. And as a Missouri native who
followed MU football back in the day when I still lived up there, I've watched every game that's been available to me on TV here in Houston and followed
the kids performances and progress. He is really fast on the field and I was surprised he didn't break 4.4 at Indy, I dunno maybe an off day for him ?
But he's an electric-athlete in the sense that Bush was, but on the other hand I see no ambivalence in what position he is vs. those uncertainties about Bush even back in college that became crystal clear once he got to the NFL.
And now with the possible departure of Anderson and the teams overt dissatisfaction with Jacobey along with signing the DE in FA, I think the WR
option in the first round is possibly now in play for the Texans moreso than ever before.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Mike

He certainly is a home run threat in the spread offense and in the return game. The Ginn comparison is valid IMO. The receivers from the spread do concern me, they often win in a scheme or reakdown to get free and not necessarily in a 1:1 match-up. Might be a stretch here, but is he the same type of electric athlete in college similiar to Reggie Bush?

Er, note to Mike, Roy P and others in the dynasty league... my distaste for Maclin in no way removes him from my board. Ginn in fact is still a valuable asset, especially with his return yardage. /fantasyfootballmisdirection

Tough to compare Maclin and Bush since they lined up at different positions, but I can see similarities in how they run. Maclin did well out of the backfield; Bush is obviously a talented receiver. I have a similarly hard time evaluating/slotting Percy Harvin (/said without declaring where he is on my fantasy draft board either, of course).

[Mike]

Keith,

ohhhhh. gamesmanship well before the draft. One of these years we will link up for a trade. Until then, continue to swap rosters with Pops. I'll have someone fall into my lap once the eventual run on RB's takes place.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Mike

Keith,

ohhhhh. gamesmanship well before the draft. One of these years we will link up for a trade. Until then, continue to swap rosters with Pops. I'll have someone fall into my lap once the eventual run on RB's takes place.

Wanna make a trade? I'm open to all offers.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Keith

Tough to compare Maclin and Bush since they lined up at different positions, but I can see similarities in how they run. Maclin did well out of the backfield; Bush is obviously a talented receiver. I have a similarly hard time evaluating/slotting Percy Harvin (/said without declaring where he is on my fantasy draft board either, of course).

Guys like Maclin and Harvin are hard for us civillians to evaluate. Those are the guys who really need to be interviewed so you can grill them on their route tree in their current system and see how high their WR IQ is. A lot of the guys in the spread run a drag route or a go route most of the time...both just designed to let them use their superior physical talent. Just because a guy hasn't been in a complicated passing system doesn't mean he's not capable of handling it.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Mike

Keith,

ohhhhh. gamesmanship well before the draft. One of these years we will link up for a trade. Until then, continue to swap rosters with Pops. I'll have someone fall into my lap once the eventual run on RB's takes place.

I want to send you an offer. Your roster doesn't have many holes I think my team can fill though. I might send one your way though, see where you're at. I think I've run the gamut with the Piranhas though, unless he gets a wild hair and wants to unload MJD (would it help if I said 'please'?). And for as much as I have traded with popanot, I look at ArlingtonTexan's roster and see quite a few of my former players sitting on his bench.

Originally Posted by papabear

Just because a guy hasn't been in a complicated passing system doesn't mean he's not capable of handling it.

Oh I agree, definitely. My Bust-dar is just going off on Maclin since he has a lot of similarities with recent first round WR busts (or recent 'poor values' if not out-and-out busts, at least).

And I actually like Harvin more than Maclin, btw. I guess that's just how I roll. I wasn't a big fan of the Ted Ginn family the year he came out, either.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

Maclin has some traits of a first rounder, but mostly those of other first round busts. He's a long strider with some deep speed, but I get some Troy Williamson and Ted Ginn family shivers here.

Troy Williamson = Darrius Heyward-Bey

Ted Ginn = Mike Thomas

DeSean Jackson = Smaller Jeremy Maclin

[machoneil]

Good stuff. I'm picking Maclin @ #2.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by machoneil

Good stuff. I'm picking Maclin @ #2.

lol... Let me know if you need more advice for your pick at 2.02.