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Better Know a Draft Prospect: Missouri Wide Reciever Jeremy Maclin

Maclin328x315spr08gm042008m_medium

For our second look at the offensive side of the ball, we have the Missouri Tigers' Mr.Everything, Jeremy Maclin. Maclin is an explosive punt returner and wide receiver who helped lead Missouri to the 2007 and 2008 Big XII North championships, and helped vault them to being the #1 team in the country at one point during the 2007 season. Maclin was one of the most electrifying players in all of college football the last two years, and could certainly help the Jaguars.

Now before you go, "Oh no John, you've been the one riding the Left Tackle bandwagon, don't you try to say all of the sudden we should take a WR," I think Maclin would be our first rounder in a different circumstance. I think Maclin becomes a primary target is the Jaguars trade out of the #8 spot and collect picks.

It's no secret the Jaguars have been burned by first round wide outs. R. Jay Soward is saved by Ryan Leaf and Jacksonville's market size from being remembered as the biggest bust in recent memory, Reggie Williams failed to live up to top 10 billing, and Matt Jones has been, well Matt Jones.

Since Jimmy Smith retired, the Jaguars have been lacking in a guy who makes sure a safety thinks twice about heading into the box and not helping the corner out. Jeremy Maclin could very well be that player.

Star-divide

Video Killed the Scouting Report

Jeremy Maclin: By The Numbers

4.29: Maclin's 40-yard dash time

13: 1st team All American lists as a freshmen, consensus 1st team in 2008

202.4: Maclin's all purpose yards per game to lead the NCAA in 2008

2776: All purpose yards during his freshmen season to set a NCAA freshmen record

According to the Experts

Strengths

-Speed to burn

-Can upgrade any return game in the league Day 1

-Strong work ethic, improved greatly in route running from Freshmen to Sophomore year

-Great Character guy

 

Weaknesses

-Not the best upperbody strength

-By greatly improved route running, that means from horrible to slightly below par

-Will be behind the curve because of the "Sandlot" style nature of the spread offense.

According the the Blogosphere

I had a conversation with SBN's Missouri Tiger bloggers, RockMNation about Maclin, and this is what they had to say.

-On Maclin's toughness

His toughness is hard to evaluate because it is hard to define. Outside of the blown knee in 2006 and missing a quarter or so of the 2008 season opener, Maclin never really missed any significant time. However, Maclin did seem to have a tendency to get "nicked up" rather often. I could probably count six or seven times over two years that J-Mac was slow to get up, hobbled to the sideline, or favored a bruised shoulder. Maclin never seemed fazed by it, though, as he was usually back on the field making plays a play or two later. I would never question Maclin's mental toughness though. He's shown a remarkably cool head in his time at Mizzou, and despite being an "explosive" breed of receiver, he's gone over the middle and into traffic whenever asked and performed at a very high level. He got rocked going over the middle a number of times in his career, only to bounce back up and torch those same defenders later in the game.

-On Maclin's Work Ethic and Character

I've never heard a bad word about Maclin's work ethic. Maclin was a transcendent type of athlete for Mizzou in 2007, so no one would have had any concern if he strolled into 2008 as that same player. What was scary, though, is that he didn't become complacent. He added weight and worked with coaches relentlessly, improving his route running and his mental handle of the game. QB Chase Daniel and the Missouri coaches were effusive about Maclin's offseason work, again quoting how "scary" it was how much Maclin had improved.

Why Jeremy Maclin Should Be a Jaguar

If Gene Smith wants "Character" guys, I've run across few that have impressed me as much as Maclin has. He seems to be DeSean Jackson, except without all the behavior issues and even faster. While he may lack the freakish size one expects of a typical #1 reciever, I think the NFL is seeing that you don't need that kind of guy anymore. Maclin is in that breed of player that defines the phrase "Give an inch, take a mile" or better yet "Give a inch, take it to the house."

-John

Next up on Wednesday: Wake Forest Corner Alphonso Smith

 

0 recs  |  Comment 26 comments |

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I would...

not be upset if they picked this guy, well as long as they picked up some sort of offensive lineman in the following rounds.

by JCJag on Feb 9, 2009 8:43 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

SOLD!!

good report Johh.

Hot Dog:$4/Big Coke:$3/Tickets:$1400/Watching Peyton Manning Cry:Priceless...

by Rufio904 on Feb 9, 2009 10:59 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Some of those highlights are absolutely ridiculous...

He’s got freakish speed and is clearly a YAC guy, something this team needs.

by silencecs on Feb 9, 2009 11:22 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Maclin

The guy is unbelievable; however, I can’t help but feel that Maclin is a “big swing” type of draft prospect. This is to say the opposite type of player Gene Smith claims to be after. Now if we can trade down and pick up a few draft picks to get him, then I’m all for that. I love to get excited just as much as the next fan about fast, flashy guys like this, but this year I’ll be happy if the Jaguars have a steady and very solid draft. It would be great to see 3 or 4 really good players in the first few rounds who can improve the overall roster of this team. I’m not saying Maclin wouldn’t improve the Jags, but I remember the same type of talk and game day highlight films getting me all excited about R. J. Soward, R. Williams, Matt Jones, etc. I would just hate to see another first round WR bust that had his best games at the college level, that’s all.

by jagsfanbrunell on Feb 9, 2009 11:36 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Good points

As I said, I think Maclin is a better fit in the scenario of Mark Sanchez getting hot in workouts and some team trading their life away to us to get him. As for the comparisions to other recievers, I think the only one we’ve drafted that really has Maclin’s talent was Soward, and Maclin doesn’t have the dozen or so red flags that Soward did.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Feb 9, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

So you will be not disapointed

if he Jaguars select him in the 1st Round. Ok! If they didn’t can pick one of those premium LTs, I’m okay with him. I would be happy to anyone who will give this team a big impact in his first year. It is high time, that this team has a really good 1st rounder selection!

by Zoltan from Budapest on Feb 9, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

As we say:

Even a blind squirrel (The Jaguars) can find a nut (good first round pick).

-C

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Feb 9, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

???

I thought R. J. Soward was a nut???

by jagsfanbrunell on Feb 9, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

True

I agree that his talent level is most like Soward, and if his character is as good as everyone says it is, I wouldn’t mind seeing him on the Jags. The team def. needs someone who can back the LB’s and DB’s out of the box and open up running lanes for MJD and (maybe) Fred.

by jagsfanbrunell on Feb 9, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

If I never heard the words "R.J. Soward" again...

I’d be a happy man.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Feb 9, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

hahahaha

Alright, we’ll use the name R.J. “Coward” from now on…

by jagsfanbrunell on Feb 9, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Dang, this guy does have freakish speed! I defiantly say pick this guy if the LT’s are gone or if we trade down.

What is his height and weight?

by ajagsbeliever on Feb 9, 2009 3:04 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

ESPN

The Tiger team roster has him listed at 6-1, 200 lbs. but he sure doesn’t look 200lbs…

by jagsfanbrunell on Feb 9, 2009 4:09 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Ok

thanks jagsfanbrunell. He is a small WR, but he still has amazing speed and could help the Jags greatly. Plus, he has good work ethic. I wish we could get a LT and Maclin, but that would only be in a perfect world. Maclin would be a great pick, but we desperately need a left tackle. What are some of the other WR’s that we could get in later rounds?

by ajagsbeliever on Feb 9, 2009 4:42 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

We've done the "basketball team of WR's"

I’d be ok with a WR that wasn’t 6-6 and fell down after the catch. The Jaguars are at or near the bottom in YAC.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Feb 9, 2009 5:17 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Nice Speed

This guy has some serious speed. He is kind of like a poor mans Percy Harvin, but maybe even a better returner. I think Maclin could give the offense/return game some explosivness we so clearly lacked at times last year. He doesn’t seem like a number 1 receiver, but more like a number two, deep threat. Jeremy Maclin could contribute immediately so long as he gets some work on his route running in training camp.

by Bestjagfan on Feb 9, 2009 6:07 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

IDK about him

I think he’s too much of an unkown. He could be a bust if drafted high in the first round. He’s got tons of speed, but so do a lot of busts. I keep reading about people comparing him to Deseasn Jackson, but I don’t see it. They are both small fast guys that receive and return, but they do it differently. He looks more like a Devery Henderson IMO, and obviously he isn’t worth a 1st rounder. Keep in mind I haven’t seen much of him other than highlights, and highlights can be very decieveing. He just looks like the guy on a past first team that plays a WR 3 role. Someone that relies on the other 2 guys to draw coverage getting him open deep.

by Ewdtrey on Feb 9, 2009 8:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I agree

I see a lot of bust potential here. He doesn’t seem to do much eluding or tackle breaking in his highlights, just a lot of running past people who take bad angles. That doesn’t happen in the NFL and I don’t know if he’d have a great transition.

by SoCalStites on Feb 9, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

My opinion

If he is a bust it is more a result of getting hurt. He sounds more like a Devon Hester to me.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Feb 9, 2009 8:56 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Just a quick reply to you and Ewdtrey:

As the person from Rock M Nation quoted in the profile, I feel the need to respond a little bit to your remarks.

Ewdtrey mentions that Maclin looks like “someone that relies on the other 2 guys to draw coverage,” which may or may not be a fair assessment. Maclin’s burst onto the scene in 2007 was somewhat a function of surprise, but that was definitely not the case in 2008. Maclin was generally seeing press man coverage with one safety rolled over top and a linebacker sitting for any drags or crosses. In a season where he saw almost absolutely no single coverage, he amassed 1,260 yards and 13 touchdowns on 102 receptions. I’m not saying you can line him up on the goalline and throw the fade to him, but I don’t think he should be painted as solely the “slot burner” type whose sole success is exploiting a single coverage mismatch. He deserves a tad more credit than that.

In response to SoCal, you mentioned Maclin “running past people who take bad angles.” It’s funny how speed combined with a “one cut and go” approach can create bad angles in a hurry.

I’m no evaluator of draft talent, and I’m not guaranteeing that Maclin will be successful in the NFL. But I do want to make sure the counterpoint to your arguments are wholly represented.

http://www.RockMNation.com
A Blog for Ol' Mizzou

by RPT on Feb 10, 2009 12:35 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Alphonso Smith

Sorry for the off topic comment, but is there going to be an Alphonso Smith preview?

Thanks.

by WakeJake on Feb 10, 2009 12:19 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Gene will have a good draft with

Any linebacker from USC or

Any defensive back from Wake Forest. Wake Forest is a hot school for an NFL team defense. OOPS I shouldn’t have let that out.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Feb 10, 2009 6:02 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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