Jacksonville Jaguars 4th Round Draft Pick: Arizona Wide Receiver Mike Thomas
by River City Rage on Apr 26, 2009 12:48 PM EDT
in 2009 NFL Draft
15 comments
Arizona Wide Receiver Mike Thomas
When Torry Holt, Mike Walker, Dennis Northcutt and Troy Williamson round out your wide receiver corps, adding a new threat through the draft is key. The Jaguars selected Arizona Wide Receiver Mike Thomas with the 107th overall pick in the 4th round.
Thomas is a different sort of receiver for the Jaguars, he's shorter and faster than the "Basketball team on grass" that the last group, he's a short and speedy threat that set records for both Arizona and the Pac-10.
Mike Thomas: By the Numbers:
Mike Thomas is about as safe as a draft pick gets. He ensures that "safety" with his punt return ability. He projects as a top punt returner, a position Seattle could easily upgrade at. Great punt returners can be worth two touchdowns over average over a season. A good punt returner is still valuable and would still contribute at a decent clip for a third rounder, and that's about Thomas' floor: good punt returner.
Thomas could be a great wide receiver. He has the short, squatty build of Wes Welker or Steve Smith, and is arguably a better athlete than either. He's also shorter than either - somewhat significantly. Thomas is under 5'8". And that's really the essence of any critique against him. He's really, really short. He's the all-time receptions leader in Pac-10 history, but he's really, really short. He can slam dunk a basketball or outrun Percy Harvin, which is impressive, because Thomas is really, really short and has really, really short legs. He's a crisp route runner that gets monster separation, has the kind of open-field moves, speed, agility and body control to turn almost any pattern into a home run, and is known for his high character, hard work and good hands, but he's real-
It's not that his height doesn't matter, it's just how much does his height matter? He's never going to be Randy Moss, of that we can be certain. There are some patterns he won't excel at, and therefore he's not the complete wide receiver prospect like Calvin Johnson. He's not the prototypical wide receiver, but that's kind of the point. Were Thomas four inches taller, he'd probably be a top ten pick. He certainly played better, longer against top competition than Jeremy Maclin, and he certainly rates better in skills and tools than Maclin, too. So what's to say Thomas couldn't be Welker, Smith, Deion Branch or Santana Moss? Is that too short of a ceiling for a third round pick?
Scouting Reports: NFL Draft Scout:
Analysis
Positives: Short, but has a strong, surprisingly think frame. Good initial burst off the snap and can quickly eat up the cushion if unchallenged at the line of scrimmage. Can sink his hips and shows good immediate burst out of his breaks. Good toughness as a receiver and returner. Not afraid of contact and will go over the middle or attack the seam as a returner with reckless abandon. Good vision for the cutback and sets up his blocks well. Soft hands for the reception. Can pluck outside of his frame. Good body control to make extend and make the tough catch. Short, but times his leaps well. Returned two punts as a senior -- his first year as a returner. Solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Well suited to moving inside to the slot position.
Negatives: Will be limited to a slot position in the NFL, as he lacks the size and strength to play outside. More quick than fast. Good timed speed, but lacks the top end speed to consistently beat defenders over the top. Prone to lapses in concentration and drops more passes than he should. Production is inflated due to Arizona's spread offense and lack of surrounding playmakers throughout much of Thomas' career.
2005: Suffered fractured bones in his forehand vs. Washington (11/12) and underwent surgery to have screws inserted. Despite wearing a cast, he was back in the starting lineup the following game vs. Arizona State.
2006: Suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener vs. Brigham Young (9/02) and the injury lingered for more than a month.
I like the pick. More to come.
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Now that is a football player
I love it.
by MoveThoseChains on Apr 26, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He is
a big found by us! In GENE WE TRUST!
by Zoltan from Budapest on Apr 26, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I'm very cool with this pick
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
by River City Rage on Apr 26, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I first saw him at the Senior Bowl and I've liked him ever since. Good Pick.
Jacksonville Jaguars. It's what I do.
by JvilleJag2 on Apr 26, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
do we go after another WR or go to S or QB?
by ajagsbeliever on Apr 26, 2009 12:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Mike Hamlin, S, from Clemon with te next pick if he's there. I'm still amazed Shawn Nelson is available.
Jacksonville Jaguars. It's what I do.
by JvilleJag2 on Apr 26, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Raiders have two picks comming up...
You’d have to think they like Shawn Nelson with one of them. I mean…. 6’5, 240lbs, 4.56 40….
by alsonot on Apr 26, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now we can go to
BAP from here.
I would take a S, a G, another WR, and a LB
(may a RB or a QB and a DE as option)
by Zoltan from Budapest on Apr 26, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I seem to remember an even shorter guy catching passes and doing damage pretty well.
Height means nothing when you are badass.
Ask MJD
by Slvrgun on Apr 26, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mike Thomas Conference call
The following is a transcript of Mike Thomas’ conference call with the Jacksonville Media following his selection in the fourth
round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
(on the last undersized player that was drafted by the Jaguars from the Pac-10, Maurice Jones-Drew, being pretty good. What are your expectations?) "The sky is the limit for me. Obviously I know there are some intangibles that I possess and I know the blessings that the Lord has given me. I’m there to play ball. I have been playing since I was five. I feel like I have a real knack for just making plays. I’m ready, I’m determined. I want to get in the league and stick. I want to get with the Jaguars and stick. I’m real excited. I’m ready to get to work."
(on if this is about where you thought you would get drafted) "It’s a little lower. The draft is crazy and you never really know how it’s going to work out. Obviously I had expectations for myself and I know I worked hard to put myself in the position to get drafted earlier than this. You take your cards and you play them. Things work out how they are going to work out. I don’t have any control over what happened. I’m honored and I think it’s a real blessing."
(on Maurice Jones-Drew coming in here unhappy because he felt like he was downsized because of his size and if you have that same type of feeling) "Definitely. I think it’s going to fuel my fire inside. I’ve always even at Arizona got knocked down for being 5’8, 5-7 or whatever you want to call it, something that is out of my control. I definitely think that is going to spark my fuse and it’s already sparked my fuse. I’m just ready to get going."
(on what you did at the Senior Bowl that caught the Jaguars eye) "I was just being myself, doing what I usually do. Just playing ball and obviously they saw some things in me they liked. To be wanted by a team and I honestly feel like they want me and they are going to try and utilize me as much as possible. I really feel that and I wouldn’t rather be in any other place."
(on if the Jaguars are a perfect fit and to be able to play with Torry Holt) "To come in and have a model like that (Torry Holt), it’s going to be amazing. I’m going to get right under his armpit and soak as much information from him as I can and watch him every day. I hope he takes me in as one of his little brothers, just try to teach me the way. I’m going to be like a little sponge and I couldn’t ask for any more."
(on if you are going to be a little bit of a fresh air for the wide receivers in Jacksonville) "I hope so. I’m just going to come in and be myself and try to get accepted. I’m trying to be accepted into the family. I’m going to be myself and try to have fun and live and learn and everything I need to do."
(on if you returned kicks into college) "I did kickoffs here and there. I did punt returns my last year in college."
(his agent) "Ron Slaven."
(on where he grew up) "I grew up in Dallas, Texas."
(on why you chose Arizona) "The Stoops’ brothers , I was always kind of intrigued with their history. I knew I had a chance to go to Arizona and start right away. It’s the Pac-10, obviously a strong conference. I was just ready to get out of Texas. At the time the Big 12 wasn’t really popping the way it has been the last couple of years. I was ready for a change so I went to the west coast. It worked out good for me there."
(on if anyone in your family plays football) "No. I am the first one, the starter of a legacy. I have one little brother. He plays basketball. He is a little hoops star. He is my height already and he’s eleven years old."
(on if he is 5’8 or 5’7) "I’m 5’8, 5’9 on a good day."
(on if he has missed a game in his career) "I don’t think I have missed a game."
(any injuries) "I had a broken hand toward the last game of the season but that is it."
(on if you are proud to be the Pac-10’s all-time receiver) "Yes. It’s a great little attribute to have on your resume as far as records. I’m pleased to be that guy."
(on what Eben Britton’s is like) "I think the team, coaches and everybody will love Eben. He’s a great guy, a leader. As o-linemen, it starts with them. I think he is everything an o-linemen needs to be and much more."
by Zoltan from Budapest on Apr 26, 2009 2:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
AC/DC Thunderstruck
Should be making a comeback on the stadium PA system ala Jimmy/Keenan…could we be seeing the rebirth of THUNDER and LIGHTNING right before our very eyes with Williams/Walker or maybe Dillard? GOD I HOPE SO!
Go Jags! Some people are like Slinky's...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
by freek1969 on Apr 27, 2009 1:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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