Jaguars have a large contingent at Georgia Tech's Pro Day and other draft thoughts

by Jonathan Loesche on Mar 15, 2010 8:00 PM EDT in 2010 NFL Draft Comment 16 comments

According to the fine guys over at Mocking the Draft, the Jaguars had a large contingent of scouts at Georgia Tech's Pro Day. It isn't much of a surprise considering the Yellow Jackets have a lot of good players to offer, including Jonathan Dwyer and Morgan Burnett. However, the Jaguars were there mainly to observe defensive end Derrick Morgan. Again, this isn't too much of a surprise considering Morgan is the near universally regarded #1 DE in the draft. Perhaps even more impressively, he has managed to do the impossible of overtaking Tim Tebow as the most popular Jags pick in mock drafts.

However, he didn't do much to endear himself to scouts today. The biggest thing teams came away with was how winded Morgan got while performing the drills. Getting winded while doing basic Pro Day drills is going to make teams wonder what Mr.Morgan has been doing since the Orange Bowl, heck maybe since the ACC Championship game. Knowing this, it'll be interesting to see how his interview with the Jaguars went. If any red flags came up, the ship may have sailed on the Jaguars using the 10th pick on Morgan.

In other news already reported, the Jaguars will conduct a workout with Texas S Earl Thomas. Thomas hasn't been a popular target at #10, but this will certainly raise some eyebrows. Granted, the Jaguars never worked out Eugene Monroe before selecting him at #8, but that was an entirely different set of circumstances.

Barring Reggie Nelson finding the "On" switch like he did his rookie year, the Jaguars need to find a safety and Thomas could be that guy. Thomas certainly has the skills to be either a corner or a safety at the next level, which is probably why the Jaguars would be interested in him.

However, that's all contingent on the Cleveland Browns not taking Thomas. Cleveland will also be conducting a workout with Thomas. However, considering Mike Holmgren's up and down draft record while at Seattle, who knows how Cleveland will go.

Between working out LeRoy Vann and Armanti Edwards, it's clear the Jaguars are looking to try and upgrade the return game. However, I have to wonder why isn't Mike Thomas being given more of a shot? Thomas did well returning punts last year, and he with another year he could become even better. Or do the Jaguars plan to keep him mostly at receiver next year?

Funniest draft related tweet of the day: "Browns trade Brady Quinn, an overrated Notre Dame QB, in hopes of

drafting Jimmy Clausen, an overrated Notre Dame QB. What could go wrong?"

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I don't think

they aren’t giving Mike Thomas a chance as a returner. But we could use the depth and there is always room for improvement. And even though I’ve been a huge fan of Thomas’ as a receiver, I don’t trust him as a returner, judging from his college tape. Though he could be past those problems.

by Ewdtrey on Mar 15, 2010 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

I believe they hope Mike Thomas could make more of a contribution if he played WR only. Frankly, I think it was a moronic idea to let Witherspoon go, he was a better returner then Thomas, just needed to work out ball skills better (and I wish they had tried him on offense, he was a blazer compared to everyone else). Last year however you have to remember that so many returners were used (Thomas, Jennings, Witherspoon, Jones-Drew, Underwood, Hughes, and once or twice Scott Starks), they might be wising up to the need for a basically RS instead of a multi-pole player. Think about the Seattle game when Thomas was so worn down he couldn’t contribute at the end. Just every somewhat-good RS the Jags have is always chucked or reassinged b/c of fumbling

Waber-Jaguar

by jawsaints on Mar 15, 2010 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think he was worn down(Mike Thomas)

I think it was that he hadn’t digested enough of the playbook, or that he wasn’t trusted with all of it yet. He went from being the 4th receiver on the depth chart, to number 2, and he missed most of the preseason so I can’t imagine he had much of a chance.

by Ewdtrey on Mar 15, 2010 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Well

as I saidelsewheer I’m not great fan of Morgan nor Thomas at 10..
As you wrote John; he disapeard in the Orange Bowl. (I saw him once; when he chased Ricki Stanzi to get a 1st down; but that’s it..) If that is not a redflag; I don’t know what. Vic said; “The worst NFL team could defeat the best college team” well if we think about that; the worst NFL O-line is better then the best College O-line. So If Iowa could do that with Morgan every NFL tewam can do it.

Thomas: Well I saw a TON of mockdrafts (latest: Pat Kirwan 3.0: http://www.nfl.com/draft/story?id=09000d5d816f37c9&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true) linked him to us latey. And I don’t get it. Can he be the BAP at 10? NO WAY! FS is a need but since the jags wanna give a last shot to Reggie Nelson )I don’t have any clue why…) they will not hurry to pick up 1 in the 1st round at 10 (Unless it is Eric Berry; who actully WORTH the pick)

LeRoy Vann and Armanti Edwards: I like Vann more. He is an NCAA return recordholder; who will be most likely an UDFA. Give him feel good words; and a promise that “the Jags will go after him” and I’m okay. Mike Thomas is our Nr 1 returner and I’m not 100% okay with it. He is a multiple weapon of the offfense; don’t risk an injury while he is making returns. He can do it a few times; but not always!

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 15, 2010 8:33 PM EDT reply actions