Draft Fireworks – You Can’t Coach Explosiveness
By Zain
Explosions are awesome. Fireworks, nukes, car wrecks, explosive diarrhea. All these things were incredibly attention-grabbing when we were six, but even today, who can really turn their head away? However, no matter how cool explosions were then, they should be even more important to you now. Because, in just a short week, you can get the football equivalent of a fireball for 3rd, 4th, or even a 5th round pick. There are many pieces a championship team needs, but one thing our owner, coaches, and fans can agree on is this: this team could use some explosiveness.
Now, I could write a dissertation on the explosiveness of a couple players who Jags coaches will likely have no chance to work with after this draft is over (see Griffin, Robert; Richardson, Trent). Similarly, we could devote an article each for the downright ridiculous prospects that all Jaguars fans want to see in teal (Hill, Stephen). But instead, I’m going to do a little summary on the offensive skill players we can take a flyer on later in hopes of turning them into something lethal. David Johns has done a great job highlighting prospects here, and I’m going to follow his lead and try to highlight some prospects that Coach Mularkey and Co. should be dying to work with.
Chris Rainey, RB/WR – My fellow Floridians and SEC fans know this name well. He’s lightning quick, blazing fast, and if you don’t believe me, ask Percy Harvin or Jeff Demps (two players he purportedly beat in a 40 yard race before Harvin’s senior season). He ran a 4.30 40 yard dash at his pro day and finished in the top 2 at the combine in three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle, and 60-yard shuttle. Moreover, he impressed running wide receiver drills at UF pro day and can be devastating on special teams – both returning and blocking kicks.
Greg Childs, WR – At 6’3 and 217 pounds, Childs ran a 4.39 40-yard dash while showing off a 40.5″ vertical leap and a 10’7″ broad jump at his pro day. Potentially one of the most explosive players in this draft, the irony is that he might only be the third fastest player being drafted from Arkansas.
Michael Smith, RB – He’s a shade over 5’8, but we’ve had success with running backs that height haven’t we? 4.35 40 yard dash and 40.5” vertical at the Utah State pro day, this kid is built to burn you. He was in a time share throughout college, but with MJD on our team, he’s not getting 25 carries a game anyway. A pocket-sized home run hitter who averaged 7.6 yards per carry last year, Smith could further bolster our elite NFL running attack.
Devon Wylie, WR – I know, I know, I know. We already have too many short wide receivers on our team, and it’s not like signing Lee Evans helped. But give the cat a chance. Being 5’9 isn’t as bad when you have a 39” vertical, but Wylie’s real strengths are his feline quickness and his glue-y hands. He’s been compared ad nauseam to Wes Welker, but the comparison is apropos. Let’s get him in space and help Blaine look more like Brady.
James Hannah, TE/H-back – At 6’4 and sporting a 17% touchdown rate for his career, this guy has the size, speed, and catching ability to be everything that a healthy Zach Miller is supposed to be. The problem? Production. He only had 52 catches at Oklahoma, and only 27 as a senior last year. However, the guy has great body control and hands, and to go with that, he was in the top 3 at his position in every combine workout except the bench press…where he was fourth.
Hope you guys have some more people to look out for come next Friday and Saturday. Also, keep a look out for B&T first round mock draft competition! We’ll be revealing our best predictions (and worst guesses) on how the first round will go as the draft gets imminently near!
— Zain Gowani