(04-18-2021, 08:26 AM)Bullseye Wrote:

(04-18-2021, 05:21 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: I can't remember making a really strong judgment about any particular draft pick immediately after they had been drafted.  

But I do remember, when we drafted Fred Taylor, they played him some in the preseason, and I thought he was a bust.  He couldn't find the holes, he ran directly into his own blockers, he really looked bad.  

Some years later, we drafted Blake Bortles, and I had no idea who he was, but during the preseason, he came in and immediately completed a pass downfield, and I turned to my friend and declared "He's the real thing!  We finally have a QB!!" or something to that effect.

So I guess mine would be, during their first preseason, I thought Fred Taylor was a bust and I thought Blake Bortles was going to be great.

I remember you chiding us "housepainters" for hating the Soward pick.

I also remember having the same concerns about Taylor early on.  He really didn't get going until like his 3rd regular season game-against the Ravens, as I recall.  he made that trademark cut back against the grain against them and took it to the house.  By then I knew he would be okay.

Chances are, I saw the same pass from Bortles you did and thought the same thing.  I remember doing something similar when Leftwich threw a GW TD pass in his first preseason game.

I guess the moral of the story is avoid immediate reactions?  I'm not sure how possible that is, TBH.