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Mikey · 04-19-2021, 09:14 AM

(04-18-2021, 03:37 PM)Bullseye Wrote: I didn't follow MJD in college. When I saw his measurables, I thought he was a receiving back.

Man did HE prove me wrong. The first time he impressed me was actually in pass protection against Pittsburgh, because he hadn't shown much in that preseason. A Steeler LB came in on the blitz. MJD squared up and absolutely stoned him. It wasn't as spectacular as his block on Merriman, but was quite effective none the less. I think the next game agaisnt Washington, he had some big catches in the passing game. After that, he was the MJD we grew to love.

In many cases, fans end up being wrong on players in part because...we're fans. Sometimes, our desire that the team hits on the pick will cloud our judgment on the player. I know I try to withhold judgment/predictions to players I've seen pre-draft. But there are times the team will draft someone I haven't studied, and somewhere over time, the hope will take over.

I'll chip in with another UCLA failure to scout. 2006. I was back home in Ohio, listening to the darft on a clock radio in a back room because nobody in the family cares about sports. Our pick comes up, and I am shaking, knowing that Nick Mangold is there for the taking, a decade-long fixture at the position, and Brad Meester is getting long in the tooth. Do it Do it Do it. We pick Marcedes Lewis, TE, UCLA, and I utter a four-letter curse word at the top of my lungs. The Jets grabbed Mangold with the next pick, I shut the radio off, and didn't talk to anyone. I was convinced that we were a power running team, and we ended up with a move TE that wasn't going to fit at all in our offense. All credit to Lewis, he came in here, developed his blocking and he ended up being a better blocker than receiver in the long run.

I never spit fire or badmouthed him once we made the pick, but thought we would regret passing on Mangold for a long time (we did), and that Lewis wouldn't amount to much (he did).

(04-19-2021, 12:19 AM)iHaunting Raven Wrote: I liked Gabbert when we got him because before the draft I thought there was no way we were gonna get him. Kerrigan was my guy at 16(?). Btw I still remember Alfie was so sure Kerrigan was gonna be a huge bust, he said Kerrigan had no lower body strength lol.

/tips cap