WR Sammie Coates:
Scouting Reports:
Auburn Profile Page: http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/sammie_coates_742660.html
NFL: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/sammie-coates?id=2552470
CBS: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1824794/sammie-coates
NFL Draft Preview 2015: WR Sammie Coates: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/nfl-draft-preview-2015-wr-sammie-coates/
Articles:
NFP Prospect Focus: Dorsett, Smith and Coates (Sammie Coates – WR – Auburn (6010 – 212 – 4.43): Sammie is a fourth year junior who entered the draft. He did not play as a freshman because of an injury then played as part of the wide receiver rotation in 2012. He started 19 games over the last two seasons and played in 25. Strong Points – Sammie has very good size to go along with excellent top end speed. He shows both courage and toughness on the field, has become a consistent vertical threat, and makes big plays. He has very good quickness off the line of scrimmage getting into his routes. Defenses have to account for his deep ball ability. The fact that he is a deep threat opens up things for the other receivers on the underneath routes. Weak Points – He has some tightness in his hips making him a bit of a straight-line athlete. He has concentration lapses and drops too many passes. He slows down going in and out of cuts and is unable to gain separation. He is an outside receiver only and looked very average at the Senior Bowl. Summation – While he tested out well at the Combine, he plays like a straight-line athlete. His production doesn’t match his speed and athleticism. He had only 34 receptions and four touchdowns in 2014. He is a big-time vertical threat but needs work on the rest of his game. He has far too many drops. Right now, he is just an outside the numbers vertical receiver.) (4-29-15): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/nfp-prospect-focus-dorsett-smith-and-coates/
Players being overrated in the lead-up to the draft (Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn: Coates blew up in the Iron Bowl vs. Alabama (five catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns), then excelled throughout Senior Bowl week. Is that enough to justify an early-round pick? The 6'1", 212-pound Coates can make plays by going over top of cornerbacks and he's a big-play threat downfield. There's just not much else there as of the last time we saw Coates on the field, so waiting on him a bit is advised.) (4-29-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/04/29/2015-nfl-draft-overrated-prospects-breshad-perriman-arik-armstead
Scouting the SEC: Auburn's top prospects in 2015 NFL Draft (Sammie Coates, WR, Redshirt Junior (6-1, 212, 4.37): NFLDraftScout.com Rank: #65 overall/#11 WR, Projection: 2nd-3rd round. A physical specimen with his size/speed combination, Coates has freakish ability and is clearly most comfortable on vertical routes, but can be very inconsistent on other patterns and is more of an athlete than polished pass-catcher right now. His overall focus and reliability at the catch point is a question mark as he struggles to consistently track and secure with too many drops on his résumé. Coates could have used another year in college to continue his development and work on the details of the position, but a target with his natural gifts will be coveted at the next level. His physical traits and home run ability could see him come off the draft board in the top-75 picks.) (4-21-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25157433/scouting-the-sec-auburns-top-prospects-in-2015-nfl-draft
2015 draft positional overviews: WRs, TEs (Most overrated: Auburn's Sammie Coates. Coates has excellent speed and athleticism for a guy his size (6-1, 212), and by all accounts, he is a great person. But he also is a receiver, and receivers are supposed to catch the ball. That was an issue for Coates. He has the ability to get deep and occasionally make a spectacular catch. But he's also liable to drop one (or two or three) right in his hands. He is going to get his chance at the next level, and he certainly has the potential to be a productive -- and big-play -- receiver. But he must develop some consistency and quit dropping what should be easy receptions.) (4-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000486838/article/2015-nfl-draft-positional-overviews-wide-receivers-tight-ends
O'HARA'S DRAFT PREVIEW: Wide receivers and tight ends (WR Sammie Coates, Auburn: A four-year player at Auburn, Coates had 42 catches in 2013, 34 in 2014 and averaged more than 21 yards per catch both years. He’s still raw, but his athleticism – including a 41-inch vertical jump – is impressive.) (4-20-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/ohara/article-1/OHARAS-DRAFT-PREVIEW-Wide-receivers-and-tight-ends/da38b7ca-348e-4e60-82d3-1914e8045b57
2015 NFL Draft: Shocking talent, depth at receiver (10/59. Sammie Coates, Auburn, 6-1, 212, 4.37, 2: Speedy Sammie: Coates is gifted with a combination of size, speed and muscularity rarely packaged in one wide receiver. He uses all that to simplify the game into a footrace toward the horizon, using his goodbye speed to scorch defenses by just running straight down the field until there is only himself and the ball, assuming the quarterback can reach him. That worked great in Auburn's run-based offense in 2013 when Coates converted 42 catches into 902 yards (21.5 per grab) and seven touchdowns. Playing on a sore knee last season he added 34 catches for 741 yards (21.8 per catch) as he continued to make football look like a simple footrace. As much as his amazing college career average of 21.4 yards per catch wows some scouts, others dismiss Coates and his big numbers because they believe he will need more than speed to succeed in the NFL. Measuring up: Ht, wt: 6013, 212; Arm: 33 3/8; Hand: 09 3/8; Wingspan: 78 3/4. Combine -- 40-YD: 4.35; 10-YD: 1.52; 20-YD: 2.54; BP: 18; VJ: 45; BJ: 11-7; SS: 4.30; 3C: 7.06; LS: 11.65. Notable quote: "Me. I'm just confident in myself -- to be honest, there's a lot of great wide receivers in this class, there's gonna be a lot of competition at the combine, I look forward to competing with those guys," -- Coates at combine when asked who was best wide receiver at Indianapolis. This was before a hyped sideshow of 40-yard run comparison between Coates and Miami wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, who won with an announced time of 4.33 seconds to Coates' 4.35. Still, Coates had the better overall workout if that matters. Frankly: We agree he was a one-trick pony in college, but it was one hell of a trick -- a disappearing act beyond the horizon, football in hand. Coates can be a key element in somebody's offense with speed that demands extra attention as it renders defenses topless.) (4-16-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25151327/nfl-draft-shocking-talent-depth-at-receiver
Five Surefire Busts in the 2015 NFL Draft (1. Sammie Coates WR Auburn- Otherwise known as “Terrell Owens 2.0″ . Honestly I do not see that comparison other than the fact that they both look like they were built out of a laboratory. Coates has poor hands and route running ability which are two mainstays of being a receiver. He is inconsistent as a whole when attacking the ball at the high point as well so a Mike Evans comparison would not suffice either. Coates has the size and speed to intrigue many scouts but his is just a below average football player at this point. His agility and hips aren’t the most fluid either and shows serious struggle coming in and out of his breaks. He will not only need a large amount of time to develop those issues but the offense he was in at Auburn will not match that of a pro style either.) (4-14-15): http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2015/04/five-surefire-busts-in-the-2015-nfl-draft/
2015 NFL Draft: Lance Zierlein's top 10 wide receiver prospects (9. Sammie Coates, Auburn: Zierlein's bottom line: Big, fast and raw. Vertical wide receiver with the ability to hit big plays and have dominant games. Coates must be coached to trust his quarterback and run through his deep routes in order to reach his potential. He has early-round traits and late-round receiving skills right now, but the upside will be hard to pass on and could pay off in a big way. He will be tethered to the JUGS machine in rookie camp.) (3-18-5): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000479835/article/2015-nfl-draft-lance-zierleins-top-10-wide-receivers
2015 Pro Days Notebook - Part I (Sammie Coates – WR – He did just positional drills and looked good. The question on Coates is his hands and that was not answered. He had some double catches and just doesn’t look like a natural hands catcher.) (3-8-15): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2015-pro-days-notebook-part-i/
2015 NFL Draft: This Week In Pro Days (WR Sammie Coates caught the ball very well and impressed on the deep ball.) (3-6-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-nfl-draft-week-pro-days.html
What we learned from Tuesday's pro days (Auburn Pro Day - Coates was watched closely by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and looked good catching the ball after struggling with drops at the combine. NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt noted that Coates was especially impressive catching deeper passes.)(3-3-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000476189/article/2015-nfl-draft-what-we-learned-from-tuesdays-pro-days
Belichick, Steelers GM attend Auburn's pro day (Wide receiver Sammie Coates (6-1 7/8, 212) also stood on his numbers from the combine, where he was a top performer among receivers in bench press, vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard short shuttle. Coates is a strong guy, and he caught the ball well during the positional workout. The biggest knock on Coates is the dropped passes, but on pass plays of more than 20 yards he caught 10 of 11 passes.) (3-3-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000476185/article/patriots-belichick-steelers-gm-attend-auburns-pro-day
21 prospect takeaways from Combine (Coates continues to disappoint: There was buzz around Auburn's Sammie Coates at the Senior Bowl due to his size but issues with his hands continued to pop up in both Mobile and Indianapolis. To top it all off, despite talk of challenging the Combine record, he ran a slower than expected 4.43 in the 40 to place him tied for 11th at his position in the event. Safe to say his stock is headed down at this point.) (2-24-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000473788/article/21-prospect-takeaways-from-2015-nfl-scouting-combine
2015 Combine: Players who helped, hurt their draft stock (Who hurt their draft stock - Auburn WR Sammie Coates: Coates has good size (6-1 3/8, 212) and looked really good in the vertical jump (41 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches). But his 40 time of 4.43 was disappointing -- most expected a sub-4.4. His drill work was extremely spotty. A big knock on Coates coming into the combine was his inconsistent hands, and that is a knock that remains. He just did not look natural, or even comfortable, in the receiving drills.) (2-23-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000473645/article/2015-combine-players-who-helped-hurt-their-draft-stock
Five players who hurt their stock at the Combine (Sammie Coates - It’s not so much that Coates did anything wrong. He just couldn’t keep pace with the other wide receivers. Alabama’s Amari Cooper showed the smooth all-around athleticism that makes him the favorite to be the first WR selected. West Virginia’s Kevin White ran a 4.35 40 compared to Coates’ 4.43. Ex-Missouri star Dorial Green-Beckham, who didn’t play last season after transferring to Oklahoma, measured four inches taller (6 -5 to 6-1) and was only a few steps slower (4.49 in the 40.) All three looked more comfortable running routes and making catches. Coates failed to assuage the biggest concerns about his game — his hands, focus and precision — while also failing to establish that his physical ability makes him worth the risk.) (2-23-15): http://q.usatoday.com/2015/02/23/five-players-who-hurt-their-stock-at-the-nfl-combine/
NFL Combine 40 yd dash results (As we predicted earlier this week, Sammie Coates will likely be drafted on Day 1. But his 40-yard dash time (4.43) on Saturday was slightly disappointing, considering the former Auburn wideout was reportedly hand-timed at 4.25 seconds by Tigers assistant coaches in drills leading up to last season. The hype around Coates led FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman to name him the “top freak” in college football. Coates’ time serves as yet another warning to those who get overly excited about freakish times posted in the friendly environment of hand-timing and college coaches. Still, NFL scouts are still likely salivating over Coates’ stunning showing against Alabama’s vaunted defense in the Iron Bowl last November, when he compiled 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Although Coates’ 40 time was somewhat underwhelming, his top-prospect status is safe.) (2-23-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/02/21/nfl-combine-40-yard-dash-jj-nelson-marcus-mariota-phillip-dorsett
WR 2015 Combine Field Drills Recap (Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates had a solid Combine. He ran well in the 40 with an official time of 4.43 seconds. That pretty much met expectations for the physically gifted Coates (6-1, 212). Coates had some drop issues in college, so it was good for him to do well in the gauntlet drill. However, in the field work, Coates had an ugly drop on a deep ball on an over-the-shoulder catch. Overall, he caught it pretty well, but he clearly isn't a natural hands catcher. So, basically, the Combine confirmed that Coates has a skill set but needs work to be a polished wide receiver.) (2-21-15): http://walterfootball.com/combine2015workoutWR.php
2015 Combine: Dorsett doesn't disappoint in 40 yd dash and other WR notes (Auburn's Sammie Coates recorded a 4.43 and 4.45, which was almost disappointing considering he didn't crack the 4.3 barrier. But at 6-2 and 213 pounds, those times are above average and back up the field speed he shows on tape.) (2-21-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25076142/nfl-combine-phillip-dorsett-doesnt-disappoint-in-40-yard-dash
Kevin White clear cut no. 1 WR (Auburn WR a 'boom-or-bust' guy. Jeremiah compared Auburn WR Sammie Coates to Terrell Owens. But he also compared him to Darrius Heyward-Bey, and thus it should be no surprise that he called Coates a "boom-or-bust candidate." Jeremiah said the comparison to Owens comes from Coates' ability to "make plays down the field." But he said the comparisons to Heyward-Bey come about because Coates can "go down the field and completely struggle tracking the ball." Coates has good size (6-1 3/8, 212) but had a disappointing 40 time Saturday, at 4.43 seconds. There was an expectation that Coates would be in the 4.3s. But Coates did impress with a 41-inch vertical jump and a broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches.) (2-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000473098/article/jeremiah-west-virginias-kevin-white-top-wr-prospect-in-draft
2015 NFL Scouting Combine: Takeaways from Day 2 (Coates mum on drops. Auburn receiver Sammie Coates had plenty to say about how well he could potentially run the 40-yard dash at the combine, noting his best previous time is a 4.3. But his words were a bit shorter when quizzed about scouting concerns regarding his hands. "Just a lack of focus" was all Coates could muster about the dropped passes that could damage his draft stock. Hopefully, Coates had a more in-depth explanation for the NFL clubs asking the same question this week. Coates caught 34 passes on the season, but dropped five balls among 39 targets. By contrast, Alabama's Amari Cooper dropped six of 130 last year. According to NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt, Coates caught 10 of 11 deep balls (passes 20 or more yards downfield), meaning Coates lost the handle on four of 28 catchable passes inside that range -- roughly 15 percent.) (2-19-15): http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/0ap3000000471879/article/2015-nfl-scouting-combine-prospect-takeaways-from-day-2
2015 Combine: Winners and losers from Day 2 Media Session (Coates is picked as a loser. The Auburn wideout wasn't bad, per se, with the media, but he avoided questions about his drops like the plague and said only that he lacked concentration. Really? That's going to be your excuse? Can't see NFL clubs being thrilled with such a response.) (2-19-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000472334/article/2015-combine-winners-and-losers-from-day-2s-media-session
NFL Scouting Combine (Can Coates, who will likely be among the fastest of anyone at the combine, catch and run routes? He had inconsistent hands at Auburn, though he's supposed to be improving in that area. Is he a hands catcher, or does he trap the ball against his body? How he does in the gauntlet drill -- the receiver runs down the field, catching balls thrown at him one at a time from either side - will be a good indicator. Coates is part of a receiver group that has a chance to be nearly as special as last year's.) (2-18-15): http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000471169
These players will be stars of the combine (Coates’ athleticism is the stuff of urban (or football recruiting message board) legend. The 6-2, 201-pound target is a serious threat to post the best vertical leap in Indianapolis, as well as one of the top 40-yard dashes. Whenever he translated his physical traits to production, he created a buzz. But, as a prospect already known as a physical marvel, Coates will have to limit his drops and develop his route running to allay teams’ concerns. Still, Coates should emerge from Indianapolis as a standout.) (2-16-15): http://q.usatoday.com/2015/02/16/nfl-scouting-combine-top-players/
Top contenders to post the 2015 combine's fastest 40 (Coates will probably be the highest-drafted player on this list. The Auburn wideout was named the "top freak" in college football last summer by FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman, and that was before he tore up Alabama’s defense for 206 yards and a pair of touchdowns in last November's Iron Bowl. As Feldman noted, Auburn’s assistant coaches consistently hand-clocked Coates at 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash. It’d be a bit optimistic to expect Coates to match that at the combine, which uses an electronic timing system, but it also seems foolish to put anything past a player with his remarkable blend of size and speed.) (2-16-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/02/16/nfl-combine-fastest-40-yard-dash-times-devin-smith-phillip-dorsett-sammie-coates
Potential Combine Stars (Coates has great size (6-foot-2, 201 pounds), and his speed/explosiveness is clear as day on film. Auburn coaches have told scouts to expect a show when Coates is officially timed and tested in Indy. He should post a low-4.3 40 time and compete for a top spot in just about every other event.) (2-16-15): http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/0ap3000000470652/article/potential-combine-stars-phillip-dorsett-shane-ray-devin-smith
2015 NFL Scouting Combine players to watch: Offense (Sammie Coates, Auburn: He is big (6-foot-2, 213 pounds), fast (he has been clocked at under 4.4 in the 40) and athletic (his vertical jump once was measured at 44 inches), and should test off the charts at the combine. So what's the problem? His hands are inconsistent, and a receiver with inconsistent hands is problematic no matter how fast or athletic. As NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein puts it, "He has early round traits and late-round receiving skills right now." Still, expect scouts to be awed by the numbers Coates puts up in the event portion of the combine. Chances are, those numbers will be impressive enough that more than a few teams will be willing to overlook his inconsistencies.) (2-16-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470692/article/2015-nfl-scouting-combine-players-to-watch-offense
Combine prospects with the most to gain or lose (Coates will win the weigh-ins for the position with his chiseled frame and he has a good chance to win the workouts as well. He has above average top-end speed with the long strides to get vertical in a hurry and will create buzz with his 40-yard dash.) (2-12-15); http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25067278/nfl-combine-prospects-with-the-most-to-gain-or-lose
Speed merchants: Which prospects will run fastest 40 at combine? (Sammie Coates - From Zierlein's report: Outstanding combination of size and speed. Good acceleration off the snap for a receiver with his length. Can take top off defense and open up the underneath. Will beat bold cornerbacks over the top if they wait to turn and run.) (2-11-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470002/article/2015-nfl-scouting-combine-which-prospects-will-run-fastest
Lions NFL combine preview: Wide receivers (Coates is rated as the No. 9 receiver and No. 42 overall player by ESPN. He caught 34 passes for 741 yards and four touchdowns in 2014. In his career, he caught 82 passes for 1,757 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has averaged 21.4 yards per reception in his career, so he has deep-threat capability.) (2-11-15): http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/15170/lions-nfl-combine-preview-wide-receivers
2015 NFL Scouting Combine: Wide receivers, tight ends to watch (Coates is big (6-foot-2, 213 pounds), fast (he has been clocked at under 4.4 in the 40) and athletic (his vertical jump once was measured at 44 inches), and should test off the charts at the combine. So what's the problem? His hands are inconsistent, and a receiver with inconsistent hands is problematic no matter how fast or athletic. As NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein puts it, "He has early-round traits and late-round receiving skills right now." Still, expect scouts to be awed by the numbers Coates puts up in the event portion of the combine. Chances are, those numbers will be impressive enough that more than a few teams will be willing to overlook his inconsistencies.) (2-11-15): http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/0ap3000000469391/article/2015-nfl-scouting-combine-wide-receivers-tight-ends-to-watch
2015 NFL Draft: Nine questions teams are asking heading into the Combine (How do drops fit into the WR equation? College teams throw way more than they used to, providing plenty of video of receivers catching and dropping passes. More and more, teams use drop ratios when analyzing wide receivers. Coates' drop ratio was one of the worst. Auburn's Sammie Coates at one of every nine. I know teams like Coates, as do I, but heading into this draft I'm also hearing more about drop rates than ever.) (2-10-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat-kirwan/25064446/nfl-draft-nine-questions-teams-are-asking-heading-into-combine
2015 NFL Draft: 10 big receivers who should interest teams (Coates, 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, is a physical marvel who has excellent speed and can jump out of the gym (were he playing basketball, that is). Unfortunately, he has inconsistent hands, though he did have a nice week at the Reese's Senior Bowl. His upside is tremendous because of his athletic gifts, assuming a team can get his hands straightened out.) (2-6-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000463726/article/2015-nfl-draft-10-big-receivers-who-should-interest-teams
Top 12 most freakish athletes in 2015 NFL Draft (Coates is one of them. He has outstanding combination of size and speed. Good acceleration off the snap for a receiver with his length. Can take top off defense and open up the underneath. Will beat bold cornerbacks over the top if they wait to turn and run. Forces cornerbacks onto their heels and gets easy, open looks on dig routes. Makes easy in-cut with maximum separation. Ability to win big plays vertically.)(2-3-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000465906/article/marcus-mariota-among-most-freakish-athletes-in-2015-nfl-draft
2015 NFL Draft: 10 big receivers who should interest teams (Coates is a physical marvel who has excellent speed and can jump out of the gym (were he playing basketball, that is). Unfortunately, he has inconsistent hands, though he did have a nice week at the Reese's Senior Bowl. His upside is tremendous because of his athletic gifts, assuming a team can get his hands straightened out.) (1-28-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000463726/article/2015-nfl-draft-10-big-receivers-who-should-interest-teams
Senior Bowl: NFL prospects who helped, hurt their draft stock in Mobile (Coates hurt his stock. There's no denying Coates' potential. His freakish blend of size and speed are very evident, but his skillset is somewhat limited. One AFC scout explained that when evaluating wide receivers the most important traits are a player who has good timing, runs crisp routes and has reliable hands. Coates can get better in each of those departments. While the 6-foot-2, 220-pound wide receiver shows flashes of brilliance, he left plenty of plays on the field. To make matters worse, Coates tweaked his groin in the first half causing him to be sidelined for the remainder of the game.)(1-24-15): http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/senior-bowl-which-nfl-prospects-made-the-most-of-their-time-in-mobile-012415
Senior Bowl Review: Offense (Coates eats up yards in a hurry once up to top speed. I will never question his athleticism, but he is a true “don’t count it twice” case (more on the when the NFL Combine rolls around). Coates put together possibly the 10 best downfield catches. He also looked completely out of his element on 10 others. That is not good for a receiver who focuses on one level of the field. Not only is Coates unreliable when catching the football once it gets to his hands, it also not having the proper timing to elevate or body control to out-position the opponent. A lot of work is needed.)(1-24-15): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/51877/351/senior-bowl-review-offense
Abdullah leads North squad to Senior Bowl win (Ex-Tigers wideout Sammie Coates nearly hauled in a pair of long touchdown catches but couldn't hold onto the ball and later left the game with a groin injury.) (1-24-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462871/article/ameer-abdullah-shines-as-north-beats-south-in-senior-bowl
Recapping the best and worst of Senior Bowl week (When the South was on the field, Auburn's Sammie Coates continued to build a Round 1 case for himself. He needs much more development as a route-runner, but in the red zone and downfield, he can be lethal.) (1-24-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/24/senior-bowl-recap
Mayock: Three Senior Bowl speedsters could post blazing 40 times at Combine (Coates is one of the three. At 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, Coates would certainly turn heads with a time in the 4.3-range, which is typically occupied by smaller receivers and cornerbacks. Coates just missed a touchdown catch from Blake Sims in the Senior Bowl, getting just one foot in bounds rather than the two feet required in the NFL.) (1-23-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462916/article/phillip-dorsett-shooting-for-429-40yard-dash-at-combine
Senior Bowl Day 3: Tomlinson, Shelton standing out as top NFL prospects (Money-making week for Sammie Coates. Cards on the table, Coates was far better this week than I expected him to be. His time as an Auburn wide receiver showed a home-run threat with plenty to work on, both as a pass-catcher and route-runner, before becoming a reliable NFL receiver. The gap has closed some now, thanks to Coates' strong week of practice. He still leaves some plays on the field -- i.e., a fade route that fell right through his hands and an underthrown deep ball that he was unable to adjust on in time -- but Coates also won several heads-up battles vs. cornerbacks. Above all, he flashed more reliable hands than he had during his Auburn days. Case in point: On a slant route during those one-on-one drills, Coates moved his well-built frame (6-foot-1, 213 pounds) in front of CB Imoan Claiborne, then reached out to grab a pass thrown slightly in front of him. Coates is clearly a threat in the red zone, too, as evidenced by a brilliant body-control catch over top of Miami's Ladarius Gunter.)(1-23-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/23/senior-bowl-day-3-laken-tomlinson-danny-shelton-nfl-draft
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: inside the XOS film room with Josh Norris (First off, it’s clear that Auburn’s Sammie Coates has elite length, speed and natural athletic ability. It was scary how fast Coates was able to eat up the cushion of off-man cover corners. He was running vertical routes at a different speed than the rest of the Senior Bowl receivers, and also dominated at the catch point during red zone drills. His evaluation is a difficult one, in that he isn’t a natural hands catcher and lacks clean route running technique. He’ll have to be taught how to run a route tree and is a bit of a one trick pony, but that one trick was tough to stop here in Mobile for the Senior Bowl.)(1-23-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-inside-xos-film-room-josh-norris.html
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Thursday South Practice Notes (Auburn receiver Sammie Coates looks like a man amongst boys here at the Senior Bowl. Able to blow by off-man cornerbacks on vertical patterns and finish back shoulder receptions in the redzone, Coates consistently won his one-on-one matchups. He tripped over his own feet on one slant pattern and dropped an easy crossing route over the middle, but dominated the South cornerbacks for most of the afternoon.)(1-22-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-thursday-south-practice-notes.html
What we learned on Wednesday at the Senior Bowl ("He's fast enough, and he's strong as a bull, but he doesn't have a lot of quickness going in and out of his breaks. He needs to get a lot more fluid at changing direction, or the DBs in the NFL will close on him too fast." -- NFC area scout on Auburn WR Sammie Coates.)(1-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461757/article/what-we-learned-tony-lippett-draws-senior-bowl-interest
Optimum Scouting's 2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Wednesday South Practice Notes (It was a big day for the receivers, who had to adjust to some poorly thrown balls in order to complete the play. The tie for best day goes to Sammie Coates and Philip Dorsett. Coates, from Auburn, delivered on his physical talents today, as he was a man amongst boys and playing with great toughness. Coates was able to win deep but also underneath by using his feet to break on-ball coverage. He looked much more comfortable today.) (1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-wednesday-south-practice-notes.html
2015 Senior Bowl: Auburn QB Nick Marshall makes quick switch to CB and other player notes (The most exciting pass-catcher Tuesday, however, was Auburn's Sammie Coates, whose easy acceleration made him a nightmare for most corners to deal with. Coates possesses extraordinary speed despite an imposing 6-foot-6-foot-1, 3/4, 213-pound frame. As he did throughout his career with the Tigers, however, Coates alternated between making the dazzling grab and the head-scratching mistake, allowing a couple of deep passes to slip through his fingers and failing to turn his head on another route that nearly resulted in an interception.)(1-20-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24981081/senior-bowl-auburn-qb-nick-marshall-makes-quick-switch-to-cb
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Tuesday North Practice Notes (From a body type and physical tools perspective, Sammie Coates is by far the top receiver at the Senior Bowl. He more than looks the part, can use his length to rip away from press coverage and win down the field with his long gait. With all that in mind, he still struggles to properly set up intermediate route breaks and also had a bad drop during team drills. He caught the ball well for the better part of the practice and he certainly passes the eyeball test.) (1-20-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-tuesday-south-practice-notes.html
2015 Senior Bowl Monday's South Practice Report (Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates showed off his combination of size and speed. Coates was a tough test for defensive backs, as he was working himself open. He caught a number of passes in the one-on-ones, but he needs to get better about using his hands to catch and shy away from his body. That leads to some drops. During the 11-on-11 scrimmage, Coates had a nice reception on a slant from Grayson to close out the practice.)(1-20-15): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015practice.php
2015 Senior Bowl: Sammie Coates steals show during South team weigh-in (Coates started the week strong with an impressive weigh-in on Tuesday morning. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds at Auburn, he measured 6-1 (3/8”) and 213 pounds on the Senior Bowl stage, showing off his cut, muscular physique. Coates was 12 pounds heavier than his listed weight at Auburn, but it appeared to be all muscle on his lean, defined frame. Coates also impressed with his arm length (33 1/2”). Expected to run well too, Coates has the size/speed combination that will create buzz, but he needs to show more consistency as a route runner and hands-catcher in order to be drafted as high as his measureables suggest.)(1-20-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24980468/senior-bowl-sammie-coates-steals-show-during-south-team-weigh-in
Senior Bowl Notebook: Weigh-In And Tuesday Practices (Coates certainly looks the part. He’s a specimen at 6’1” and 206 but appears both taller and thicker. Coates flashed the vertical speed on several reps, though the lack of chemistry with the QBs (notably Garrett Grayson, the best here) prevented some big catches. As was quite evident at Auburn, he struggles to track the deeper throws. It’s a similar issue to Alshon Jeffery when he was at South Carolina and he improved, so there is certainly hope for Coates, a fringe 1st-round pick.)(1-20-15): http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2589/Senior-Bowl-Notebook-Weigh-In-And-Tuesday-Practices
NFL Draft Watch: 20 players we'll be watching at the Senior Bowl (The fourth-year junior is eligible to play in the game based on a new allowance for underclassmen who have completed their degree. Coates physical appeal at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with wheels. But he is regarded in scouting circles as a one-trick pony — a deep-ball specialist — who needs to refine his game. The practice sessions will show how refined his route-running is, and how well he fares against a decent (though not great) group of cornerbacks. It could be something of a make-or-break week for him. Drops were a problem in college.) (1-20-15):http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/nfl-draft-watch--20-players-we-ll-be-watching-at-the-senior-bowl-025609307.html
Senior Bowl Week Preview (He’s got the physical package resembling Julio Jones. A long 6’2”, strong and very fast, Coates is often seen blazing past smaller defenders in Auburn games. Yet his production was inconsistent, with just 34 receptions and four touchdowns. I’ve charted out five Auburn games already (Kansas State, LSU, Miss. St., Alabama and Wisconsin) and he dropped or missed 12 catch opportunities in those games. He didn’t always judge the speed or depth of the throw accurately. In the drills here he’ll be on an island with chances to make plays on the ball not worrying about any safety closing on the ball. He needs to show clean, strong hands and the ability to use his size to dominate smaller DBs.)(1-19-15): http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2588/Senior-Bowl-Week-Preview
Senior Bowl: Pauline's 20 To Watch (Coates is taking advantage of the Senior Bowl loophole which allows invitations for draft eligible juniors on pace to graduate in four years. He’s smooth, big-bodied and capable of physically defeating opponents but must prove his route-running skills. Can he do more than just beat down defenders? Does he have the speed and quickness to separate on the NFL level?) (1-19-15): http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Senior-Bowl-Paulines-20-To-Watch/aaef3e25-9c9b-4850-89e1-6ba8aa98f2f1
Instant debate: Who has most at stake in Senior Bowl?(Coates must show consistency catching ball.
Sammie Coates has the most to gain this week in Mobile. He has a rare blend of size and speed, but he's been very inconsistent catching the ball. If he has a solid week, showing he can track and catch the ball naturally, his stock will soar.) (1-19-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000460197/article/instant-debate-who-has-most-at-stake-in-senior-bowl
Senior Bowl: 7 players for Lions fans to watch (The Lions took tight end Eric Ebron in the first round last year, but with Calvin Johnson a few months shy of his 30th birthday and a contract raise in his future, they still could use some help at receiver. Coates graduated in December and is playing in this game as a fourth-year junior. He's not a return threat like Stanford's Ty Montgomery, whose game status is up in the air as he returns from a shoulder injury, but he averaged 21.8 yards per catch for the Tigers this season.)(1-19-15): http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/01/19/senior-bowl-top-nfl-prospects/21988067/
Washington star draws raves from analysts as Senior Bowl practices get set to begin (Sammie Coates has all the needed measurables, including top-flight speed, but Jeremiah said he also had "a lot of drops.") (1-19-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461003/article/washingtons-danny-shelton-the-guy-to-watch-in-senior-bowl
2015 Senior Bowl: 10 offensive prospects to watch (One of a few redshirt juniors who are eligible to participate this week, Coates has the physique and straight-line speed that evaluators covet at the receiver position. But he is not yet the sum of his parts with inconsistent routes and unreliable hands and needs to show better polish this week to show he's more than just a project.)(1-18-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/24975640/senior-bowl-10-offensive-prospects-to-watch
2015 Senior Bowl: South Offense Scouting Preview (Coates is a bit of a one-trick pony, but his one trick as a vertical weapon will make him a sought after commodity in the draft. You see natural ability to separate downfield, track the football and adjust at the catch point from Sammie Coates on downfield targets. He’s not a natural hands catcher in that he tends to body receptions and focus drops continue to be an issue for the junior prospect. From a skill set standpoint, he has the length and powerful upper body to stiff-arm cornerbacks and win after the catch. As a route runner, he’s very unrefined and not fluid getting out of the break. This is due in large part to his high-cut build and stiff ankles. I’ll be watching to see how he progresses throughout the week, particularly taking notes on his route running skills. Currently, Coates projects as a mid day two pick and compares favorably with last year’s 3rdrounder Donte Moncrief.)(1-17-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-south-offense-scouting-preview.html
Coates still looking to prove he's not just a deep guy at Senior Bowl (1-14-15): http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/01/auburns_sammie_coates_still_lo.html
Coates battled through knee injury to leave lasting impact at Auburn (1-8-14): http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/01/sammie_coates_battles_through.html
Auburn redshirt junior WR Sammie Coates has Terrell Owens' body, Odell Beckham Jr.'s burst and Darrius Heyward-Bey's hands," writes NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah. (We couldn't agree more. Coates has the build of a No. 1 WR (6-foot-2, 201 pounds) and the speed of a No. 1 WR (4.36 40-yard dash), but he has failed to live up to scouts' expectations. Perhaps the biggest reason for that is Coates' consistent inability to produce as a No. 1 receiver at Auburn. The Tigers' offense completely stagnated this year when WR Duke Williams was hurt or suspended and Coates was forced into the featured-receiver role. When Coates could focus on running fly routes as the No. 2 receiver, he thrived. "Coates drops a ton of balls but just when you want to write him off, he makes a freaky play," Jeremiah wrote. Coates will declare for the draft and has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl. Because of his measurables, Coates is a decent bet to get over-drafted. "Coates [will] make a circus catch in traffic and then completely fail to track the ball a few plays later," Jeremiah wrote.) (1-6-15): http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=CFB&id=133364&line=38343&spln=1
Coates played at 85 percent health (1-1-15): http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/auburnauthority/2015/01/01/sammie-coates-played-at-85-percent-health/21172239/
2015 NFL Draft: Week 14 Stock Report (Although his production has been spotty in 2014, Coates showed Saturday night why NFL scouts are intrigued by his natural gifts. He set a new career-best with 206 receiving yards on only five catches (41.2 average) and a pair of scores, doubling his touchdown catches on the season. The negatives on Coates have been his undeveloped route running and inconsistent focus at the catch point. But the Auburn pass-catcher used his speed and burst to stretch the field and give his quarterback enough of a window to give him a chance. And Coates was reliable catching the ball with his hands, utilizing his long arms to finish while in stride. The performance was an excellent example of the raw traits he shows and why he will be considered in the top-40 picks if he chooses to declare early for the 2015 NFL Draft.) (12-2-14): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24858105/nfl-draft-week-14-stock-report
Coates erupts in record setting Iron Bowl performance (11-30-14): http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2014/09/sammie_coates_remains_positive.html
2015 NFL Draft: Cooper, Coates golden in Iron Bowl (11-29-14): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24850008/nfl-draft-amari-cooper-sammie-coates-golden-in-iron-bowl
Friendship in face of loss helped forge Auburn's Coates into force off field (11-28-14): http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2014/11/friendship_in_face_of_loss_hel.html
2015 NFL Draft Prospect Preview: Who to watch in Week 14 (With an enticing physical skill-set, Coates looked like a NFL prospect ready to emerge in 2014, but it hasn't worked out that way. With JUCO transfer WR Duke Williams, JR (6-2 | 216 | 4.54 | #1) establishing himself as Auburn's No. 1 receiving target, Coates has struggled to show he can be a reliable No. 2 with only 25 receptions. Also battling injuries, he has three catches or less in seven of the nine games he has played this season and has found the end zone only twice. Coates has blazing speed with a yoked up frame and long arms, but until he shows improved ballskills, focus and understanding of the position, it's tough to see the Auburn junior receiver as anything more than a project right now.) (11-27-14): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24843532/nfl-draft-prospect-preview-who-to-watch-in-week-14
Ask 5: Who's been most disappointing prospect this season? (Executive 2: Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn. "I really like his combination of size and speed, but he has very inconsistent hands. I'm a little disappointed after really studying him.")(11-5-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000423469/article/ask-5-whos-been-most-disappointing-prospect-this-season
Week 6 Risers and Sliders (Despite struggling with a knee injury Coates has excited scouts with his big play ability in 2014. Sized well, the junior plays strong as well as fast, winning out in battles but at the same time beating opponents down field for long gainers. He tallied 4 receptions for 144-yards (36-yards per catch) with one score in his most recent effort against LSU. Coates is fluid on the field and deceptively fast. He has the physical skills and upside to develop into a second receiver for an NFL team.) (10-6-14): http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=10068
Coates remains positive as explosive receiver fights back from frustrating knee injury (9-29-14): http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2014/09/sammie_coates_remains_positive.html
2015 NFL Draft: Auburn Preview (Given Malzahn's run-heavy attack, it is perhaps ironic that no player on the 2014 roster signifies Auburn's meteoric rise better than Coates, who entered last season with just six receptions under his belt. Coates exploded for 42 grabs for 902 yards (a 21.5 average!) and seven touchdowns in 2013 and due to a freakish blend of size, speed and strength, looks poised to build upon these numbers as a junior. Coates reportedly has been clocked in the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash and this speed is apparent on the field. Like most big play wideouts, Coates possesses first-step acceleration that allows him to quickly leave defenders in his wake and the long speed to pull away from the pack. He's unique in that Coates combines this speed with a muscle-packed frame that makes him every bit as likely to shove defenders to the ground as run away from them. He can extend and pluck fastballs outside of his frame and tracks the ball well over his shoulder. Malzahn's scheme calls for his receivers to block often and he is a physical and alert in this role. While blessed with extraordinary tools, Coates remains a work in progress. He runs limited routes in Auburn's scheme (mostly verticals, quick outs and drags across the middle) and he could generate more separation by sinking his hips and exploding out of his cuts. He doesn't consistently sell his routes when the play calls for a run or if he thinks the pass is going another way. Occasionally he'll let an "easy" pass slip through his fingers.) (8-12-14): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24657171/nfl-draft-auburn-preview
WR Jamison Crowder:
Scouting Reports:
Duke Profile Page: http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205152255
NFL: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/jamison-crowder?id=2552415
CBS: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1850749/jamison-crowder
NFL Draft Scout: http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=106512&draftyear=2015&genpos=WR
Articles:
Crowder fits profile of WR Lions are likely to draft (4-25-15): http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/04/26/detroit-lions-jamison-crowder/26417785/
Draft diary: Crowder ready to play with heroes (4-25-15): http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2015/04/25/diary-jamison-crowder-duke/26288697/
Miami's Dorsett atop list of draft's top undersized wide receivers (3. Jamison Crowder, Duke: Crowder (5-9, 174) wasn't as productive last season as he was in 2013, and his combine performance wasn't as strong as most expected. But he showed well at the Senior Bowl and improved on his testing times at Duke's pro day. He's an outstanding return specialist and could be a dangerous pro in the right system and role. He has the quickness to get open on short routes, which could make him ideal for a slot role. NFL Media analyst Charles Davis is high on Crowder.
NFL fit: Cincinnati Bengals. Crowder could be a nice slot fit in an offense that already has a star outside in A.J. Green. Cincinnati's punt-return average of 7.2 yards ranked 25th in the NFL last season. Crowder could give the team an immediate special-teams boost, and Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban was among those on hand to see Crowder work out at his pro day.) (4-6-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000483594/article/2015-nfl-draft-top-five-undersized-wide-receivers
Duke vs. Wisconsin: Which school has better 2015 NFL Draft prospects? (4. Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke: A 5-foot-9, 174-pound dynamo who can take short passes a long way and return kicks and punts as well, Crowder will bring some excitement wherever he goes. Unfortunately for him, he'll be stuck behind a lengthy line of talented wide receivers who are bigger, stronger, and just as fast or faster. As such, his draft party could last awhile.) (4-6-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000483598/article/duke-vs-wisconsin-who-has-better-2015-nfl-draft-prospects
Draft diary: Duke WR Jamison Crowder works out for Patriots (3-31-15): http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2015/03/31/duke-receiver-jamison-crowder-private-workout-new-england-patriots/70728442/
Pro Days Notebook Part III (Jamison Crowder – WR/RS – Crowder did not run well at Indy and needed to improve on his time which he did. Crowder ran twice and both times, broke 4.50, with his fastest being 4.47. At 5086 – 176, Crowder is limited to being a slot receiver, but he also has enough return talent to eventually be a club’s top return specialist.) (3-30-15): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/pro-days-notebook-part-iii/
2015 NFL Draft: This Week In Pro Days (Duke WR Jamison Crowder improved his 40 time to 4.46, and should stick in the NFL as a slot receiver/return man.) (3-27-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-nfl-draft-this-week-in-pro-days-3.html
2015 Pro Days: Underrated prospects boost stock at Duke, Rice (At Duke, wideout Jamison Crowder shaved more than a tenth of a second off of his disappointing 4.57 time at the Combine in the 40-yard dash and caught the ball well during his positional workout. It isn't surprising that the dynamic slot receiver and return specialist looked quicker Wednesday, as he dropped nine pounds from the Combine, coming in at 5-foot-8 (3/4) and 176 pounds. Besides the improved 40-yard dash times (he was clocked at 4.44 and 4.46 according to scout on hand), Crowder also registered a 4.25-second short shuttle, a 7.0 second time in the 3 cone and a 10-3" broad jump - all improvements upon the numbers he posted in Indianapolis. At the Combine I spoke with Geoff Hobson, a respected reporter who once covered the Cincinnati Bengals as a beat reporter and now works for the team's official website about slot receivers/returners who made sense for the club. Crowder was among the prospects we discussed and it was clear Wednesday that Cincinnati was interested, reportedly sending wide receivers coach James Urban and special teams Darrin Simmons to the workout.) (3-25-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/25123218/pro-days-underrated-prospects-boost-stock-at-duke-rice
What we learned from Wednesday's pro days (Crowder, the speedy slot receiver for the Blue Devils, disappointed at the Combine with a slower than expected 4.56 in the 40-yard dash that had a few scouts questioning his speed. He corrected that issue at his pro day by blazing a time of 4.46, according to NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt. That should help boost his stock back up in a deep class at wideout.) (3-25-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000481496/article/pair-of-speedy-receivers-highlight-proday-action-on-wednesday
Division rivals send coaches to check out Duke's Crowder at pro day (Wide receiver/return specialist Jamison Crowder (5-8 3/4, 176) ran the 40 in 4.46 and 4.48 seconds. He had a 4.25-second 20-yard short shuttle time and a 6.98-second three-cone drill time. He had a 10-foot-3 broad jump. Crowder is the reason why the special teams and wide receiver coaches were present at Duke's pro day. He showed very good, soft hands when catching punts. He is going to be a special teams player for some team this fall.) (3-25-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000481557/article/jamison-crowder-attracts-bengals-steelers-to-dukes-pro-day
Davis: 5 draft prospects with work to do at pro day (Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke: Pro day: March 25, The skinny: Crowder did not run as fast as we expected at the combine, clocking in at 4.56 in the 40-yard dash. That tied for the 27th-fastest time among the 39 wide receivers that ran the 40 in Indianapolis. Now, it's true that some receivers are quicker than fast, but Crowder is competing against the likes of Kansas State's Tyler Lockett to be one of the first slot receivers drafted -- Lockett ran a 4.40 and had an excellent combine. Crowder needs to improve on his numbers at his pro day to keep up with his competition.) (3-2-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000475033/article/five-2015-nfl-draft-prospects-with-work-to-do-at-pro-day
WR 2015 Combine Stock Report (Crowder's stock is down. You don't want to be small and slow when auditioning for NFL teams, but that's exactly what Jamison Crowder is. Crowder, at 5-8, 185, ran a 4.56 40 at the Combine. That number isn't nearly as bad as his 10-yard split, which was a dismal 1.71. Crowder, whose hands measured at just 8 3/4 inches, took a hit in Indianapolis.) (2-24-15): http://walterfootball.com/combine2015stockWR.php
2015 NFL Combine: 25 Takeaways (5 players who hurt themselves - Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke: Scouts anticipated that Crowder would prove quicker rather than fast, but the 5-08, 185 pounder unfortunately proved neither, clocking in at a disappointing 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash and a shockingly slow 7.17 seconds in the short shuttle - a test designed to measure change of direction. Crowder was regarded as a possible Top 64 candidate prior to the testing but will almost surely wind up a Day Three pick now... if that.) (2-23-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25079684/nfl-combine-25-takeaways-include-risersfallerspro-days
2015 Combine Preview: WRs (Best trait: Savvy – He’s always been an undersized receiver, so he’s mastered the tricks of the trade to get himself open. He had a terrific week at the Senior Bowl against good competition. He’s a very good route runner with decent run-after-the-catch skills. Concern: Measurables – He’s undersized and isn’t expected to wow the Combine with top-end speed. He accelerates very well and runs good routes, but isn’t going to run by a lot of people. The skinny: Crowder caught 85 passes for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns in 2014. He also averaged 12.7 yards per punt return with a couple touchdowns. He caught 108 passes as a junior and averaged 16.0 yards per punt return with two punt-return touchdowns.) (2-16-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/2015-Combine-Preview-Wide-receiver/6710afb0-21ea-42e5-828e-ad6f5d9027f9
Next (little) man up? Crowder among top undersized WRs in 2015 draft (Jamison Crowder: I knew heading into Senior Bowl week that he was an excellent kick returner and was well-schooled in the passing game coming from David Cutcliffe's offense at Duke. However, when I saw him up close, I was really impressed with his route running. He's very precise and shows good toughness, which you have to have to be a smaller receiver in the NFL. He looks like he'd fit most naturally as a slot receiver, but he played all over the field at Duke, so he offers that versatility. Right off the bat, he can be an elite kick and punt returner, and I think he'll really help an offense in the passing game as well.)(2-5-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000468283/article/jamison-crowder-among-top-undersized-wrs-in-2015-nfl-draft
2015 Senior Bowl Stock Report: Ten who stood out in mobile (After a very impressive week of practice, Crowder had a tough game, twice bobbling kick returns. He was saved from a fumble on the first one by an obscure NFL rule that states that returners have the opportunity to re-secure a ball bobbled into the air if they waved for a fair catch. Crowder generally possesses very reliable hands. He has terrific quickness and first-step acceleration to make big plays after the catch or as a returner.)(1-24-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24989754/senior-bowl-stock-report-ten-who-stood-out-in-mobile
Senior
Bowl Rules Of Thumb (Duke WR Jamison Crowder, who muffed a punt in the
game and had several unproductive returns in drills. He was definitively
outshined by both Lockett and Philip Dorsett of Miami as smaller
slot/speed wideouts. Still, he showed slipperiness and outrageous
short-area quickness in drills and caught the ball cleanly most of the
time.)(1-24-15):http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2592/Senior-Bowl-Rules-Of-Thumb
Senior
Bowl Review: Offense (There is so much of John Brown’s game when I
watch Crowder. Smalls who play big are real, and multiple attended the
2015 Senior Bowl. Crowder is the best of the bunch. He wins in the
“small” game, winning with burst, separation and yards after catch
ability. However, he flashes leaving his feet and winning in contested
situations. A late second- to third-round selection makes sense for the
Blue Devil.)(1-24-15): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/51877/351/senior-bowl-review-offense
Davis: Top 10 Senior Bowl standouts (When I asked defensive backs this week who's been their toughest cover, they consistently said it was Crowder. I knew coming into this week that Crowder was an elite kick and punt returner, and the team that drafts him can count on him to deliver in that way from the jump. However, he also is a great route runner and has good hands. Crowder is well-schooled in the passing game coming from Duke, where he was coached by David Cutcliffe. He's built more like a slot receiver at 5-foot-8, 174 pounds, and he's probably best-suited to play inside.)(1-23-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462487/article/washingtons-danny-shelton-among-10-senior-bowl-standouts
2015 Senior Bowl: 10 prospects who helped themselves (It can be tough for a 5-8, 174-pound wide receiver to stand tall in this type of all-star setting, but that's exactly what Crowder did this week, showing the best combination of explosion and polish at the position. He has a tiny catching radius and small hands (8 3/8 inches), but caught everything thrown his way during drills, showing the ballskills and separation skills that will appeal to teams in search of an impact slot target.) (1-23-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/24986379/senior-bowl-10-prospects-who-helped-themselves
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Thursday North Practice Notes (Duke receiver Jamison Crowder is a fun package receiver to evaluate with his exceptional quicks and refined routes, but it’s tough to overlook his diminutive frame. Crowder was knocked off path and into the sideline versus a longer corner in Eric Rowe, and also had his fair share of rough snaps during redzone one-on-ones. During team, he also didn’t help Shane Carden out on an interception, as he did not settle into the soft area of zone coverage on a simple seam pattern. He’s refined as a route runner and able to create separation, but he’ll need to learn how to avoid contact through the route.)(1-22-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-thursday-north-practice-notes.html
Eight things we learned from Day 3 of Senior Bowl practices (Modified gauntlet drill problematic for all but a few: Titans wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson had a tricky drill awaiting the Senior Bowl North team receivers this week. Players were asked to weave between a line of barriers while catching passes that were thrown with plenty of velocity and coming from different directions. Nobody looked quicker or smoother in the drill Thursday than Duke's Jamison Crowder, and some had more trouble than others. Like Crowder, Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery navigated the drill without a drop.)(1-22-15):http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462299/article/eighmayock-tj-clemmings-losing-buzz-as-potential-top10-pick
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Tuesday North Practice Notes (Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder looks like a future slot receiver and return weapon in the NFL. However, Crowder muffed a punt in the first half and didn't make big plays through the air.)(1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-tuesday-north-practice-notes.html
2015 Senior Bowl: Mixed bag from Petty on Day 2 and other North Notes (Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder again stood out as the most explosive pass catcher on offense for the North squad. His natural burst and route acceleration especially were impressive as he created separation, appearing to be a nightmare for defensive backs to cover in space. He does have a smaller catching radius, but for a player with such small hands (8 3/8 inches), Crowder has the focus and body control to make acrobatic catches look routine.)(1-21-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24982030/senior-bowl-mixed-bag-from-petty-on-day-two
Senior Bowl Notebook - Day 2 (At the north practice, Duke’s Jamison Crowder continued to stand out.)(1-21-15): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Senior-Bowl-Notebook-Day-2.html
WR Jamison Crowder making a big impression at Senior Bowl (1-21-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/WR-Jamison-Crowder-making-a-big-impression-at-Senior-Bowl/8ea759a4-e140-418a-a80f-7b729682e111
2015 Senior Bowl: Crowder stands tall among North team receivers (Although he wasn't impressive during the weigh-ins, Duke's Jamison Crowder redeemed himself on the practice field Tuesday when it mattered and looked like the best receiver on the North squad. He has the athletic skill set and frame that draws comparisons to Saints 2014 first-round pick Brandin Cooks. Measuring 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, Crowder doesn't have the size ideal for the NFL, but his short-area quickness and start/stop ability are above average, making defenders miss in space. He showed that burst on the practice field at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, beating press with his sudden quickness and creating space out of his breaks. And although he has tiny hands (8 3/8), Crowder, who is the ACC's all-time leader in catches, has natural ball skills to pluck away from his body with reliable hands.)(1-20-15):http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/24981195/senior-bowl-crowder-stands-tall-among-north-team-receivers
Brooks: Day 1 buzz-worthy and buzz-kill players from Senior Bowl (Crowder was buzz worthy. Lockett and Crowder could carve out key roles in the NFL as dynamic return specialist/slot receivers. Each displays the speed, quickness and burst that coaches covet as multi-purpose playmakers, yet they have the potential to run routes and make contributions as WR3's early in their careers. Crowder was equally impressive at the North practice, displaying explosive short-area quickness out of breaks. He is a natural route runner with the patience and awareness to find soft spots in zone and also displays the instincts to run away from defenders in man coverage. With Crowder also exhibiting exceptional quickness with the ball in his hands, it is easy to see him making an immediate impact at the next level as a "two-phase" weapon.)(1-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461370/article/senior-bowl-buzzworthy-buzzkill-players-from-day-1
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Tuesday North Practice Notes (Smaller than Goodley but even more impressive was Duke WR Jamison Crowder. Crowder has great initial burst through his release and an extra gear to accelerate through the route break. Working from the slot and outside spots, he created clear separation through his routes and showed the ability to finish catches along the sideline.)(1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-tuesday-north-practice-notes.html
Nine players who caught NFL Media analysts' eyes during Tuesday's practices for the North and South teams (Crowder saw time at both wide receiver and punt returner on Tuesday and was perhaps the most elusive of the North players when he had the ball. Though he's not the biggest player out there (he came in smaller than expected during weigh-ins at 5-foot-8 1/8), he still ran crisp routes and was able to spin some defensive backs around if he wasn't blowing by them. "Give him space and he's going to be a tough cover for anybody out here," Jeremiah said. Mayock specifically called the Duke star out for having a good practice as well.)(1-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461313/article/justin-hardy-among-standouts-from-day-one-at-senior-bowl
Davis: Top 10 Senior Bowl standouts (When I asked defensive backs this week who's been their toughest cover, they consistently said it was Crowder. I knew coming into this week that Crowder was an elite kick and punt returner, and the team that drafts him can count on him to deliver in that way from the jump. However, he also is a great route runner and has good hands. Crowder is well-schooled in the passing game coming from Duke, where he was coached by David Cutcliffe. He's built more like a slot receiver at 5-foot-8, 174 pounds, and he's probably best-suited to play inside.)(1-23-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462487/article/washingtons-danny-shelton-among-10-senior-bowl-standouts
2015 Senior Bowl: 10 prospects who helped themselves (It can be tough for a 5-8, 174-pound wide receiver to stand tall in this type of all-star setting, but that's exactly what Crowder did this week, showing the best combination of explosion and polish at the position. He has a tiny catching radius and small hands (8 3/8 inches), but caught everything thrown his way during drills, showing the ballskills and separation skills that will appeal to teams in search of an impact slot target.) (1-23-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/24986379/senior-bowl-10-prospects-who-helped-themselves
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Thursday North Practice Notes (Duke receiver Jamison Crowder is a fun package receiver to evaluate with his exceptional quicks and refined routes, but it’s tough to overlook his diminutive frame. Crowder was knocked off path and into the sideline versus a longer corner in Eric Rowe, and also had his fair share of rough snaps during redzone one-on-ones. During team, he also didn’t help Shane Carden out on an interception, as he did not settle into the soft area of zone coverage on a simple seam pattern. He’s refined as a route runner and able to create separation, but he’ll need to learn how to avoid contact through the route.)(1-22-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-thursday-north-practice-notes.html
Eight things we learned from Day 3 of Senior Bowl practices (Modified gauntlet drill problematic for all but a few: Titans wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson had a tricky drill awaiting the Senior Bowl North team receivers this week. Players were asked to weave between a line of barriers while catching passes that were thrown with plenty of velocity and coming from different directions. Nobody looked quicker or smoother in the drill Thursday than Duke's Jamison Crowder, and some had more trouble than others. Like Crowder, Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery navigated the drill without a drop.)(1-22-15):http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462299/article/eighmayock-tj-clemmings-losing-buzz-as-potential-top10-pick
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Tuesday North Practice Notes (Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder looks like a future slot receiver and return weapon in the NFL. However, Crowder muffed a punt in the first half and didn't make big plays through the air.)(1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-tuesday-north-practice-notes.html
2015 Senior Bowl: Mixed bag from Petty on Day 2 and other North Notes (Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder again stood out as the most explosive pass catcher on offense for the North squad. His natural burst and route acceleration especially were impressive as he created separation, appearing to be a nightmare for defensive backs to cover in space. He does have a smaller catching radius, but for a player with such small hands (8 3/8 inches), Crowder has the focus and body control to make acrobatic catches look routine.)(1-21-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24982030/senior-bowl-mixed-bag-from-petty-on-day-two
Optimum
Scouting's 2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Wednesday North Practice Notes
(Receivers Jamison Crowder and Devin Smith each had multiple drops, and
didn’t stand out nearly enough. Smith continued to excel on deep routes,
but his heavy feet were cumbersome as he tried to win on quick hitting
slants and comebacks.)(1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-wednesday-north-practice-notes.html
Walterfootball's
Wednesday's North practice report (Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder
had a quality practice on Wednesday. He made an impressive hands catch
while running to the sideline and tapping his feet in bounds. Crowder is
quick and runs good routes. He looks like a slot receiver and returner
weapon.)(1-21-15):http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015practice4.php
WR Jamison Crowder making a big impression at Senior Bowl (1-21-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/WR-Jamison-Crowder-making-a-big-impression-at-Senior-Bowl/8ea759a4-e140-418a-a80f-7b729682e111
2015 Senior Bowl: Crowder stands tall among North team receivers (Although he wasn't impressive during the weigh-ins, Duke's Jamison Crowder redeemed himself on the practice field Tuesday when it mattered and looked like the best receiver on the North squad. He has the athletic skill set and frame that draws comparisons to Saints 2014 first-round pick Brandin Cooks. Measuring 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds, Crowder doesn't have the size ideal for the NFL, but his short-area quickness and start/stop ability are above average, making defenders miss in space. He showed that burst on the practice field at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, beating press with his sudden quickness and creating space out of his breaks. And although he has tiny hands (8 3/8), Crowder, who is the ACC's all-time leader in catches, has natural ball skills to pluck away from his body with reliable hands.)(1-20-15):http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/24981195/senior-bowl-crowder-stands-tall-among-north-team-receivers
Brooks: Day 1 buzz-worthy and buzz-kill players from Senior Bowl (Crowder was buzz worthy. Lockett and Crowder could carve out key roles in the NFL as dynamic return specialist/slot receivers. Each displays the speed, quickness and burst that coaches covet as multi-purpose playmakers, yet they have the potential to run routes and make contributions as WR3's early in their careers. Crowder was equally impressive at the North practice, displaying explosive short-area quickness out of breaks. He is a natural route runner with the patience and awareness to find soft spots in zone and also displays the instincts to run away from defenders in man coverage. With Crowder also exhibiting exceptional quickness with the ball in his hands, it is easy to see him making an immediate impact at the next level as a "two-phase" weapon.)(1-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461370/article/senior-bowl-buzzworthy-buzzkill-players-from-day-1
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Tuesday North Practice Notes (Smaller than Goodley but even more impressive was Duke WR Jamison Crowder. Crowder has great initial burst through his release and an extra gear to accelerate through the route break. Working from the slot and outside spots, he created clear separation through his routes and showed the ability to finish catches along the sideline.)(1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-tuesday-north-practice-notes.html
Nine players who caught NFL Media analysts' eyes during Tuesday's practices for the North and South teams (Crowder saw time at both wide receiver and punt returner on Tuesday and was perhaps the most elusive of the North players when he had the ball. Though he's not the biggest player out there (he came in smaller than expected during weigh-ins at 5-foot-8 1/8), he still ran crisp routes and was able to spin some defensive backs around if he wasn't blowing by them. "Give him space and he's going to be a tough cover for anybody out here," Jeremiah said. Mayock specifically called the Duke star out for having a good practice as well.)(1-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461313/article/justin-hardy-among-standouts-from-day-one-at-senior-bowl
What we learned on Day One of Senior Bowl practices (An NFC scout told College Football 24/7 that Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder had an impressive practice with the North squad, showing good explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. Crowder measured among the smallest players at the morning weigh-in at 5-foot-8, 174 pounds. Crowder's senior season with the Blue Devils wasn't as productive as his junior year, but he more than held his own amid a strong cast of receivers Tuesday morning.)(1-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461057/article/what-we-learned-on-day-one-of-senior-bowl-practices
NFP's Senior Bowl Notebook - Day 1 (Crowder isn’t big at 5081 – 174 and has small hands (8 3/8), but he is lightning quick and very difficult to cover one on one. He is a quick cutter who is very quick getting in and out of cuts and is able to get instant separation. Though he has small hands, he caught the ball very well. With his size, he will need to be a slot receiver. In the late 80’s or early 90’s when I was with the Giants, we had a very similar receiver who was very productive for us. The receiver’s name was Stephen Baker (the touchdown maker) from Fresno State.)(1-20-15): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Senior-Bowl-Notebook-Day-1.html
Norris: Senior Bowl Day 1 (Jamison Crowder will be a huge “winner” this week. He absolutely wins in the small game, meaning creating constant separation with burst and breaks. However, Crowder can continue the trend of smalls winning big, as Crowder fights for the ball at the catch point and is not afraid to leave his feet. Crowder told me he has the same aggressive mentality in routes, when fighting for the catch and with the ball in his hands: aggression.)(1-20-15): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/51759/351/norris-senior-bowl-day-1
Senior Bowl Notebook: Weigh-In And Tuesday Practices (Jamison Crowder is tiny at 5’8” but he really showed both quickness and speed in drills. He’s natural at setting up an inside release and turning around the defensive back, as he did to Rollins on one rep.)(1-20-15):http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2589/Senior-Bowl-Notebook-Weigh-In-And-Tuesday-Practices
Mayock: Duke's Jamison Crowder a standout at Senior Bowl (1-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461259/article/mayock-dukes-jamison-crowder-a-standout-at-senior-bowl
2015 Senior Bowl Preview (Duke’s Jamison Crowder reminds Norris a lot of John Brown. He wins on the ground with burst in the “small” game but also plays bigger than his listed size. Don’t let his 8.5” hands trouble you, Crowder is very reliable when catching.)(1-19-15): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/51714/351/2015-senior-bowl-preview
Washington star draws raves from analysts as Senior Bowl practices get set to begin (Davis said he will be watching Duke wide receiver Jamison Crowder, who doubles as "an elite return man.) (1-19-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461003/article/washingtons-danny-shelton-the-guy-to-watch-in-senior-bowl
Crowder ties ACC career receptions mark in final game (12-27-14): http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/12/27/4432388/dukes-jamison-crowder-ties-acc.html
Scout's Take: Crowder like Steelers' Antonio Brown (11-21-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000431897/article/scouts-take-jamison-crowder-like-steelers-antonio-brown
2015 NFL Draft: Week 10 Stock Report (In a double-overtime thriller, Duke defeated Pittsburgh, 51-48, on Saturday led by Crowder, who set season-bests in catches (9) and receiving yards (165). After not registering a touchdown in the previous six games, he caught a pair of first half scores, a 39- and 45-yarder. Crowder won't test well at the NFL Combine with his undersized frame and pedestrian speed, but he's a very savvy, natural receiver and the Pitt game tape shows that. He used subtle moves and slight hesitation in his routes to hold defenders and create a sliver of space to work, fooling defensive backs and selling patterns. Crowder tracked the ball well and was outstanding at catching in stride without slowing his momentum, giving him the chance to create after the catch. Overall he has a great feel for the position and works hard at his craft, but his lack of ideal physical traits pushes his draft projection to somewhere on the third day.) (11-4-14): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24783412/nfl-draft-missouris-shane-ray-highlights-week-10-stock-report
Week 10 risers and sliders (Pittsburgh ranked as the top pass defense in the ACC prior to the Duke game, allowing under 166-passing yards per game. Crowder fell 1 yard shy of the mark during his teams victory, posting 9 receptions for 165-yards with 2 scores. Crowder is a small yet slippery wide out that lends a helping hand returning punts. He’ll be a nice addition as a fifth receiver/return specialist at the next level.) (11-3-14): http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=10147
Crowder enjoys sharing stardom on Shaun Wilson's record setting day (9-14-14): http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/14/5174914/jamison-crowder-rarely-needed.html
2015 NFL Draft: Acc Prospect Rankings (Receiver Jamison Crowder is small but quick and sneaky fast. He’s a proto-typical slot receiver for the next level who seemingly has punt return skills.) (8-26-14): http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=9954
CFB's most underappreciated offensive difference-makers (Duke WR Jamison Crowder: Crowder is the only active player among the "Power Five" conferences that has posted 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. Now, Crowder and Duke aren't sneaking up anyone this season after another big year for the receiver and a Coastal Division championship for the team. Defenses are going to want to double-team him and keep him blanketed. Head coach David Cutcliffe is creative enough to find ways to get him the ball, though. He's a smaller guy at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, but Crowder is about as explosive and elusive as they come. He's a big-time threat as a returner, too.) (8-14-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000377851/article/cfbs-most-underappreciated-offensive-differencemakers
WR Ty Montogomery:
Scouting Reports:
Stanford Profile Page: http://www.gostanford.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208167727
NFL: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/ty-montgomery?id=2552429
CBS: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1851149/ty-montgomery
NFL Draft Scout: http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=119917&draftyear=2015&genpos=WR
Senior Bowl Prospect Profile: http://www.seniorbowl.com/prospect-profiles-view.php?p=675
Articles:
Looking at receiver prospects in 2015 draft for Lions (Ty Montgomery, Stanford (6-0, 221): His speed isn't great, but he is strong and can play receiver and returner. For the Lions, he likely would have third-round value at the highest and even then, Detroit might have bigger needs than taking Montgomery there. He is the No. 14 receiver and No. 83 prospect on the board.) (4-13-15): http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/16520/looking-at-receiver-prospects-in-the-2015-draft-for-the-lions?ex_cid=espnapi_public
Pro Days Notebook Part III (Ty Montgomery – WR- Ty was 220 at the combine and ran 4.55, he weighed in at about 211 for his pro day and his time improved a little, averaging 4.50. Clubs will note that he ran the faster time at a lower weight.) (3-30-15): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/pro-days-notebook-part-iii/
2015 NFL Draft: Five Takeaways from this week's Pro Day workouts (Montgomery had the flashiest Pro Day, clocking in at 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash at 5-foot-11 (and 3/4") and 211 pounds according to Stanford's official athletic website. Montgomery cited the lack of rest at the Combine for his significantly improved times. "I was lighter and felt more flexible," said Montgomery. "I've shed 10 pounds and got my stride back." "Most importantly, I was able to sleep," he said. "At the combine, I got no sleep. I didn't go to bed until 1:30 a.m. and woke up at 6 a.m. to go perform. I didn't do horribly, but I did a lot better out here.") (3-20-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/25116353/nfl-draft-five-takeaways-from-this-weeks-pro-day-workouts
Sons of former NFL players stand out at Stanford's pro day (Wide receiver Ty Montgomery (5-11 3/4, 211) ran the 40 in 4.5 and 4.51 seconds (he ran a 4.55 40 at 221 pounds at the combine). Montgomery stood on his other combine numbers. Montgomery runs good routes and caught the ball well during the pro day. He also did a good job working out as a kick and punt returner.) (3-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000480368/article/sons-of-former-nfl-players-stand-out-at-stanfords-pro-day
WR 2015 Combine Stock Report (Montgomery's stock is down. Ty Montgomery scored on two special-teams touchdowns this past season, but teams may no longer be envisioning him as a return specialist after seeing him run a 4.55 40-yard dash. Montgomery didn't exactly ruin his stock though; he wasn't terrible in the drills, or anything, but he just didn't stand out. He needed to after a mediocre 2014 campaign as a receiver in which he averaged less than 10 yards per reception.) (2-24-15): http://walterfootball.com/combine2015stockWR.php
WR 2015 Combine Field Drills Recap (Stanford's Ty Montgomery (6-0, 221) had a disappointing Combine 40 time at 4.55 seconds. Montgomery was thought to be faster than that considering he was also a return weapon for the Cardinal. Montgomery bounced back to do well in the gauntlet, and that is significant for him considering he had some issues with drops as a senior.) (2-21-15): http://walterfootball.com/combine2015workoutWR.php
Day 2 Combine Risers and Sliders (Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford is picked as a slider: Montgomery thrived on his speed in college, both as a receiver and returner. So his (unofficial) 4.55 and 4.58 40 times will be a knock against a raw playmaker. Worse yet, Montgomery also checked just shy of 6'0" tall, well off the 6'2" at which Stanford had him listed. Exiting the combine smaller and slower than anticipated is a disappointing outcome, even though Montgomery bounced back by cruising through the receiver's gauntlet drill.) (2-21-15): http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/02/21/nfl-combine-day-2-risers-sliders-kevin-white-jaelen-strong-jameis-winston-marcus-mariota
Buzz worthy and buzz kill players from Saturday at the Combine (Montgomery is one of the buzz-kill players. The former Cardinal was expected to light up the combine, but he delivered a disappointing performance in front of the scouts. Despite testing well in the vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-1), Montgomery failed to log a 40 in the 4.4 range (posting a 4.55) and didn't look like the explosive athlete in positional drills that many expected to see, having watched his impressive film from the past few seasons. With Montgomery also struggling to consistently snatch passes without a bobble, the jury is still out on if he can develop into a legitimate receiving threat as a pro.) (2-21-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000473193/article/kevin-white-shines-devin-funchess-struggles-at-nfl-combine
2015 Combine Preview: WRs (Best trait: Versatility – Montgomery played both outside and inside as a receiver at Stanford and even some running back. He has terrific quickness and a great feel for the return game. Concern: Not natural receiver – Montgomery is more of an athlete than a polished receiver. He doesn’t possess the great hands, either. He had some drops at the Senior Bowl. The skinny: The Lions utilize the screen game and a lot of quick routes with their receivers, which would play into Montgomery’s strengths. He has the potential to be an elite return man. He averaged 19.8 yards per punt return as a senior with two touchdowns and averaged 25.2 yards per kickoff return. He looks like a player who can come in and compete for a fourth receiver spot and add something to the return game.) (2-16-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/2015-Combine-Preview-Wide-receiver/6710afb0-21ea-42e5-828e-ad6f5d9027f9
Zierlein: 9 draft prospects who should ace combine interviews (Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford
From Zierlein's scouting report: Strong personal character and considered an "accountable teammate" by coaching staff. ... Montgomery is a likable person with high character and an ability to leave a positive impression in draft interviews, but teams will still have to figure out how they want to use him.) (2-13-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000470315/article/zierlein-9-draft-prospects-who-should-ace-combine-interviews
Lions NFL combine preview: Wide receivers (Montgomery might be the best higher-end prospect for Detroit as the No. 11 wide receiver and No. 69 overall prospect rated by ESPN. Never had a 1,000-yard season, but caught 60 passes in 2013 and 2014. Also has strong return ability, having brought back two punts for touchdowns in 2014 and averaging 25.2 yards a kick return. As a junior, he returned two kicks for touchdowns. ) (2-11-15): http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/15170/lions-nfl-combine-preview-wide-receivers
Draft Prospecting Stanford Cardinals (Ty Montgomery--speed. I am speed. Lightning McQueen’s famous tagline applies to Montgomery, Stanford’s jack of all trades offensive weapon. He’s a track star in a straight line, capable of blazing past just about any defender and quickly devouring yards as a runner, receiver or return man. Herein lies the rub. Finding a position for Montgomery is difficult. His speed is pretty straight-line, a long-strider who doesn’t decelerate quickly or more laterally all that well. That impacts his route running, and his average size (6’ even and 212 at the Senior Bowl after being listed at 6’2” and 222 by Stanford) and shaky hands curb the enthusiasm for his prospects as a receiver. In the six games I watched for 2014, including USC, Utah and Washington, I counted 11 drops to 33 catches. That’s awful, and I’m generally pretty stringent on placing drops on the receiver and not the quarterback. As a runner, Montgomery is not very elusive and lacks vision. Stanford used him in a variety of rushing capacities, from jet sweeps to Wildcat to a few looks at tailback. He went down on first contact far too often, a trait which also rears its ugly head as a receiver. That’s not to say he doesn’t show some real potential with the ball in his hands; he ran right through highly-touted Washington CB Marcus Peters and two other defenders for a touchdown, and slammed two separate Oregon DBs to the ground in their game. When he anticipates the hit, Montgomery shows toughness. Unfortunately he doesn’t do that very often. Between his shaky hands, limited vision and inconsistent power, he’s not really a viable, reliable weapon as either a receiver or a runner. His best fit is as a return specialist and situational outside receiver. Someone suggested a comparison of Jacoby Jones, but that seems a little optimistic to me. He will be overdrafted. Current projection: Third round to the New York Jets.) (2-10-15): http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2595/Draft-Prospecting-Stanford-Cardinal
Scouts: WR Montgomery isn't a Day 2 pick (Stanford senior WR Ty Montgomery "was talked about as a second- or third-round pick earlier in the season, but we don't really see him as a complete enough player to take that early," noted Scout's Inc. "He is an explosive player with the ball in his hands, both in the return game and after the catch," wrote Todd McShay, Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl. "The question for Montgomery is whether he has good enough ball skills. We'd thought he had improved in that area a little bit this season based on his tape, but he struggled with contested catches this week and also had a few drops on passes he should have caught. Additionally, he showed no physicality as a route-runner and his hamstring was bothering him (he's dealt with durability issues previously)." The 6-foot-2, 220-pound wideout had 61 catches for 604 yards and three touchdowns this season. CBS Sports' Dane Brugler believes Montgomery's "best NFL comparison might be a slightly better version of Josh Cribbs.") (1-24-15): http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=CFB&id=130953&line=38986&spln=1
Senior Bowl winners and losers: Miam's Walford up, Baylor's Petty down (The week started off on the wrong foot for Montgomery when he measured 5-11 3/4 at the weigh-in, more than two inches shorter than his 6-foot-2 listing from Stanford. Montgomery plays a physical brand of football and has a strong, thick frame. Those are positives, but they aren't traits that are easy to display in an all-star practice setting, where much of the contact is limited and skill-position players aren't tackled to the ground. Montgomery was a step slower than some of the more explosive receivers in Mobile. On the plus side, he did get to show his kickoff-return prowess Saturday night with 49 yards on two returns.) (1-24-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000463448/article/winners-and-losers-from-the-2015-senior-bowlwinners-and-losers-from-the-2015-senior-bowl
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: inside the XOS film room with Josh Norris (Much the opposite of Lockett’s progression, Stanford’s Ty Montgomery showed more concerns than promise as we reviewed the tape. Ty could not track the deep ball and struggled to move fluidly through the route tree. He’s a package player that needs manufactured touches on returns, reverses and underneath crossers, and his saving grace is the ability to make plays when the ball is in his hands.)(1-23-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-inside-xos-film-room-josh-norris.html
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Thursday North Practice Notes (A receiver that showed improvement versus the press was Stanford wideout Ty Montgomery. Built like a halfback, Montgomery simply didn’t show the quicks or footwork to win at the line of scrimmage during the first two days of practice. Today, he set up defensive backs and fought through the contact. With that said, he doesn’t move fluidly as a route runner and looks more like a complementary piece than a primary target.)(1-22-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-thursday-north-practice-notes.html
Eight things we learned from Day 3 of Senior Bowl practices (Modified gauntlet drill problematic for all but a few: Titans wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson had a tricky drill awaiting the Senior Bowl North team receivers this week. Players were asked to weave between a line of barriers while catching passes that were thrown with plenty of velocity and coming from different directions. Nobody looked quicker or smoother in the drill Thursday than Duke's Jamison Crowder, and some had more trouble than others. Like Crowder, Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery navigated the drill without a drop.)(1-22-15):http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462299/article/eighmayock-tj-clemmings-losing-buzz-as-potential-top10-pick
Senior Bowl: Pauline's Day 1 Risers (Montgomery picked as a slider. Montgomery continues to prove he's an enigma. While he looks the part, he dropped passes all practice long. He struggled to make the difficult reception downfield and also had a number of easy tosses in underneath coverage slip through his hands. In addition, he measured in at just 5-11, 210, despite his collegiate listing of 6-2.) (1-20-15): http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Senior-Bowl-Paulines-Day-1-Risers/8ca339eb-e851-4b82-9e65-de2eead6d34c
Brooks:
Day 1 buzz-worthy and buzz-kill players from Senior Bowl (Montgomery
was buzz kill. Montgomery has all of the physical tools to develop into
a quality receiver at the next level, but he must exhibit better focus,
concentration and toughness to excel as a pro. Montgomery seemingly
struggled adjusting to the stringent demands of the Titans' coaching
staff, and his inability to turn his game up a notch when challenged
will lead to questions about his mental toughness. Of course, that
perception could change if Montgomery brings his A game the rest of the
week, but the Cardinal standout must show evaluators that he has the
game to match his impressive physical gifts.)(1-20-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000461370/article/senior-bowl-buzzworthy-buzzkill-players-from-day-1
2015 Senior Bowl Scouting: Tuesday North Practice Notes (Stanford’s Ty Montgomery appears to be a slot receiver at the next level, as he simply could not win at the line versus press. For a speed player that can win vertically, Montgomery isn’t very twitchy or creative with his releases. He’ll have to hammer down his footwork and hand use versus the press to make the most of his speed and ability to create after the catch.)(1-21-15): http://optimumscouting.com/draft/2015-senior-bowl-scouting-tuesday-north-practice-notes.html
2015 Senior Bowl Monday's North Practice Report (Montgomery was similar to Mannion, as he flashed some good traits but also couldn't finish some plays. He dropped a corner post on an over-the-shoulder catch for a touchdown after beating Arizona State defensive back Demarios Randall.) (1-20-15): http://walterfootball.com/seniorbowl2015practice2.php
Norris: Senior Bowl Day 1 (Montgomery continued his pre-event struggles, however. He still does not sustain speed in his breaks to separate and REALLY fought the football, which resulted in a number of drops. If you struggle to win with separation or in contested situations… that is an issue.)(1-20-15): http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/51759/351/norris-senior-bowl-day-1
2015 Senior Bowl: Ivy Leaguers Varga, Hodges show NFL physiques (While Montgomery possesses a chiseled frame, he came in nearly three inches shorter than the 6-foot-2, 215 pounds he was listed by the Cardinal, measuring in at 5-foot-11 (3/4"). In a class boasting several big, athletic receivers, Montgomery needs an impressive week. Most important for Montgomery will be simply catching the ball cleanly after a senior season in which he struggled with drops.) (1-20-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24980475/senior-bowl-ivy-leaguers-varga-hodges-show-nfl-physiques
Senior Bowl Notebook: Weigh-In And Tuesday Practices (Ty Montgomery was also quite physically impressive at just under 6’ and a muscular 216 pounds. He’s clearly got straight-line speed too, but there is very little polish or urgency to his route running. He struggled catching any throw that wasn’t going to hit him in the chest and doesn’t adjust well to the ball in the air.)(1-20-15): http://football.realgm.com/analysis/2589/Senior-Bowl-Notebook-Weigh-In-And-Tuesday-Practices
10 Senior Bowl prospects to watch (First he has to prove he’s recovered from a shoulder injury that ended his senior season. The receiver position is loaded this week at the Senior Bowl. If Montgomery can find a way to stand out, concerns about a down senior season will fade to the background. He had just three touchdowns this year after hauling in 61 passes for an average of 15.7 yards per reception and 10 touchdowns as a junior. The Lions are looking for a fourth or fifth receiver with return ability.Montgomery averaged 30.3 yards per kick return with a couple touchdowns returning kickoffs as a junior, and two touchdowns returning punts last season.)(1-20-15): http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/10-Senior-Bowl-prospects-to-watch/cbee701a-3d15-4bf9-b7ca-7ff995760e9e
Senior
Bowl players to watch (Nothing about the 2014 season went as planned
for Stanford. The running game failed to really gel, and until the end
of the season QB Kevin Hogan was very up and down. Strangely, some of
his best performances came without Montgomery, the team's best weapon.
Montgomery matched his '13 total with 61 catches, but he fell from 958
yards to 604 yards, averaging only 9.9 yards per catch. He then missed
the team's final two games with a shoulder injury. After a season marred
by a dysfunctional Stanford offense, a lack of big plays and the late
injury, the Senior Bowl is an opportunity for Montgomery to get his
stock shifting back in a positive direction.) (1-20-15): http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/106825156/nfl-draft-prospects-to-watch-senior-bowl-bryce-petty-josh-shaw-blake-sims
Instant
debate: Who has most at stake in Senior Bowl?(Montgomery enters with
questions off disappointing year. Stanford WR Ty Montgomery's week
could impact his draft status as much as or more than anyone there. A
shoulder injury that ended Montgomery's season early will get its first
test in front of dozens of NFL scouts and coaches. Also, Montgomery
struggled to make explosive plays in his final season with the Cardinal,
averaging only about 10 yards per catch. Was that more about Stanford's
sputtering offense being unable to get him the ball on deeper throws?
If not, there will be no hiding among the likes of Devin Smith, Sammie
Coates, Justin Hardy and Tyler Lockett at the 2015 Senior Bowl's deepest
and most talented position.) (1-19-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000460197/article/instant-debate-who-has-most-at-stake-in-senior-bowl
Montgomery to miss Foster Farms Bowl vs Maryland because of a shoulder injury (12-28-14): http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/28/stanfords-ty-montgomery-to-miss-foster-farms-bowl-vs-maryland/
Hundley leads prospects with most on line in bowl season (Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford Bowl game: Foster Farms (vs. Maryland, Dec. 30) - Analysis: It's been a very disappointing season for Montgomery, who came into 2014 with aspirations of being a first rounder. Injuries and quarterback issues have contributed to his drop in statistics, but a few weeks of rest and the ability to game plan could turn the bowl game into a showcase for Montgomery's potential at the next level.) (12-12-15): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000442654/article/brett-hundley-leads-prospects-with-most-on-line-in-bowl-season
Montgomery's stock is down in 2014 (Stanford senior WR Ty Montgomery's draft stock has fallen this season, according to ESPN's Todd McShay. "He hasn't plummeted, but he has dropped balls and been inconsistent," wrote McShay. "Against Washington, Notre Dame and Oregon, Montgomery had 15 combined catches but just 76 total yards. I still view the senior, who will sit out Saturday's game against UCLA with a shoulder injury, as a potential first-rounder (he is a weapon as a return man). But I think he's a likelier Day 2 pick now." Montgomery looks better on paper than the aptitude he shows on Saturdays, an AFC West scout told NFL.com this week. We agree that Montgomery isn't a first-round pick, and also that his reputation exceeds his reality.) (11-27-14): http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=CFB&id=130953&line=37111&spln=1
Sources tell us what we're hearing about top prospects (The scoop: "My big problem with Ty Montgomery is that he looks better on paper than he does on grass." -- AFC West scout. The skinny: Listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Montgomery, who has already been ruled out for Saturday's game vs. UCLA (shoulder), has good top-end speed and a shredded physique. He looks the part of a big-time college wide receiver and NFL prospect, but his numbers haven't matched that perception this year; he has yet to exceed 100 yards in a game and has just three TD catches. The scout believes Montgomery is "too musclebound for his frame" and wonders if he has true wide receiver athleticism over combine athleticism. When the season began, there were some who had placed Montgomery in the first round. That might no longer be the case.) (11-26-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000434483/article/sources-tell-us-what-were-hearing-about-top-nfl-prospects
Montgomery injures shoulder in win (11-22-14): http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/Stanford-beat-Montgomery-injures-shoulder-in-win-5912115.php
2015 NFL Draft: Montgomery, Greene could be future stars (No. 36 on our October Big Board, Montgomery is a home-run threat whenever he touches the ball, be it on offense or as a return man. Montgomery is the Cardinal's leading receiver (56 catches for 543 yards) and has averaged 6.2 yards on 19 rush attempts and is closing in on 700 yards combined as a punt/kick returner. In last season's matchup with Utah, Montgomery hauled in eight passes for 131 yards and took a kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown.) (11-14-14): http://www.si.com/nfl/2014/11/14/2015-nfl-draft-prospects-ty-montgomery-rashad-greene-blake-bell
A few observations from the Stanford-Oregon game (Stanford WR Ty Montgomery had a good game Saturday, beating Oregon CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu a couple of times. Montgomery's numbers don't jump off the page (seven catches for 35 yards, three rushes for 26), but he looked strong, quick and is tough to bring down.) (11-2-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000420947/article/jameis-winston-more-refined-than-marcus-mariota-as-passer
NFP Prospect Focus: Jalen Strong and Ty Montgomery (11-1-14): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-prospect-focus-Jaelen-Strong-and-Ty-Montgomery.html
2015 NFL Draft: Montgomery's drops key as ND beats Stanford (In games like this, teams rely on dynamic athletes like the Cardinal's wide receiver and kick returner extraordinaire Ty Montgomery to make big plays. He contributed one such big play with a 40-yard return to spark a go-ahead 4th quarter score for the Cardinal. Unfortunately, for Stanford and its projected first round pick, it was the plays Montgomery was unable to make Saturday that loomed largest in a 17-14 loss to the Notre Dame. Strong winds and rain resulted in several drops in Saturday's game but no one seemed more affected than Montgomery, who dropped at least three passes while playing wide receiver and wasn't able to beat the Irish to the perimeter when running out of the backfield. Montgomery caught four passes for a total of 12 yards against the Irish. He also rushed five times for 14 yards. Footballs landing on the grass after bouncing off his chest plate were the most obvious mistakes for Montgomery. Scouts will notice other errors, however, including shoddy route-running that contributed to an interception on the first snap of the fourth quarter.)(10-4-15): http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24737574/nfl-draft-montgomerys-drops-key-as-notre-dame-beats-stanford
Montgomery brings quintessential Stanford mindset to kick, punt returns (10-2-14): http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/10/02/ty-montgomery-stanford-cardinal
Bucky's Best: Top CFB matchups to watch in week 5 (Montgomery is quickly becoming one of the premier playmakers in the 2015 class. The 6-2, 215-pound senior has scored four touchdowns (2 receiving, 1 rushing and 1 punt return) while displaying exceptional skills as a multi-purpose threat. From his blazing speed as a vertical route runner to his electric running skills on "catch-and-run" plays, Montgomery is a threat to take it the distance whenever he touches the ball in the open field.) (9-26-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000401089/article/buckys-best-top-cfb-matchups-to-watch-in-week-5
David Shaw compares Montgomery to Irving Frayar (9-12-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000392786/article/david-shaw-compares-ty-montgomery-to-irving-fryar
CFB's most underappreciated offensive difference-makers (Stanford WR Ty Montgomery: Montgomery is coming off shoulder surgery, so he might not be at full throttle right out of the gate this season, but he broke out in a big way last season. He always had the potential but hadn't been able to put it all together. He did last season, though, making 61 catches for 958 yards and 10 touchdowns. Montgomery is a versatile weapon -- you can run him on reverses, throw to him in the slot or out wide, and he can break games open as a kick returner, too. When he went down with an injury early in the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl vs. Michigan State, it really bogged down the Cardinal offense. Clearly, he's a guy that's very hard to replace.) (8-14-14): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000377851/article/cfbs-most-underappreciated-offensive-differencemakers
Montgomery aims for opener (Montgomery said Wednesday he played through the shoulder injury part of last season before having surgery in February. He also hurt a knee in the Cardinal's loss to Michigan State in the Rose Bowl, an injury he said was "minor.") (7-30-14): http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11287118/ty-montgomery-stanford-rehabbing-shoulder
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