Early signs point to Taylor Mays, S, USC?

[Honoring Earl 34]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

I view Cushing and Mays completely differently though. Mays is much more of a natural physical freak than Cushing (who I view more of a blue collar weightlifter type). I didn't have any doubts Cushing could play football, my concern was that he'd be out injured a lot. I have doubts about Mays being able to be a 'cover' safety in the nfl.

I like to see Mays as an OLB covering Dallas Clark . I'd also love to see him in a collision with Chris Johnson or containing VY .

[gtexan02]

Many people were really disheartened last year when Mays decided not to declare.
He was an excellent ballhawk his junior year, what has changed?

Did he have a bad year, or was he "exposed"?
Why wasn't he exposed during his frst 3 seasons?

Statistically he seems to have done quite well this season.


I seem to remember everyone dumping on Delmas this past draft because he had a bad year and was exposed. He fell to the 2nd round, and had an excellent rookie year, playing so well some thought he should have at least gotten votes as DROY

[Honoring Earl 34]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Many people were really disheartened last year when Mays decided not to declare.
He was an excellent ballhawk his junior year, what has changed?

Did he have a bad year, or was he "exposed"?
Why wasn't he exposed during his frst 3 seasons?

Statistically he seems to have done quite well this season.


I seem to remember everyone dumping on Delmas this past draft because he had a bad year and was exposed. He fell to the 2nd round, and had an excellent rookie year, playing so well some thought he should have at least gotten votes as DROY

Can you be to big to play safety ?

I guess he reminds me of Patrick Bates or Joey Browner .

[Mr teX]

Thomas has come out of no where & wasn't even in the convo until this past year. In addition to this, he's too small & needs to gain at least 10-15 more pounds.
In contrast, Mays has been balling since he set foot on USC as a freshman. All the scrutiny about his game comes on the heels of him losing 9 of his beast teammates from a year ago including our very own Brian Cushing. He also missed a little time this year with a knee injury.

If Mays is on the board & we don't take him I'm gonna be pissed......................Unless we move up to snatch eric berry or draft Chad Jones later in the draft.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Many people were really disheartened last year when Mays decided not to declare.
He was an excellent ballhawk his junior year, what has changed?

Did he have a bad year, or was he "exposed"?
Why wasn't he exposed during his frst 3 seasons?

Statistically he seems to have done quite well this season.

Here are the stats I found at ESPN. http://espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=183232

2006: 3 Interceptions, 3 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2007: 1 Interception, 6 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2008: 0 Interceptions, 9 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2009: 1 Interception, 3 Pass Deflections, 11 Games Played

The last 3 years he has 2 Interceptions in 37 game.

The safety position is one I'm usually pretty quick to jump on the bandwagon for. I would love to get an Ed Reed / Troy Polamalu type of guy. I liked Laron Landry, Reggie Nelson, Kenny Phillips, Taylor Mays, Eric Berry, etc. I was pretty excited about Mays last year. But I think there's a lot more hype/buzz surrounding the big name safeties that doesn't always measure up.

The safety position is WAY too hard to pay attention to while watching TV. The camera rarely shows what the S is doing pre snap and during the play... until right when they break up the pass, make a tackle or the WR leaves them in the dust.

All of Mays' highlights are of big hits. I don't even see him wrap up like a LB would but just hit really hard with his shoulder. I will say an arguement in Mays defense (that I am even probably guilty of) include (i) the style of defense, he plays far back and make sure nobody gets past him, (ii) teams rarely throw his way so he can't accumulate stats, (iii) i'm sure there are more.

Also, I'm a huge believer that the stat sheet only tells a fraction of the story. There is just no way to tell which player is better than the other just from their stats. So I always take them with a grain of salt... and a shot of tequila.

[PapaL]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

Here are the stats I found at ESPN. http://espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=183232

2006: 3 Interceptions, 3 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2007: 1 Interception, 6 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2008: 0 Interceptions, 9 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2009: 1 Interception, 3 Pass Deflections, 11 Games Played

The last 3 years he has 2 Interceptions in 37 game.

The safety position is one I'm usually pretty quick to jump on the bandwagon for. I would love to get an Ed Reed / Troy Polamalu type of guy. I liked Laron Landry, Reggie Nelson, Kenny Phillips, Taylor Mays, Eric Berry, etc. I was pretty excited about Mays last year. But I think there's a lot more hype/buzz surrounding the big name safeties that doesn't always measure up.

The safety position is WAY too hard to pay attention to while watching TV. The camera rarely shows what the S is doing pre snap and during the play... until right when they break up the pass, make a tackle or the WR leaves them in the dust.

All of Mays' highlights are of big hits. I don't even see him wrap up like a LB would but just hit really hard with his shoulder. I will say an arguement in Mays defense (that I am even probably guilty of) include (i) the style of defense, he plays far back and make sure nobody gets past him, (ii) teams rarely throw his way so he can't accumulate stats, (iii) i'm sure there are more.

Also, I'm a huge believer that the stat sheet only tells a fraction of the story. There is just no way to tell which player is better than the other just from their stats. So I always take them with a grain of salt... and a shot of tequila.

Troy Polamalu @ USC stats; LINK:
TAC LS/YDS DFL FR INT YDS AVG TD LG
12 2/28 2# 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
83 5/10 7 1 2 43 21.5 1 43
118 13/24 9## 1 3 116 38.7 2 58
68 9/44 4 0 1 33 33.0 0 33
#Includes 1 blocked punt
##Includes 3 blocked punts
###Includes 4 blocked punts

6 picks in 4 years. 17 deflected passes including 4 blocked punts

[Mr teX]

Originally Posted by PapaL

Troy Polamalu @ USC stats; LINK:
TAC LS/YDS DFL FR INT YDS AVG TD LG
12 2/28 2# 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
83 5/10 7 1 2 43 21.5 1 43
118 13/24 9## 1 3 116 38.7 2 58
68 9/44 4 0 1 33 33.0 0 33
#Includes 1 blocked punt
##Includes 3 blocked punts
###Includes 4 blocked punts

6 picks in 4 years. 17 deflected passes including 4 blocked punts

very comparable, except for the blocked punts...

[BattleRedToro]

When evaluating Mays stats one must take into consideration how he is used at USC. Pete Carroll runs a 4-3 Under and in this formation Mays is often used in run support.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Many people were really disheartened last year when Mays decided not to declare.
He was an excellent ballhawk his junior year, what has changed?

I'm not on either side of this fence, but there were concerns for his instincts/ball playing ability last year, despite all the hype. You can go back through the threads and see it.

I think it's just a bit more magnified this year with another year of observation and possibly better prospects available.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

Here are the stats I found at ESPN. http://espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=183232

2006: 3 Interceptions, 3 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2007: 1 Interception, 6 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2008: 0 Interceptions, 9 Pass Deflections, 13 Games Played
2009: 1 Interception, 3 Pass Deflections, 11 Games Played

The last 3 years he has 2 Interceptions in 37 game.

He is over hyped. He is not a ball hawk and he does not know how to wrap up when he tackles. He takes bad angles.

He was exposed this season. He is Roy Williams.

[HOU-TEX]

Well, if Kiper says it, it's absolutely guaranteed......................to be wrong!

No offense to the OP or the thread in general, but Kiper's the worst at what he does. Personally, I find it hard to believe he still has a job doing draft analysis. Actually, screw everything espn says.

[b0ng]

I have a feeling there will be more and more talk of Mays converting to LB because of his size. Honestly, if we take him at 19, I'd be a little miffed, but at least they drafted a safety. I'd much rather have a few other players who are more ballhawking than Mays has shown to be in his 4 year career at USC.

[Mr teX]

Originally Posted by b0ng

I have a feeling there will be more and more talk of Mays converting to LB because of his size. Honestly, if we take him at 19, I'd be a little miffed, but at least they drafted a safety. I'd much rather have a few other players who are more ballhawking than Mays has shown to be in his 4 year career at USC.

Dude runs from about mid 4.3 to mid 4.4 in the 40 & that's plenty fast for a FS. but aside from that, how ball hawking can you be when your coach has u playing 20 yds off the LOS?

[bah007]

Originally Posted by Mr teX

Thomas has come out of no where & wasn't even in the convo until this past year. In addition to this, he's too small & needs to gain at least 10-15 more pounds.
In contrast, Mays has been balling since he set foot on USC as a freshman. All the scrutiny about his game comes on the heels of him losing 9 of his beast teammates from a year ago including our very own Brian Cushing. He also missed a little time this year with a knee injury.

If Mays is on the board & we don't take him I'm gonna be pissed......................Unless we move up to snatch eric berry or draft Chad Jones later in the draft.

Don't really see how Thomas came out of nowhere. He was a Freshman All American last year and is still only a sophomore. Thomas can play CB or FS in the NFL, much like former Texas great Michael Griffin.

[Mr teX]

Originally Posted by bah007

Don't really see how Thomas came out of nowhere. He was a Freshman All American last year and is still only a sophomore. Thomas can play CB or FS in the NFL, much like former Texas great Michael Griffin.

ohh....Funny, i don't recall hearing anything about that dude until this year. But in any event, my opinion of him changes slightly..still think he needs to put on some weight though.

[bah007]

Originally Posted by Mr teX

ohh....Funny, i don't recall hearing anything about that dude until this year. But in any event, my opinion of him changes slightly..still think he needs to put on some weight though.

We agree here. If he wants to play FS in the NFL then I think he should come back for another year and put on some weight. If he is fine playing CB, then he could go pro now and he would still be a first rounder.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by b0ng

I have a feeling there will be more and more talk of Mays converting to LB because of his size. Honestly, if we take him at 19, I'd be a little miffed, but at least they drafted a safety. I'd much rather have a few other players who are more ballhawking than Mays has shown to be in his 4 year career at USC.

I actually brought this subject up before last years draft.

Originally Posted by mussop

This got me thinking with Mays size and speed could he play some LB? I mean if the main negative on him is that hes not a ballhawk, why not move him down to LB. Seems like an easier transition than going from LB to safety (if you have the size). Could you imagine having a OLB with 4.3 speed.



To bad he probably wont be there when we pick.

I wouldnt touch him in round one. I would consider him in round two as a project OLB just because of his physical abilities.

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

I view Cushing and Mays completely differently though. Mays is much more of a natural physical freak than Cushing (who I view more of a blue collar weightlifter type). I didn't have any doubts Cushing could play football, my concern was that he'd be out injured a lot. I have doubts about Mays being able to be a 'cover' safety in the nfl.

This. Mays is a SS type. I think if paired with a true ball hawk coverage guy, Mays will be very good. He is very far from a FS though. We could draft him to play WLB.

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by gtexan02

Many people were really disheartened last year when Mays decided not to declare.
He was an excellent ballhawk his junior year, what has changed?

Did he have a bad year, or was he "exposed"?
Why wasn't he exposed during his frst 3 seasons?
Statistically he seems to have done quite well this season.


I seem to remember everyone dumping on Delmas this past draft because he had a bad year and was exposed. He fell to the 2nd round, and had an excellent rookie year, playing so well some thought he should have at least gotten votes as DROY

He had alot of linebacker talent in the front 7. Rivers, Maluga, Cushing, Matthews, ect... Even their back-ups are NFL LB's. When those guys were gone, he was in coverage alot more and longer.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by Mr teX

Dude runs from about mid 4.3 to mid 4.4 in the 40 & that's plenty fast for a FS. but aside from that, how ball hawking can you be when your coach has u playing 20 yds off the LOS?

Quickness is more important for a S than speed. Their ability to diagnose the play and change directions is what separates the good safeties from the bad. From what I've been reading from the 'drafniks', Mays has great track speed but his ability to change directions quickly and close on the ball are subpar. A ball hawk has the quickness and hands to catch the ball, neither of which I can tell that Mays has.

Originally Posted by BigBull17

This. Mays is a SS type. I think if paired with a true ball hawk coverage guy, Mays will be very good. He is very far from a FS though. We could draft him to play WLB.

Moving him to WLB is a popular belief among a lot people (or having him as a SS). This indicates to me we won't be drafting him.

Using a 1st rd pick to convert him to a new position and replace Zac Diles? No thanks.
Using a 1st rd pick to replace Bernard Pollard? No thanks.