Errant Hothy
Hypermediocrity
Another in the long line of players that the Texans must trade up to get, according to some on this board.
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Taylor Mays, 49ers, on the block
- Thread starter Errant Hothy
- Start date
Another in the long line of players that the Texans must trade up to get, according to some on this board.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
I am a USC fan and I didn't call for that.
Taylor is a freak and a hitter, he just can't cover with a damn.
If I needed a special teams goon, he would be the first guy I called.
Not so much for a ballhawk safety
texasguy346
Mod Squad
Damn you guys are quick. I was about to post this myself. Went ahead and merged the two threads together.
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
Bernard Pollard 2.0!
Except more athletic.
srrono
All Pro
Mays played mainly specials teams last season, but did start six games after coach Mike Singletary benched then-starter Michael Lewis. Mays recorded 38 tackles, two pass defenses and scored one touchdown by catching a blocked punt.
His contract isnt too intimidating. Hes due just over $400,000 this season, $490,000 in 2012 and $575,000 in 2013 which is the last year of his contract.
Where Mays struggles is in pass coverage. He plays physical, at 6'3" and 230 pounds, he is a force in the backfield.
i pulled this from a story
His contract isnt too intimidating. Hes due just over $400,000 this season, $490,000 in 2012 and $575,000 in 2013 which is the last year of his contract.
Where Mays struggles is in pass coverage. He plays physical, at 6'3" and 230 pounds, he is a force in the backfield.
i pulled this from a story
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
Well yeah, that's why he's not 1.1, he's an upgrade. Don't you know your application versions?
I kind of hope the Ravens pick up Mays though. Pollard and Mays together at safety would be terrible in coverage but would be hella-fun to watch. They might even kill a small WR if they both hit him at the same time. Maybe Ted Ginn Jr, he's expendable.
srrono
All Pro
writing on the wall either they have a trade in place or they will cut him. If they cut Texans should jump get him on the cheap.
GP
Go Texans!
Exactly.
We've been down that road before. No thanks. Works for a little bit, then teams scheme against it and expose it for its inherent weaknesses.
Pollard is a short-yardage guy. When the offense is on its own end of the field, facing a 3rd and short...you put a SS like Pollard in there to police the area.
If that offense is moving down the field, and getting into scoring range, a SS like Pollard is dead meat most of the time. Always looking for the big hit, getting caught looking in the wrong places, and too slow to recover and make up for lost ground.
DexmanC
Hall of Fame
Antwaun Molden was a great gunner 'till the Titans blew up his ankle.
Andre Davis is gone, so the Texans are gunnerless.
Seems like a good option to me, but I expect the Texans to pass.
GP
Go Texans!
I just don't know how we could find the money to do it.
I mean, we just had three guys re-structure JUST to get us under the cap.
I think we're done, unless some guys get injured and we sign guys in place of them. Or we cut guys and sign replacements.
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
That's cheap, and we don't really have a strong safety any more. He may be a good pick up for a 5th or less. Can we trade Slaton for him? That would be stupendous!
Didn't catch that
But I'd bring him in for special teams a lone. If he was able to play in any defensive sets that'd be a bonus.
That's a good idea.
Dutchrudder
Hall of Fame
dc_txtech
All Pro
He got rid of Roy Williams in Dallas.
TimeKiller
Guest
OLB depth?
I don't know why more d coordinators aren't more creative with players like that. They probably can't be full time starters against every team, but against certain match ups and in a third down role they could be playmakers.
Don't ask them to run with guys, short zones, blitzes, picking up rb's on routes, spies. I think it's good to have different types of players so that you can do different types of things.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
There are problems with just about every "type" of player. Good coaches find a way to put guys like that in a position to succeed and they coach them up on how to best harness their skill set.
Whether or not Taylor is a hard worker or is coachable is a different story though. But form tackling and staying at home is something that just takes discipline.
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
We're not about to go after Mays. I can't remember where he was drafted, but if he was somewhat high no will want his high rookie contract. I thought he went into the early 2nd round though if I"m not mistaken. He seems like another Roy Williams though and we just had that in Bernard Pollard. No thanks.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
But he's not the kind of player that Wade wants as a safety.
It's like Kubes and his system, he has things he wants out of certain positions and he goes and gets those guys. If worse comes to worse, he'll take a guy like Mays and he'll find a way to make it work with him if he has to but if he has his druthers, he'll choose his type of player.
Never said that I think wade would get him.
I was just stating my opinion on him and how a lot of defensive coordinators fail to utilize players in a way that best uses their skill set. Of course that's just my opinion.
I would trade slaton for him straight up. I would use him in certain packages, but he'd be on just about every special team.
Again, not saying what I think the texans will do, just throwing my opinion out there on the subject and saying what I would do.
He's more athletic than both Roy Williams and pollard.
And per a post earlier in this thread his contract is not expensive. He's not even making 1 mil.
I'd offer up a 7th round pick next year, or Steve Slaton straight up, or a 6th round pick if San Fran. agrees to pick up the guaranteed portion of his contract if we cut him. I'd move him to OLB where his Pollardesque skills would be better served. Also lots of players flourish after a trade from their initial team, it's a ***** slap wake up call for them that they had better get their act together or the NFL gravy train will soon come to an end. Maybe some new coaches, new system, new city, new teammates, etc. would be good for him. He would not be a Safety in Wades system though. At worst he's a special teams gunner for a year and maybe he turns into a good OLB.
I agree with Rey, many coaches don't seem to want to move a player to a new position to play to the players strengths. I think to many coaches get it in their head that they drafted a certain position and if the player doesn't work out there then they just don't have time to teach the player a new position.
I agree with Rey, many coaches don't seem to want to move a player to a new position to play to the players strengths. I think to many coaches get it in their head that they drafted a certain position and if the player doesn't work out there then they just don't have time to teach the player a new position.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
He could start out on special teams as the "gunner" maybe put his image back on ESPN. Then work himself into Wade Phillips blitz packages, adding
Athletic speed to rushing attack they still lack. The thing he would need to convince Wade is his passion to play football & be a positive teammate.
Athletic speed to rushing attack they still lack. The thing he would need to convince Wade is his passion to play football & be a positive teammate.
TimeKiller
Guest
Unless his frame just can't hold it I bet he can get to 240. I really, really, really would think he'd be a similar pick to Von Miller. Just lightning off the edge. Situational guy, you wouldn't ask him to cover. You'd ask him to use his athleticism to harrass the QB/OL for a play or two a game. That would be a shitload more than what Slaton does.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
I'd love to have Marciano look at him as a special teams ace - not just punt/kick coverage by punt/FG blocking!! Or Wade look at him for certain pass rushing scenarios.
If we don't get him, I'm not going to lose a second of sleep. But I am interested. Just not as a safety.
If we don't get him, I'm not going to lose a second of sleep. But I am interested. Just not as a safety.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
I'm fine with that as long as we don't have to pick up his rookie contract to do it. The guy was a second rounder. A lot of mocks had him going in the first although most people knew he was going to have this tweener/box safety matchup problem.
For that matter, what about Darnell Bing from last year? He was that sort of athletic safety turned into a LB who could have played ST. I thought he looked good rushing from the edge last year. Have we signed him back?
Ole Miss Texan
Hall of Fame
Yea, the year before people were talking about him being a top 10 pick but he got really exposed is last season at SC. I think he ended up being a mid-2nd rounder. His contract really isn't all that bad:
Half was paid up front by the 49'ers and his salary for the next 3 seasons is much more reasonable than I would have imagined.
I forgot all about Bing. I was really excited we picked him up because I thought he had a lot of potential. Low risk high reward type of signing. He's off the team now though.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
If it's a reasonable contract, I'm all for bringing the guy in. As long as he wants to play and doesn't mind being on ST.
I'd call him a joker. Hed have his own position. I wouldn't ask him to gain or lose weight. He'd be a safety/lb hybrid.
Blitzing a lot, dropping into zone some. Running with certain rb's.
I think in passing situations he could have a significant impact. And against mobile qb's he'd do a good job mirroring the qb as a spy. I'd move him around all over the field, way off the line, on the line, left, right, middle. Qb's and o line wouldnt know what he'd be doing or where he'd end up.
He's the type of athlete that has the physical ability to do it all on defense.
But yeah, I'd be ok with trying to coach him up and have him play a specific role in the defense. Simplify things for him and allow him to use his athleticism and physicality to disrupt offenses. But that's just my mad scientist football brain talking. I'd do the thinking for him until he "got it" if he ever did.
Blitzing a lot, dropping into zone some. Running with certain rb's.
I think in passing situations he could have a significant impact. And against mobile qb's he'd do a good job mirroring the qb as a spy. I'd move him around all over the field, way off the line, on the line, left, right, middle. Qb's and o line wouldnt know what he'd be doing or where he'd end up.
He's the type of athlete that has the physical ability to do it all on defense.
But yeah, I'd be ok with trying to coach him up and have him play a specific role in the defense. Simplify things for him and allow him to use his athleticism and physicality to disrupt offenses. But that's just my mad scientist football brain talking. I'd do the thinking for him until he "got it" if he ever did.
If I'm not mistaken he's making about 500,000 per yr right now.
Doppelganger
None
Taylor is a prototypical old style in the box safety. The league is moving towards having two safetys that can cover with all the extra WRs around. Taylor is not worth grabbing in my mind.
Doppelganger
None
I think Keo will be the new gunner with possibly McManis or one of those UDFA WRs.
I can't see keo as a gunner. I don't think he has that kind of speed or athleticism.
Doppelganger
None
beerlover
Hall of Fame
Texans had another USC Trojan Man, who played safety, couldn't make it & came here, Darnell Bing I think? Anyway he was being asked to convert to OLB (weakside in 4-3) & looked promising in camp then suffered a major injury. So this wouldn't even be like setting a prescient, it's already been attempted. Maybe the young man is just struggling, adjusting to reality after that whole unreal environment in College? Take Vince Young for example, been kinda lost for a while, now he's found a new home, with it the evolution of the game.
So don't write off Taylor Mays in this league of playmakers just yet. Maybe not the Texans but another 3-4 team who would like to add some outside speed to the pass rush.