Crayton

[LaTunaNostra]

Crayton has a funny gait.....He's 6 feet tall, but he runs like a 5-10 guy. He does have great hands. I have high hopes for him as well.

I really like the Hines Ward comparison. Again, like Bill, I'm not saying he is Hines Ward, but he certainly has a lot of those qualities. Great athlete, decent, not great size, average speed.....but is a playmaker.

If Crayton can produce just a fraction of what Ward does I'll be very happy.

The Ward comparison was major props for Patrick.

Tuna has mentioned Hines before and always in glowing terms.

 

[FolsomCowboy]

Texas A&I had some pretty stout teams as a NAIA school, Darrell Green, John Randle, Johnny Bailey

 

[speedkilz88]

And no one thought Hines Ward would be a #1 when Pitt drafted him either. So lets not peg the guy just yet.

 

[VirusX]

I actually think he could be very good. Maybe not great, but a solid #2 guy for a long time.

Sounds like Alvin Harper to me :

 

[Kangaroo]

My take on Crayton

He has good speed he is not Morgan speed but he is not Key either he falls somewhere in between.

2nd He has more quickness then speed and he has the ability to cut without slowing way down so his quickness matched with his good agility and solid speed he creates separation.

3rd He snatches the ball with his hands he has displayed some of the softest hands I have seen in these parts. The two best examples of this would be the drew Henson catch in the preseason game (that one catch started me on the Crayton bandwagon); the 2nd catch that sealed it for me was the big 3rd down grab from vinny where it was on his fingertips but you would never had know by the way it plucked it out of the air. To think we had him on the PS for the wasted roster spot of Bill's boy Ward

Ok that is my view of Crayton and yes I was on his bandwagon last year

 

[CowboysFan02]

My take on Crayton

He has good speed he is not Morgan speed but he is not Key either he falls somewhere in between.

2nd He has more quickness then speed and he has the ability to cut without slowing way down so his quickness matched with his good agility and solid speed he creates separation.

3rd He snatches the ball with his hands he has displayed some of the softest hands I have seen in these parts. The two best examples of this would be the drew Henson catch in the preseason game (that one catch started me on the Crayton bandwagon); the 2nd catch that sealed it for me was the big 3rd down grab from vinny where it was on his fingertips but you would never had know by the way it plucked it out of the air. To think we had him on the PS for the wasted roster spot of Bill's boy Ward

Ok that is my view of Crayton and yes I was on his bandwagon last year

Well said Kangaroo, Crayton is just one of those guys that just has it. I could see the glimmers of it last year at camp when he caught my eye. Then getting to talk to him briefly that is when I fully jumped on his badwagon.

But let me add a 4th, he has the mental part of the game down. He seems to truely be a student of the game. His past as a QB gives him a differnt perspective which I would think would be very helpful. His attitutde at work ethic are definatly a big plus for him, he wants to be good and he is going to work hard to be good.

A great pick up, yeah its hard to belive he was on the PS last year while Deadric was on the team.

 

[Idgit]

Well said Kangaroo, Crayton is just one of those guys that just has it. I could see the glimmers of it last year at camp when he caught my eye. Then getting to talk to him briefly that is when I fully jumped on his badwagon...

CBF02, can I be annoying? Well, of course I can be annoying. I need to mention two things: 1. cool sig pic. 2. 'your' is not a contraction for 'you are.' Grrrr. Don't make me put you on ignore just to keep from seeing that.

 

[ghst187]

NAIA is one of the lowest levels of college football. I am pretty sure there are HS teams that could whup up on some NAIA teams.
QUOTE]

Neither statement is true at all. NAIA and DII are pretty similiar in talent, DIII is the lowest IMO. Sure the talent isn't D1 but NAIA players are a LOT bigger and a LOT better. There are a ton of HS all-stars that don't make it anywhere, not even DII or NAIA. There have been a decent number of NAIA guys either make it pro or at least make training camp fodder.

 

[junk]

NAIA is one of the lowest levels of college football. I am pretty sure there are HS teams that could whup up on some NAIA teams.
QUOTE]

Neither statement is true at all. NAIA and DII are pretty similiar in talent, DIII is the lowest IMO. Sure the talent isn't D1 but NAIA players are a LOT bigger and a LOT better. There are a ton of HS all-stars that don't make it anywhere, not even DII or NAIA. There have been a decent number of NAIA guys either make it pro or at least make training camp fodder.

Hey, maybe you guys are seeing better NAIA teams than me. But I have watched some flat out awful NAIA teams. I've seen and played with guys that were starters on NAIA teams. They weren't anything special.

Long Beach Poly would have a go at some NAIA teams.

 

[Kangaroo]

Hey, maybe you guys are seeing better NAIA teams than me. But I have watched some flat out awful NAIA teams. I've seen and played with guys that were starters on NAIA teams. They weren't anything special.

Long Beach Poly would have a go at some NAIA teams.

Texas A&I which is now Texas A&M Kingsville at one point was a football factory for that level place several in the Pro's and there was no highschool in the state of Texas that could have beat those teams.

So not sure there maybe some really bad ones; I not seen any that bad but I have only seen a limited number of teams at that level.

 

[ghst187]

I think I am biased growing up in the OK/TX area. Some of the NAIA teams around are pretty darn good. Knew a bunch of guys from Central OK that went to pro training camps plus a DT named Traylor that made it big time. Of course football life starts sooner in that part of the world then most other places...like age 5.

 

[junk]

I think I am biased growing up in the OK/TX area. Some of the NAIA teams around are pretty darn good. Knew a bunch of guys from Central OK that went to pro training camps plus a DT named Traylor that made it big time. Of course football life starts sooner in that part of the world then most other places...like age 5.

And I think that has a lot to do with the area you are from. I am from the upper West/Midwest region. There aren't a lot of big time recruits that come out of that area at all. Many of the NAIA teams I have seen are filling their rosters with guys that might have been All Conference at best in regions that don't produce big time football talent.

Of course, the current NAIA champ (for the last three years) is from a small school in Montana, Carroll College, so maybe I am just full of it.

 

[Crown Royal]

I am out of town, and only have limited time for posting (thus my lack of doing so) BUT I couldn't resist this thread.

I have thought highly of Crayton since I saw him one year and one week ago today, at TC. I took notes at camp - and about 4 players stood out in those notes - Vinny, Henson, Julius, and Crayton. He was terrific.

I think he will be on the field quite a bit this season - at least comparably to Morgan, to spell Glenn, and what not. He is just talented. He has a very high physical ceiling, he is quick, elusive, etc. I like him on punt returns also, because if you watch, he has an amazing talent: HE NEVER GOES DOWN ON THE FIRST ATTEMPTED TACKLE!

Some people in here say they think 2nd or 3rd is his ceiling. I disagree - I think he has the talent to be a number one. I really do. I have high hopes for him. I don't know he if he will ever reach those goals I have set for him, but I seriously think he has the tools. If so - it certainly alleviates a draft need for next offseason.

We'll see - but it sure will be fun to watch.

 

[sacase]

Acutally the Pacific NW seems to be putting out good teams. My freshman year in 93 we went to the NAIA final 4 and got beat by the eventual champions that year. I belive it was Pac-Luthern. We had a coupel all american on our team that year. I guess I am used to seein the competition at the top levels of the NAIA not the bottom feeders. I am sure the same can be said of D1 teams that are ranked in the lasat 20 of D1 football.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

To think we had him on the PS for the wasted roster spot of Bill's boy Ward

There was a lot of sense behind Ward being activated for some time over Patrick last year. After Terry got hurt, and Morgan was dinged, Key was over-keyed on and was playing banged up himself.

Copper, Williams, Smith, Crayton, all in beginning stages of development. If we look at Patrick now, after the tremendous progress this offseason and summer, and compare him to Ward, that's a different story than what was actually playing out last year.

Crayton was the rawest of receivers, small school, and a jack of all trades in college as well. I think it's to Bill's credit he did activate him when he showed he was ready enough to help..he had so much to learn.

His game winning TD in Washington, which occured because VT was experienced enough to read a young db's eyes, demonstrated how far Patrick had come..but with the wo injuries last year, and the degree of experience behind a battered Key, Bill had to have another vet around.

Ward sure didn't impress - which is why he is gone. But it made sense to have him around until one of the kids could step up a bit.

Patrick is making outstanding progess , but basing his effectiveness last year on the DC TD, as some seem to do, is revisionist. He looked every bit the young developing receiver struggling with his routes and unsure of how to react to coverages as any kid would be.

The fact he is not a malcontent like AB or a dropsy afflicted grumbler unwilling to take it over the middle like Morgan has everyone in his corner, and rightfully so.

But this particular knock on Bill, the favoring of "his guys" one, is absurd in light of what really transpired last year.

 

[Mike 1967]

I know Crown and a few others have been on his bandwagon for a while, i've loved the kid since that Washington game. Played real nice in the season finale when Key went down. I just really have high hopes for this guy, alot of you do to. The interview on DC.com really reinforces that. He has the confidence you need at this level, but he seems very level headed. The more I hear about him, the more excited I get. I hope he does big things. Maybe all the beating out the Morgan talk isnt all just a knock on Morgan(he has been faulty though), but also a testament to how good Crayton has gotten.

I have been on his bandwagon since my first "knee jerk" reactions following his rookie preseason performance.

 

[ravidubey]

...

Funny sig.

 

[Kangaroo]

There was a lot of sense behind Ward being activated for some time over Patrick last year. After Terry got hurt, and Morgan was dinged, Key was over-keyed on and was playing banged up himself.

Copper, Williams, Smith, Crayton, all in beginning stages of development. If we look at Patrick now, after the tremendous progress this offseason and summer, and compare him to Ward, that's a different story than what was actually playing out last year.

Crayton was the rawest of receivers, small school, and a jack of all trades in college as well. I think it's to Bill's credit he did activate him when he showed he was ready enough to help..he had so much to learn.

His game winning TD in Washington, which occured because VT was experienced enough to read a young db's eyes, demonstrated how far Patrick had come..but with the wo injuries last year, and the degree of experience behind a battered Key, Bill had to have another vet around.

Ward sure didn't impress - which is why he is gone. But it made sense to have him around until one of the kids could step up a bit.

Patrick is making outstanding progess , but basing his effectiveness last year on the DC TD, as some seem to do, is revisionist. He looked every bit the young developing receiver struggling with his routes and unsure of how to react to coverages as any kid would be.

The fact he is not a malcontent like AB or a dropsy afflicted grumbler unwilling to take it over the middle like Morgan has everyone in his corner, and rightfully so.

But this particular knock on Bill, the favoring of "his guys" one, is absurd in light of what really transpired last year.

I still thought ward made no sense and yes I realize Crayton was young and raw but he showed flashes and he could help in the return game with all the banged up WR. Ward was showing nothing even as a vet so it made no sense to keep playing him instead of some of the young guys at let them get some game experience. Ward had 1 rec for 5 yards in 8 games last year.

Yes I was vocal last year about playing Crayton after Glen went down and we traded AB. Some time youth even raw youth needs to be served over a vet.

 

[LeonDixson]

Acutally the Pacific NW seems to be putting out good teams. My freshman year in 93 we went to the NAIA final 4 and got beat by the eventual champions that year. I belive it was Pac-Luthern. We had a coupel all american on our team that year. I guess I am used to seein the competition at the top levels of the NAIA not the bottom feeders. I am sure the same can be said of D1 teams that are ranked in the lasat 20 of D1 football.

Sacase, I love your pictures from your trip to Africa. Wish you had more of the villages, scenery and wildlife. Good Job. Beautiful women too.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

As Weeb Ewbank originally coined when he coached hoops at Brown:

"Hindsight is 20-20".

Had Bill known the season had ended in mid October in Green Bay, probably he would have had Crayton out there earlier....specially since he from the start looked liked a more than decent blocker.