New Draftcountdown Mock draft

[JBS]

1st round Taylor Mays

2nd Round Damian Williams

 

[TheSport78]

FYI this thread is not for the weak at heart lmao.

 

[JBS]

can someone please explain the following for me? How was Taylor Mays such a highly touted prospect after the 2008 season (considered the best safety in the country and a bonafide top 10 pick) and has changed to a guy many are now calling a likely bust at safety? The biggest ARGUMENT I hear against Mays is that he does not MAKE enough plays and never did make plays at USC..However, if he never made plays, how was he ever considered a top 10 pick? Because, he absolutely was considered a stud prior to this past year.

Let me make this clear, I am not for or against Taylor Mays, I just want to better understand. Thanks.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I think that mock will change in the next one.

We dont get a ball hawk or linemen in the top 2 rounds. And I dont think Williams is a big time returner. Chris?

-Interesting that Tate is going #50 overall. Please let him fall

And we are passing on JD Walton and Tyson Alualu here








27 DALLAS COWBOYS: TAYLOR MAYS, S, SOUTHERN CAL
Taylor Mays | USC Trojans

Scouting Report

At first glance the Cowboys don’t appear to have many glaring holes on their depth chart. That is especially true after the emergence of Miles Austin at wide receiver. However, the safety position has been a problem in Dallas for years now and it’s time to take care of it once and for all if possible. USC’s Taylor Mays probably would have been the first safety selected in last year’s draft but he chose to return for his senior season and that opened up his game to excessive scrutiny. The most common criticism is that Mays doesn’t make enough big plays in coverage (i.e. interceptions) but it’s important to keep in mind that he’s more of a big hitter than a playmaker. Is Bob Sanders any less of a great player than Ed Reed because he only has six career picks? Of course not, they’re just different types of players. Taylor Mays | USC Trojans A great athlete with an amazing blend of size (6-3, 230) and speed (4.2), Mays epitomizes the phrase “Hits Like a Linebacker, Runs Like a Cornerback”. After the appalling performance of their offensive line in a playoff loss to Minnesota the Cowboys could also be in the market for a blocker such as Idaho's Mike Iupati or Massachusetts’ Vlad Ducasse. A five-technique defensive end like Jared Odrick of Penn State could be an option as well and don't rule out a wideout either because there isn't much beyond Miles Austin.

 

[SDogo]

Love Round 2.......................

 

[CanuckCowboysFan]

Love Round 2.......................

Has he even be linked to Dallas?

 

[Doomsday101]

can someone please explain the following for me? How was Taylor Mays such a highly touted prospect after the 2008 season (considered the best safety in the country and a bonafide top 10 pick) and has changed to a guy many are now calling a likely bust at safety? The biggest ARGUMENT I hear against Mays is that he does not MAKE enough plays and never did make plays at USC..However, if he never made plays, how was he ever considered a top 10 pick? Because, he absolutely was considered a stud prior to this past year.

Let me make this clear, I am not for or against Taylor Mays, I just want to better understand. Thanks.

His physical stature is one reason along with the speed. He has problems in coverage and is not a sure tackler as he constantly trying to make the knock out hit. Looks great on film when you do it but you look like fool when you miss

 

[Cover 2]

can someone please explain the following for me? How was Taylor Mays such a highly touted prospect after the 2008 season (considered the best safety in the country and a bonafide top 10 pick) and has changed to a guy many are now calling a likely bust at safety? The biggest ARGUMENT I hear against Mays is that he does not MAKE enough plays and never did make plays at USC..However, if he never made plays, how was he ever considered a top 10 pick? Because, he absolutely was considered a stud prior to this past year.

Let me make this clear, I am not for or against Taylor Mays, I just want to better understand. Thanks.

I've always thought he was overrated. Even after his 2008 season.

 

[JBS]

His physical stature is one reason along with the speed. He has problems in coverage and is not a sure tackler as he constantly trying to make the knock out hit. Looks great on film when you do it but you look like fool when you miss

I understand what his weaknesses are...but why weren't these weaknesses being considered when he was a stud and a top 10 pick..I find it hard to believe that the guy can go from elite to a waste in 1 year..I just cant put my finger on which scouting report is more accurate..the 1 from last year which had him as a top 10 player or this years..

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

The funny thing is of all the mocks I have seen that have us taking him they do so with the intent of us taking him as a safety.

It is of my opinion, right or wrong, that if they do have interest in him it is to convert him to a LB and not keep him as a safety.

Now that is just my opinion and I have no quotes or articles stating that they have that idea but I just can't see them taking him as a safety when they had a similar player in Roy Williams.

 

[Cover 2]

I understand what his weaknesses are...but why weren't these weaknesses being considered when he was a stud and a top 10 pick..I find it hard to believe that the guy can go from elite to a waste in 1 year..I just cant put my finger on which scouting report is more accurate..the 1 from last year which had him as a top 10 player or this years..

Because he wasn't given as much responsibility his junior year. He was given a lot more responsibility this past year, and showed how limited he is.

He hardly had any picks in college. If he can't produce INT's in college, what makes you think he will be able to in the pro's.

And he had a ridiculously low amount of FF's. Going off memory he only had one. I could be wrong though, I'm too lazy to look it up, but I do know it was a very low amount.

He made less plays in his career than Earl Thomas made last year.

He is big and can run fast in a straight line, but as the Combine showed he does not look fluid at all in drills, and that is the main reason for his lack of turnovers IMO.

 

[Cover 2]

The funny thing is of all the mocks I have seen that have us taking him they do so with the intent of us taking him as a safety.

It is of my opinion, right or wrong, that if they do have interest in him it is to convert him to a LB and not keep him as a safety.

Now that is just my opinion and I have no quotes or articles stating that they have that idea but I just can't see them taking him as a safety when they had a similar player in Roy Williams.

That would be interesting. Maybe we could use him as a Donnie Edwards type. Another thing is as he gets older he will continue to put on weight, so ILB would be a creative use for him.

 

[TheCount]

The funny thing is of all the mocks I have seen that have us taking him they do so with the intent of us taking him as a safety.

It is of my opinion, right or wrong, that if they do have interest in him it is to convert him to a LB and not keep him as a safety.

Now that is just my opinion and I have no quotes or articles stating that they have that idea but I just can't see them taking him as a safety when they had a similar player in Roy Williams.

I don't think Mays will be drafted to play any position other than safety. I think he'd have to bomb out at safety before the idea of converting, otherwise we would have just made Roy a nickle LB. We've already been down that road.

 

[Doomsday101]

I understand what his weaknesses are...but why weren't these weaknesses being considered when he was a stud and a top 10 pick..I find it hard to believe that the guy can go from elite to a waste in 1 year..I just cant put my finger on which scouting report is more accurate..the 1 from last year which had him as a top 10 player or this years..

I will say I don't think he will be a bust I think he is a big risk in the 1st rd. For Dallas I think there are better options at 27 than Mays. If some team can get more out of his physical skills than he has shown you may find a good player in Mays but normally in the 1st you look for guys with less weakness than what Mays has shown

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Because he wasn't given as much responsibility his junior year. He was given a lot more responsibility this past year, and showed how limited he is.

He hardly had any picks in college. If he can't produce INT's in college, what makes you think he will be able to in the pro's.

And he had a ridiculously low amount of FF's. Going off memory he only had one. I could be wrong though, I'm too lazy to look it up, but I do know it was a very low amount.

He made less plays in his career than Earl Thomas made last year.

He is big and can run fast in a straight line, but as the Combine showed he does not look fluid at all in drills, and that is the main reason for his lack of turnovers IMO.

Being fluid in coverage drills has more to do with how well you're able to turn and run in coverage.

And Mays wasn't given that much responsibilities as a Senior. Pete Carroll had him playing back in centerfield.

Straight-line speed, closing burst and vertical can tell you much more about someone's ability to make plays or not. As most plays are made when the play is out in front of you. Your ability to get there is what's key.

 

[JBS]

Digging a little deeper into the Taylor Mays discussion I have come across the following argument from Mays supporters. They claim that Mays played incredibly deep at USC to help avoid and limit big plays which in turn limited Mays from creating and making big plays..

Here is a pretty good video of Highlights and lowlights of Mays in 09

[youtube]vFa4aEsZzzw&feature[/youtube]

 

[Cover 2]

Being fluid in coverage drills has more to do with how well you're able to turn and run in coverage.

And Mays wasn't given that much responsibilities as a Senior. Pete Carroll had him playing back in centerfield.

Speed, closing burst and vertical can tell you much more about someone's ability to make plays or not.

You still have to flip your hips and turn and run at times. Another thing I forgot to mention is I don't think he has very good instincts, but seeing as instincts aren't tangible I can't really prove that he does lack instincts.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

You still have to flip your hips and turn and run at times. Another thing I forgot to mention is I don't think he has very good instincts, but seeing as instincts aren't tangible I can't really prove that he does lack instincts.

Yes, which is why I think Mays would be better off in a FS, center-fielder type role where he has a zone to patrol. But unlike Hamlin, he could get to the ball much quicker.

The guys at NFLDs seem to think that he showcased pretty good instincts. His over-aggressiveness is what does him in. You tame him overrunning plays and you have yourself a player.

 

[Doomsday101]

Digging a little deeper into the Taylor Mays discussion I have come across the following argument from Mays supporters. They claim that Mays played incredibly deep at USC to help avoid and limit big plays which in turn limited Mays from creating and making big plays..

Here is a pretty good video of Highlights and lowlights of Mays in 09

[youtube]vFa4aEsZzzw&feature[/youtube]

What I see is a guy in coverage who takes very poor angles and over runs plays. There is no excuse for that even if you are playing deep

 

[Cover 2]

Yes, which is why I think Mays would be better off in a FS, center-fielder type role where he has a zone to patrol. But unlike Hamlin, he could get to the ball much quicker.

The guys at NFLDs seem to think that he showcased pretty good instincts. His over-aggressiveness is what does him in. You tame him overrunning plays and you have yourself a player.

I see him as more of a 4-3 Will or a 3-4 ILB. As he ages he's going to put on even more weight, so I'm not sure he will be able to play safety. There aren't any safeties his size in the NFL, but then again I guess you could say there aren't any with his speed either.

I just think his skill set points more to linebacker than safety.