Mike Mayock: Georgia Tech WR Thomas headed to Falcons
D. Orlando Ledbetter posing after doing a segment on the NFL Network. (Photo by Brian Cearns)
BIRDLAND – Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is one of the hard luck stories of the 2010 draft.
He can’t workout for teams because he suffered a broken foot while running in the three-cone drill in February. He had a screw surgically implanted in the foot to help it heal.
Last season, Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree suffered a stress fracture and was not able to workout at the NFL scouting combine. He went to the San Francisco 49ers with the 10th pick of the draft.
Thomas needed a good showing at the combine to solidify his first round status. Now, he might not get a chance to show off his speed and pass catching ability before the NFL draft, which will be held April 22 to 24.
The NFL Network's Mike Mayock.
The question on Thomas is whether if he can run an NFL route tree. At Tech, he ran a bunch of streaks. There’s not a lot of game tape of him coming out of breaks, running crossing routes, or other NFL style pass routes.
There is a wildcard at play with Thomas.
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson and Falcons coach Mike Smith are best buds back from their college coaching days when they were recruiting metro Atlanta. If there is any question about Thomas’ route running ability, Smith already has the answer.
Perhaps, there is some Georgia Tech film that finds its way to Flowery Branch and points beyond that shows Thomas running every route imaginable.
The NFL Network is running its Path to the Draft show and the Falcons were up on Friday. We talked
Bucky Brooks back in his Green Bay days.
about Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham and Florida center Maurkice Pouncey.
Then Mike Mayock and Bucky Brooks came on.
Mayock thinks the Falcons should take Thomas. Brooks said they should take South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre Paul.
We know where most of the fan base is with regards to Weatherspoon, Graham and Pouncey.
But what about Thomas? Could Thomas really be traveling just up the highway to Flowery Branch? What about Pierre-Paul?
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235 comments Add your comment
Big B CH 99
March 29th, 2010
12:45 pm
It would be an interesting pick, the Falcons could certainly use a # 2 WR opposite Roddy, & BayBay might be a really good one, b/c being the # 2 WR, but really the 3rd option behind Roddy & Tony he’s he’s gonna get a lot of single coverage like he did at GT. Roddy is a young guy w/ several good yrs left, but the Falcons don’t have a # 2, Jenkins is inconsistent at best, & probably more of a # 3 or # 4 WR. If Douglas can come back, he’s a slot guy which we desperately need.
mgdawg
March 29th, 2010
12:47 pm
I think Thomas would be a good second round pick if the falcons could trade up with some of their later round picks, or if the falcons could trade back get a later first round pick and a second round. I just don’t think the falcons should reach for a receiver. I read an article last week about pouncey being a need pick with value, is getting a backup center really a need? Defense, get someone on defense who might have a chance to start this season with a first round pick.
Chris
March 29th, 2010
12:47 pm
Doesn’t anybody remember that we spent nearly every single pick on Defense last year? we need to spread things out a little bit. Douglass is no more than a 3rd down threat and Jenkins drops more passes than Bey Bey ever would. I’m all for cutting Jenkins.
Falkor
March 29th, 2010
12:49 pm
Some crazy comments in here:
No way Jenkins is worth a 3rd rounder, especially in a draft this deep.
The NYG are not going to trade for Jamaal Anderson no matter how complicated the trade is with picks involved.
Brandon Marshall may be a pain off the field, but what elite WR other than Jerry Rice (who actually was a pain his last few years) isn’t? If you don’t think he’s one of the top 4 WR’s in the league today then you have never watched him play!
TD, Smith and Blank have done a good job of clearing dramatic players off of this roster, but 1 or 2 can never bring you down too far, especially at a Diva position.
Using #19 on Be-Be makes no sense if you can trade the pick for Marshall. He is ELITE and PROVEN.
Dawgy
March 29th, 2010
12:49 pm
No freakin’ way should the Falcons WASTE a first round draft pick on “Bey Bey”. The only thing going for him is size. His speed is questionable now and his route running is bush league. His blocking skills are not that great either (he dives at knees). Take off the piss colored glasses Nerd fans: he is NOT a 1st rounder!!!
Big B CH 99
March 29th, 2010
12:50 pm
If Derrick Morgan slips to 15 or so, I would try to trade up & get him. If not, I would look at Weatherspoon or Graham. If none of those guys are available, I would then look at Pouncey (Flor.’s Center) or BayBay.
I’m not sold on S. Flor’s Pierre-Paul, & I don’t like guys w/ potential character issues like Dunlap. I would never trade for Brandon Marshall, b/c I’m a team guy, & guys like him, T.O., OchoCinco destroy chemistry. I don’t mind Dez Bryant, I think he has decent character I think the NCAA screwed him.
Dan
March 29th, 2010
12:51 pm
If not Dez Bryant or Brandon Marshall I would just wait till next year for AJ Green or Julio Jones
JohnD
March 29th, 2010
12:52 pm
Marcus – Here are the measurables for some good – or at least legit – every down tight ends:
Tony G – 6-5 243
Kellen Winslow Jr – 6-4 240
Jason Witten – 6-5 263
Vernon Davis – 6-3 250
So you have a point – probably needs to add a least 15 pounds – maybe 20 lbs. Not sure how much that would impact his speed. But seems his frame might be able to support it – and given he is only 21 – could probably grow into it. Plus he’d get a year to learn behind the best pass catching tight end ever.
Falkor
March 29th, 2010
12:54 pm
And for the record I want the pick to be Weatherspoon. If he’s off the board then I’m open to anything.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 29th, 2010
12:57 pm
Chris — You are correct. The Falcons have said this will be a balanced draft — offense and defense. TD is happy that he gets to work a full board in Year 3.
Cracker Jacket
March 29th, 2010
12:58 pm
Thomas would be a stupid pick! Free agent I could see or very late pick! Never run the same after breaking his foot!
brew
March 29th, 2010
12:59 pm
SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME, WHAT MAGIC TD IS GOING TO PULL TO GET US INTO THE SECOND ROUND. IF AND WHERE WE CAN GET INTO THE SECOND ROUND MAY DETERMINE WHAT WE DO IN THE FIRST ROUND.
Dan
March 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
Brew I believe NEW ENGLAND has 3 picks in the 2nd
Ricky
March 29th, 2010
1:33 pm
Birds won’t take a WR @19………………………not going to happen. It will be either a DE, LB, or Center……………….that’s it folks…….!!!
Ricky
March 29th, 2010
1:34 pm
Oh, just one more thing, in the highly unlikely event that Spiller is available the Falcons would jump on him.
brew
March 29th, 2010
1:35 pm
Thanks Dan, maybe they need Jenkins or Norwood or Anderson or a conbination. I just think TD has something planed that will get us into the second round.
Earl T.
March 29th, 2010
1:35 pm
Has anyone considered the falcons drafting Taylor Mays and converting him to olb alah Thomas Davis. I think it would be a genius move by T.D. and the falcons.
I'll blow my
March 29th, 2010
1:42 pm
effing brains out if they pick Thomas in the 1st round.
RambleOn84
March 29th, 2010
1:45 pm
Earl T.,
I think that would be an outstanding move if Dimitroff thinks he projects well at that position. OLB is a much bigger need than DE, anyway. The only way I see the Falcons going DE is if D. Morgan is there…but he won’t be.
RambleOn84
March 29th, 2010
1:46 pm
Too many delusional Dawg fans on here hating on D. Thomas. You guys are right, though, who needs him? We’ve got All-Star Michael Jenkins at #2…
I REPEAT
March 29th, 2010
1:53 pm
I’ll blow my effing brains out if they select Thomas in the first round.
the real Old Gold
March 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
The Falcons need Thomas… bottom line. Roddy White is the WORST high paid receiver in all of Football. If we don’t take a receiver by the 3rd round.. I don’t know if I can watch this garbage anymore..
screg
March 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
rambleon84, yeah if we traded jenkins and a first for marshall we still might not have depth, but we’d have a top 3 receiver. and with jenkins on the field that gives the defenses an advantage over us, because he drops everything. people said randy moss had issues before tha patriots got him, but he’s okay now. im thinkin the same thing can happen with marshall if he meets with smith, blank, and dimitroff.
MaxxFalcon
March 29th, 2010
2:04 pm
If Spoon and Graham are gone, I think the Falcons should trade down at that point. I would rather us trade down and get a 2nd round pick than draft someone we aren’t necessarily crazy about with the 19th pick. Jason Pierre-Paul really doesn’t look that impressive on film to me, his numbers aren’t even really that great, but everyone seems to love his potential. I’ve learned that “potential” is a curse if the person never figures out how to fulfill it. There are a lot of sleeper WRs that will be available in later rounds, like Chris Bell and Andre Roberts. Matt Tennant, the Center from Boston College, should be available in Round 3. If Spoon and Graham are gone, pass on Bay-Bay and trade down.
DDawgDavis
March 29th, 2010
2:18 pm
WR? I saw some mock draft where the Falcons would take Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green. That’s a great value pick in later rounds. The dude can catch the ball and he seems like a mature young man. I still have trust in Dimitroff and Coach Smith, who have been to MULTIPLE super bowls, than Mayock, Kiper, McShay, Ledbetter, your mom, Paul Parker, Lance Branan, Adam Johnson, or their dead mothers.
Groovedawg
March 29th, 2010
2:25 pm
Jason Pierre Paul would be a huge mistake in the vain of Vernon Gholston. If you want another Jamal Anderson situation then take him. Orlando, throw Tony G in those stats and the TDs go way up. I can’t see spending a 1st round pick on a WR especially with no 2nd rounder. This is a deep draft for defense and you getting really good vaule at 19 for a big area of need. You won’t get the pass rusher you need in the 3rd round. If Braddon Graham is there at 19 the Falcons should sprint to the podium. MVP of the Senior Bowl will be the MVP of the Falcons D!
*RUSS*(THE NEW MASCOT)
March 29th, 2010
2:44 pm
I agree, NO NEED to draft a receiver in the first round UNLESS his name was A.J. Green….I def would take pierre paul. talk about Athleticism…
south ga boy in the ATL
March 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
Gawd in heaven, how people think all problems are solved by skill people. And that comes from a former High school QB. As I have said before, there is only 1 ball, 1 play, 1 QB. We cant spend our No 1 on a WR when we have several other position groups that need attention ahead of WR’s. OLB, DE, interior OL, future TE, even DT or Corner is ahead of WR when it comes to needs. Thomas would be our 3rd option at best, 3RD OPTION.
blackbee
March 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
BAY-BAY is a BEAST!!!! Trust me, natuarally cut-up, fast, can block! Well mannered! Don’t look at the system in college, BAY-BAY wiull be ALL PRO.
falconfan_vicksupporter
March 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
thomas is to much of a project he ran 2 routes in college he has potential to be good but he is a reach. the offense is ok just could use a little more depth on the ol but our needs are on the defensive side of the ball we have no pass rush at all or lbs are solid but nothing special (lofton is a player) they filled a major hole with signing dunta robinson but he is going to look like everybody else we had before if we cant get to the qb
The Grinch
March 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
D-Led, your 12:23 would suggest he’s almost identical to Mike Jenkins in every single respect other than he’s an inch shorter. And considering the Falcons just inexplicably signed Jenkins to a 4/20 prior to last season, I can’t see them drafting someone with an identical skill set and identical flaws. Jenkins was a 1st rounder out of Ohio State with every possible measurable (including a 4.38 40 at the combine) and is looking like he’s gonna be fighting Finn and Weems for playing time because he’s a long strider who can’t shake anyone and won’t fight for the ball. He’s the offense’s Chris Houston.
GT3O
March 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
Just one question: Do you guys really want to see Jenkins drop another wide open 3rd down ball, or another wide-open endzone ball?
Thought so.
south ga boy in the ATL
March 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
BLACKBEE- It doesn’t matter whether Thomas will be a good WR at some point in the NFL, WE DON’T NEED A WR WITH OUR NO 1 PICK. We have an unproven Sam LB and a 34 yr old Wil LB, with no quality back ups, while we have a No. 1/all pro WR in Roddy, a Hall of Fame TE Tony G, and a Up and coming Slot WR in Harry D. Jenkins only gets 50-60 catches a yr. ARe you going to take catches away from Roddy and Tony G. I dont think so. If we were coming off a super bowl run and had a top 5, young defense then maybe we could afford to take a No. 1 on an area of strength. Lastly, I have to wonder if this is just promoting a local star. I dont read anywhere near as many posts pushing Dez Bryant as our NO 1 pick and he is considered the top WR by all the experts, so why aren’t the Tech fans pushing for Dez Bryant, since he is the best WR and falls to 19 in many mock drafts. All of this WR or Center clap trap as our NO. 1 is just…. clap trap.
south ga boy in the ATL
March 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
Uh GT30. Can only NO 1 draft choice wide rec from Ga Tech catch passes on 3rd down when they are wide open. I didnt thinks so. If I didnt misinterpret draft info, I think we have 7 other picks beside our No 1. Can other WR’s that we might draft in a later round catch a pass, THOUGHT SO
Steve C
March 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
Pierre-Paul reminds me of the last DE we drafted, raw and unpolished with potential…Jamaal Anderson…stay away!
Rob
March 29th, 2010
4:12 pm
We have plenty of WR’s. What we need in D line help and LB’s
hiramsaint
March 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
i wonder why he wouldn’t want to go to a winning organization instead … just sayin’
Ken Strickland
March 29th, 2010
4:23 pm
It’s always amusing to hear HOMERS glorifying players from their school. They love to use the threat, THE FALCONS WILL REGRET NOT DRAFTING HIM, OR HE’LL COME BACK TO HAUNT US IF WE DON’T DRAFT HIM. How many times did we hear that same crap when GaTech fans wanted us to draft WR Calvin Johnson, and how many times has he come back to haunt us? Even though this UGA WR Johnson is nowhere near as talented or polished as CJohnson was coming out of college, we’re hearing the same lame threats.
GT30-Can you remember a few yrs back when fans were saying the same thing about RWhite that you’re saying about MJenkins, and suggesting we get rid of him at all cost because of dropped passes? Would you suggest we get rid of him now? MJenkins caught 50 passes as the teams 3rd receiving option on a run oriented OFF, so he couldn’t have dropped too many.
Based on your criteria for judging the ability and success of a WR, here’s a list of WR’s you’d also suggesst we get rid of due to their dropped passes.
DROPS-GMS PLAYED
Blaylon Edwards 16 16
Brandon Marshall 12 13
Roddie White 9 16
Calvin Johnson 9 16
Marquis Colston 8 11
Santana Moss 8 16
Dallas Clark 7 15
Hines Ward 7 16
Chad Johnson 6 13
Randy Moss 6 16
SMoss 6 14
There are a lot of Probowlers on this list that you would advocate getting rid of because of their dropped passes. And by the way, Terrell Owens, a multiple Probowl participant, once again led the NFL in dropped passes. The biggest problem with MJenkins isn’t his dropped passes, but his lack of speed and ability to stretch the DEF. If HDouglas can return to preinjury form, he’ll give us that ability. He’s an excellent runner, as demonstrated by his success as our punt returner, and would provide good after the catch yardage.
Shane
March 29th, 2010
4:23 pm
NO NO NO NO NO
We arent even sure he can run routes correctly given the offense he played with in college. Get somebody from a school who had a pro offense and wont have to learn everything over again.
boilerup
March 29th, 2010
4:25 pm
What kind of crack are u on to think we should not draft a wr if he’s available to get. Adds more weapons and makes us similar to Indy’s offense. Get em and ignore the critics…
Techman
March 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
need someone who will not drop the big pass to keep the drive going….remember back in November, no way the ball should have been dropped.
GT3O
March 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
South ga boy in the ATL,
I never said the Falcons should draft him, I just asked the question if people would want to watch Jenkins as our number 2 again.
And no, a later draft pick will not do as well as Thomas. To think so would be idiotic. He’s a first round pick with a broken foot. He’s still on top. He’s the best built WR in the draft. Other WR’s can all catch passes, but they don’t have size, speed, and other intangibles that a WR like Thomas possess.
GT3O
March 29th, 2010
4:29 pm
Techman,
That was one drop. You can’t isolate the incidents. Look at the Clemson, FSU, and MSU games. He IS the reason GT won those games. He made clutch plays when he had to.
Shane
March 29th, 2010
4:30 pm
but they don’t have size, speed, and other intangibles that a WR like Thomas possess.
Unfortunately for him there is a lot more to being a WR than just that. Like running routes correctly.
He did show he is a good blocker at Tech.
mystikal
March 29th, 2010
4:31 pm
First I think we should trade back or out of 1st rd all together and pick up an extra 3rd or 2nd rounder. The only offensive playeres I could see us taking in the 1st rd is Spiller or Pouncey. I think either could make big contributions immediately. That being said I think we should go with defense with 1st pick. Would love to see us get Sean Weatherspoon suit up. I don’t have problem with Graham, but kinda feel like he is already maxed out and he is undersized. I know Paul is very raw, but he has great measurables and is uber-athletic! Plus he has good work ethic and think he would be a better longterm pick than Graham learning under Abraham. I like Demaryius Thomas for us, just not in the first rd. If he was still there mid to late 2nd rd I might trade up for him, but other than that focus on defense first. It’ll be interesting to see who’s available when we pick tho!!
Techman
March 29th, 2010
4:35 pm
FSU, MSU…………………….look at the opponent Clemson ok. But not against your biggest rival
Ken Strickland
March 29th, 2010
4:37 pm
STEVE C-We’ve drafted 2 DE’s, KBiermann and LSidbury, since we drafted JAnderson. Biermann( 5sacks and 66 tackles) became a starter and outperformed every other DE on the roster in just his 2nd yr.
ROB-Over the last 7gms of last season our DL was the NFL’s best, especially against the run. They held entire OFF’s to an average of 75 rushing yds per gm, total, and that was with a 1st yr starting DE(KBiermann), a rookie DT & 7th rd pick(VWalker), a 2nd yr DT(TJohnson), a DT(TLewis)who had been out for 2yrs on IR, and a DE switched to DT(JAnderson). And that didn’t include starter and #1 draft pick DT PJerry. I DON’T THINK OUR DL IS AS BAD OFF, OR IN NEED OF HELP, AS MUCH AS YOU SEEM TO THINK.
Jimbo
March 29th, 2010
4:48 pm
When it comes to picking Jason Pierre-Paul with the 19th pick I have 2 words to say, ” Jamaal Anderson”. The parallels are too great to ignore and if you’ve seen any tape, other than the Combine, you would see way to many questions and not enough answers to justify that pick.
Secondly, we don’t need to be messing around with drafting a WR in the first round as that is not a hole. I have got to believe that we go either DE or OLB at 19, unless the best available helps us protect Ryan with an OL pick.
tjhook
March 29th, 2010
4:51 pm
Hey Falcon fans, I’d like you to go to YouTube and punch in the name of Danny Batten, a DE/LB from South Dakota St. He’s 6′2 244 and is a beast. Same motor as the Bierman. Had a great workout last week and looks like a sleeper at LB. Since we run a zone/blitz scheme, he could be a good fit for the defense.
Micheal Jenkins is a problem on offense because he is frequently left in single coverage and cannot consistently beat the coverage because of lack of breakaway ability and dropped passes. We need a player who can get us some YAC because Jenkins doesn’t appear to be the guy.
kurula
March 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
wiley- read any report on thomas…inconsistent hands. drops too many balls. it has nothing to do with a UGA bias. if you watched that game, those short comings were on display. the reason he had so many yards was because of his teams base offense: run, run, run, run, run, run, throw long to thomas. he ran streaks all year. i’m not saying he’ll be terrible…i just think he’ll be great.