Justin Blackmon 2012 NFL Draft scouting report
by Dan Kadar on Jan 21, 2012 4:43 PM EST
in 2012 NFL Draft
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Justin Blackmon
6'1, 207 pounds | Wide receiver | Oklahoma State
Body control: Unlike some other No. 1 receivers the past few years, Blackmon always attacks the ball at the high point, especially when he's working the sideline. His ability to adjust and make dynamic catches is questionable at times when playing the middle.
Hands: Blackmon has good hands and will make tough catches, but tends to have some lapses. He dropped several catchable balls as a junior and made some questionable plays. Needs to get better at grabbing the ball out of the air when going over the middle. Needs to hold the ball higher and tighter after the catch.
Release: Powerful at the line of scrimmage to beat the press and get into his route progression. Gets off the line effortlessly and doesn't make a wasted step. Is often compared to Anquan Boldin because of his ability to use strength to get off the line.
Route running: Is largely used on the outside but saw more time in 2011 in the slot. Likes to use his size to get open down the field. For the most part, Blackmon has been used on slants and deep go routes. It's not something that should be held against him, though, if he's not asked to run complex routes. Appears to have the foot quickness and smarts to learn a full route tree.
Size: Blackmon isn't the biggest wide receiver, but he knows how to use his frame to his advantage. He's strong and knows how to use his strength, which is why many compare him to Anquan Boldin. He's not the tallest wide receiver, though, and looks to have just average arm length.
Speed: One of the things that keeps Blackmon from being considered elite is his lack of top speed. He doesn't have the next gear to break a reception wide open and needs space to get up to top speed.
Final word: Interviews will be important for Blackmon as teams may question his character. He was charged with misdemeanor DUI in 2010 and was suspended for one game. More importantly, they may question him about the Oklahoma State offense. It never required him to learn complicated offensive philosophies, but he was wildly productive. As a junior, he had 121 receptions for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns. Comparatively, it was a down season compared to 2010 when he had 111 receptions for 17,82 yards and 20 touchdowns.
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Blackmon always attacks the ball at the high point
What does this mean? People say it all of the time, but it has no real meaning as far as I can tell.
He doesn’t wait for the ball to come to him. He goes and gets it and prevents the DB from getting a pass break up.
Goes and gets it from where?
Again, i don’t think this means anything. All it tells me is that a recever often catches the ball when covered. Does it mean he wins jump ball situations? Can catch the all covered along the sidelines? Is good catching a high ball in traffic across the middle? Say any of those things and it means something. He clearly doesn’t get the ball at the highest point, as receivers rarely catch the ball before the apex of its arc. I know as much about Blackmon’s body control now as I would have if that description wasn’t there. It means nothing.
When he is running down field
and the ball is in the air he jumps as high as he can and catches the ball with outstreched arms above his head to snag the ball
some receivers run down field and catch the ball without jumping and let the ball fall into their body. so the ball ends up around chest level (4 feet) when caught as opposed to jumping (10 feet). jumping prevents the DB from batting the ball down or making a play which in turn allows for a higher percentage of balls to be caught which is why catching the ball at its highest point is a good thing.
Cold Blooded
by Jaggaholic82 on Jan 22, 2012 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
When you throw a football into the air
there is a point when its at its highest, this is called the high point
by Sylvester.The.Jaguar.fan on Jan 21, 2012 11:10 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
He catches the ball
when it is just in his range, meaning it is as far away from him as it possibly can be for him to still catch it. So if he can reach, say 11 feet in the air, he catches it at 11 feet in the air instead of letting the ball get closer, giving the DB a better chance to break up the pass.
Dallas Defense = Cowboys from Hell
Despite what some others have said above, I thnk it means catching it at the high point of his jump
which is more about timing. If you jump too early, you are heading back down when the ball gets there, limiting your ability to catch a high pass. Similar thing if you jump too late.
Kila's slash for Apr 20 to May 4, 2011, right before he was sent down: .276 / .344 / .448
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 23, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
Blackmon feels like Michael Crabtree to me
Blackmon came out of a high-powered offense with massive productivity, but questions about his ability to consistently catch and his top speed are the things that could push him down. Similarly, Michael Crabtree was supposed to be a star out of Texas Tech, but he had inconsistent hands and questionable effort which hurt his growth. I don’t think we’ll see a WR in the top 5 this year.
"Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin." - stetzwebs
Crabtree not nearly as physical
"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen
has similar attributes to aj green and julio jones
has greens body control on deep routes and julio jones’ run after the catch ability
dont see him being a dominant number 1 receiver but could be a top 15 number one and the best number two receiver in the nfl if hes paired with a better wide out
overall good player with the cluth gene in him
Cold Blooded
whoa! he is not special like aj green with the ball in the air. he is not a physical specimen like julio jones. i would say he is a more natural pass catcher than julio. blackman will be either anquan boldin or early doucet. a team picking in the top 15 better hope he plays like a young boldin
.
by balaramesh on Jan 21, 2012 11:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
he has great body control especially on deep routes
go watch Aj green highlights and then 2010 blackmon highlights you see alot of similarities in their ability to adjust to the ball in the air
he has the Run after the catch ability of Julion jones both being able to take slants the distance along with any route. physically comparitive hes not but play wise he is
and hes going to be better than boldin hes alot faster and more explosive but just as strong
Cold Blooded
by Jaggaholic82 on Jan 22, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
woah now
Don’t get ahead of yourself. Boldin was an ELITE WR1 in his prime.
by cgcardzfan on Jan 23, 2012 2:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Blackmon reminds me of Anquan Boldin with speed
so basically Hakeem Nicks. You don’t want that with a top 5 pick you’re nuts.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
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