How does Stephen Hill compare to Demaryius Thomas and Calvin Johnson?

by durst on Jan 23, 2012 11:55 AM EST

Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill, who announced he would be leaving the Yellow Jackets for the 2012 draft, believes he can raise his stock and become one of the top wide receivers in upcoming draft. Despite Georgia Tech's run-heavy triple-option offense, they recently have produced two 1st round pick wide receivers - Demaryius Thomas in 2010, and Calvin Johnson in 2007. Although very unlikely to be a first round pick, the success of those two on the NFL level may make make GMs optimistic that Hill too can become a productive NFL receiver. Hill could be one of this years sleepers.

Stephen Hill 6'5, 206 pounds | Wide receiver | Georgia Tech:

Acceleration: Has to take long strides to build up speed and will need some space to accelerate. Doesn't possess the quick-twitch burst of the elite receivers in this draft.

Agility/Leaping Ability: Hill can out leap most if not all defensive backs, but he doesn't always time his leaps properly. Highly recruited out of highschool, be broke the Georgia HS state long jump record of 25 feel 8 3/4 inches.

Concentration/Hands: Despite having large hands, Hill's hands are being questioned by scouts due to a high number of drops. This maybe a lack of focus from having such a small amout of targets.

Blocking: Although scouts question his catching consistency, his blocking skills could make up for that. In Tech's scheme, WRs primary role is to provide blocking on the perimeter, and occasionally sneak downfield for the occasional deep pass.

Release: Rarely challenged at the line of scrimmage, he appears to be big enough and strong enough to fight through any press coverage, and quick enough to beat most corners.

Route running: Needs to learn how to run tighter and more crisp routes. Has very little experience running pro-routes. Will have to learn an NFL route tree.

Size: Hill's 6 foot 5, 206-pound frame is noticeable thinner than either Thomas of Johnson was coming out of college. His body resembles AJ Green, tall, with long arms. Tough to bring down after the catch.

Speed: Is a long strider who needs some space to build up speed. Not as fast as two former 1st round WRs.

Final word: This season, Hill caught only 28 passes, for 820 yards, and five touchdowns. However, his average of 29.3 yards per catch, both lead the nation, and set a Georgia Tech school record. In a scheme where the run comes first, second, and third, the ability of Hill was not put on full display. He surprised scouts by leaving school early, but after catching only 28 balls last year, he may not have felt it likely he would improve his draft stock much by coming back. Like Thomas and Johnson, doing more with less shows he has the big play ability that many NFL teams look for in the draft.

NOTE: In comparison, during Thomas' 2009 season, he had 46 catches for 1154 yards, 8 TDs, and 25.1 YPC, while Johnson's last season in college had him catch 76 passes, for 1202, 15 TDs, and 15 YPC.

To see Stephen Hill game tape on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D6BhdO59RM0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=kfALNRblfXk

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He's on my radar

But that means nothing.

"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

by NMVike on Jan 23, 2012 12:39 PM EST reply actions

late 2nd to mid 3rd with a rise in stock is my guess

to many good WRs this year, blacmon, floyd, sanu, jeffrey, etc.
no chance he rises above those 4

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"We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees." –Jason Kidd
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by Lawrence Taylor The Real LT on Jan 23, 2012 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Calvin Johnson

didn’t play in the triple option offense. That showed up the year after he left with Coach Paul Johnson. He played under Chan Gailey

by Mogwai on Jan 23, 2012 1:16 PM EST reply actions

You hit the nail on the head in the "size" section

Thomas and Johnson inhabit bodies with the build of a TE and the speed of a WR. That makes them special. Hill is a guy that some team will take a chance on, and 80% of the other teams will label him a reach or too much of a risk.

2012 NYG mock - 1: Chase Minnifield CB, 2: Kevin Zeitler G, 3: A.J. Jenkins, WR, 4: Neiko Thorpe S, 5: Brandon Bolden RB, 6: Rishard Matthews WR, 6: some random LB, 7: BPA

by ct17 on Jan 23, 2012 1:19 PM EST reply actions

He doesn't

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jan 23, 2012 2:04 PM EST reply actions

You take him in the 5th rd. and hope he helps in ST's as a gunner. He has the perfect size for it

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jan 23, 2012 2:07 PM EST reply actions

I dunno why these guys even go to GT

I think Hill will light up the combine and some team will take a chance on him in the 2nd (it would be the first if someone dumb like McDaniels was buying the groceries still). Demaryious Thomas had no business being a 1st round pick.

Hill is really a lot better then his stats say, even his highlights say. There just wasn’t a lot that he could do in that offense.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 23, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

Hill is a joke

He shouldn’t even be drafted. I had the (dis)pleasure of watching him play for the last three years. He drops a ridiculous number of passes. I would be willing to bet a large sum of money that if you watch his entire sophomore season (once he took over the #1 receiver role from Demaryius Thomas), he has more drops than catches. He can make the incredible catch at times, but he is truly lacking the mental aspect of the game. Demaryius Thomas dropped maybe two passes all during his junior season, while Hill averaged two drops a game. Thomas is bigger, stronger, faster, has better hands, and is more mentally prepared for the NFL. Thomas was incredibly successful in the triple option because he did everything that was asked of him well. Hill was not nearly as successful because he is a wide receiver who struggles catching the ball. Thomas is showing this year that, when healthy, he can be as dangerous as any receiver in the league. Hill will be a major disappointment to any team that feels the desire to draft him.

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on Jan 23, 2012 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

DT looked like a first round pick this year... He's a good WR, you're selling him short.

by tiderfootball09 on Jan 24, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

Thomas did NOT look like a first round WR, ever.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 24, 2012 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

right before Mcdee turned in his card

at least one guy thought he did

Winning

by Foilhat on Jan 24, 2012 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

What games were you watching? Last I checked he took over a few games this year.

That was once he got the rust knocked off from his injury. If it wasn’t for his injury, he would have made the pro bowl. He is a stud that doesn’t get the ball enough.

by tiderfootball09 on Jan 25, 2012 12:12 AM EST up reply actions

he benefits way too much from teams not taking Tebow seriously.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 25, 2012 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

Not really. If anything, that's even more impressive because the broncos only passed the ball 20-23 times a game.

Also that hinders his ability because DT doesn’t get the ball enough. When he got the ball, the broncos usually won. Tebow had those comebacks and DT was usually the one catching those TDs. The only thing holding back DT right now is his injuries, other than that, the guy is a stud.

by tiderfootball09 on Jan 25, 2012 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

not really

its a lot of single coverage, a lot of not knowing if Tebow’s gonna throw the ball in the same zip code, and a lot of playing the run first and the pass second.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 25, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

Yes really

Last I checked that’s what number one WRs do—beat man coverage. He did that, go look at the steelers game. Also it wasn’t just press coverage all the time. It was also a mixture of zones as well—look at Vikings/Bears game. DT beat zone and man to man coverage many times. Like I’ve said before, the only thing hold DT back right now are injuries. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a dominate WR. I know he has things to work on yet, but to say he hasn’t looked like a number one is foolish.

by tiderfootball09 on Jan 25, 2012 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

Well he hasnt looked like a one yet

thats true. I mean the guy hasnt done much, but part of the isnt really his fault. The injuries were ridiculous though; wasnt he recovering from a foot and break his hand? What is that. I dont know, he looks hard to bring down after the catch. Maybe he is a beast, but at this point it’s very hard to tell. Mostly because he’s always injured but also because the scheme doesnt allow of huge air numbers. Oh and stop calling him DT that’s somebody else

Winning

by Foilhat on Jan 25, 2012 10:41 PM EST up reply actions

number one WRs rarely see single coverage

and he didn’t beat man coverage in the Steelers game, it was just one good throw with no help…basically cuz they were spying on Tebus.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 26, 2012 7:10 AM EST up reply actions

A few well thought of "scouts" would strongly disagree with that Rorschach.

I’m pretty sure Wes Bunting and Scott Wright had him ranked very high and identified him as one of only two WRs in that draft that had all the tools to become a very good # 1 WR in the NFL. Dez Bryant was the other.

"I’m sorry for all the people who want us to run the ball 40 times a game, but we’re going to put the ball in No. 9’s hands and he’s going to make plays for us like he did today," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. Amen to that Jim!

by NorthLeft12 on Jan 25, 2012 8:12 AM EST up reply actions

good for them

Thomas has never looked like one.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 25, 2012 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

You don't watch much football do you?

At least when Denver is playing.

by NorthLeft12 on Jan 25, 2012 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

plenty

and yes, when Denver’s playing. You?

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 25, 2012 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

Which games?

by tiderfootball09 on Jan 25, 2012 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

most of them.

you?

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 25, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

All of them. So I have no idea where you're coming from.

by tiderfootball09 on Jan 25, 2012 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

awesome.

Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows

by Rorschach44 on Jan 26, 2012 7:11 AM EST up reply actions

I attend Georgia Tech. Stephen Hill is not in the class of either Thomas or Johnson.

And furthermore, he’s not really close.

Everyone hoped he would turn into the next great Tech WR, but he struggled at times to beat single coverage (something Thomas just destroyed game in game out for Tech in the triple option). He also had real struggles catching the ball and sometimes looks like a basketball player who decided to just suit up and give football a go. And as much as Tevin Washington struggled as a QB at times, Thomas absolutely dominated games despite having the similarly bad Josh Nesbitt throwing to him.

Ultimately, Stephen Hill has some impressive tools but I wouldn’t ever expect much to come of it. He could be a decent later-round flyer with a couple years of development in mind, but any team that talks themselves into drafting him during the first two days is insane.

If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.

by Creasy729 on Jan 24, 2012 3:44 PM EST reply actions

I think he's a 2nd day pick

Developmental type. At that size if he runs fast somebody will reach on him or maybe it wont end up being a reach but somebody will draft him high. The thing with WR is that sometimes it takes a couple years, it’s not an easy position to play from a mental standpoint. Johnson of course and even Thomas were seen as more immediate contributors coming out. But I would take this guy off my board completely. That drop err hamy pull haha at the end on the first vid is horrible

Winning

by Foilhat on Jan 24, 2012 10:17 PM EST reply actions