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Revisiting the Alontae Taylor pick: What did the Saints see that others missed?
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:19 pm
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:19 pm
The measurables are all there: 6'0, 200 lbs. 4.36 40 at the Combine (tied for 5th fastest among DBs). He had his highest grades from PFF in his senior season. There seems to be no issue with the kid's character. He played for a major program in a major conference
So why is it that none of the draft "experts" rated Taylor in their top 100 picks?
Daniel Jeremiah, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Athlon draft guide, Lindy draft guide... none of them had this guy going before round 4. And while some of those "experts" may have dubious qualifications, Daniel Jeremiah was a college scout for the Browns, the Eagles, and the Ravens, and he had Alontae Taylor rated as the 103rd best player in the draft.
This is what NFL scout Lance Zierlein said about Taylor's weaknesses:
I'm having flashbacks to some of the Saints' WTF reaches in recent drafts, like Payton Turner, Ian Book, Rick Leonard, Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha et al
When you consider who was still on the board at the time: LB Nakobe Dean, QB Malik Willis, DT Travis Jones, WR George Pickens, WR Skyy Moore, WR Alec Pierce, and TE Trey McBride to name a few, Alontae Taylor is the one pick I really dislike from this year's draft.
Have any of you warmed up to the pick? If so, what am I missing?
So why is it that none of the draft "experts" rated Taylor in their top 100 picks?
Daniel Jeremiah, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, Athlon draft guide, Lindy draft guide... none of them had this guy going before round 4. And while some of those "experts" may have dubious qualifications, Daniel Jeremiah was a college scout for the Browns, the Eagles, and the Ravens, and he had Alontae Taylor rated as the 103rd best player in the draft.
This is what NFL scout Lance Zierlein said about Taylor's weaknesses:
quote:
Weaknesses
High-cut with leggy change of direction.
Labored hip corrections when juked by press release.
Very average recovery quickness in space.
Plant-and-drive acceleration from backpedal is lacking.
Limited burst to close allows pitch-and-catch from off-man.
Can be delayed in read/reaction to run plays.
Needs to shed blocks and wrap up the runner.
Not in a huge hurry to tackle bigger backs.
I'm having flashbacks to some of the Saints' WTF reaches in recent drafts, like Payton Turner, Ian Book, Rick Leonard, Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha et al
When you consider who was still on the board at the time: LB Nakobe Dean, QB Malik Willis, DT Travis Jones, WR George Pickens, WR Skyy Moore, WR Alec Pierce, and TE Trey McBride to name a few, Alontae Taylor is the one pick I really dislike from this year's draft.
Have any of you warmed up to the pick? If so, what am I missing?
17
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:24 pm to L.A.
It was a terrible pick…as I have stated before. Downvote away
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:29 pm to tigerbait3488
it was a panic pick because the bears took brisker right before.
This post was edited on 5/6/22 at 3:29 pm
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:30 pm to L.A.
I have liked what i've learned about the kid and think he's a great fit here.
I still haven't convinced myself we didn't reach due to a need. Time will figure it out.
I still haven't convinced myself we didn't reach due to a need. Time will figure it out.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:46 pm to Chad504boy
Wouldn’t exactly have said CB was a need.
Safety wasn’t a need either if they knew they were getting Mathieu (seems likely). The Brisker angle is pure speculation.
Safety wasn’t a need either if they knew they were getting Mathieu (seems likely). The Brisker angle is pure speculation.
This post was edited on 5/6/22 at 2:47 pm
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:47 pm to L.A.
Dennis Allen was a DB and Kodi Burns saw him everyday in practice at UT. Gotta trust their evals here. You got a kid who posted the 30th highest RAS out of 1,923 CBs since 1988 who is also a bright guy and a team leader. I reckon that is a great starting point on a guy who has superstar potential.
To boot he was the 4th highest rated SEC CB per PFF. Let’s not pretend the kid can’t play as it is
To boot he was the 4th highest rated SEC CB per PFF. Let’s not pretend the kid can’t play as it is
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:47 pm to L.A.
Unlike the Draftniks, the Saints had the hands-on experience of drafting CB Malcolm Jenkins who they later discovered would realize his full potential playing safety, which is where the eventual vision aligns for the similarly-sized & similarly-skilled Alontae Taylor.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:48 pm to Chad504boy
The Saints draft for programmatic fit. Draft experts simply rank players based on the available draft pool. The Saints obviously value RAS score and positional flexibility. Just because draft pundits considered him the x ranked CB doesn't mean shite. The Saints could have very well had him ranked in the top 5 at his position. Everyone thought Turner was a reach last year, until you started hearing other teams indicate they were looking at him before the Saints grabbed him.
I guarantee you we didn't panic pick a second rounder.
I guarantee you we didn't panic pick a second rounder.
This post was edited on 5/6/22 at 2:49 pm
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:48 pm to tigerbait3488
Certainly could turn out that way, but only a fool would speak in absolutes when all picks are risks
Posted on 5/6/22 at 2:59 pm to drake20
quote:
Wouldn’t exactly have said CB was a need.
We’ve seen too much terrible CB play here over the years. CB is always a need. Everyone is running 10 and 11 personnel these days, we gotta be able to matchup with the elites teams rolling out 3/4 good WRs
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:03 pm to L.A.
quote:
What did the Saints see that others missed?
Everyone else saw a cornerback. The Saints saw a free safety.
ETA: watch his film. He's rangy and super fast. He makes pretty quick reads and closes quickly. He wants to hit - you see him in on quite a few gang tackles. He's willing around the LOS, and what he lacks in pure coverage skills, he makes up for in his ability to clean up a busted play. Someone here posted that he only gave up one TD last season. He's a safety.
This post was edited on 5/6/22 at 3:14 pm
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:06 pm to Vacherie Saint
quote:
Everyone else saw a cornerback. The Saints saw a free safety.
he's built nearly identical to Lattimore and Adebo. I wouldn't rule out CB yet. but positional versatility is good i guess.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:18 pm to Chad504boy
height and weight-wise yeah - but lots of safeties are 6' 200# too.
He's really long-legged and high cut like MW was.
He's really long-legged and high cut like MW was.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:20 pm to LSUFreek
quote:Jenkins was always thought to be a 1st round pick and many thought his best position would be safety when he was drafted. Where is the comparison?
Unlike the Draftniks, the Saints had the hands-on experience of drafting CB Malcolm Jenkins who they later discovered would realize his full potential playing safety, which is where the eventual vision aligns for the similarly-sized & similarly-skilled Alontae Taylor.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:20 pm to Vacherie Saint
Evidently DA himself said Alontae is playing CB not Safety so...
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:21 pm to Vacherie Saint
quote:He may end up at S, but Mickey Loomis said they see him as a CB. The video with Loomis is from draft day and is probably still on the Saints website
Everyone else saw a cornerback. The Saints saw a free safety.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:21 pm to Vacherie Saint
quote:Except that Allen said they see him as a CB.
Everyone else saw a cornerback. The Saints saw a free safety.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:22 pm to GynoSandberg
quote:
You got a kid who posted the 30th highest RAS out of 1,923 CBs since 1988 who is also a bright guy and a team leader.
Right. But what op is saying is with everyone knowing all this, nobody still had him rated that highly. So what did a couple of people on the saints see that Tom’s of other people didn’t?
Very reminiscent of our old coach always trying to prove he’s the smartest person in the room.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:22 pm to GynoSandberg
quote:Sometimes I wonder if the Saints put too much emphasis on RAS though.
Dennis Allen was a DB and Kodi Burns saw him everyday in practice at UT. Gotta trust their evals here. You got a kid who posted the 30th highest RAS out of 1,923 CBs since 1988 who is also a bright guy and a team leader. I reckon that is a great starting point on a guy who has superstar potential.
Posted on 5/6/22 at 3:27 pm to L.A.
Look at the other corners picked in the 2nd after us. Much prefer this guy
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