Trying to figure out how fast he actually is (not 40 time) but can't think of many examples of him catching balls and blowing by defenders after the catch. Indiana comes to mind, but he was really just wide open and made one cut on a few guys with bad angles. Obviously he has run past a bunch of guys with the ball in the air this year, but anything on the ground?
DJK Speed
- Thread starter BQuastU
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tm3308
Well-Known Member
Really there aren't any plays that come to mind. I have a feeling that he'll run a 4.5 at the combine. He makes excellent cuts to get into the open field with the ball in his hands. And he runs the best routes of any Hawk that I've ever seen play (with the possible exception of Hinkel), which is how he gets so open all the time. He's more than fast enough for the league, and his route running and hands will get him into the 3rd round, maybe the late 2nd if he has a big second half and good combine.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I think he would prob fit best as a slot possession receiver in the NFL. This is secondary to his size & route running ability. I'm not certain he has the best downfield speed with going against the better CB's, but I think he may have pretty good acceleration that lets him cut & find gaps pretty fast. I just think he's hard to cover in the medium range when he accelerates & cuts.
I don't know if he has the speed in the NFL to just fly downfield or the size to jump & catch against the solid NFL d-backs. He could be a Wes Welker type of player in my mind.
I don't know if he has the speed in the NFL to just fly downfield or the size to jump & catch against the solid NFL d-backs. He could be a Wes Welker type of player in my mind.
austinhawk
Well-Known Member
At Michigan, when he had to spin around to catch a pass that was behind him, I was amazed to see DJK stop, stare at the defender, make a juke, and then blow by him to the corner of the end zone. I was questioning his speed, until I saw that move. I thought" Wow, we do have some speed on our team"!!
tm3308
Well-Known Member
That's a very good comparison. Welker is the perfect slot receiver. Reggie Wayne wouldn't be a bad comparison, either. He's not a burner, and undersized for an outside receiver, but he makes his hay by running great routes, has hands of glue, and has Manning throwing to him.
SmalltownHawk
Well-Known Member
What about his kick return at the Horseshoe last year for a TD? That showed some speed and explosiveness.
albertyoungisgood
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I love the guy, but he's not going in the first 3 rounds. Otherwise, I agree that he's probably around a 4.5/40.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
He broke a tackle, then made another of his great cuts. He didn't just blow by everyone up the sideline. He had to make a move to get out. OSU had him dead to rights twice on that return.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I tell ya, I think it's his acceleration that sets him apart. I think that is how he got around the corner so fast. He definitely is not slow at all.
What play are you talking about? I don't remember that one..... Are you talking about this first TD?
If you are, the way you are describing it never happened. He never stopped and made a juke, or stared at the defender. It was a crossing route that he reached behind and got and then ran to the corner of the endzone.....
tm3308
Well-Known Member
In a typical year, perhaps not. But with the impending lockout on the horizon, there probably won't be too many early entries this year. This year's senior class of WR's isn't overly impressive, but the list of RS sophomores and junior could make for a class even better than the '96 class of WR (Harrison, Owens, Keyshawn, Moulds, etc.). But Terrance Tolliver is probably the top senior WR this year. So DJK I think will be taken in the first 3 rounds, depending on how many of the elite underclassmen come out (like I said, I don't think many will because of the lockout).
DuffMan
Well-Known Member
Guys Wes Welker is 5-9 185. DJK is a legit 6-1 200. They aren't similar in body type or skills. I think people are too wrapped up in "lining up and blowing past CB's". There are only two or three of those guys in the whole league right now. 4.5 is plenty fast to play WR in the NFL. You don't have to be able to line up and blow past CB's to get open in the NFL.
Jeebus
Well-Known Member
It DID happen that way. It wasn't a complete stop, but there was definitely a pause and then an acceleration as he sized up the backer in front of him. I watched it again yesterday. It was impressive as was the catch on the pass that was thrown behind him on said crossing route.
DJK's draft status will depend on his combine numbers. I, for one, am very curious as to how he'll do. If he does well he could definitely move into the first three rounds.
Imlivingthedream
Well-Known Member
DJK will do very well at the combine. He may set the bench press record. Id compare him to Hines Ward and think he will get paid for 7-10 years.
DuffMan
Well-Known Member
That is a very interesting comparison. Both are strong physical receivers who are excellent at blocking.
Its difficult not to be a homer when analyzing DJK, Stanzi and some others w/r/t the NFL. Clearly, strength is not an issue for him and he appears to be a legit 6ft with good hands. Everyone says he's a good route-runner and he is not a legal liability, so his future would seem to hinge on his speed at the combine. What would a 4'4 do for him, for the sake of argument?
That said, David Terrell and Charles Rogers are epic fails with all of the measurables and college performance, so who knows in this game??
That said, David Terrell and Charles Rogers are epic fails with all of the measurables and college performance, so who knows in this game??
DuffMan
Well-Known Member
Anywhere south of 4.6 is acceptable speed for a WR, and even low 4.6's is OK if you have McNutt like size. Anything below 4.5 is considered + speed and 4.45 and lower is flat out flying.
I've heard NFL scouts question his hands and catching the ball too much with his body but I've never seen one say he doesn't have enough speed to play WR in the NFL.
I've heard NFL scouts question his hands and catching the ball too much with his body but I've never seen one say he doesn't have enough speed to play WR in the NFL.
DJK definitely catches the ball a lot with this body, which made his catch on the slant against UM instantly stand out.
McNutt on the other hand seems to catch everything with his hands (his OSU game was exceptional w/r/t just about every catch he had in that game).
These guys are awesome, but, again, its hard not to be a homer.
ColumbusHawk
Well-Known Member
I think DJK is great. However, most of us probably wouldn't know who DJK is today if Douglas & Bowman hadn't screwed up. DJK, Douglas & Bowman were all in the same recruiting class.
Douglas and Bowman played as true freshman. Douglas led Iowa in receptions with 49 catches. If Douglas hadn't screwed up & stayed healthy he probably would have held every Iowa receiving record when he left the program after last season.
While, some posters have criticized DJK for his attitude & other things, he is a much better citizen and HAWKEYE than the other two. Congrats to DJK!
Douglas and Bowman played as true freshman. Douglas led Iowa in receptions with 49 catches. If Douglas hadn't screwed up & stayed healthy he probably would have held every Iowa receiving record when he left the program after last season.
While, some posters have criticized DJK for his attitude & other things, he is a much better citizen and HAWKEYE than the other two. Congrats to DJK!
