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Fuchs just did the first Giantsgab Mock Draft of the year . Check it out if you get the time. I also just posted the profile of CB Joe Haden who might actually be available at 15 now after his very slow 40 at the combine.
I could sum up this entire post with two facts: Dexter McCluster is very explosive and he is very small, but that would be shotty work so I will do what I normally do for these profiles.
Pro-Draft Party Highlights
Dexter McCluster
Measurables
Born August 25th 1988. Senior.
5′9 172 pounds. (And therein lies all the questions about Dexter McCluster)
Combine 40 time 4.55, 20 reps at 225. 37.5 inch vertical.
McCluster was suprisingly slow at the 40 and suprisingly strong at the bench press. He outlifted a few of the offensive linemen at the combine, at weight that is nearly 1 and a half times his body weight.
Stats (ESPN.com)
Career: 304 attempts (14 attempts his first two years), 1,955 yards, 15 touchdowns.
2009: 181 attempts, 1169 yards 6.5 yards per rush. 8 touchdowns. 44 receptions for 522 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Big Games:
@ Alabama 6 attmptes for 15 yards 3 receptions for 22 yards.
Vs Arkansas 22 carries 123 yards 7 receptions for a 137 yards and a touchdown.
@ Auburn 22 carries for 186 yards (1 touchdown). 4 cathces for 17 yards.
vs Tenneesse 25 carries for 282 yards. 4 touchdowns. 4 receptions for 42 yards.
vs LSU 24 carries 148 yards 3 catches for 18 yards.
vs Oklahoma State (Cotton Bowl) 34 attmepts 184 yards 2 touchdowns. 5 catches for 45 yards.
IF you were to ask Eric Berry from Tennesse I’m sure he would be in favor of draftin McCluster.
Here’s what worries you about McCluster he had some HUGE games…but he had 4 games where he had under 20 yards rushing, but knowing how Sneed played this year that could have been becuase they turned the ball over on the first play of every series.
ESPN’s Scouts Inc (1 exceptional, 3 average, 5 marginal)
| Production |
2 |
2006: (6/5) 15 catches, 232 yards (15.5 avg.), 1 TD; 8 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD. 2007: (8/3) 27 catches, 326 yards (12.1), 2 TD; 6 carries, 63 yards 2008: (13/8) 44 catches, 625 yards (14.2), 1 TD; 109 carries, 655 yards, 6 TD |
| Height-Weight-Speed |
4 |
Blazing speed but marginal size. Is short and lean. Will struggle to overcome lack size in NFL as a scat-back and/or slot-receiver type. |
| Durability |
4 |
Missed some time during 2009 spring practice with ankle sprain. Missed four games in 2007 six games in 2006 due to a lingering shoulder injury. Marginal size only adds to long-term durability worries for McCluster. |
| Intangibles |
3 |
Versatile playmaker who will play any role to help the team. No off the field issues to our knowledge. |
| Running Back specific Traits |
| Competitiveness |
3 |
Very quick and fluid. Can get in and out of breaks without a lot of wasted motion. A bit unpolished as a route runner. Lacks awareness reading coverage. Will struggle getting off the line of scrimmage versus press technique. |
| Vision/Patience |
4 |
Hands are solid as a receiver. Can pluck on the run and does a good job of adjusting to poorly-thrown balls. He’s not great at securing the ball in traffic, though. In addition, he has done a terrible job of protecting the football. Saw him fumble multiple times on film in 2008, including games versus Alabama and Vanderbilt. Must improve ball security in order to contribute in a versatile role in the NFL. |
| Inside Runner |
3 |
His marginal size limits his deep-ball potential. He’s a bigger threat with the ball in his hands than he is as a vertical route runner. Still, he has very good top-end speed and he gets there in a hurry. He’s clearly capable of stretching the field from the slot. |
| Outside Runner |
2 |
Experienced with the ball in his hands in all facets of the game. Excellent hip fluidity and elusiveness. Will consistently make first defender miss in space. Shows great initial quickness and a second-gear to run away from defenders in the open field. |
| Passing Game |
2 |
Tougher than expected. Will hit the line of scrimmage hard as a runner and not afraid to lower his shoulder, despite marginal bulk/power. Appears to be a very competitive |
Football Fan Spot
1/17/10: A blur of a football player who is a bit undersized. He has lined up at both running back and wide receiver in his career and had 1169 rushing yards and 520 receiving yards last season. He has also lined up as a wildcat so there’s going to be a spot in the NFL for him, though it is not going to be a conventional one. He will play the Percy Harvin role for a team, a slot receiver, return guy, and occasional 3rd down back and wildcat and will be plenty valuable doing so.
8/6/09: Speed thrills in the NFL so McCluster is going to get some looks in the mid rounds. He has great versatility and can play running back and wide receiver and had 600 yards of each last season. He can be a 3rd down back and a slot receiver and maybe play some wildcat if he can learn to throw. He’s a poor man’s Percy Harvin and is less injury prone. He’s smaller than Harvin though. He could stand to put on about 10 or 15 pounds, but doing so could hurt his speed, which is pretty much the only thing he brings to the table of an NFL prospect. Though he has never had major injury problems in the past, his small frame leaves him susceptible to injuries. Even though he is small and one dimensional, his blazing speed makes him valuable to an NFL team, especially in the new wildcat era. His versatility also helps his draft stock a lot.
NFL Comparison: Poor man’s Percy Harvin
NFL.com/combine
Overview
Undersized for the running back position and may end up being a wide receiver or return specialist at the next level. McCluster got a lot of all purpose yardage as a combination running back/receiver in Mississippi’s offense. He has had ball security issues over the years and needs to prove he can avoid turnovers if he wants to prove a player his size can contribute. He has the speed to turn a short dump off pass into a long touchdown with just a single missed tackle. While he is a bit of a luxury item, some team is apt to take a chance that he can contribute in situations.
Strengths
McCluster possesses elite speed and explosiveness for the running back position. Has outstanding initial quickness needed to get through the hole. Displays impressive receiving skills and can be a threat deep down the field. Feisty player who loves to compete. Has dangerous elusiveness in space, is a terror on the perimeter, and is a true home run threat.
Weaknesses
McCluster does not have the necessary size and strength to carry the load at next level. Could struggle with his inside running but was willing and productive in college. Blocking is an area of concern due to his lack of size and strength necessary to pick up blitzing linebackers. May not break many tackles.
NewEraScouting.com
Height/Weight: 5’8 – 165
40 Time:
Pro Potential: Darren Sproles – San Diego Chargers
Position Traits
Acceleration/Burst/Quickness: Reaches his top speed in a blink. Once he has three to four steps moving downhill, he is moving at a higher speed than anyone else on the field.
Ball Protection: Hides the ball very well when moving through traffic, uses both arms to cover the ball as he lowers his shoulder. Very aware of the ball’s location in relation to his body when moving in space.
Elusiveness/Feet/Agility: Can miss a lot of tacklers, has the last second quickness to evade hits. Can cut on a 45 degree angle while moving at full speed without losing his momentum. Can find the tiny windows. Has an agile and flexible lower half with feet that appear to glide along the ground when he is in stride.
Pass Catching: Can make the tough catch all over the field. Smooth and fluid receiver that has plenty of experience playing in the slot. Totaled 130 receptions over his four year career at Ole Miss. Could very well end up playing wide receiver at the next level.
Pass Blocking: Willing to step and can deliver a surprising jolt to the pass rusher. Has power in that little frame . Does not have a lot of experience staying home and blocking however. Was almost always running a route when the ball was not in his hands.
Power: Knows when to put his head down and fight for the extra yard. Shows no hesitation in lowering his shoulder in to a pile. Surprising power for a player his size.
Size/Length/Hand Size: Very thin, even for a 5’8 frame. Has a strong body with some bulk up top.
Speed: Top tier game speed that can allow him to run away from anyone in the open field. Changes the defense’s approach to a play with his presence on the field.
Vision/Balance/Running Instincts: Has average cutback vision, more of a straight ahead runner that can anticipate lanes past the line of scrimmage. Runs with very little wasted motion, tremendous balance and ability to maintain his maximum explosion and speed.
Final Word: A look at Dexter McCluster leads many to believe he is simply too small to hack it at the next level. But the explosion, quickness, and speed he is able to bring to the field every play of every week is going to possibly get his name called in the second round. McCluster is one of the most versatile playmakers in the country that can play a Wes Welker role as a receiver and a Darren Sproles role as a running back. He has plenty of experience in the wildcat formation and his return abilities will be used right away in the NFL. On top of all the physical ability, McCluster is one of the smartest players that Ole Miss coaching staff has ever dealt with. He is another coach on the field that can make sound, quick decisions. Playing at 165 pounds in the NFL cannot happen however, so he will need to bulk up if he is planning on taking 15-20 hits per game for a 16 week season. With this kind of athleticism though, McCluster is one of the safer bets of the 2010 draft class
Big Board Rankings
ESPN Scouts Inc 55.
CBS NFL Draft Scout 56
The Football Fan Spot 83
Bartolis Summary and Final Verdict
McCluster is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the ball. McCluster is also very little for an N.F.L. running back or Wide Receiver, which he is both or neither. McCluster is getting a lot of listings as ATH, or athlete. McCluster is not even a 175 pounds and he’s at most 5′9 inches.
What he does do well though, is catch the ball great for a Running back. And he reaches his second gear instantly.
Final Verdict
Reese is clearly Best Player Available in most cases and the Giants grading will depend on whether or not the Giants show any interest in McCluster and when. If you think McCluster is able to withstand the punishment he is a very solid second round pick and has the talent of a first round pick. However, not a lot of people think he can withstand a constant pounding and that most teams will use McCluster for 10 touches a game, mostly coming out of the backfield as a pass catcher and ocassional runs.
Darren Sproles is a natural comparision for McCluster becuase both are small and explosive. Another one of the major concerns, (but again relating to size) is whether or not McCluster can even block to be in on passing downs.
I believe the Giants need a player who can catch the ball out of the backfield and take it the distance. Bradshaw is O.K. at that, but he’s not Sproles, McCluster, or C.J. Spiller at that (or what McCluster and Spiller could be). I am not against drafting McCluster, especially in the third round, but even the second round is fine value.
I, however, do not think that McCluster is really a Tom Coughlin kind of player (the perception of course being that Couhglin wants guys blocking, blocking, blocking and contributing on Special team….which D.J. Ware didn’t get to do and I can’t imagine McCluster doing that then) and I don’t see him ending up on the Giants.
Previous Profiles
CB Joe Haden
S Nate Allen
Jason Pierre Paul
DT Geno Atkins
DT Lamarr Houston
RB Jahvid Best
OT Trent Williams
Derrick Morgan
OL Mike Iupati
S Chad Jones
OLB/DE Sergio Kindle
Sean Weatherspoon
ILB Sean Lee
S Eric Berry
OT Bruce Campbell
ILB Daryl Washington
DT/NT Dan Williams (Updated with K.C. Joyner’s Draft Lab 2/7)
CB Kyle Wilson
DT Jared Odrick
DE Carlos Dunlap
ILB Micah Johnson
DT Arthur Jones
OT Bryan Baluga
OT Anthony Davis (UPDATED 2/5/10)
DT Brian Price
ILB Brandon Spikes
S Earl Thomas
ILB Rolando McClain
RB C.J. Spiller
S Taylor Mays