Major Sleeper: Arizona Wildcats WR Mike Thomas

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 25, 2009 3:16 PM EST

Mike Thomas is our answer for the probable departure of Nate Washington.

Thomas was phenomenal at the combine, running a 4.40 in the 40 yard-dash, pulling off a 40.5'' vertical, a 10' 6'' broad jump, and a 6.65 time in the 3-cone drill.

Thomas, 5' 8'' 195 lbs, is a little guy with great speed, and other desirable characteristics that receivers should have. His route running is said to be crisp, his hands, reliable, with the ability to make catches away from his body.

As he is the Pac-10 all time receptions leader, I would've thought that Thomas would be projected to go around late day 1, but as of right now he's projected to be picked around early to mid day 2. Our 3rd round comp sound like a good price for this guy?

To me, he seems to be a huge sleeper in this year's draft, and a guy who can provide us with a great deep threat and a deadly return man. I wish I had some highlights to show, but unfortunatley there are few available.

I'm looking forward to seeing if the Steelers are on the same page as me with this one.

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He sounds good to me espicially at that spot...

do you have Kevin Colbert’s number? Or should I call him?

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 25, 2009 3:27 PM EST reply actions

Yea we talk from time to time

But this is his “in the zone” time so i don’t want to bother him :).

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 25, 2009 9:36 PM EST up reply actions

but he's to short, unless he can return kicks?

by BigDaddyTat2boy on Feb 25, 2009 4:02 PM EST reply actions

sounds like a great slot guy to me

I don’t his height matters…good hands, speed, productivity…get him in with Hines to learn for a couple years…could be good

by SteelerMike on Feb 25, 2009 4:12 PM EST reply actions

Just Wondering...

How do you feel about Jarrett Dillard from Rice? Here’s a link to his numbers:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=157274

I don’t think this guy got enough hype while at Rice, and I haven’t really heard his name that much since. Numbers speak for themselves, check him out.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 25, 2009 4:45 PM EST reply actions

Yea I was impressed by him too.

He turned in some kick ass numbers during the combine.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 25, 2009 9:35 PM EST up reply actions

Good prospect

That’s a good name to throw into the draft speculation mix HS. Thomas was outstanding at the Shrine Game and earned an invite as an injury replacement to the Senior Bowl, where he turned a 10-yard catch into a 32-yard gain with the kind of spin move out of a tackle that Carolina’s Steve Smith makes on a regular basis. He’s short but solid at 5-8, 195 and as you mentioned very quick. 40-yard times are overrated but what was noted at the Senior Bowl is that he is very quick out of his breaks, so it seems like he can get the most out of his natural speed. At Arizona he was a very good returner. He was a PR in only his senior season, averaging 11.9 per return with two TDs. He wasn’t quite as impressive in KR, with a 23.0 average (longest 52 yards) over two seasons. As a receiver, he was a four-year starter in a spread offense with never fewer than 50 catches, and 156 over his final two seasons averaging just under 12 yards per catch. Overall he projects as a dangerously quick, good hands slot receiver with the ability to return both punts and kickoffs.The compensatory pick in the third round (if that’s what the Steelers are awarded) would be a good spot for him.

by steeler.lifer on Feb 25, 2009 4:48 PM EST reply actions

Height does ...

matter. Fitzgerald should be the model for Nate’s successor. Need a guy that can make Holmes’ catch a routine.

by tenthmtnman on Feb 25, 2009 4:55 PM EST reply actions

You mean like this guy?: http://www.nfl.com/players/limassweed/profile?id=SWE041051

Because unless you have a top-10 draft pick lying around to donate to the steelers that is who we are sticking with for another year or two as the tall-guy.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 25, 2009 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

Damn you

Steal, my joke… damn you, steelguy (shake fists at sky) damn you!

by SteelerBuddha on Feb 25, 2009 6:52 PM EST up reply actions

lol

by tkired on Feb 26, 2009 3:56 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe we should draft a tall guy

Someone like Limas Sweed out of Texas.

by SteelerBuddha on Feb 25, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

i heard the only issues with him is that he has problems catching the ball

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 25, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

Lynn Swann was 5' 11'' 180 lbs

and could jump through the roof. I like the tall receivers but when you have a 40+inch vertical, then it’s a safe bet that he can make some sort of acrobatic catch.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 25, 2009 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

for slot receivers

I prefer the Wes Welker-type 5’9" 185Lbs, tough, quick, sure handed. For slot guys, i think being shorter is actually an advantage…just like for RB’s…I think the shorter, compact types are harder to tackle than the taller ones.

Obviously a place for taller WR’s too…hopefully Sweed steps up his game.

by SteelerMike on Feb 25, 2009 5:16 PM EST reply actions

A big WR could be in the mix, too

It’s really impossible to predict who the Steelers will take early in the draft because they are going to TRY to go with BPA at the top end of the draft. With Nate gone, they are definitely going to draft a WR at some point. They might even sign a veteran FA WR before the draft. It all comes down to how they feel about Sweed. If they are worried about him, then even a guy like Hakeem Nicks (6-1, 212) could be taken if he was available at No. 32, or Brian Robiskie (6-3, 210) in round two. The same will apply to CB if (when) McFadden leaves. There are a lot of CBs ranked as late first-rounders, early second-rounders so it’s not hard to imagine one of them as the Steelers’ pick.

by steeler.lifer on Feb 25, 2009 5:54 PM EST reply actions

I do like Robiskie

Another class act who’s dad was a great player, and Robiskie has some serious speed as well with incredible athleticism. I would love adding him on.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 25, 2009 9:45 PM EST up reply actions

I'd be surprised if we

Took a WR in the first 3 picks. If we get that extra third rounder, that would be the place we’d pick up a WR, I think. I don’t see us paying first or second round money to a third/ fourth string guy. We did last year with Sweed, but that was more of a stock-piling move, knowing what we were going to have to do this offseason.
If you want size, look at Jaison Williams out of Oregon, 6’4" 237. Plus he could be available later at a better value.
For a slot guy, Jarrett Dillard from Rice 5’10" 190 lbs. I talked about him earlier in this post. Productive, to say the least.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 26, 2009 8:57 AM EST up reply actions

Colbert mentioned how deep the draft was for CB's

looks like BMac’s gone…if they really like a CB and he’s there at 32, they very well may take him.

by SteelerMike on Feb 25, 2009 6:03 PM EST reply actions

see

what no one seems to realize is that William Gay is a more than capable replacement. He made some great plays this year and was steadily consistent all year. There were times where he made some mistakes, but keep in mind he’s only just 24, with plenty of time to improve. I think he’s ready to go.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 25, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

i agree...

I think he will be very good

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 25, 2009 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

I think that everyone who mentions that we can let Bmac go believe that Gay is an adequate replacement – and that seems to be about 50% of us.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 25, 2009 10:47 PM EST up reply actions

Eh

but some of us know that if Bmac leaves, we might have to rely on Gay anyways, but I think he can make it, Double Deuce is gonna be a savage.

by paulamalu on Feb 26, 2009 12:40 AM EST up reply actions

bmac's departure can be softened, especially

if we can pick up a value CB in the draft, or FA.

by tkired on Feb 26, 2009 3:58 AM EST up reply actions

also

any scouting breakdown of this guy? how are his hands, vision?

by tkired on Feb 26, 2009 3:59 AM EST reply actions

If you're talking about Thomas see above

His route running is said to be crisp, his hands, reliable, with the ability to make catches away from his body.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 26, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

CB's

It’s also about depth…not just Gay replacing BMac.

Colbert talked about the increased use of 4 and 5 receiver sets and the necessity of a defense to have good depth at CB.

It’s all about match-ups…if the offenses 4th receiver can out-match your 4th CB, that can be big trouble. I really get the sense from Colbert, if BMac leaves, we will be using a high pick on CB.

by SteelerMike on Feb 26, 2009 8:36 AM EST reply actions

I would really prefer if we saved our pick for later in the draft on a CB. The steelers have shown recently that they can find quality CBs deeper in the draft, and all we need is someone to push for that 4th CB spot. Fernando and Madison did okay in the 4th spot this year, not great, but you’ll rarely have a great 4th CB. Get someone who can maybe come in and play 4th with some upside to push into nickel back or take the #2 spot eventually.

I don’t see this happening though. Like you steelerMike I get the “sense” that we will be using a high pick on CB. I’d like for a OL and DE to be picked before, but I’m not sure it will go down that way, especially with the guys Colbert is showing interest in.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 26, 2009 9:32 AM EST up reply actions