Anyone else wary of Leodis McKelvin? (1 Viewer)

[dome patrol]

I didn't watch many Troy games so I logged onto Youtube to find some highlights of the guy since he's shot up the draft boards and now a unanimous Top 15 pick with whispers he could go in the Top 10. However, to my surprise I was unable to find any highlights of him besides his punt return touchdown against Oklahoma St- the same one the replay over and over when discussing him on Sportscenter.

I mean you can find highlights for anyone on Youtube including grade schoolers so why not McKelvin? They played in a bunch of big games this year, so I doubt being able to acquire footage would be a problem. The guy has 2 interceptions in 3 years and hangs hit hat on being a tackler and punt/kick returner. The most disturbing stats- 3 interceptions and only 13 pass breakups in 25 games. Lemme guess, they didn't throw his way? Excuse me, but I think i'll have to pass.

 

[iwitnesskr]

I mean, how can you be the #1 rated corner, and your biggest weakness is ball skills.

Believe it or not, Fred Thomas could cover, but he doesnt have ball skills. Elite corners turn bat downs into INT's.

 

[meily]

thats why you gotta go with the guys who produced....I'm a Justin King fan...he isnt a top 10 worthy pick, but would be a great 2nd round pickup....McKelvin I didnt hear about till the season was over, same with DRC...so yeah, alot of guys get hyped up...its a crap shoot cause some are legitamate hypes and some are shots in the dark were you look good if you make the pick and look like a fool if he doesnt pan out....I'd take production over combine numbers anyday.

 

[Nonreg]

I mean, how can you be the #1 rated corner, and your biggest weakness is ball skills.

Believe it or not, Fred Thomas could cover, but he doesnt have ball skills. Elite corners turn bat downs into INT's.

elite corners do not let passes become completions there way. INT's does not equal how good of a DB you are.

this could be very well what McKelvin is about.

 

[iwitnesskr]

elite corners do not let passes become completions there way. INT's does not equal how good of a DB you are.

this could be very well what McKelvin is about.

True, on that point, but you cant be #1 rated CB if you cant catch.

And even during the combine, the guys hands were suspect.

Quick Trivia.

Name one elite corner that can't catch.

 

[dome patrol]

elite corners do not let passes become completions there way. INT's does not equal how good of a DB you are.

this could be very well what McKelvin is about.

I doubt it. How to you explain a little over a half of a pass deflection per game throughout his career? Add that to the fact he has a large amount of tackles and I'd say keeping the receiver in front of him and not getting beat deep is what McKelvin is "about."

 

[Nevimeister]

If McKelvin couldn't field punts where would he get drafted? I want to steer well clear of him

 

[CajunSaint]

Not me, personally, I am man-crushing on this dude.

 

[IceHot]

True, on that point, but you cant be #1 rated CB if you cant catch.

And even during the combine, the guys hands were suspect.

Quick Trivia.

Name one elite corner that can't catch.

I can only name one that can catch.

Dick Lane, and thats really the only one. No other corner has averaged a pick a game.

Thus INT stats are really meaningless in the NFL. Its a statistical occurrence that doesnt even happen once per game.

And just so you know they didnt call Dick "Nightrain" becuase of his ability to pick off the pass.

 

[cruize]

If McKelvin couldn't field punts where would he get drafted? I want to steer well clear of him

Exactly. He's average at best in the NFL. He will make Molden look like a pro-bowler.

 

[iwitnesskr]

I doubt it. How to you explain a little over a half of a pass deflection per game throughout his career? Add that to the fact he has a large amount of tackles and I'd say keeping the receiver in front of him and not getting beat deep is what McKelvin is "about."

Okay, I figured I wouldnt be able to get away with that one without explanation.

Here Goes:

There were a countless # of times Fred Thomas was in position, but couldn't make the play (a.k.a.= ball skills). think Bears Game, pass to Berrian. In position, to awkqard to make the play.

If Thomas had made half the plays he should have, he could have put the ball in play for the Saints at least 6 or 7 times.

All corners get beat. You may sit here and say it doesn't matter, but I promise you, if Fred Thomas had 8 INT, you wouldnt be crying for his release, and saying how sorry he was.

Now Jason David can't cover. He wasn seldomly in position to make the play.
Fred Thomas was more often than not in position: just didnt have the ball skills.

 

[SuperQuincy]

The defelections don't bother me to much, I mean corners play the ball in the air differently that thw WR. The ball is being throw to the receiver, alotta times the corners are only able to get a hand on the ball, if its on the outside shoulder of the WR. As long as the receiver dosen't catch it, i'm cool with it. I don't think deflections are a bad stat to have because we aren't sure those balls hit him in the numbers and he dropped them, they could be fades, or anything really where the ball was to far away to get 2 hands on it, so he knocked it down.

But Mckelvin I guess is a knoen butter fingers, which surprises me because dosen't he return kicks and what not. Although that dosen't always indicate anything, alotta times teams put the best athlete back there and hopes of breaking lose. I know I wouldn't want Devery hands" Henderson returning kicks for me in the NFL, but I am pretty sure he did that in college.

I am a little concerned with Mckelvin (but no more than I am DRC) because I have never seen him play. Not even once, so I am reserving my judgement on him until I actually get to see a game. The taking heads say he is the best corner in the draft, but I usually don;t buy into what any of them say. I have never seen Mel Kiper, Mike Mayock, any of them even get half of the prospects to the right teams, and where they are gonna end up. They hit a few here or there, but nothing special. I see posters on this board hit closer on thier mocks, hasn't the same guy won the Annual mock draft 2 years in a row. I wanna know who he says we are picking, just as good a shot as Kiper has of getting it right. But someone gave Kiper a microphone, and thats about the only difference between him, and say YOU. well that and his hair is probably sweeter.

 

[Nonreg]

True, on that point, but you cant be #1 rated CB if you cant catch.

And even during the combine, the guys hands were suspect.

thats why they play DB, and not WR.

with your logic lets put this into place..

Mike McKenzie and Jason David both had 3 INT's a piece..does that mean they are both the equal player?

I think everyone would agree with me on a big HELL no.

 

[mark1]

True, on that point, but you cant be #1 rated CB if you cant catch.

And even during the combine, the guys hands were suspect.

Quick Trivia.

Name one elite corner that can't catch.

mike mckenzie. he sucks at catching the ball.

 

[dome patrol]

Okay, I figured I wouldnt be able to get away with that one without explanation.

Here Goes:

There were a countless # of times Fred Thomas was in position, but couldn't make the play (a.k.a.= ball skills). think Bears Game, pass to Berrian. In position, to awkqard to make the play.

If Thomas had made half the plays he should have, he could have put the ball in play for the Saints at least 6 or 7 times.
All corners get beat. You may sit here and say it doesn't matter, but I promise you, if Fred Thomas had 8 INT, you wouldnt be crying for his release, and saying how sorry he was.

Now Jason David can't cover. He wasn seldomly in position to make the play.
Fred Thomas was more often than not in position: just didnt have the ball skills.

I was responding to nonreg, but I'm still not sure what this means. Fred Thomas was a servicable corner for a long time, but everyone can tell he's lost a step and thats no big deal- it happens when you get old. And I would have named my first child Fred if he came away with 8 INTs. Hell, if Jason does that next season I'll name him Jason. But yeah, we do need someone with ball skills no question.