I’m going to Facepalm

which makes me wonder about his game smarts and knowledge since the two or three games I’ve watched, he doesn’t really stand out. He doesn’t strike me as even above average in this regard. With that kind of athletic ability, at the very least I’d hope that he would have a few big plays or hits during the season, but I’m not sure he has that either.

I personally have only read positive things, clearly being bias coming from Pete Carrol.

What are his negatives?

I just think the thought of having a potential impact safety would be nice.

was a draft-time athletic marvel as well, but I haven’t heard his name too much this year. Mays has all the intangibles, but I have to agree that in the 3 games I saw of him, he was distinctly average

is this true or is this just a generalization?

I expect Mays to be available lower than #4, and there are a couple of other nice corners and safeties that should be on the board until 10 or 15, so I wholeheartedly support trading down for another 2nd round pick. The one thing I would say about Mays, is he hits like a freight train. I watched him demolish a Penn St. receiver and he wasn’t the same for the rest of the game. I like hard hitters. I want Fitzgerald and Boldin thinking about it as they stretch for a catch.

it doesnt surprise me at all regarding that interception total

plus ed reed is what, the best safety in the NFL on the best defense in the NFL? is this really the comparison to relate their stats?

is Mays uncoachable, or does the fact that Pete Carrol has claimed him as one of the best players to come through USC all hype? likely, i mean i could clearly see that.

but why would USC target such an overrated player. not to mention he has increased his weight, strength and speed tremendously since he joined the trojans, what’s not to say he won’t develop into a smarter player.

is there any proof that he isn’t a smart player or has that he doesn’t have ability in coverage? other than the interception total?

i mean trufant has had one year of high pick totals, and i think everyone can safely say that he’s been avoided and lacked confidence, or whatever, to attack the ball at times

everything i’ve read so far, i mean just miscellaneous quotes from coaches, and random scouting reports say he has good ball hawk ability

i personally haven’t diagnosed any film of him, but the comparisons to Roy Williams seem questionable and easy to pinpoint due to his size and rep for hitting big, because he is a much better athlete

he clearly isn’t just some S that can hit but can’t catch

out of HS, some people thought he might be best in college as a deep threat WR.

and inferior athletes? how is that possible when he is arguably one of the best athletes in terms of size, speed and durability there are in this draft.

i mean the more i read, he’s been starting since his 2nd game as a freshmen at USC? why on earth is he playing for the #1 defense if he cant play? they could get anybody to play for them.

but why point out the negatives, and ignore the obvious positives.

is it really impossible for a player like this to not receive coaching to improve certain areas of his game? he will be a rookie.

usc plays a 2 deep zone, which has stood up to be one of the best defenses this year.

he is a 230 pound safety who can hit, and will come up in run support. he has been an all american athlete at multiple sports in high school, running a 10.5 100 yard dash, and being an all american wide receiver in high school.

he has never missed a game

and has been starting since his freshman year on a team that gathers one of the best recruiting classes every off season.

Assuming that he is all that he is said to be, which I am not, he looks like a SS to me, and then you would have to assume that they move Grant to FS (where he belongs). But the ‘Hawks played so much cover 2 last year, I don’t really see Mays as a cover 2 safety.

Does anybody else see this?

so i’m not making the argument that he has to be the pick, i truly feel at 4 we should go offensive line, but i do think we need a good safety. and he has alot of positives that i feel are worth noting.

as far as intangibles, that’s why i chose to mention his durability and the fact he’s been a starter for such an elite program since he was a 17 year old kid.

Mays is only 20 years old, I think he’ll be 21 when it’s draft time. This isn’t a player that is complete, and to me it can’t be that set in stone that he can never improve in coverage, although I will say everything I’m reading so far, shows that he does possess ball skills and he must to be a starter for a program such as USC. He’s definitely not too small to be a college linebacker, there is a reason he’s been playing safety.

That and look at his history. His dad is a UW alum, and a former NFL player. He has good bloodlines, and from the looks of it, is very dedicated based on his success in school and athletics. I haven’t seen too many things so far negative about his character, but who knows, I could clearly be wrong.

Given his speed, and given that he played wide receiver prior to being moved to safety, could he be moved to wide receiver???

from what ive read he was pretty highly scouted as a WR coming out of highschool, said he played quarterback as well.

it’s like i give a little rundown about his history as far as what he was considered in school, and it’s a reply like

‘’ oh well that says nothing ’’

i’m not trying to say ANYTHING. but i’m putting out this information as i read it. and i find it pretty interesting, so i mean would you just rather not know anything about how he was considered as a football player when USC recruited him?

Try this scenario on for size. Bret calls it quits in NY. The Jets are left with Kellen Clemens, drafted 2nd round in 2006, and Brett Ratliff, undrafted free agent from 2007. How badly do they want another QB option? Free agent? Doubt they’ll find anything worth pursueing, and even if they do, they still need a franchise guy for the future. They still long for the good old days with Joe Namath. So, they trade up to 4 in order to get Stafford, because I think the Lions take Bradford. Not a smart move, but it’s the Lions. We get the Jets #17 and #53 and another pick or two next year. With 17 we take Knowshon Moreno or Beanie Wells and have our feature back. With our # 37 we take Eben Britton (OT, Arizona) and with #53 we take Patrick Chung (SS, Oregon).

I know, picking specific players is silly, but hey, I did say I have a dream. What’s yours?

he’s apparently a great athlete, on a tremendous defense, and that has ballooned his stock.

i still find other positives about his college career:

http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mays_taylor00.html

‘’Overall in 2006 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 62 tackles, a team-best 3 interceptions that he returned 40 yards (13.3 avg.) and 3 deflections.’’

That’s his freshman year,

and from there he has had multiple nominations for awards, now I personally don’t know the extent of big school bias in terms of award voting, surely it holds little stock in an argument regarding his talent, but it doesn’t necessarily seem like he’s been unsuccessful at his position, or in terms of what the Trojans have asked of him.

Maybe I’m wrong, to me, there is NO doubt that he is not worth the #4 pick, but I still think that Seattle needs a Safety, and under any circumstance in where Seattle were to trade down and Mays be available late in the first, I would still be intrigued and hopeful at a dedicated, durable, athletic person such as him to improve with NFL coaching.

However, I would MUCH rather have William Moore