Who is Sammie Coates?!

It has been speculated that Wheaton will be gone next year, kinda like an Emmanuel Sanders situation. There has been chatter with Coates' size and speed, that he was a borderline 1st rounder by some analysts. He has the height, speed, and quickness, all things that cannot be coached. His catching issues are fixable. In addition, HIGH CHARACTER! After reading more about him last night and this morning, I love the pick

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dgyyT

 

Yeah I agree. I posted all that about him last night in another thread. But no problem rehashing it again Will Coates ever be a Good/Great NFL player ?...I can't say. Neither can ANYONE say that either Cooper or Kevin White will be either. But as a great ambassador to the NFL and the city of Pittsburgh...I can Guarantee that with this young man. And bottom line.....as a 3rd rounder this guy WAS and IS a Value pick.

 

Tough to say for me if catching is fixable. I lean toward guys being natural hand catchers or not. But his stomach and chest has great hands, lol. Just seems like a body catcher to me. HWS are all top notch though, just like Heyward Bey. I'm all on board with the high character, I just don't think a WR was the best position to draft in the 3rd when some good defensive prospects were still there.

Xavier Cooper went after him, and yes his sweet spot would be a 3 tech in the 4-3 but the Steelers had him in for a visit and he was drafted by the 3-4 Browns. He lined up all over the def. line for Wash St from what I've seen and his motor is non-stop.

Henry Anderson also went after to the Colts. A prototype 3-4 DE. Damn good football player, plugger, but not flashy.

McBride and Kenny Bell could have been had later and either Waller or Smelter (both from Georgia Tech) are bigger like Coates and may have been available in 6-7.

Bottom line for me, I didn't care for the position choice and the player is a WR who to me struggles catching with his hands. I hope Mann can teach him to be better at that. Get out the jugs machine.

 

I agree with everything you've said here, turtle. We will see if he ever becomes comfortable catching the ball. Even if he does, I'm disappointed that we took a WR at all. I just see this as a luxury pick in the third round (for the second straight year).

 

The season before this one, remember Kelvin Benjamin led the NCAA in dropped passes at a even higher percentage then Coates ( 1 of every 3 )....and he had Winston throwing to him. He also led the NFL as a rookie in dropped passes....and yet all I heard last season was how great Benjamin was for Carolina. And he was a 1st rounder, not a 3rd rounder. And Benjamin...although tall..has none of the Physical skills that Coates has.

 

Don't get me wrong, I would love for the guy to succeed. Who wouldn't, the guy looks like he can be a monster and has some very good after the catch ability. Plus he's a Steeler now. I just would have preferred another defensive prospect.

 

The Coates pick tells me they are expecting a WR to be gone next season and if that is the case I really hope he succeeds. As for catching the ball, lets just hope the drops don't come in critical situations like the did with Limas Sweed.

 

I agree.

And comparisons to Sweed need to remember that there was far more going on with that guy than being a bad player. So while the physical similarities are there, that's about the sum of it.

 

Coates did not have problems catching the deep ball. It was stated by analysts that he dropped short route crossing patterns but on deep routes makes circus catches. Sounds like a comfort zone thing. Also didnt he have a crappy QB passing to him? Didnt his QB end up playing as a DB in a bowl game? really odd qb situation if so and a great explanation why short route passes needing speed and precision from qb might have been dropped

just spitballing here but he doesnt drop anything long so it seems odd