The [Official] Draft TAYLOR MAYS @ 21 thread

[|BlackJesus|]

[center][i]time to reunite Rivers, Rey & Mays on our all-decade USC defense ...[/i][/center]


[center][size="5"][color="#8B0000"][font="Book Antiqua"]"He's the biggest, fastest, strongest guy at the position you've ever seen."[/font][/size] [b][font="Palatino Linotype"]~ Pete Carroll[/font][/b][/color]



[size="5"][u]Highlights[/u][/size]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJU64wUPxEA[/media]
[b]BJ: I like how he lays mother fuckers out like Roy Williams (potential mentor?)[/b]



[img]http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/12/05/maualuga.jpg[/img][img]http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID5385/images/resized_14262_332325180091_587355091_10019455_6299497_n_2_.jpg[/img]


[size="7"][b]6'3

230 lbs

4.19 (low 40)

Vert: 41"

Bench: 24 reps[/b][/size]

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=65827&draftyear=2010&genpos=FS



[size="5"][u]ESPN Interview/Photoshoot[/u][/size]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az0yNJTWzAM[/media]
[b]BJ: Gym rat, I like the no video games distractions etc[/b]



[img]http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0908/cfb.under.the.radar.heisman.candidates/images/taylor-mays.jpg[/img]



[size="5"][u]Fox Sports = Blowing guys up[/u][/size]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQVzOSyKHcA[/media]



[img]http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/169641/taylormays.jpg[/img]



[size="5"][u]Jahvid Best = 4.3 (40) Watch MAYS ![/u][/size]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26rLxHZpiKQ[/media]



[img]http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens4411072module32566322photo_1241928391TaylorMaysRayMaualuga.jpg[/img]

[color="#FF8C00"][b][size="6"]... Time to reunite #2 & # 58

with # 55[/size][/b][/color]

[img]http://images.athlonsports.com/d/8308-2/Rivers55.jpg[/img][/center]

[|BlackJesus|]

[center][img]http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/62/622684.jpg[/img]

[size="5"][b]... Hines Ward's worst nightmare[/b][/size][/center]

[JC]

Jesus. He is huge.

I think he is the ultimate biggest risk in the draft. He could be a phenom in 4 years, or could be playing special teams in Detroit.

[Rick]

BlackJesus, I want someone with an ATTITUDE. I don't know a lot about Taylor Mays. Does he have an ATTITUDE?

[oldschooler]

Todd McDouche is for drafting him. Smell Kiper isn't.

[oldschooler]

Anyway, Mays is at the top of my wish list.

I would love to see the player Zimmer could turn him into on our Defense.

[|BlackJesus|]

[b]I think because of Mays speed and size, you could even play him at OLB and go with an all USC LB corp ...


Mays --- Rey --- Rivers [/b]

[|BlackJesus|]

[center][img]http://www.trojanwire.com/images/taylor-mays.jpg[/img][/center]

[b]Mays will have to make it past the [color="#483D8B"]Seattle Semenhawks[/color] and his old coach with the No. 6 and No. 14 overall picks though


... might be time to trade up to No 13 if he's there [/b]

[|BlackJesus|]

[quote][u][b][size="5"]USC safety Mays ‘Taylor’ made for Bengals defense[/size]
By Carlos "Big C" Holmes
Dayton Daily News
March 17, 2010[/b][/u]


The Cincinnati Bengals have the 21st overall pick in April’s NFL draft and could use the selection on University of Southern California safety Taylor Mays. The Bengals have a real need at strong safety behind starter Roy Williams and will likely address the position via the draft.

There is no question Williams still has the ability and desire to play at a high level, but the frequent forearm injuries remain a concern. Williams has missed 25 games over the last two seasons due to the injury. An insurance policy is more than necessary.

Although Mays would be a perfect fit for the Bengals’ aggressive and attacking defense, he must first become available. After a show-stopping performance at the Scouting Combine last month, there are no guarantees he will be there when the Bengals make their selection.

Mays will have to make it past the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 6 and No. 14 overall picks for that to happen. The team is in the market for a safety since releasing Deon Grant. I think this pick is a no-brainer. No one knows Mays better than Seahawks new head coach Pete Carroll, who coached him for four seasons at USC. Not to mention his former position coach Ken Norton Jr., who also joined the coaching staff this offseason.

Should Mays slip past Seattle, he could be there for the Bengals at No. 21.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Mays would flourish in Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s defense. Zimmer loves to bring the strong safety down in the box to support the run or blitz the passer, which is a strength of Mays. Who better to learn Zimmer’s defense from than Williams, who would act as a mentor.

Mays’ freakish athleticism at safety reminds me a lot of Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis coming out of Georgia in 2005. Davis split time between safety and linebacker his rookie season before making a permanent switch to outside linebacker a year later.

Mays’ questionable instincts and poor change-of-direction skills in coverage could be headed down the same path. The player tends to take bad angles in coverage and would rather make a big hit than make a play on the ball. Mays will need to be more consistent making plays on the ball in the pros. Presentation may be something else to improve on.

According to sources, Mays could see his stock dip on draft day if Seattle fails to pull the trigger. I’m told that Mays did not interview well with some teams at the Senior Bowl and combine. It was also stated that the player came across as arrogant and with an over-inflated ego.

Mays is a physically gifted and talented athlete. I believe the good far out-weighs the negatives. I think the Bengals will overlook Mays’ weaknesses and make him their selection. [/quote]

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/big_c_nfl_blitz/entries/2010/03/17/usc_safety_mays_taylor_made_fo.html

[akiliMVP]

I think Mays will have to be a strong safety or outside linebacker in the NFL. He is a liability in coverage and not a playmaker. I would argue free safety is a bigger need too.

I don't like Mays as a prospect but he does have potential. If Iupait, Earl Thomas, DeMaryius Thomas, Kindle and Graham are gone, I would be OK with the pick. Certainly better than a tight end, defensive tackle or corner some crazy fools are mocking to us.

[Bengals1181]

well there goes that chance.

[Vol_Bengal]

If top available talent for our need positions are gone then I'd be fine if he's there at 21...

I'm not a huge fan as he'll either be a strong safety or eventually OLB... his coverage "awareness" and skills suck.

And, we damn sure better not trade up ahead of 14 to take Taylor Mays... if we want to trade up to get a safety - go get the best one.

The one that can play coverage, play the run, can go play nickel corner if you need it... Berry...

But, that isn't going to happen anyway. We'll stay put at 21... maybe even drop back a couple spots (depending on what is there at the time we pick).

[#22]

If he passes by Seattle twice, is he really someone we want? Who knows him better than his old head coach?

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='#22' date='19 March 2010 - 11:37 AM' timestamp='1269013038' post='871683']
If he passes by Seattle twice, is he really someone we want? Who knows him better than his old head coach?
[/quote]


I'm not sure that's the best gauge. Seattle's a trainwreck. Carroll needs to do what's best for his team, not just draft a guy because he used to coach him.

[Jason]

[quote name='Bengals1181' date='19 March 2010 - 11:28 AM' timestamp='1269016099' post='871699']
I'm not sure that's the best gauge. [b]Seattle's a trainwreck[/b]. Carroll needs to do what's best for his team, not just draft a guy because he used to coach him.
[/quote]

T.J.

[|BlackJesus|]

[quote name='#22' date='19 March 2010 - 11:37 AM' timestamp='1269013038' post='871683']
If he passes by Seattle twice, is he really someone we want? Who knows him better than his old head coach?
[/quote]
[b]Carroll may like him, but not have him that high on the draft board.

I think he will be the best value at 21 though. [/b]

[joshua]

I didn't know Mays could do a backflip.

[Jamie_B]

[quote name='joshua' date='20 March 2010 - 04:51 AM' timestamp='1269075077' post='871819']
I didn't know Mays could do a backflip.
[/quote]

[dex]

[quote name='BlackJesus' date='20 March 2010 - 02:46 AM' timestamp='1269071185' post='871818']
[b]Carroll may like him, but not have him that high on the draft board.

I think he will be the best value at 21 though. [/b]
[/quote]
This has become a pass happy league. I want a guy at 21 who can help us be a better passing team or help defend the pass. That means a receiver, a pass rusher or a pass defender. That's why I would much prefer Earl Thomas, even though he isn't as big or quite as fast as Mays. Thomas has instincts that are off the charts, and he's very young for a draftee and only figures to get better. Maybe much better.

[Jason]

[quote name='dex' date='20 March 2010 - 03:05 PM' timestamp='1269115528' post='871869']
This has become a pass happy league. I want a guy at 21 who can help us be a better passing team or help defend the pass. That means a receiver, a pass rusher or a pass defender. That's why I would much prefer Earl Thomas, even though he isn't as big or quite as fast as Mays. Thomas has instincts that are off the charts, and he's very young for a draftee and only figures to get better. Maybe much better.
[/quote]

I'd love ET to, but I doubt he will be there.

[SocalBengalEd]

Earl Thomas, Brandon Graham and Jermain Gresham in that order please. I dont like Mays

[dex]

[quote name='Jason' date='20 March 2010 - 03:35 PM' timestamp='1269117311' post='871873']
I'd love ET to, but I doubt he will be there.
[/quote]
There are about 30 guys that everybody says will be taken in the first 20 picks. Obviously some of them will still be there. Most of the teams in desperate need of a safety also have pressing needs everywhere. There's going to be a run of beefy big guys going early on both sides of the ball, I think, so Thomas is a guy who might drop.

[TonyAPBTx]

Unless the coaches think Mays will start this year on defense I don't think he should be the pick.

If they think he can, then lets do it.

Otherwise, I would like to see a starter or role player on offense as opposed to an occasional player on defense. This team needs offense bad.

[Bengals1181]

[quote name='dex' date='20 March 2010 - 07:42 PM' timestamp='1269128532' post='871888']
There are about 30 guys that everybody says will be taken in the first 20 picks. Obviously some of them will still be there. Most of the teams in desperate need of a safety also have pressing needs everywhere. There's going to be a run of beefy big guys going early on both sides of the ball, I think, so Thomas is a guy who might drop.
[/quote]


I had made a list of guys who I was confident would be gone while doing happyrid's contest last month. This is what I had come up with:

Suh
McCoy
Berry
Bryant
McClain
Haden
Spiller
Okung
Davis
Bulaga
Bradford
Morgan
Trent Williams
Clausen
Pierre-Paul
Kyle Wilson
Dan williams
Earl Thomas


18 guys in all.

[akiliMVP]

[quote name='Bengals1181' date='21 March 2010 - 09:21 AM' timestamp='1269177672' post='871923']
I had made a list of guys who I was confident would be gone while doing happyrid's contest last month. This is what I had come up with:

Suh
McCoy
Berry
Bryant
McClain
Haden
Spiller
Okung
Davis
Bulaga
Bradford
Morgan
Trent Williams
Clausen
Pierre-Paul
Kyle Wilson
Dan williams
Earl Thomas


18 guys in all.
[/quote]
I'd take off Kyle Wilson and maybe add Bruce Campbell (you know Al Davis got his first erection in 20 years watching him work out) and that looks about as accurate as one can be right now.

Really the only guys I can say I'm very certain won't be there at 21 are:
1. Suh
2. McCoy
3. Bradford
4. Berry
5. Clausen
6. Okung
7. Trent Williams
8. Dez Bryant
9. Haden
10. Pierre-Paul
11. Morgan
12. McClain
13. Anthony Davis

Not very confident but I think there is a good chance these guys are gone:
14. Kindle
15. Earl Thomas
16. Campbell
17. Spiller
18. Weatherspoon
19. Graham