Monday, April 27, 2009

Redskins Sixth and Final Pick: Receiver Marko Mitchell


I would like to see this one work out

Closing out the draft the Redskins used their final pick, the second of their two seventh rounders, to select University of Nevada receiver Marko Mitchell. Stuck with three so far stinkers from last year's draft Washington once again cast aside needs along the offensive line in favor of bringing in someone that a Redskins fan might hope could catch the damn ball.

From NFL.com's pre draft profile:

Height: six feet four inches
Weight: 218 pounds

Pros: frame fits mold of current large receiver type, long arms and big hands, good straight line downfield speed, good body control and can catch the ball over either shoulder, good field awareness for sidelines and coverage, sticky hands, good vertical jump, good in run blocking against typically smaller cornerbacks.

Cons: concerns about whether his production was a by product of the Nevada offense, lacks breakaway speed, lacking burst to separate from tight coverage, needs to bulk up frame to withstand NFL punishment, hands and leap do not always come together in red zone, needs to be more phyiscal when challenging for the ball.

Curly R quick take: looks to me like Washington took a mulligan and re drafted Malcolm Kelly, Marko is tall with room to bulk up and can move downfield, methinks Malcolm better get it together or he may find himself as the fifth receiver. Looking beyond his build to his production you may wonder how he fell into the seventh round, 61 catches in 2008 for over 1100 yards. Do not be fooled by stories of Nevada's pistol offense generating these numbers, that offense is not as gadgety as you might think. Marko is a stretcher, a downfield receiver and his size should create problems for cornerbacks.

Although I remain disappointed the Redskins never chose to address the offensive line in this draft, adding this player might make sense, he fits the type of pass catcher coach Jim Zorn wanted last season from the draft and it gives the team one more chance to find that elusive complement to receiver Santana Moss that it feels like the team has been searching for since Santana arrived in 2005.



University of Nevada receiver Marko Mitchell: AP photo from here.

0 comments: