Dexter McCluster, where does he fit in the NFL?

[MNJHNSN]

I completely disagree that there are better WRs on the board. I'm refraining from calling out names for the sake of the draft, but IMO, Dexter McCluster can bring so much more to a team than any of them. There really is only one other person I had in mind to draft other than him but I think Dexter will translate to the NFL best. Look at what Percy Harvin brings to the table (when he doesn't have a headache), DeSean Jackson, and even Sammy Stroughter. Dexter McCluster is going to be a dangerous weapon wherever he ends up, and I pray that the Bucs get him.

Runnik your Bay area blinders are awe inspiring. I am confident that there will be at LEAST 4-5 other WR who will have a more successful career than this little little man. I hope he proves me wrong but he is TINY......... I think he will have a very limited role wherever he falls and is a late third round talent at best and may be available in the 4th. He would be a good fit with TB coming out of the 4th round.

 

[Runnik's Hambones]

You have got to be kidding me. A poor man's DeSean Jackson? Are we talking about the same DeSean that runs some of the worst routes I've ever seen? The same DeSean who only scores because he's faster than everybody (which, btw, McCluster is fast as well).

Watch film, MNJHNSN. You'll see that McCluster is the real deal. He runs crisp routes, has unbelievable vision, and can make nearly anybody miss. He does an amazing job of curling up before hits to not get hurt and his one of the most dangerous WRs in open space that I've ever seen.

Seriously, if you can find it, look up film of Dexter McCluster destroying Monte Kiffin's TN defense this year. He made them look childish.

 

[Miller]

I read he was 5'8", either way, small.

your right, not sure why I thought 5'6...he is 5'8...165!! as you said, eith way, small!! But 5'8 is much different than 5'8, but 165 man, he needs some weight, a still wind might blow him over. Good thing it wasn't too windy in Mobile.

 

[Miller]

Its all in how you use him.

Darren Sproles - 5-8 182
Dexter McCluster - 5-8 165
Napoleon Kaufmann - 5-9 185
Warrick Dunn - 5-9 187

The only difference I see in him and all these backs is he is about 15lbs lighter than they are. A true NFL weight program will put another 10-12 lbs on that frame and maintain 95% of his speed. Im not worried about the guy and I think its a great pick.

notice the BIG difference here.....everyone you named is a RB...not trying to be a WR, he'll just get lost outside. he can bring some unique things to a backfield though.

I do agree, it's ALL how you use him. Not sure he has a true position, but he is a true weapon, just have to find unique ways to use him.

 

[Miller]

You have got to be kidding me. A poor man's DeSean Jackson? Are we talking about the same DeSean that runs some of the worst routes I've ever seen? The same DeSean who only scores because he's faster than everybody (which, btw, McCluster is fast as well).

Watch film, MNJHNSN. You'll see that McCluster is the real deal. He runs crisp routes, has unbelievable vision, and can make nearly anybody miss. He does an amazing job of curling up before hits to not get hurt and his one of the most dangerous WRs in open space that I've ever seen.

Seriously, if you can find it, look up film of Dexter McCluster destroying Monte Kiffin's TN defense this year. He made them look childish.

To say he runs crisp routes is a major overstatement IMO....he is still extremely raw and developing as a WR. Kid has some nifty speed and agilty, but far from as polished as you want him to sound.

 

[Miller]

Post us some film!

No routes here....but some highlights.


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb-chWh64Dc"]YouTube- Dexter Mccluster short career Highlight Vid[/ame]

He maybe a tremendous wildcat option:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw7hsXv9MFU"]YouTube- Dexter McCluster 27 Yard TD Pass To Shay Hodge against LSU![/ame]

Good breakdown of his Tennessee game
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp3RL2s5BV0"]YouTube- Dexter McCluster vs. Tennessee[/ame]

 

[Runnik's Hambones]

Here's the thing Miller, I haven't seen Dexter run anything over 15 yards as far as routes. Most of them are 5 and ins, 10 and ins, curls... etc. When he runs those, he's one of the best route runners in all of college football.

 

[Runnik's Hambones]

Good film, Miller. His performance against TN was incredible. I was watching him closely all year but as I told all of my friends, I'm not sold until I see him play Monte. After that game though, I've wanted nothing more than to see him in a Buc's uniform.

I can't seem to find him running many routes but I'll keep searching. There's got to be some. I've been watching him for years now, ever since I played with him. I remember watching game film on him in high school, and have been glued to his career ever since.

There is one major issue with McCluster, IMO. You can use him as a RB/WR/KR, whatever you want, but you cannot count on him a blocker. His size doesn't allow for it. Other than that, I think he's a freaking monster on the field and will continue to be.

 

[Miller]

Here's the thing Miller, I haven't seen Dexter run anything over 15 yards as far as routes. Most of them are 5 and ins, 10 and ins, curls... etc. When he runs those, he's one of the best route runners in all of college football.

but that does not make him a good route runner....that makes him a guy who can be dangerous when you get him the ball in space IMO. And I don't even see him running much of what you described. What he has shown he can do consistently is run slant and flare out of the backfield. If you are breaking him down from a RB standpoint, his hands and routes are fantastic. However, when you project him to a next level WR, and throw in running routes from the outside which includes getting off the line against a jam from a 200 lb corner when he is 165, and running crisp NFL routes, I don't see how anyone can call this one of his strengths at this point in his career. For me, it if one of the weaknesses he will have to improve on if he is going to make a successful jump to a true WR at the next level.

 

[Runnik's Hambones]

but that does not make him a good route runner....that makes him a guy who can be dangerous when you get him the ball in space IMO. And I don't even see him running much of what you described. What he has shown he can do consistently is run slant and flare out of the backfield. If you are breaking him down from a RB standpoint, his hands and routes are fantastic. However, when you project him to a next level WR, and throw in running routes from the outside which includes getting off the line against a jam from a 200 lb corner when he is 165, and running crisp NFL routes, I don't see how anyone can call this one of his strengths at this point in his career. For me, it if one of the weaknesses he will have to improve on if he is going to make a successful jump to a true WR at the next level.

What I saw Dexter McCluster do, EVERYTIME he ran a route, was force separation. Especially on skinny posts. Another one of his specialties is a double move, he's so quick and has such agility that he makes people fall over when he changes direction. The reason you can't find much film on it right now is because this year they started running him from the back field. The last couple of years he's been far more strictly a WR and has done exceptionally well.

You can't think of Dexter as a far wide out, although he's been out there and again, on double moves is terribly dangerous. Most of his routes come from the slot, a lot like Wes Welker and like Percy Harvin when he was at FL. Dexter's speed and toughness has allowed him ridiculous separation from OLBs and S brought up to cover that "extra" man. The NFL is all about matchups and a team that has him will have to find ways of moving him around to force a bad one for the defense.

My point is that Dexter McCluster runs better routes than DeSean Jackson ever has at the NFL level. And the scouting reports from the Senior Bowl that I've been reading all suggest that McCluster has been a dangerous WR, catching everything thrown his way, finding ways to forcing separation, and having the balls to make plays well over the middle.

 

[Miller]

What I saw Dexter McCluster do, EVERYTIME he ran a route, was force separation. Especially on skinny posts. Another one of his specialties is a double move, he's so quick and has such agility that he makes people fall over when he changes direction. The reason you can't find much film on it right now is because this year they started running him from the back field. The last couple of years he's been far more strictly a WR and has done exceptionally well.

Guess that is just a difference in opinion on what his strength are. I see this and I see an extremely quick and agile kid who is using his natural skill and agility to get that separation, not someone who is skilled at running routes. To this point he has been able to get by on his speed and agility and will still be able to up to a certain extent. But here's the kicker, he's been doing this against College kids, now comes the question can he get that same amazing separation when he is lining up against NFL corners and safeties who have 4.4 and 4.5 speed to go along with the strength that will make it harder for he to get off of the line.

That is the differences between our breakdowns. I do not think his route running is something I would call a strength, in fact, I would throw it into the weakness/needs improvement area. Which good for him, is something he can easily do if he works at it.

Strengths: Speed, Agility, Tough for his size, gamebreaker
Weaknesses: Tiny, may struggles to get off the line, durability, route running needs improvement.

That is how I would break him down at the moment.