Taylor Mays

[Brandon494]

Here is a guy that cost himself millions of dollars by not coming out as a junior. He was a can't miss prospect with great size, speed, and could cover. Then his senior year rolled around, he didn't have the pieces around him and his lack of instincts and football ability was glaring. Everyone gets a hard on for a safety that is over 6-2, 220 pounds that can run, butt the reality is that these guys weren't athletic enough or smart enough to play cornerback or linebacker. Guys that play safety that are this size are tweeners that lack something.

Except for Sean Taylor, sucks his life was taken so soon.

[Lurker64]

I wonder if a good coaching staff could beef him up and turn him into a linebacker.

He would project well as an LB actually, if you could teach him how to tackle. He'd still be a pretty linear athlete though. His hips are stiff even for an LB.

[Patler]

He would project well as an LB actually, if you could teach him how to tackle. He'd still be a pretty linear athlete though. His hips are stiff even for an LB.

I don't know. If you take him away from CBs and other safeties; and don't line him up against WRs; I think he looks a lot different, comparatively. Many linebackers look stiff compared to the DBs behind them. I'm not expecting pro bowl play, but maybe at least serviceable. Tackling is an issue. He hit people, and hit them hard; but mostly without technique.

[Lurker64]

I don't know. If you take him away from CBs and other safeties; and don't line him up against WRs; I think he looks a lot different, comparatively. Many linebackers look stiff compared to the DBs behind them. I'm not expecting pro bowl play, but maybe at least serviceable. Tackling is an issue. He hit people, and hit them hard; but mostly without technique.

The position switch is just too much of a project at this point in his career, but I would be intrigued if, in an alternate history, Pete Carroll would have decided he'd make a better LB than a Safety. At this point we're talking about a 2-3 year project, and what would be the point of that? His tackling technique is some of the worst I've seen. For a while in his senior season at USC he behaved as though he was only allowed to tackle with his elbows.

[rbaloha1]

The position switch is just too much of a project at this point in his career, but I would be intrigued if, in an alternate history, Pete Carroll would have decided he'd make a better LB than a Safety. At this point we're talking about a 2-3 year project, and what would be the point of that? His tackling technique is some of the worst I've seen. For a while in his senior season at USC he behaved as though he was only allowed to tackle with his elbows.

"Poor tackling technique" was due to playing with injuries. Should not have been playing but needed to show NFL toughness. Yes -- hips are too stiff to change direction with NFL skill players.

TM needs to be closer to the line of scrimmage in the NFL. Maybe a linebacker/safety on third down. Again worth low level picks and/or backup secondary player.

[K-town]

Wasn't there a safety who came out some years back, maybe drafted by the Panthers (Thomas Davis?), who was converted to linebacker? How'd that turn out? I seem to remember it was initially successful. Or possibly, my rapidly advancing senility has overtaken me.

[sharpe1027]

Bringing him in would not get me excited, tight hips and all.

There are reasons the 49ers don't want him anymore. Doesn't mean that he is doomed to fail, but it is a very bad sign. If he could fill a position of major concern, he would be worth considering. As it is, I don't see it as worth the effort.

[smuggler]

yeah, Thomas Davis was a success story in that vein, but he's had injury issues.

[Deputy Nutz]

Wasn't there a safety who came out some years back, maybe drafted by the Panthers (Thomas Davis?), who was converted to linebacker? How'd that turn out? I seem to remember it was initially successful. Or possibly, my rapidly advancing senility has overtaken me.

He was supposed to be the next big thing at safety, but he had to be moved to the weakside after he was drafted. His coverage in space wasn't good enough for the nifffle.

[LP]

Wasn't there a safety who came out some years back, maybe drafted by the Panthers (Thomas Davis?), who was converted to linebacker? How'd that turn out? I seem to remember it was initially successful. Or possibly, my rapidly advancing senility has overtaken me.

I may be wrong, but wasn't Brian Urlacher a safety in college? He's turned into an OK player despite being a Chicago Douchebear.

[rbaloha1]

I may be wrong, but wasn't Brian Urlacher a safety in college? He's turned into an OK player despite being a Chicago Douchebear.

Yes -- good recall. Returned kicks as well. TM is a project that maybe needs to time to heal.

[gbgary]

this should be ultimate proof that he sucks and wasn't worth our draft pick

i guess so. i remember lots of folks were hot for this guy.