Chastin West

[Patler]

To quote TT. You keep the best NFL talent (sort of like drafting the BPA). Position isn't the deciding factor. Personally I keep a talented WR over Crabtree in a heartbeat. I ditch Quinn Johnson in a heartbeat and get Raji some snaps for goal line. I don't let a legitimate talent go (assuming West is a legitimate talent) because he doesn't fit my ideal roster makeup.

I doubt that even TT would say you keep the most talented players regardless of positions, because in the end you still have to field a team, and that requires different types of players, even if some are less talented.

If West is a budding all-pro; he will move someone else, or quietly retire Driver. But my whole post presupposed that West did not beat out Jennings, Driver, Jones, Nelson or Cobb. That's why I said "Would you keep him as a 6th WR over....."

If his talent is not such to be among the top 5 as a WR, how does he help the team?

[vince]

If his talent is not such to be among the top 5 as a WR, how does he help the team?

The same can be said about the 9 and 10 linemen on the roster who would rarely if ever dress. Whoever is more talented should be kept to protect the talent level in the event of injury and for the future.

[Brandon494]

Cobb seen on crutches after the game with a knee bruise. More opportunities for West to show the coaches why they should keep him.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Out of all our TE's only Finley is a legit starter.

Quarless could have a breakout year, he was just a damn rookie last year and did OK. He's looked pretty good in preseason.

[CaptainD]

The 6th WR must play well on ST. Sure West is having a nice camp at WR but he did so last year. Has West been all over on ST making tackles and or blocking ?

Reality is that we don't have the space for West.

[bobblehead]

Ryan Grant, James Starks, and Alex Greene are all better than average. I believe having them instead of B Jackson, Kuhn, and Nance will have us top 3 in offense this season.

Green is better than average? Shouldn't he play ONE NFL down before we declare him that? Grant WAS better than average, but I gotta see the 29 year old version coming off an injury before I declare him a better than average starter. Same for Starks and his 2? 100 yard games as a pro. Jackson was above average for a 3rd down back (read: backup) who didn't let anyone hit ARod clean.

Better than average implies there aren't 16 starters/backups/3rd guys better. We can't possibly judge the backups by that standard, but I can judge grant that way. He was around 8-9. Is he still? We will see.

[bobblehead]

I doubt that even TT would say you keep the most talented players regardless of positions, because in the end you still have to field a team, and that requires different types of players, even if some are less talented.

If West is a budding all-pro; he will move someone else, or quietly retire Driver. But my whole post presupposed that West did not beat out Jennings, Driver, Jones, Nelson or Cobb. That's why I said "Would you keep him as a 6th WR over....."

If his talent is not such to be among the top 5 as a WR, how does he help the team?

I am talking about starting caliber. Is he? I don't know, but if he is TT will keep him around. No one has so much talent that they MUST cut starting caliber talent, that is my point. He will be the 6, no doubt, but who is more likely to develope into starting talent, Quinn Johnson or West. If TT believes that west has REAL talent, he won't waive him. Period.

[bobblehead]

The same can be said about the 9 and 10 linemen on the roster who would rarely if ever dress. Whoever is more talented should be kept to protect the talent level in the event of injury and for the future.

What he said.

[bobblehead]

Quarless could have a breakout year, he was just a damn rookie last year and did OK. He's looked pretty good in preseason.

Hope you are right...but as of NOW, Quarless hasn't shown me that he can be a decent starter. Quarless is FAR from and legit starter at this point.

[KYPack]

Cobb seen on crutches after the game with a knee bruise. More opportunities for West to show the coaches why they should keep him.

He bruised it on the KR. Just let that kid return punts. He got hurt at UK on KR's. One of our WR's or Green can return kick-offs.

[vince]

Chastin West has been considered a possession receiver, probably due to his 4.59 combine 40 time. Both Jones and Nelson ran in the 4.5's as well. Interestingly, Desia Dunn, the CB that he ran away from on the long reception, ran a 4.45 40. That's Jennings and Cobb speed.

Chastin West has a bigger body than any of the other receivers, runs good routes, has good hands, makes athletic catches, has some juke, and is faster than advertised. The final cuts are going to be tough, and he might not make it, but he's making a good case to stick.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Chastin West has been considered a possession receiver, probably due to his 4.59 combine 40 time. Both Jones and Nelson ran in the 4.5's as well. Interestingly, Desia Dunn, the CB that he ran away from on the long reception, ran a 4.45 40. That's Jennings and Cobb speed.

Chastin West has a bigger body than any of the other receivers, runs good routes, has good hands, makes athletic catches, has some juke, and is faster than advertised. The final cuts are going to be tough, and he might not make it, but he's making a good case to stick.

I actually felt like the corner was faster and was catching him, but for some reason: 1) he slowed up (stamina?), and 2) he chose not to dive to make the tackle.

West did run 4.59. He actually was slower in his Pro Day... running in the 4.6s. Nelson ran 4.51. Jones ran 4.54. That almost tenth of a second is not insignificant. That's about the same difference between Jennings to Nelson and Cobb to Jones. Nelson actually runs closer to Cobb than West. Of course, the kid might have improved. I haven't seen him in practices, but the kid will have to do it for more than one or two plays against backup competition in one preseason game. If he finishes out this preseason strong, he may have a chance. Remember when Travis Jervey dominated a preseason game? Reports also had him impressing in preseason. Turns out the kid wasn't very good--although he was a good special teams player.

[vince]

I haven't seen him in practices, but the kid will have to do it for more than one or two plays against backup competition in one preseason game. If he finishes out this preseason strong, he may have a chance. Remember when Travis Jervey dominated a preseason game? Reports also had him impressing in preseason. Turns out the kid wasn't very good--although he was a good special teams player.

For the eleventh time now, he has been. Stop with the "people are going gaga over one catch" nonsense. He's been making plays and demonstrating his skills on a regular basis since last year. He's merely backing people's testimony up in his opportunities in the game and showing that the lights don't appear to be too bright for him.

In terms of perspective, just because someone talks a kid up doesn't mean they think he's going to be Jerry Rice or even Greg Jennings. He has a chance to make an NFL roster and go from there - from out of nowhere. If he's like Jervey and makes a roster for a few years, that'll be a great thing for an undrafted guy mired at the bottom of the deepest receiver roster in the league. Jervey was a 5th round pick who was given every opportunity to make the team. West was undrafted and has every reason to be cut. He's making about the best case he can to beat the odds and make an NFL team the hard way. Not sure about what interests you or others, but those are the guys that get my attention at this point in the season.

[Harlan Huckleby]

ah, people are going gaga over one catch

[vince]

OK, so that was an exaggeration. Blow me. Wait...don't.

Let's just say I'm pulling for Chastin West. Probably won't make the team but he has a chance to stick with someone. That's a major accomplishment.