Prospecting: Darius Heyward-Bey

by Ed Valentine on Feb 6, 2009 7:00 AM EST in New York Giants News

Darius Heyward-Bey

University of Maryland wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey is a name that gets mentioned frequently around the many NFL Draft sites as a player our New York Giants might be interested in during the early portion of the NFL Draft.

Since SBN does not currently have a Maryland blog, I turned to fellow Maryland alum Rick Snider, a friend and long-time Washington, D.C. area sports writer, for some thoughts on Heyward-Bey.

Here is what Rick had to say.

Darius Heyward-Bey is a late first-round pick largely based on 4.2 speed. Ralph Friedgen's offense has never featured receivers so Heyward-Bey's stats aren't eye-popping, but he has Olympic sprint speed. The question is whether he can adjust to the pro game where the receiver won't be wide open so often. Can he adjust to a more physical game? He should be a second-rounder, but the NFL loves speed and Heyward-Bey has that. If Heyward-Bey flashes a big time at the NFL Combine, he could go mid-first round.

-- TheRickSniderReport.com and dcexaminer.com

As a Maryland grad, I root for Heyward-Bey. Rick knows him much better than I do, however, and it seems as though Rick has Bey, a 6-foot-3, 206-pound junior, pegged as a tools guy whose actual NFL productivity might not match up to his physical gifts.

Is anyone else thinking of Tim Carter?

Here is another take on Heyward-Bey from Football's Future.

This Week's Mock Drafts

Along with a 'prospecting' piece, I will add a summary of the latest reputable mock drafts. For now, I will do this weekly. As the draft approaches, however, the frequency of these is likely to increase. We will just see how it goes. Anyway, here are some updated Giants' mock draft choices.

Todd McShay, ESPN: Round 1 (29th), Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina; Round 2, (45th), Fila Moala, DT, USC; Round 2 (60th) Shonn Greene, RB, Iowa.
Football's Future: Round 1, James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State.
New NFL Draft: Round 1, Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech; Round 2, Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers; Round 2, Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke.
DraftTek: Round 1, Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia.
Walter Football: Round 1, James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State; Round 2, Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers; Round 2, Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati.
Yahoo! Sports, via the National Football Post: Round 1, Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia; Round 2, Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma; Round 2, Fili Moala, DT, USC

Here's a little something extra for you draftniks. It's a value chart from the National Football Post listing players by the approximate place in which they should be drafted. Good stuff.

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Comments

Sounds like a lot of work/waiting

He’s a track star turned football player, a junior and needs a lot of work.

Everyone is looking to the draft (and FA) to solve our Plaxico problem. I’d like to propose another approach. Football’s Future spoke equally as high (or more) about Manningham in last year’s draft. Mario has been in our system for a year now, why can’t he help us in his second year instead of starting over with a draft pick?

Also in his second year in the league is Micah Rucker. He signed with the GIANTS in December after being drafted by the Steeler’s. He’s 6’ 6 220 lbs with around 4.47 40 speed. Reports say he has good hands, runs good routes and can out jump DBs in a crowd to make the catch. Everthing I’ve found online on the kid is positive. Here’s some quote’s…

“(Eastern Illinois coach) Bob Spoo said nothing but unbelievable things about Micah,”

Steelers wide receiver Marvin Allen played with Rucker on the practice squad.

“We ran many routes together,” Allen said, laughing. “We were in the same boat, on the practice squad, but we had a different style. I am power and quickness,
and he was just a beast to the defensive backs. Wide receivers have a reputation
of being soft, but Micah wasn’t like that. He’s very physical and strong for a wide receiver.”

When he’s interviewed he’s all about hard work, training, never quit kind of thinking.
If anyone knows more about him, good or bad, I’d like to hear it.

I have high hopes the kid can help us NOW!

by NY17NE14 on Feb 6, 2009 8:14 AM EST reply actions

p.s. He went to Eastern Illinois

as did Mike Shannahan, Tony Romo (…gag) and others

by NY17NE14 on Feb 6, 2009 8:19 AM EST up reply actions

Sean Payton too

It's not easy being Giants fan in Philly.. but it sure is satisfying

by Hoyadestroya85 on Feb 6, 2009 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

Manningham

I still have high hopes for Manningham. He will help us, hopefully. That said, he is a smallish target (5-11, 180). Hixon, Smith and Moss are also small guys. A receiver with the size and strength to be a red zone presence would be a huge help.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 6, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

I'm hoping to see more of him too (Manningham)

Hope he gets more time on the field this year. He looked good in pre-season action.

At 6’ 6 220 I’d tell Rucker “go stand in the corner of the endzone with you hands up and I’ll throw it to you”. A few of TDs like that and other team’s DCs will be going “Oh no, here we go again, another Plaxico”
Have you heard anything about him?

by NY17NE14 on Feb 6, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions

Either way theyre gonna need another WR

If Toomer isnt back, so hopefully next years rotation would be Plax-Smith-Manningham-New Guy preferably over 6’2"

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 6, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

i sorta remember signing him...

Found this article and it seems like this guy is a great kid and has a ton of talent. I love him if he is a true option and I am sure TC and Reese will make a good assessment of his on-field talent translation.

by losangelesmets on Feb 6, 2009 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

oops

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/football/ncaa_blog/2008/04/draft_this_guy_micah_rucker.html

by losangelesmets on Feb 6, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

that's one I read too

He really seems sincere and hard working; a nice fit with our team. As for TC and Reese, I’m wondering the same thing. I hope someone out there can share some info on their thoughts of him, other than “well they signed him didn’t they?”

If they think he and/or Manningham can be the answer instead of a rookie out of the draft, then that might change how they approach the LB issue.

by NY17NE14 on Feb 6, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

On the drafts

James Laurinaitis is not a 1st rounder. There are so many LBs ahead of him. He will be a solid roll player, but we need a playmaker.

I would love to get Britt in the 2nd. That would be one of the best values in the draft.

by ryanwk628 on Feb 6, 2009 8:55 AM EST reply actions

Interesting

Because most of the early mocks have Laurinaitis not lasting anywhere near the 29th pick. So, somebody thinks he’s a player.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 6, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions

Laurinaitis

I think this guy is a little undersized, but I think he is a big time playmaker with a nose for the ball and a motor that does not quit. I can honestly say I did not see him much this year, so I reserve the right to reframe my opinion after getting blasted on here.

However, I watched him a bunch last year and all my buddies are OSU fans that think this guy has tremendous speed and heart. With the big front 4 for the GMEN next year, I think the system could handle a slightly undersized LB that had good speed and footwork.

I dont think he lasts, but if he does,I would be really surprised if we passsed him up.

by losangelesmets on Feb 6, 2009 10:11 AM EST up reply actions

ask anyone who follows the big ten other then a Buckeye

Laurinaitis could not be more overrated. The only reason he’s on the map is his ridiculous tackle numbers, which comes from friendly home scorers that give him solo tackles when he jumps on a pile, and teams running directly at him

by queler on Feb 6, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

agreed

he did not live up to the expectations this year. Not a big hitter. He does his job well in the Big 10 (very down year) but does not have the size or athletic ability to translate into an NFL stud LB worthy of a 1st rounder. Think Christian Latner, the football version.

I would take any of the LBs from USC, or the kid from Wake, Arron Curry over “little animal”

Any other season, he may be a 1st rounder, but there are too many talented LBs with higher ceilings in this years draft.

That said, Id take him in the 2nd round.

by ryanwk628 on Feb 6, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Laurinaitis

Al you have to do is look at his numbers wile playing in a system and division like Ohio State and you have to know he will be ready to start from day one. His grade s listed as 92, which is a 1st round placement. He will be able to line up at SLB and be productive until Pierce is let go after this year and slide into MLB. SLB is a top need on our roster, we can get Keny Britt at pick #45 or get Ramses Barden in later rounds if you’re worried about Plaxico. I think Micah Rucker is going to be a standout for us in 2009, so I don’t have WR as the highest need. We need help on the DL rotation and depth on the OL.

Just remember, Jerry Reese doesn’t necessarily see the draft the way us laymen do. He undoubtedly will draft the highest rated player that may or may not meet one of our purported needs and he subscribes to the “You can never have enough pass ushers” mentality. I say Laurinaitis or Sintim with #29, but that’s just my opinion.

Bleeding Blue since 1962

by sunlion333 on Feb 6, 2009 10:42 AM EST reply actions

SUNLION333 you wrote...

I think Micah Rucker is going to be a standout for us in 2009, so I don’t have WR as the highest need

We’ve been discussing him above your comment and would like to know what else you think/know about the kid and why. Thanks

by NY17NE14 on Feb 6, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions

Knowshon Moreno would be sick

Regardless of whether or not they resign Jacobs, what steal that would be, he would be a nice middle b/t Bradshaw and Jacobs and a great replacement if BJ ever gets hurt

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 6, 2009 12:57 PM EST reply actions