Panning Donnie Avery
Scouts Inc. summed up the conventional wisdom on the Rams second-round pick “This is a substantial reach in our opinion. There’s a lot to like about Avery’s speed and he’s a big-play threat whether he’s catching the ball down field, running after the catch or in the return game. However, he’s an undersized receiver who’s going to get pushed around and doesn’t appear comfortable going over the middle. Finally, he has a lot of work to do to improve his route running.”
The Rams staff believes he is sturdy enough to line up wide, but we’ll see.
Dave Richard of CBSSports.com had this take: “This pick baffles me. It’s a total shock that the Rams would pass on Devin Thomas or Limas Sweed and go with Avery instead, even over DeSean Jackson. Avery is a pure speed receiver with lacking size (5-foot-11) and weight (192 pounds). He ran a 4.4 at the Combine, and the Rams obviously see him fitting into a deep-threat route to complement the possession receiving role of Drew Bennett and the all-around role of Torry Holt. Avery will also work on special teams.”
That 4.4 came with a sore hammy, He is really a 4.3 guy, which is just what the Rams need..
(19 votes, average: 3.63 out of 5)
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Linehan - just after stepping off the short bus - says he likes Avery’s YAC. Obvious joke here - This makes me want to yack…
writing from Houston - there are a lot of Avery fans here and rightfully so but all but the biggest homers will tell you they’re shocked to see him go at 33. With all the needs that the Rams have to reach for this guy here is down right stupid. Linehan will be packed off on that short bus to special camp before the year is over.
by the way, Avery’s YAC was made up of a lot of break away bomb type runs. he’d beat a 5′8″ corner on a post and run the remaining 40 yds into the end zone. When he catches short (never over the middle) passes he can be taken down with a one arm tackle. he played in an inferior league and exploited them solely with his speed.