TJ Graham senior bowl Tidbits

[ddaryl]

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/35885/scouts-inc-on-nc-states-t-j-graham


ESPN's Scouts Inc. crew posted some quick thoughts on former NC State receiver T.J. Graham (http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/381532/tj-graham) from Day 3 of the Senior Bowl (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/blog/_/name/nfl_draft/id/7502752/2012-nfl-draft-size-continues-hurt-russell-wilson-senior-bowl):
N.C. State's T.J. Graham has some speed, suddenness and explosion to his game, but he has to do a better job tracking the ball. Graham was late getting his head around to locate a deep ball at one point, though he showed some feel for zone coverage and caught a nice ball on a seam route during 7-on-7s. He has some added value as a return man, where he is smooth changing directions and can hit creases with his explosiveness.

Graham had a much-improved season as a receiver for NC State in 2011, and the Pack will definitely miss him as a kick returner. He was No. 2 in the ACC in punt return average and No. 4 in kick returns. He was No. 3 in the league in all-purpose yards.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1043525-2012-nfl-mock-draft-most-overlooked-senior-bowl-sensations/page/6



Before the Senior Bowl, no one was talking about T.J. Graham.
During the Senior Bowl, everyone was talking about T.J. Graham.
Graham weighed in at only 182 pounds but looked explosive. The NC State wideout stretched the field vertically and made sharp cuts underneath.
A week ago, not many would have projected Graham to be drafted. Now, he is being discussed as a third-round pick.



http://www.backingthepack.com/2012/1/23/2729057/audie-cole-and-t-j-graham-off-to-good-start-at-senior-bowl




NC State WR TJ Graham has real impressive speed and runs better routes then first anticipated. 5'11 183lbs. Could turn into a nice slot guy
— NFL Draft Insider (@NFLDraftInsider) January 23, 2012 (https://twitter.com/NFLDraftInsider/status/161571824151445504)

TJ Graham continues to impress. Made a nice catch in traffic, running good routes. Can tell he's got 4.4 or faster speed.
— Thomas Melton (@TMeltonScouting) January 23, 2012 (https://twitter.com/TMeltonScouting/status/161565883226005504)

http://tommeltonscouting.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/senior-bowl-preview-offense/


T.J. Graham, WR, North Carolina State: T.J. Graham is a guy that really caught my eye as a sleeper after I saw him play in NC State’s bowl game. He had a huge game, but he was productive this season, has great speed and flashed the ability to run through arm tackles despite his size. He’s a good receiver and a good return man, and if he has a consistent week catching the ball and running routes I think he will definitely start to open some eyes and move up draft boards.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/at-senior-bowl-a-wide-receiver-graduate-seminar/



T.J. Graham, N.C. State: Graham was a pleasant surprise in the first practice. A track athlete who made the consistent effort to improve his hands technique as a pass catcher between his junior and senior seasons, Graham quietly had a good day. He is smooth into his breaks and makes sharp changes of direction on hooks and in-cuts. Although he had some routes where he leaned back a little into his breaks, he consistently attacked the ball after his break in the way that Brian Quick didn’t.
High-thrown passes are not a problem for the 5-11, 182-pound wideout, and he doesn’t hear footsteps. He does need to get his head around quicker and spot the ball. When a receiver is late to see the ball, it leads to drops downfield. Graham is the type of track athlete at receiver that the Baltimore Ravens recently had a tendency to select during the first four rounds of the draft.


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1048034-2012-senior-bowl-performance-reviews-wide-receivers-and-tight-ends




If there was another player at the Senior Bowl whose speed rivaled that of Chris Rainey, that player would be North Carolina State’s T.J. Graham. Graham also made a big impression this week. Graham’s best asset is his ability to use his speed as a kickoff and punt returner, and he did very well in those aspects this week.
Graham also did a good job beating opposing defensive backs with his speed and ran crisp routes. Graham also showed his ability to make a tough catch on game day. On a broken play in which quarterback Russell Wilson had to pick up a snap off the ground, Graham was able to break off his route, turn back and lay out for a short throw to make an impressive catch.



Graham is one of the fastest players in the 2012 NFL draft (http://bleacherreport.com/2012-nfl-draft), and he showed this week that he carries considerable promise as a kick returner and slot receiver. Graham may have solidified himself as a sixth-round draft pick.


http://blogs.ourlads.com/2012/03/01/wide-receiver-film-notes-senior-bowl/


The Senior Bowl: TJ Graham (North Carolina State) – 5113, 182. Reminds us of a faster and quicker Jerricho Cotchery. Catches the ball and has a sudden upfield burst. Quick in and out of routes. Slippery with an effective stiff arm. Top level return specialist who is developing into a receiver. Dangerous in space. Has big play capability


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tony_pauline/01/23/senior.bowl.practice.monday/index.html


TJ Graham (WR/North Carolina State) a late addition to the game, has also looked good. He's made several difficult receptions and has run crisp, quick routes.




http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/1/23/2728468/2012-senior-bowl-practice-report-kellen-moore-kirk-cousins


An under the radar receiver to watch is NC State's T.J. Graham (http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/39107/t-j-graham), who had a nice consistent day of practice and show cased his ability to make smooth, quick cuts to get open.



pretty consistent reports about the kid. He's not your #1 WR, he's a speedy field stretcher, return man

[Night Train]

Awesome. Can't wait to see him in camp. Thanks for posting this.

[Skooby]

We reached but like I said before, anyone of these guys in any round could be the one.

[ddaryl]

This is a guy who many teams would of gambled on because he can out run most everyone, and he doubles as a return man.

Lots of teams in this league would of loved to up their return capabilities while adding a speedy field stretching WR. I don't think CJ would of made it to the 4th rd

[ParanoidAndroid]

He looks like he'll be our return man right away and has a decent chance to be a #3 receiver. What he is not, is a #2 which is what all of us wanted and the Bills probably still need. We can keep going back to Easley but he's obviously cursed.

[ddaryl]

He looks like he'll be our return man right away and has a decent chance to be a #3 receiver. What he is not, is a #2 which is what all of us wanted and the Bills probably still need. We can keep going back to Easley but he's obviously cursed.

Nelson was decent last year, and he'll improve. Easley is the wild card.

Nelson's a 3rd year WR this year. He had 61 catches last season, which is pretty decent #2 WR production. Which is why Nix and Gailey didn't go for a #2 WR, and went for a better version of Roscoe Parrish.

Nelsons 61 catches last year is what the Bills want from their #2, and when yo compare that to Evans 37 catches in 2010 you can see why they let Evans go. Evans didn't fit their needs at #2 or #1 WR, and would of been too expensive and unhappy in the #3 field stretching roll.. Nelson and Johnson last year combined for 137 catches.


a field stretcher, and improved OT play (allowing us to have an extra second for WR's to get open) will force teams to not play us so tight and open up our passing game, and I imagine this is exactly what Nix and Chan had in mind and why they wanted to ensure they got TJ for the cost of a late 7th rd pick.


Grahams speed and his improvement with his hands over his college carer really stood out, he made great impressions at the senior bowl.

Personally fans need ot sit back and realize the Bills never intended to draft a #2 WR they like Nelson, and are hoping Easley can return. Nope Chan WANTED a speed WR for his offense.

[Night Train]

He's a scouts pick..and all the players picked today will have an area scout that loves the guy for his so-called upside/hidden ability which other teams don't see.

We seem to do better than most in rounds 4-7. Can't wait until noon. I've really enjoyed this draft.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Nelson was decent last year, and he'll improve. Easley is the wild card.

Nelson's a 3rd year WR this year. He had 61 catches last season, which is pretty decent #2 WR production. Which is why Nix and Gailey didn't go for a #2 WR, and went for a better version of Roscoe Parrish.


a field stretcher, and improved OT play will force teams to not play us so tight and open up our passing game, and I imagine this is exactly what Nix and Chan had in mind and why they wanted to ensure they got CJ for the cost of a late 7th rd pick.


Grahams speed and his improvement with his hands over his college carer really stood out, he made great impressions at the senior bowl.

Personally fans need ot sit back and realize the Bills never intended to draft a #2 WR they like Nelson, and are hoping Easley can return. Nope Chan WANTED a speed WR for his offense.

:cheers:

[ghz in pittsburgh]

I think this pick has Doug Whaley's Steelers Way imprint firmly in place.

For years, the Steelers scout small school program like everyone else, but they put extra emphysis on these guys at senior bowl, to see how these guys stack up against the big school kids. They had a lot of success, but also some failures, most recent being a 2nd round CB several years ago.

I don't like these gambles because of the risk. In pro sports, they say the biggest unknown is money because money changes people. The second is stage. These small school kids are used to small stage. Just like actors/actress. Millions kids are doing fine at high school, even college stage, very few can attain the same success at the big screen. So I prefer Nix's approach of going by films.

As far as the trade up to get him. Consider who's in Jacksonville that knows intimately how Steelers way of scouting small school prospects, as well as a reputation of liking guys like Roscoe.

[mayotm]

I think this pick has Doug Whaley's Steelers Way imprint firmly in place.

For years, the Steelers scout small school program like everyone else, but they put extra emphysis on these guys at senior bowl, to see how these guys stack up against the big school kids. They had a lot of success, but also some failures, most recent being a 2nd round CB several years ago.

I don't like these gambles because of the risk. In pro sports, they say the biggest unknown is money because money changes people. The second is stage. These small school kids are used to small stage. Just like actors/actress. Millions kids are doing fine at high school, even college stage, very few can attain the same success at the big screen. So I prefer Nix's approach of going by films.

As far as the trade up to get him. Consider who's in Jacksonville that knows intimately how Steelers way of scouting small school prospects, as well as a reputation of liking guys like Roscoe.Not really following your "small school" logic in reference to Graham. He played at NC State which isn't a small school. The ACC isn't as solid as some of the other BCS conferences, but still a major conference.