Stacy Coley was a steal too man
No kidding. I mentioned Coley several times early in the draft process, specifically when he was slated to play in that East-West Shrine Game or whatever it was.
Coley was a gliding superstar as a freshman with the Canes. Receiving and returns. He reminded me of a poor man's John Stallworth and I all but conceded he'd be gone as a first round pick after three years. That was also the consensus on Canes forums. Then I can't really figure out what happened the next couple of years. He always showed up huge against Florida State since there was still some bitterness there on the Tallahassee end. The Seminoles assumed they had him signed. Jimbo Fisher was absolutely stunned when Coley switched the Miami at the last minute. So Coley no doubt heard the digs against him when Florida State was winning or contending for titles while the program he chose was doing nothing except suffering through coaching controversy. He starred against Florida State but until some improvement his senior year he never resembled that freshman form again.
I always believe in concealed talent when available at bargain rate. This was a good example. There were not major injury concerns or off field problems. Just the opposite. He's always reported as a great kid and quite humble. Coley was fast at the combine but not the touted 4.3 stuff so his opportunity to reassert himself didn't happen.
Anyway, it's another example of one of my main themes -- major college later round sleepers instead of wasting time with mid level programs or especially the smaller schools. That may feel more satisfying when it clicks, like you've outsmarted the world, but who gives a damn? Too much burden is not sustainable. In the long run that approach is sacrificing margin for error instead of logically cheating to add a few percent to your likelihood. I'm hardly surprised Miami found a later gem from LSU. Gee, what a shock. That team always looks like the most talented team in the country man to man, just some rawness and undisciplined qualities. The places to look are schools that have been near the top of the recruiting rankings year after year but it hasn't fully translated to the won/loss record. Recent examples are LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M, Texas and Miami. I would always concentrate there. No matter what it looks like subjectively, it will probably turn out better.
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Otherwise, I wasn't posting here at the time but Charles Harris was a major downer. It felt like a pick designed to remain in the middle of the pack. I posted that theme on some YouTube video comments and was attacked by Dolphin fans. Big deal.
I wanted TJ Watt with that pick. I also would have been happy with Kevin King. Mostly I had rooted for O.J. Howard to somehow slip to our slot but that seemed destined to be a tease.
Looking at other recent posts I think you guys are overly down on C.J. Beathard. I liked him as a 6th or 7th round flyer. I think I posted that here months before the draft. Good basic pro backup. I was beyond shocked where he was drafted.
I have a friend from Las Vegas who is a 49ers fan and has been throwing out the term "franchise quarterback." I thought he was kidding. But then I checked the 49ers boards and that phrase has been attached to Beathard repeatedly. It's nuts. He has low upside. Apparently John Lynch used the term or something similar and the fan base got carried away.