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No introduction needed for this match up. Personally, when these two teams are concerned I have no idea why "hype" videos are made.
Alabama's Amari Cooper is the prospect to watch. As the top-rated receiver, the odds of him ending up in Baltimore are slim to none, but I've seen crazier things happen. Cooper is a great receiver. However, if he were ranked in last year's class, he would be the fourth receiver taken, behind Odell Beckham.
Where Cooper stands out is in his separation skills. Weather at the top of the route, getting the extra step to separate to breaking his man down at the line of scrimmage, Cooper is an advanced route runner. The issue is that besides that skill, he isn't truly great in one specific area. He has good speed, and good jump ball skills but the latter often gets hampered by his average hands and his average size, at 6-1, 210 lbs.
Cooper will probably be drafted too high, as I see him as a mid first round player but since he's presently the top receiver in the draft, the top ten is most likely.
Alabama features another interesting prospect. Running back T.J Yeldon will get a chance to shine on the big stage. Yeldon is intriguing because of the fit he would provide in the zone scheme.
He is the exact opposite of Bernard Pierce, extremely light on his feet and able to make multiple cuts in the hole, changing directions with ease. He has good vision, as Alabama has increased it's use of the zone scheme after Eddie Lacy's departure.
Yeldon does have flaws. While his first step is quick, his breakaway speed is lacking, and when running through the hole, he runs too upright. He also has struggled with fumbles but mostly in past years. Yeldon has been underused in college and will likely be a better pro.Walterfooball has reported executives rating him as a late first-early second round draft pick.
On the other sideline, wide receiver Sammie Coates is the prospect to watch. If Coates fulfills his full potential, he will be better than Cooper.
Physically, he is the most gifted wide out in the class and maybe the most gifted athlete overall. Standing at a long 6-2, his frame is chiseled up, without an once of body fat. His wingspan is freakish. I would not be surprised if he was the fastest receiver at the combine, as he could clock in the 4.2 range.To go along with his deep speed is what Mark Jackson would call grown man strength. It is clearly evident in the video shown below.
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While smashing through all the athleticism boxes, Coates is underdeveloped. I blame Gus Mahlzan's run heavy, "gimmicky" approach for that. He rounds off his routes, and his hands are below average. A second round gamble, however, would be worth it.