Rod Woodson mic'd up at 49ers OTAs.. thoughts on Taylor Mays

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Mays was a fraud in college, and so far has been a fraud in the NFL. Bad angles, an inability to play well in coverage, and poor instincts override his physical attributes.

Good coaching cannot correct bad instincts. Either you have it, or not.

Should have learned from Senior Bowl week, when he struggled so badly that scouts thought he may have to switch to linebacker at the next level.

Yethe had a good game and came away with a int...

Having coached against Mays several times, Harbaugh is going to have his opinion. We should know it immediately in camp by what string Mays is placed on, if camp ever happens.

Keep in mind that Mays is a Baalke second round choice. Does it speak well for Baalke's drafting decisions?

Originally posted by Paul_Hofer:
Having coached against Mays several times, Harbaugh is going to have his opinion. We should know it immediately in camp by what string Mays is placed on, if camp ever happens.

Very true

Dude was a rookie last year. Safety is not a position that you can just jump in and be good at, unless you are Eric Berry. Goldson took 2 years to learn his position before he started. Mays is gonna be a beast, he just needs time.


P.S HE SCORED A TD IN HIS 1ST GAME!!

Dunno why peeps are so against him. He was a second round pick, not a top 10 pick. He was selected because he had high potential. If he doesn't make it, so be it...it was worth the risk in the second round.

He is physically gifted and he is willing to work his a$$ off. Give the guy a chance.

Originally posted by Marvin49:
Dunno why peeps are so against him. He was a second round pick, not a top 10 pick. He was selected because he had high potential. If he doesn't make it, so be it...it was worth the risk in the second round.

He is physically gifted and he is willing to work his a$$ off. Give the guy a chance.

Yeah, everyone knew he was a boom or bust pick. If he puts it together he can be a top safety in the league.

Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Mays was a fraud in college, and so far has been a fraud in the NFL. Bad angles, an inability to play well in coverage, and poor instincts override his physical attributes.

Good coaching cannot correct bad instincts. Either you have it, or not.

Should have learned from Senior Bowl week, when he struggled so badly that scouts thought he may have to switch to linebacker at the next level.

To be fair, Troy Polamalu had a very similar college career and first year in the NFL as Taylor Mays did. Not every early round draft pick can immediately start and make a significant difference.

Both were finalists for the Jim Thorpe awards, and both had a slow first year in the NFL. In fact, they both ended with 38 combined tackles and no interceptions.

On top of that, Mays was in a 3-4 defensive system that put more attention to the run than pass. And when that attention focuses more on run containing OLBs rather than pass rushing OLBs, you are putting your defensive backs at risk of getting burned and hoping their coverage skills will suffice.

Now factor that with having two safeties with not-so-sound coverage skills - Goldson and Mays - and of course you'll look bad. And let's give Mays some credit, he at least made a solid contribution on special teams.

But to call a first year 2nd round pick a fraud knowing that Mays was a project DB, knowing that the 49ers run a run focused 3-4 D, and knowing that a DB coach resigned mid-way through the season that may have hindered his development is pure ignorance.

Originally posted by excelsior:
Keep in mind that Mays is a Baalke second round choice. Does it speak well for Baalke's drafting decisions?

Where did you read/hear that?

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:

Originally posted by excelsior:
Keep in mind that Mays is a Baalke second round choice. Does it speak well for Baalke's drafting decisions?

Where did you read/hear that?

IIRC around draft time Baalke actually wanted Nate Allen and he got picked before us, and then him and Sing supposedly were arguing in the war room when they picked Mays. My guess is Baalke wasn't a huge fan and it was a Singletary pick.

Originally posted by WillistheWall:

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:

Originally posted by excelsior:
Keep in mind that Mays is a Baalke second round choice. Does it speak well for Baalke's drafting decisions?

Where did you read/hear that?

IIRC around draft time Baalke actually wanted Nate Allen and he got picked before us, and then him and Sing supposedly were arguing in the war room when they picked Mays. My guess is Baalke wasn't a huge fan and it was a Singletary pick.

That's what I tend to believe. The reach for A.Davis also has the smell of Sing all over it. What a complete franchise killer that guy was.

Originally posted by SFATeflonDon:
Dude was a rookie last year. Safety is not a position that you can just jump in and be good at, unless you are Eric Berry. Goldson took 2 years to learn his position before he started. Mays is gonna be a beast, he just needs time.


P.S HE SCORED A TD IN HIS 1ST GAME!!

on special teams

I love all the posters who want to call first and second year guys busts...I am so glad they do not run the franchise. We would be so screwed.

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:
I love all the posters who want to call first and second year guys busts...I am so glad they do not run the franchise. We would be so screwed.

this