San Francisco 49ers Draft Countdown: Making the Case for Dorial Green-Beckham
Apr 8, 2015
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 07: Dorial Green-Beckham #15 of the Missouri Tigers scores a touchdown in the first quarter against the Jonathon Mincy #6 of the Auburn Tigers during the SEC Championship Game at Georgia Dome on December 7, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
If the San Francisco 49ers spend their first-round draft pick on a wide receiver, they should spend it on Dorial Green-Beckham.
Green-Beckham almost certainly will drop to the Niners at the No. 15 pick. Police arrested him twice for incidents involving marijuana while he was at the University of Missouri—once in 2012 and once in 2014, according to USA Today.
On April 11, 2014, Missouri’s football team dismissed him after he allegedly broke into an apartment and pushed a woman down a flight of stairs, although, as NFL.com notes, the district attorney never charged him with a crime. Green-Beckham transferred to the University of Oklahoma in 2014 but never played a game for it.
Some teams probably will remove Green-Beckham from their draft board for his off-field issues. The Niners might not be one of those teams.
Based on the Niners' history, they seem very forgiving. They recently signed wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who has been involved in two marijuana-related incidents in his career. Niners fullback Bruce Miller allegedly pushed his fiancee to the ground on March 5. The district attorney hasn’t filed charges against Miller, and the Niners haven’t cut him.
If the Niners tolerate Miller’s and Simpson’s off-field issues, why would they object to Green-Beckham?
They most likely will focus more on Green-Beckham’s actions on the field than his past issues off it. Green-Beckham is a rare athlete—6’5”, 237 pounds, 4.49 40-yard dash, 6.89 three-cone drill. He’s a giant red-zone target with speed to be a deep threat too.
To put him in perspective, let’s compare him to other top wide receivers.
1. Kevin White vs. Green-Beckham
In 2013, Green-Beckham caught 59 passes for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns at the University of Missouri. He was 20.
When White was 20, he played in junior college. When he was 21, he caught only 35 passes at West Virginia. He didn’t dominate until he was 22. Maybe he’s a late bloomer, or maybe he’s a one-year wonder.
If he and Green-Beckham were in last year’s draft, teams would have picked Green-Beckham way before White.
Advantage: Green-Beckham
2. DeVante Parker vs. Green-Beckham
Parker and Green-Beckham both were 20 in 2013. Compare their numbers from that season.
Their numbers practically are identical. Now, factor in their quarterbacks. Parker played with Teddy Bridgewater, a first-round pick. Green-Beckham played with James Franklin, an undrafted free agent. Franklin’s arm was weak and inaccurate. Green-Beckham’s numbers would have improved had he played with Bridgewater.
Now, factor in their injury histories. Green-Beckham hardly has one. He sprained his ankle in 2013 but didn’t miss a game. Parker broke his foot last season and missed six games.
The Niners spent their first-round pick last year on a player recovering from a broken foot—Jimmie Ward. He re-broke it midseason and spent the final seven weeks of the season on the injured reserve list. The Niners can’t afford to spend another first-round pick on player with a bad wheel.
Advantage: Green-Beckham
3. Breshad Perriman vs. Green-Beckham
Perriman is hot because he ran a 4.24 40-yard dash at his pro day. He is faster than Green-Beckham but not better.
In 2012 and 2013, Perriman made just seven touchdown catches, while Green-Beckham made 17. Perriman’s quarterback those years was Blake Bortles, a first-round pick. Perriman was a complementary receiver, a deep threat. Bortles threw him an occasional deep pass. Three of Perriman's teammates caught more passes than him in 2013.
Green-Beckham is a deep threat, but he’s more than that. He is a threat to score from anywhere on the field.
Advantage: Green-Beckham
4. Kelvin Benjamin vs. Green-Beckham
Green-Beckham and Benjamin produced similar numbers in college. Benjamin caught 84 passes for 1,506 yards and 19 touchdowns in two seasons at Florida State, and Green-Beckham caught 87 passes for 1,278 yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons at Missouri.
Draft experts downgraded Benjamin for the same reason they downgrade Green-Beckham—pour route running. Which is strange. If you’re looking for a good route-runner, draft a small receiver. Very few 6’5” receivers who are nearly 240 pounds run good routes.
Benjamin’s poor routes haven't hurt him in the NFL. He caught 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie, and he made the Pro Bowl. He will be the Carolina Panthers' go-to player on offense for years. So much for the experts’ critique of him.
What’s the difference between him and Green-Beckham? Green-Beckham is faster (he runs a 4.49; Benjamin runs a 4.61) and more than two years younger.
Marshall (6'4", 230 lbs) might be the best comparison for Green-Beckham. Neither has the advantage over the other. They're both big, fast and quick.
The Niners should value receivers like them. Marshall scored three touchdowns in one game last season against the Niners. He beat their first-round pick, Jimmie Ward, every time. Jay Cutler just threw the ball up, and Ward had no chance to defend the pass. Ward is five inches shorter than Marshall.
Imagine if Colin Kaepernick could have thrown the ball up to Green-Beckham instead of Michael Crabtree at the end of the Super Bowl. The Niners might have won. They’ve needed a receiver like Green-Beckham for years, and finally they will get one.
SEC East's Power: No More Waiting, Missouri Is a National Program
Feb 25, 2015
Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel watches the game in the third quarter of a 49-24 win over the Toledo Rockets in an NCAA college football game in Toledo, Ohio, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/David Richard)
It's the team that Vegas doesn't know what to do with. Missouri isn't favored to win in nearly every game it plays but somehow has pulled off top recruits and 23 wins over the last two seasons, a number eclipsed only by Alabama. It simply keeps finding a way to defy the odds.
Georgia fans are beside themselves after seeing this Tiger team from the north essentially dance into the SEC and have incredible success. Head coach Gary Pinkel has excelled at the most important part of his job—winning—and looked really good while doing so.
Recruiting has been the name of the game. In three years, Missouri has landed commitments from the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in 2013 by Rivals in Dorial Green-Beckham and the No. 2 overall player in 2015 by ESPN in Terry Beckner Jr. In addition, it's entirely possible that Pinkel has had classes that may have previously been overlooked.
Reinforcing this, a new re-ranking of the 2012 signing class by Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated, Mizzou skyrocketed from the No. 31 ranked class (as originally ranked by Rivals) to No. 5 in the country. It shows that everything Pinkel and his staff are doing is an absolute model of how to win. Being "MizzouMade" is beginning to stand out.
But how do you measure the power of a program? A year of success can excite fans and alumni but isn't the measuring stick of greatness. It's consistently pulling off the things that are related to your job, which Pinkel might as well have a Ph.D. in.
Pinkel was shown a solo award for his talent in December when—a year after becoming the school's all-time winningest coach—he was named SEC Coach of the Year. Having won this award previously in the Big 12 Conference, it puts Pinkel in a rare category of coaches who have won the award in two different leagues during their peak in college football.
The awards are products of what Pinkel’s teams have shown on the field in those seasons. In fact, since his previous award, Pinkel’s Tigers squads have won an impressive 75 games, making them a top-five team in that category.
Missouri’s success isn’t limited to being on the field. They stand as the leader in academics in the SEC and are among the best in the nation. In 2013, Pinkel received a letter from NCAA President Mark Emmert, acknowledging the University’s success as a whole. More recently, last year Missouri was tied for the No. 1 spot in the SEC with relation to football academic-progress-rate scores.
But to see the total success of the program, simply take a look to the NFL. Mizzou players are going into the NFL in numbers and are having such success. That is like any group of trained professionals that reflects strongly on their training institution.
A total of 20 former Missouri players are currently on NFL rosters. Much was being made of the Tigers going into last season being “down” at wide receiver. When everything is said and done following the 2015 NFL draft and free-agency pickups, this “down” bunch may have three names in Bud Sasser, Jimmie Hunt and Darius White all playing on Sundays.
Missouri hasn't been able to beat Alabama or Auburn in the title games they've played, but it certainly competed well in both games. With all criteria on its resume, the change in culture and the lockdown of local recruiting, it's time that we start calling Missouri what it has shown to be by the fruits of its labor: a national team.
Dorial Green-Beckham: 2015 NFL Combine Results, Highlights and Twitter Reaction
Feb 21, 2015
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 07: Dorial Green-Beckham #15 of the Missouri Tigers celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter with teammate Marcus Murphy #6 against the Auburn Tigers during the SEC Championship Game at Georgia Dome on December 7, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Depending on the perspective, Dorial Green-Beckham may have the most to gain of any wide receiver at the NFL Scouting Combine, or his fate has already been determined due to the string of issues off the field.
Whatever happened in the past, there's no denying that Green-Beckham was going to have every team watching his workout in Indianapolis closely. The former Missouri wideout is a physical freak, as he showed during the combine workouts.
40-Yard Dash (seconds)
Bench Press Reps (225 lbs)
Vertical Jump (inches)
Broad Jump (inches)
4.49
13
33.5
119
Let's take a deeper dive into Green-Beckham's workout now that it's in the books.
The first major test of the day for DGB was the 40-yard dash. It's not a perfect measure of what a wide receiver can do on the field, as it doesn't show separation, but teams do love to see what a player does on a straight sprint.
Green-Beckham's best 40 time was unofficially 4.49 seconds. It wasn't the best of the day, though considering he's 6'5" and 237 pounds, there were some rave reviews like this one from Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt:
Dorial Green-Beckham runs unofficial 4.49 on second attempt...this dude is a freak...6-5 and 237 lbs #WOW
Here's what his 40-yard dash looked like, via NFL.com:
One player Green-Beckham has drawn physical comparisons to is Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Before the combine began, Albert Breer of NFL.com spoke to one AFC college scout who brought up the correlation.
He's one of the best receivers I've ever seen. He's special. He's gigantic; he has tremendous body control, balance; he runs like a deer and can leap out of the gym and high-point the ball. He's special. It's impressive. If not for all that stuff, he'd be the best receiver to come out since Calvin Johnson.
Yet for all the physical comparisons that Green-Beckham might draw to Johnson, ESPN's Todd McShay pointed out Megatron had superior speed:
Dorial Green-Beckham (6-5, 237) runs unofficial 4.50. Similar size to Calvin Johnson but not quite the 4.35 (handheld) that Calvin ran in 07
It's unfair to compare anyone to Johnson, especially before he enters the NFL, so Green-Beckham shouldn't pay attention to those kinds of things and should focus on playing to the best of his ability.
The main question with Green-Beckham is all the baggage he brings, but NFL on Fox analyst Charles Davis notes that Oklahoma's coaching staff was high on the wide receiver's maturity last year:
Keep in mind, Green-Beckham did that without being able to play in an actual game when the NCAA denied his waiver request to play immediately after transferring.
One area where DGB did shine was in the gauntlet drill, which is when receivers catch two passes from a quick turn and run a straight line from sideline to sideline catching five passes.
Per Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star, Green-Beckham was smooth in his actions in that particular area:
Doral Green-Beckham is having a good day. He made the gauntlet drill look easy.
That's important because he hasn't played an actual game since the Cotton Bowl in January 2014. Teams want to see how his hands look, if he's able to make catches out in front instead of waiting for them to come into his body.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the 49ers were at least impressed enough to meet with Green-Beckham at the Indianapolis airport.
Overall, it was a good day for Green-Beckham. He may not be the "next Calvin Johnson," because only a very select few players can warrant praise that high. Most of them are already in the NFL.
The controversial wideout did exactly what he needed to do on the field. Green-Beckham displayed good speed, especially given his size, and showed strong hands and ease running the field during catching drills. No one questions the talent that will be on display every Sunday.
More than any other player in this class, especially among the marquee guys, Green-Beckham will have to answer for everything that happened off the field. He's got supporters in Oklahoma, which is sure to help his case, but that may only carry him so far.
Dorial Green-Beckham Impresses at Combine, but Stock Dependent on Past Concerns
Brent Sobleski
Feb 21, 2015
No matter what former Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham does on the field during the 2015 NFL combine, his athletic performance remains secondary to the questions he has to answer about his off-the-field actions.
There is absolutely no way to deny Green-Beckham's physical talent
He stands 6'5" and weighs 237 pounds. Comparisons are readily made to the Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson, because the two are very similar physically.
The comparison is a little over the top, though, as Detroit Lions staff writer Tim Twentyman illustrated:
He's no Calvin Johnson. Dorial Green-Beckham ran a good 4.5 40 at 6-5, 237 this morning. Megatron ran 4.35 at 6-5, 239 in 2007.
However, many were impressed with Green-Beckham's speed at his size.
The former Missouri Tiger ran an unofficial 4.50-second 40-yard dash in his first attempt. The wide receiver bettered himself on his second run, clocking in at 4.49.
Bleacher Report's Matt Bowen wasn't shy about the growing interest in Green-Beckham:
4.49 for Green-Beckham at 6-5, 237 pounds is impressive. Size, speed + matchup ability at WR. Stock will continue to rise.
While the Johnson comparison may be over the top, Green-Beckham is much closer to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, who was selected seventh overall in the 2014 draft and played tremendously well as a rookie.
If the two stood back-to-back, they would appear nearly identical. At least year's combine, Evans measured in at 6'5" and 231 pounds. He also ran an official 4.53-second 40-yard dash.
The one major difference between the two is arm length.
Green-Beckham's arm length is surprisingly small for a 6'5" wide receiver. His arms measured at 32.5 inches. Evans, on the other hand, has arms that are over 35 inches long.
The wide receiver's workout went beyond an impressive 40-yard dash time, too.
The native of Springfield, Missouri, appeared smooth and athletic with strong hands during position-specific drills, as The Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor noted:
Doral Green-Beckham is having a good day. He made the gauntlet drill look easy.
A strong workout even has some, such as NFL Network's Brian Billick, wondering if Green-Beckham can overtake the class' top three wide receivers—Alabama's Amari Cooper, Louisville's DeVante Parker and West Virginia's Kevin White:
Green-Beckham's good showing so far is putting early pressure on other size/speed WR's D. Parker & K. White that will workout in next group.
Green-Beckham is clearly talented. He owns first-round ability. His past history, though, remains the primary concern.
Talent will eventually trump trepidation in nearly every instance, but when that happens is in question.
Will a team be willing to spend a first-round pick on Green-Beckham with his history? Does it make the pick easier if he starts to slide into Round 2 or 3?
Each organization will make that decision individually.
"I think the consistent problems for [Cleveland Browns wide receiver] Josh Gordon are going to leak over and hurt his draft stock," an anonymous NFC director of personnel told NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. "He couldn't keep himself out of trouble, had no structure growing up and didn't take coaching at Missouri. He's tall and fast and has good hands, but he can't be trusted. Why would you take a guy like that before the third day?"
All of the physical talent in the world doesn't mean anything if that player can't stay on the field.
Gordon led the NFL in receiving yardage during the 2013 season, but he's also been suspended numerous times and he won't play during the upcoming season as a result.
Like Gordon, Green-Beckham was dismissed from one university before trying to unsuccessfully transfer and eventually pursuing a path to the NFL.
Green-Beckham was dismissed from the University of Missouri after a particularly disturbing allegation that involved a burglary and pushing a woman down a flight of stairs. It wasn't his only incident during his time in Columbia either. The wide receiver was arrested on drug charges at one point. He was also suspended twice by head coach Gary Pinkel before his eventual dismissal.
When asked about his past history at the combine, Green-Beckham didn't provide much on an answer.
"All the decisions I made, I wish I could take them back," the wide receiver offered, via SI.com's Joan Niesen. "It happened. I was young. I made mistakes. I understand that.
"I know what’s at stake. I know what type of person I am, and I realize what the NFL is looking for in me as a person. I want them to know that I’m going to go out there and give it my all."
Hint: The NFL isn't worried about what you can do on the field. They're scared to death by another public relations nightmare. The league took hit after hit because of Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson and others. Green-Beckham isn't exactly entering the league at the best time based on his past history.
Some team will eventually take a chance on a truly talented player, but it will only do so once it's completely comfortable with the person more so than the player.
Brent Sobleski covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
NFL Combine Roster 2015: Invite List and Top Prospects to Watch
Feb 18, 2015
In this Jan. 1, 2015 file photo, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston passes against Oregon during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, in Pasadena, Calif. Winston declared himself eligible for the NFL draft Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, the same day the woman who accused him of rape filed a lawsuit against the university saying it failed to properly investigate her allegations.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
The brief window in each calendar year where the NFL doesn't factor into the broader sports conversation is over.
There's usually a bit of a post-Super Bowl lull when it comes to major NFL news, especially now that the Pro Bowl takes place before the big game. Now, with the official 2015 NFL combine invite list out and some preliminary combine activities having already taken place on Tuesday, it's officially draft season for pro football fans.
The invite list of NFL hopefuls is exhaustive. It's a who's who of college football stars and studs, along with some small-school sleepers and overlooked prospects vying to make a name for themselves in Indianapolis
Some players will court much more attention than others over the course of the six-day scouting event, from both franchises and media alike. Let's take a look at three of the top players to watch at this year's combine after a rundown of the complete invite list.
Much of the fun of following the NFL combine is derived from seeing which players put up eye-popping numbers. It's always nice to follow the athletic freaks, but it can be just as interesting to track a top prospect and see if the perception of him changes at this event.
Jameis Winston is one such player. He's undoubtedly one of the featured prospects at the combine due to his controversial past and status as a potential No. 1 overall pick, but a month-old photograph adds a bit more intrigue to his combine storyline.
A photo featuring a portly-looking Winston has worked its way into headlines, which is not a good look for an aspiring top pick.
Fans, scouts and media members will undoubtedly be curious to see whether Winston shows up to the combine in better shape. While the pic may be a cause for concern for some, it hasn't fazed his quarterback coach, George Whitfield Jr.
"He's always had a thing about pushing his stomach out," Whitfield said, per USA Today's Jim Corbett. "I hadn't seen the pic until Saturday. You smile about it because people got it and they jumped on it. When I saw him later, Jameis laughed and said, 'I'm going to be out in front of the world in a couple of days anyway.'"
Indeed, this could just be a case of an unfortunately timed photo, but Winston still has to prove himself at the combine. From the fan's perspective, Winston has plenty of catching up to do with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, per NFL on ESPN:
Most of the nation would rather have Marcus Mariota over Jameis Winston...and it's not even close pic.twitter.com/g6h1EA6aMr
Perhaps it's a good thing the combine is primarily a scouting event, as Winston's skills and athleticism will be under greater scrutiny than his public perception as compared to Mariota. Whitfield Jr. noted that Winston was still mulling participating in throwing drills at the combine, but it appears the young signal-caller has come to a decision, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:
#FloridaSt QB Jameis Winston is planning to throw at the Combine, source said. Amping things up a bit.
Top wideout prospect Dorial Green-Beckham may be coming out of Oklahoma, but scouts will have to go back to his days at Missouri for game film. After being dismissed by Missouri after the 2013 season, Green-Beckham transferred to Oklahoma. However, he had to sit out the 2014 season due to NCAA transfer restrictions, although he was allowed to practice with the Sooners.
With such a large gap between the last time he played a collegiate game—four catches for 53 yards on Jan. 3, 2014 against Oklahoma State—the importance of this combine for Green-Beckham is difficult to understate.
Sporting News contributor Eric Galko considers Green-Beckham one of the riskiest players at the combine due to various off-field incidents and notes the current NFL climate may not be conducive to players who may court controversy:
Green-Beckham’s maturity will be the biggest question mark on his scouting report. Talent-wise, outside of getting in the weight room more and learning more of the general nuances of the position, he checks all the boxes.
But in today’s NFL, off-field issues have grown into more than concerns for public relations departments: They’ve begun to be truly intolerable for roster building, forming long-term expectations and creating locker room chemistry. Green-Beckham is a remarkable talent. But every indication of his history paints a career path potentially more disheartening than Gordon’s thus far.
The interviews will be key to securing his future, as the junior wideout could flirt with first-round status.
While it's important Green-Beckham shows that he's ready to handle the scrutiny and responsibility that comes with being a pro, it's just as vital he demonstrates his athleticism at the combine, lest scouts worry he's lost his mojo by having gone so long without playing competitive football. An AFC college scout told NFL.com's Albert Breer that Green-Beckham's athleticism is comparable to that of Calvin Johnson:
He's one of the best receivers I've ever seen.He's special. He's gigantic; he has tremendous body control, balance; he runs like a deer and can leap out of the gym and high-point the ball. He's special. It's impressive. If not for all that stuff, he'd be the best receiver to come out since Calvin Johnson.
Green-Beckham is no doubt supremely talented; the game tape already shows that. But since it's been so long, he may need some fresh numbers to prove himself as a risk worth taking.
Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
If you're looking for a freakish athlete with potential "wow" factor at the NFL combine, look no further than Missouri defensive end Shane Ray.
His stats from college are impressive enough on their own. As a junior in 2014, the 6'3", 245-pound Ray racked up 65 total tackles (22.5 for a loss), 13 sacks and three forced fumbles. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller likes his first step:
Shane Ray's first step is insane. I really like him in a 3-4 defense as a best fit. (Hello, Jets/Bears/Falcons)
If he can reinforce the perception of him as an athletic marvel capable of collapsing pockets everywhere, Ray could prove himself a shoo-in for a top-10 pick. NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah projected the kind of numbers Ray could put up at the combine:
There is some concern about Ray's lack of bulk (Mizzou listed him at 245 pounds), but he makes up for it with rare explosiveness. Ray should record an outstanding 10-yard split in the 40, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him rip off a low-4.5 time in the event. Scouts also expect him to log a vertical leap of close to 40 inches.
In a draft class loaded with talented pass-rushers such as Dante Fowler Jr., Randy Gregory and Owamagbe Odighizuwa, combine performances will be important for players looking to separate themselves from the crowded pack. Expect Ray to take advantage of this early opportunity to impress.
The San Francisco 49ers have a new coaching staff and holes to fill at several key positions. This is a critical time for the 49ers, as anything less than a stellar draft will doom this team to a second year out of the playoffs...
The 2015 Missouri Tigers football season is something like uncharted waters for fans of this generation. Coming off back-to-back SEC East division titles, there's no question that Mizzou has a target on its back that comes along with winning...
Despite Troubled Past, Dorial Green-Beckham Has Tools to Be Elite NFL Receiver
Feb 6, 2015
Every NFL draft seemingly features one or two polarizing prospects with off-field issues to go with immense on-field potential. Last year, the list included former Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and South Carolina cornerback Victor Hampton. In the 2015 class, wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham will serve as another test to see how much NFL teams weigh off-field concerns.
Lyerla and Hampton each went undrafted in 2014 and failed to make an impact in their rookie seasons. Lyerla spent the season on injured reserve, and Hampton bounced between the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants but never played. The Cleveland Browns completely ignored all of the noise around Manziel, and now they’re contemplating on whether they should again address the quarterback position this offseason, as Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reported.
As Josh Gordon has demonstrated during the past three years, off-field issues can spill onto the playing field and be a major detriment to the team. Coaches and general managers need talent that can be counted on every week. Drug problems create the ultimate uncertainty, even when dynamic talent is present.
If Josh Gordon scares you, add in a domestic assault and you have DGB. Big risk for NFL teams.
That’s why the debate on Green-Beckham is fascinating. The former Missouri Tiger and Oklahoma Sooner was unable to play in 2014 when his transfer waiver was denied. Green-Beckham spent the season practicing with Bob Stoops’ Sooners to help keep himself in shape and engaged in football activities.
To fully evaluate Green-Beckham, his past transgressions and red flags have to be acknowledged. At the same time, so must his incredible talent and ability to grow into an elite playmaker.
Off-Field Troubles
The events that led to Green-Beckham’s dismissal from the University of Missouri are well documented. We won’t be speculating—rather, we'll just work with what has been reported already.
In two separate incidents between 2012 and 2014, Green-Beckham was arrested for marijuana-related suspicions.
His arrest in January 2014 was in connection to police finding a pound of marijuana in a car he was riding in, which prompted a felony drug investigation. Green-Beckham was found innocent, but this was his second arrest in just 15 months.
His 2012 arrest led to charges of misdemeanor possession of marijuana after a police officer said he smelled marijuana on Green-Beckham and his two friends. Charges were later dropped.
With two strikes already on his record, Green-Beckham couldn’t afford another mistake. The former No. 1 overall recruit out of high school was becoming a terror to defend between the goal posts on Saturdays, but he was wearing out his welcome in Columbia, Missouri.
In early April of 2014, Green-Beckham had a burglary investigation opened against him. The police report detailed allegations that Green-Beckham forced an 18-year-old Missouri student to open her apartment door. Things must have escalated, as the woman said she was shoved down at least four stairs by Green-Beckham.
He was never arrested because the witnesses became reluctant due to fear of retaliation and harassment. Green-Beckham’s girlfriend sent 16 text messages to the victim, asking for her to bury the incident because "pressing charges would just ruin it [his football career] for him completely."
Another potential red flag was found in the messages. His girlfriend had detailed a possible domestic abuse occurrence, where Green-Beckham had dragged her from the apartment by her neck. When asked about it by the police, she was uncooperative and claimed she didn’t remember sending that message.
Ultimately, there were no convictions that stemmed from the event that led to Green-Beckham ending up at Oklahoma. Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel said he had “other information” on his dismissal but wouldn’t publicly address the situation. It’s fishy, but we’re just left with the reports of what happened.
Entering the NFL, Green-Beckham will be subject to the NFL’s personal conduct policy. According to Thayer Evans of Sports Illustrated, he’s been in talks with the league to see where he stands. He is subject to entering the league already in the program, but whether he would be in for drugs and/or domestic violence isn’t known.
If he begins in Stage One of the drug program, he will be placed in an intervention program for up to 90 days. Another violation would lead to Stage Two, which progresses from fines to suspensions if mistakes continue to be made.
NFL teams will surely be digging deep into Green-Beckham’s off-field history. The Josh Gordon situation could be coming at a bad time because the league is seeing that another young player is struggling with responsibility and maturity. However, Gordon’s gaffes shouldn’t be used to punish Green-Beckham.
On the Gridiron
Standing 6’6” and 225 pounds and supposedly capable of running a sub-4.4 40-yard dash, Dorial Green-Beckham has been a physical mismatch his entire career. The comparisons have been lofty, primarily including athletic uber-freak Calvin Johnson.
It’s not really fair to compare anyone to Johnson, as it sets up a prospect to fail to live up to the production. Johnson scored in the 71st percentile or better in all of his NFL Combine individual tests, which is truly rare. To assume that Green-Beckham can replicate such incredible athletic testing feats can create an illusion about his receiving talent right now.
In his second and final season at Missouri, Green-Beckham compiled 59 receptions, 883 yards and 12 touchdowns. The output was nearly triple his freshman production and a sign that his role was growing in the offense.
As usual, the statistics can be swayed in a few directions. Looking at his game-by-game production, a huge chunk of his numbers came in three games. Against Indiana, Kentucky and Auburn, Green-Beckham had 21 receptions for 349 yards and seven touchdowns.
He feasted against weaker opponents but struggled against higher competition. Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert limited Green-Beckham to four catches and 53 yards. His combined numbers against Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee were a measly 12 catches, 129 yards and one touchdown.
These numbers don’t tell the entire story of what happened on the field or his actual talents. They do, however, give reason to go back and watch the film of all these games. After doing just that, Green-Beckham’s game has a lot to love as he prepares to transition to the NFL.
Missouri’s offense is inherently basic to begin with in an effort to get the ball out into the hands of receivers as quickly as possible. Using four receivers, the offense is able to spread the defense and find the quick mismatch as the quarterback surveys the field. It’s an offense that works when the playmakers are good enough to go get the ball and create after the catch.
Considering his size and natural speed, Green-Beckham was a handful for collegiate defensive backs. His long strides and natural power as a runner allowed him to eat up a lot of space with ease. In the seven games I charted, Missouri worked to get him the ball on screens 16 times.
With the ball in his hands, Green-Beckham moves effortlessly as he slices across the field to find more space. His feet are impressively light for a player his size. He’s able to control his body well enough to draw in defenders and then explode past when they lose an advantageous angle.
Green-Beckham’s ability to use his frame as a receiver and protect the ball was often on display on slants and comebacks. The majority of his routes were either deep comebacks or quick slants. Each route was consistently productive for Green-Beckham, but he was especially efficient on comebacks. His ability to sink his hips and change directions quickly is devastating when he properly positions his body. There were some instances where he allowed the cornerback to cross his face and run his route with him, but this should improve in the NFL with more experience.
Being able to win at the catch point is where Green-Beckham stars. This includes comebacks, go routes and fades in the end zone. His level of aggression when the ball is nearing his huge catch radius is most similar to Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys. Even NFL cornerbacks will only be able to do so much to slow him in the red zone.
Knowing when to rise up and play the ball is certainly an art. Play the ball too early, and any leverage gained can be conceded. The defensive back can fix his position to ruin a potential big play. Jump too late, and the ball may fly out of bounds or into the hands of a defender.
Green-Beckham has great body control and the innate ability to rise at the perfect time. Mixed together, those abilities make his rawness in other areas become less important.
Another area in which he is more advanced than his peers is his ability to beat press coverage and separate down field. His powerful hands and long arms help him avoid press attempts because he can swat the defender away and move up the field.
Looking at where Green-Beckham needs to improve, the first thing that stands out is consistency. As mentioned before, he disappeared often in his first two seasons despite being an overwhelming physical talent. Too often, drops got the best of Green-Beckham. His hands aren’t bad, but his ability to stay focused on what is happening then and there will waver.
For example, Green-Beckham may be open for a catch, but he will turn his eyes away from the ball and try to head upfield before completing the reception. This isn’t unusual, as prominent NFL players do the same on a weekly basis. The key is to move on to the next play and not dwell on the mistake.
With just two years of collegiate experience, the fact that Green-Beckham is a raw route runner shouldn’t be too concerning. He wins with athleticism instead of showing nuances of the position. This can be said of almost every elite receiver prospect of the last decade, sans A.J. Green.
In this next route below, we can see a good post route from Green-Beckham. He sets the defensive back up for a go route, then sharply cuts inside and keeps position. At this point, it’s a jump ball, which we have seen is a major advantage for the former Tiger.
This is the type of intensity and sharpness that he must exhibit on every inside-cutting route. He was mostly limited to being an outside-the-numbers threat in Missouri’s offense, but when he had inside routes, he wasn’t as keen on being precise or gaining good position.
What’s Next
It’s hard to predict whether Green-Beckham even gets drafted or not. His off-field risks have to carry significant weight, even if his on-field talent is reminiscent of Bryant and Brandon Marshall. If it were as easy as selecting the most talented player, Green-Beckham is deserving of the top overall pick.
The NFL has seemingly punished players with character flags in recent drafts, but Green-Beckham’s recent issues read like a horror story. His time at Oklahoma, however, has been quiet, which is positive momentum.
Hopefully for Green-Beckham, his brief stint with the Sooners is a sign that his life is heading in the right direction. If he can stay on the field, he could be the steal of the 2015 NFL draft class and become one of the elite receivers in the league.
Terry Beckner Jr. to Missouri: Tigers Land 5-Star DT Prospect
Feb 4, 2015
Terry Beckner Jr., one of the top defensive prospects in the class of 2015, has decided to play college football at Missouri.
Mihir Bhagat of KOMU-TV (NBC) passed along word of the defensive lineman's decision, who shed tears while making his announcement. Bhagat also provided an image of the support Beckner's received during his emotional decision:
Beckner is a 5-star prospect, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He also rates as the No. 13 overall recruit nationally and is the No. 3 defensive tackle in the class.
The prototypical lineman combines ideal size (6'4'', 293 pounds) with an impressive combination of athleticism and short-area quickness for a player of his size. He represents exactly what coaching staffs around the country are searching for on the recruiting trail.
He also has experience playing both on the edge or in the middle. He's excelled as a tackle, but that versatility should bode well as he's fighting for playing time early in his college stay.
Tom VanHaaren of ESPN provided a look at what Beckner is capable of during an All-America practice:
David Kvidahl of STLToday.com passed along comments from the talented prospect during the recruitment process, and he was trying not to focus on all of the hype: "It's nothing but media. I just keep playing hard and do what I have to do to win."
Beckner received all of that high praise due to his immense untapped potential. If he continues to develop while going up against tougher competition, he should become a major force on the defensive side of the ball within a couple of years.
There's still plenty of work to do, though. Like many players with his size and natural athletic ability, he has reached this point without being seriously challenged on a regular basis. He stands out because most players at the high school level simply cannot contain him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY7v5lbzRXU
Moving forward, he'll need to work on his technique in order to reach his full potential. He's going to be facing tackles and guards with far more talent than he's used to, especially right out of the gate when he's a first-year player facing juniors and seniors.
Beckner is likely to play a rotational role at first while gaining valuable experience and also working to add more pass-rushing moves to his repertoire on the interior. Once he gets more comfortable at the collegiate level, that natural talent should begin to shine through.
While expectations should be kept within reason at the outset, Beckner certainly possesses star potential. His size and explosiveness make him an exciting prospect to monitor, and as he continues to refine his skill set, he'll only improve with time.
