Polian: Kupp Is A Slot WR
February 2nd, 2017
Senior Bowl football
If two receivers made names for themselves last week at the Senior Bowl, based on oohs and aahs from analysts after the game, they were Zay Jones and Cooper Kupp.
Joe has written about Jones a couple of times. Now it’s time for Kupp, a star from Eastern Washington, who seemed to have caught everything thrown to him.
But if Bucs fans are hoping AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht drafts Kupp to play outside opposite Mike Evans, then they might want to downsize your expectations.
Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian was recently on SiriusXM NFL Radio discussing Kupp, who Polian sort of likened to a poor man’s Brandon Stokely.
“He is a little slight overall to be a No. 1,” Polian said. “And he got muscled off a ball today that resulted in an interception.There are some things that worry you. You [can’t] coach [up] 185 pounds. He is nowhere near Jordy Nelson, he is much more like [Julian] Edelman than Jordy Nelson. Jordy Nelson is 6-3 215. Kupp is a much smaller man, probably a slot and probably a darn good one.”
Polian did like Kupp’s burst off the ball, his ability to create separation and his overall speed. But an outside receiver in the NFL? Polian has serious doubts.
February 2nd, 2017 at 9:02 am
PASS….
February 2nd, 2017 at 9:22 am
Edelman is a fair comp for Kupp. I wouldn’t say he is “much” smaller than Jordy tho. Kupp measured at 6′ 1.5″ 198 lbs. You have to think if Koetter views him as a slot receiver as well and if they really like Hump then Kupp might not be worth a round 2 pick to them.
February 2nd, 2017 at 9:44 am
Dont know about you guys but I would love fpr Jameis to have a Julian Edelman. Dude isnt gonna score on a 70 yarder, but he gets open in a hurry. Often times crisp route running and quickness are more valuable than just pure straight line speed.
February 2nd, 2017 at 10:02 am
@Blake
Of course we would. The problem is as of right now an outside receiver is more of a priority than another slot receiver. Until a legit outside #2 receiver is addressed (hopefully in FA) that should be the main concern of Licht and Koetter as far as pass catchers go. Like I said, if Koetter views Kupp the same way Polian does and we still need a #2 come draft time, I wouldnt get my hopes up for Kupp. Just my opinion tho.
February 2nd, 2017 at 10:02 am
Humphries
February 2nd, 2017 at 10:22 am
I’m not convinced that Kupp is “just” a slot receiver. I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people.
February 2nd, 2017 at 10:41 am
Me too 75.
February 2nd, 2017 at 10:46 am
We’ve got Humphries, who hasn’t been used properly due to a lack of a true #2 on the outside. At this point I think signing FA Jackson should be priority one. Evans, Jackson, Humphries and Brate make for a versatile and dangerous offense.
February 2nd, 2017 at 10:51 am
I disagree with that assessment. He is a big strong dude who can turn on the jets. He has those white boy ups so don’t expect him to win any 50-50 balls. If we could get by with Shepard as our #2, Kupp is absolutely more than capable.
February 2nd, 2017 at 10:55 am
The WR position is 3 maybe 4 rds deep . This class will be compared to Mike Evans class . Corey Davis is a stud in the 1st rd but so is KD Cannon in the 3rd or 4th. The o line position has little plug and play talent and that’s why you grab a top center from lsu or Ohio state . Its not a sexy pick but you can move down from 19 add extra picks and still grab 1 of the 2 and then the 2nd rd and on is game time ….
Did anybody see that class jimbo pulled off yesterday .No rebuilding for fsu just reloading
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:04 am
I like Josh Reynolds maybe in the 3rd or 4th rd. He seems like he would be a good 2nd WR for us.
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:05 am
There’s smaller guys than Cooper Kupp, that line up on the outside.
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:09 am
Humphries.
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:11 am
I’m glad my boy from Lakeland High( James Robinson) signed his offer with the Florida Gators. Teams had backed away from him, after he was busted for weed while on a visit to Ohio State. It’s good that UF gave him another chance after taken the offer of the table.I hope he learned a valuable lesson.
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:13 am
Antonio Brown is only 5’10-5-11 190 at the most.
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:19 am
My opinion on what we should do for our receiver situation is sign one of the faster FA receivers to stretch the field out of the slot position (Desean Jackson, Kenny Stills, Kendall Wright, etc) and draft a bigger receiver with a big catch radius to play primarily on the outside. Corey Davis, Malachi Dupre, Josh, Reynolds, Zay Jones, Amara Datboh, etc. Those rookies also have upside to stretch the field imo.
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:43 am
I wish we could pry Allen Robinson from the Jags, he would be the perfect compliment to Mike Evans
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:46 am
@808…I hear you….Reynolds would by great but I would like to see what he runs in the 40….at worse he could back up mike evans….zay jones is really looking good tho….good speed, great hands, nice route runner….
@Lakeland…im happy as hell for robinson and the gators….GO BUCS!!!!
February 2nd, 2017 at 12:12 pm
bucs need someone who can either blow the top off a defense. Or someone who can be a veretical threat with size like mike evans, slot receivers are easy to find, you just need a smaller speed guy.
February 2nd, 2017 at 12:20 pm
I would say that Julian Edelman is an outside receiver. Not saying hat Kupp is a must have, but I do think he has the skill set to develop into a heck of a wide out.
February 2nd, 2017 at 1:34 pm
I just wish we could figure a way to get Samuel into our WR mix. Dude can flat out ball and he has blazing speed. He’s played at RB as well as WR. If we signed Jackson and got Samuels this team would have blazing speed and as BigPoppa suggested we’ve yet to have a chance to utilize Hump properly because VJAX and all the other outside guys went down. Hump is our Julian Edelman.
IF we had Desean Jackson and Curtis Samuel that would instantly make ME/Hump and Brate better as well. Sadly Samuel is climbing draft boards right now and I fear he’ll rip a 4.35 40 at the Combine and then we have no chance at getting him.
February 2nd, 2017 at 1:39 pm
Why are his only 2 comps Edelman and jordy? Just cause he is white, he has to be like a white wr? What about Landry, Hopkins, Watkins, woods, brown, t.y. odell??? All under 6’2 that are considered outside #1 or #2 receivers. And this is just of the top of my head.
Point is, he can absolutely play outside. He will not play it like evans, but that’s a good thing. The more unique weapons we have, the more well rounded we are to take advantage of a defenses weaknesses.
February 2nd, 2017 at 1:44 pm
@stpete I love Curtis Samuel dude. Kid does everything really well, and while he may not be Tyreek Hill or John Ross fast, he’s still a burner. I also like Dede Westbrook as a speed guy.
The only damper i can think of on Samuel, is that he will most likely go in the Second round, and i REALLY want T.J. Watt in the Second dude. Watch J.J’s lil bro pop ff on his highlight reel. And then watch some of his tape on Draft breakdown. Kid looks beastly my dude.
February 2nd, 2017 at 1:51 pm
@Mojiska
I can see Landry. I dont see anybody else you mentioned. Comparisons arent just about size, but play style. Kupp isnt a vertical threat imo. He is more quick than fast which is how he gets his big plays. His quick route running causes seperation which leads to YAC. I dont see him chasing down long bombs for any team because that isnt how he plays. Sure, he could play outside but Imo he is a mismatch in the slot because of his quickness.
And I hope nobody is taking this as a negative for Kupp. Just because you play in the slot doesnt mean you will be a #3 at best. Look at Fitzgerald in Arizona. He is almost primarily in the slot but still the #1 guy.
February 2nd, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Blake
After my son’s( he sees every OSU home game) assessment that Samuels was the best player on the Buckeyes and that his “football” speed is even better than his 40 speed…I would even consider trading up if indeed he lasts till the 2nd.
Get our RB in the 1st and then Samuels…sign a FA speedster and we’re set on O. Rest of the draft picks can go to the lines..or safety.
If we do not see THE RB we want (and I know we disagree there:-) then I wouldn’t mind seeing a trade back to pick up some more picks.
February 2nd, 2017 at 3:11 pm
John Ross john Ross john Ross.
February 2nd, 2017 at 3:40 pm
John Ross is not a first round guy. Way too one dimensional to be a first rounder imo. There will be guys in the 2-4 that would bring just as much upside as ross. I like the guy, but donot think he is worth it in the first. He lasts to our 2nd round pick heck yeah, but only wr worthy of a first round pick are Williams and maybe Corey davis.
February 2nd, 2017 at 4:11 pm
@ joey
I disagree, Kupp is very much a deep threat. When he runs a 4.4 40 his stock will go even higher. He go the speed, he’s smooth as butter with his routes, and he has soft hands. I think the jordy Nelson comp is just easy, I like the size comparison and some of the number match up.
Jordy. Cooper Kupp
6’3 207. 6’2 215
4.5 40. (Projected) 4.4 40
I really like this kid. Say jones will also shoot up draft boards
February 2nd, 2017 at 6:02 pm
Who has Kupp project to run a 4.4? If he runs anything in the 4-4 range its probably gonna 4.48+ Which is nothing to sneeze at, but I think he is quicker than he is fast.
February 2nd, 2017 at 7:34 pm
@blake
That’s what they projected him to run at the senior bowl. I don’t care what he runs, we saw how he blew the doors off the guys in the bowl game
February 2nd, 2017 at 7:45 pm
His senior bowl weigh in was 6’1.5″ and 198.
February 2nd, 2017 at 7:59 pm
I really like Kupp dude. Just see him as more of a developmental pick/ Future starter, as opposed to a Day 1 impact player.
February 2nd, 2017 at 8:06 pm
@mojiska
What I had must have been his listed weight at school. And we all know they lie about that stuff! Lol
February 2nd, 2017 at 8:08 pm
I’m actually content right now. I trust licht, and I think this draft has some deep talent at our positions of need ( besides O line)
February 2nd, 2017 at 8:10 pm
Lots of options with talent in round 1-3. We can fill most of our needs with some good talent. We-rb-S in the first 3 rounds (in no particular order)
February 2nd, 2017 at 9:58 pm
ZAY JONES. Get him no matter what!!!
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:42 am
Guys he wasnt “projected” to run a 4.4… he said himself he was gonna run a 4.4…. so if he goes out there and runs a 4.49 he is right.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:20 am
If you want to compare Kupp to a not white pro, to me it is Pierre Garcon.
Garcon has some speed (ran a 4.48) but isnt fast enough to just run past defenders to stretch the field. The way Garcon wins and has success is by creating seperation by running quick, precise routes and then has enough speed to run away from defenders. To me that is exactly how Kupp will have success in the NFL.