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05-02-2022, 10:28 AM | |
Chiefs
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Chiefs sign UDFA Justyn Ross
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Posts: 23,755
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04-04-2023, 08:10 AM | #811 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Quote:
He's a solid 3/4 years away from being that guy. Maybe it's still in there, but I'd guess odds are....it probably ain't. |
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Posts: 81,506
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04-04-2023, 08:16 AM | #812 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
He didn't develop a whit from where he was as a Freshman and even as a freshman he was a contested catch guy who showed good hands but marginal athletic ability. And said defect that you're hand-waiving led to a spinal fusion surgery that may/may not have simply diminished his ability further. But we couldn't tell because the guy couldn't stay on the field. And yes, there are ALWAYS reasons if you look for them. Bad luck, bad quarterbacks, on and on and on. But if NFL teams saw a guy with a bum foot that would heal and get him back to 1st/2nd round ability, he doesn't go undrafted. It just doesn't happen. Those injuries and medical conditions will often force a 3 maaaaybe 4 round slide, but that still puts him as a 3rd/4th round talent going into the draft. And y'know what? Most 3rd and 4th round talents don't end up making an impact at the next level. Ross had one season where he looked like an NFL caliber talent and he went backwards from there. Yes, it's absolutely fair to question if, even if his foot is healthy, does he simply have the baseline ability to contribute at the NFL level. |
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Posts: 60,822
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04-04-2023, 08:19 AM | #813 |
MVP
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Posts: 6,666
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04-04-2023, 08:21 AM | #814 |
M-I-Z-Z-O-U
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Kansas City
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Really, in terms of football injury, Ross has one to be concerned about (the foot injury).
That has been cleaned up. The congenital condition has been addressed via surgery, and will always lurk, but he hasn't actually missed time due to INJURY from that. It's a smart, no-risk situation from the Chiefs side. If they continue to sit pat in free agency, I think that says a lot about what they think about their in-house options. Ross may be part of that. |
Posts: 21,167
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04-04-2023, 08:32 AM | #815 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
But given the general age of CP members, I think we're all aware of the sonofabitch that neck and back injuries can be. And we also know just how thin the line between NFL caliber athlete and really impressive dude on the street who can't actually play anymore. If that neck issue and the subsequent surgery created any additional stiffness or even lingering weakness, it could simply make him a less dynamic athlete. And you don't have to be THAT much less dynamic to go from a 2nd day pick to a non-entity. My point being that we simply haven't seen anything from him since then to suggest he's an NFL prospect. His SR year film certainly doesn't look like it. And sure, maybe that was the foot issue but I again get back to the fact that there isn't anything in FAVOR of it. It's raw projection based on a development curve from his freshman year that frankly had plateaued even as a Sophomore. |
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Posts: 60,822
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04-04-2023, 08:34 AM | #816 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
If he were a Bronco and Knowmo came in here posting instagram videos of him running up hills, we'd mock the shit out of him for it and it certainly wouldn't be concerning us at all. But in one sense Crow is absolutely right - there is a GIANT path to playing time here. Because I think Ross, even at his best, was a guy who's tools play better as a possession receiver. JJSS leaving opens up a really obvious role for him. |
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Posts: 60,822
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04-04-2023, 08:39 AM | #817 | |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Quote:
We really need that dude that can kinda do it all. Who do you think is the most likely to be that from this draft? |
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Posts: 81,506
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04-04-2023, 08:44 AM | #818 | |
MVP
Join Date: May 2001
Location: midtown KC
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Quote:
If they thought the spinal situation was a problem, they wouldn't have bothered. The foot thing, as I understand it, was a poor surgery, and they took the opportunity to 'red shirt' the kid and fix it right. So, yeah, there's an injury history that's concerning, but they're unrelated injuries in every possible way. I agree with your take that IF the kid is 100%, there's a path to playing time in Juju's role; I totally agree that he's that type of receiver. I'm not penciling him in or anything, but having a season of watching tape and learning the offense while getting healthy is good reason for optimism. I'm not planning on it, but I think there's reason for optimism. |
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Posts: 17,573
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04-04-2023, 08:46 AM | #819 |
MVP
Join Date: May 2001
Location: midtown KC
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Posts: 17,573
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04-04-2023, 08:46 AM | #820 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jul 2009
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They got him as an UDFA. They did the least amount possible of "bothering" here. It works great it doesn't it cost them some cash.
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Posts: 81,506
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04-04-2023, 08:47 AM | #821 |
In Search of a Life
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Posts: 81,506
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04-04-2023, 08:53 AM | #822 |
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2018
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Rooting for Ross but I don't think he's going to make it, I just think the injury history is going to be too much to overcome. That insta video looks more like a warmup to me than anything impressive, it is good to see him out on the field though.
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Posts: 1,469
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04-04-2023, 08:56 AM | #823 | |
Andy Reid Supporter
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Quote:
And hey, sometimes those lottery tickets work out and help your team. Justin Watson sure did as a futures deal guy last year. I think we’re gonna see Veach work with an offensive heavy draft this month. There’s probably gonna be a DL and OL drafted but I foresee multiple WR’s and a TE drafted as well as a RB. |
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Posts: 46,351
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04-04-2023, 09:23 AM | #824 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
I mean they couldn't have been THAT confident in him - he went undrafted even by Veach. I guess we're quibbling largely over semantics. I like taking a shot on him because he's a big kid that produced at a high level. He had some skills at one point and he didn't cost a thing. But I struggle to get to 'reasons for optimism'. It's a plan for the worst and hope for the best scenario. Maybe he breaks through and makes the team - awesome. But do you think there's even a 20% chance he makes the squad and gives us, say, 300 yards receiving this year? I can't get there and if that's the bar I'm setting and won't even give coinflip odds of clearing it, I just can't find a way to call that 'optimism'. |
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Posts: 60,822
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04-04-2023, 09:25 AM | #825 | |
Sauntering Vaguely Downwards
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Columbia, Mo
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Quote:
Both would be possession guys, but Ross would be more about body control and catch radius whereas Moore would be early separation and space. Different approaches allowing for different matchups. There's definitely room for them both. |
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Posts: 60,822
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