Out Of These Players Who Will Step Up Ther Game

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by joecrisp

.....There are a couple of reasons I say that McCants and Jacobs have an excellent shot at displacing him on the depth chart: Jacobs has looked stellar in both minicamps, and has added a lot of muscle to his frame in an effort to improve his durability. Jacobs may be the best route-runner on the team, and his hands might be the softest.....

I hope you are right about Taylor, he has been a no-show since we spent a high draft pick on him.
My only concern with Jacobs and your glowing evaluation of him is many players look good in non-contact practices in shorts and helmets. But when the hitting starts and they take a big hit, they suddenly don't look so good.
It is particularly easy for a WR to look good and sure of himself in non-contact drills, because they know they are not going to get blindsided by a defensive player.
I personally will wait to see when the pads go on and the serious hitting begins, that is when I will make my mind about Taylor. I may be wrong about this label, but I have always thought (even in college) Taylor's only weakness was his toughness.
In his senior year in Florida I saw him take a wicked hit in a big game, I do not recall the opponent. He did not return or at least catch another ball for entire half. There are plenty of smallish receivers that have gone on to become stars and I hope Taylor is one of them. But they overcame their size disadvantage by being tough, like Gary Clarke and Troy Brown. Taylor, even in his best college days did not show much toughness. When I look at him, he seems to lack the killer instinct.