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Seventh Round #238: WR Mario Alford


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OVERVIEW

2014: Started all 13 games. Led Big 12 and team in receiving TDs. 2013: Played in 12 games, started five games. Ranked 17th in Big 12 in receiving yards. 2012 (Georgia Military College): Primary position was running back. Led team in rushing with 541 yards on 52 carries with 6 TDs. 2011 (Georgia Military College): Primary position was running back.

PRO DAY RESULTS

40-yard dash: 4.32 and 4.27 seconds

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Needs a little bit of a runway, but has elite, run-away speed once he gets to his gear. Deep speed that must be accounted for by safeties. Can build on separation over the top. Pushes corners into early retreat, leaving open space underneath for simple throw-and-catch completions. Shows ability to become a more effective route runner on next level. Plays with excellent ball tracking and was able to go up and make contested catches on 50/50 balls downfield. Hands-catcher. Was mindful of quarterback and would work back to the quarterback. Kick returner with home-run potential.

WEAKNESSES Angular with slight frame and thin pegs. Straight-line speedster with some hip tightness. Not the short-area jitterbug that people think. Does not have stop-start foot quickness and needs to build up to his top speed. Primarily ran nine routes, deep comebacks, curls and hitches and will have to improve crispness of routes. Tends to dance too much and leave potential yardage on field as kick returner. Focus drops were a problem.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 5

SOURCES TELL US "He has some retention issues with information, so whoever takes him needs to have a plan for him. I like him personally. I would keep him outside and use him like the Colts use (T.Y.) Hilton." -- NFC East scout

NFL COMPARISON Travis Benjamin

BOTTOM LINE Plays with straight-line track speed and is a threat to go over the top of the fastest corners if they get too bold. Alford lacks the short-area elusiveness that would push his draft stock higher, but his speed will open underneath catches and he might be impossible to stay with on crossing routes. He offers value as a kick returner, but must be coached to hit it and go rather than dance. He might be able to play receiver outside in the right scheme.

RELATED LINKS

Alford among draft's top return specialists

Brandt: Official West Virginia pro day results

Alford runs scorching pro-day 40

Alford among top undersized receivers in draft

-Lance Zierlein

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Welcome to the Bengals. Here is the pure speed guy everyone knows they've needed.

Good return skills, so this preseason will be fun to see what kind o plays he can make.

Has RB experience, so he could be a fun gadget play guy, reverses, or the like. I'd like to see what he could do with the ball on a quick out, should a CB be off coverage.

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No issues with this one. I hope he holds-up in the NFL, not as quick as Hawk was/is, but definitely more of a home run threat and good KR exp/abilities, which they desperately need. Could have a big impact potentially. 4.32 forty is just, wow, when's the last time the Bengals' had that kind of speed on their roster?

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No issues with this one. I hope he holds-up in the NFL, not as quick as Hawk was/is, but definitely more of a home run threat and good KR exp/abilities, which they desperately need. Could have a big impact potentially. 4.32 forty is just, wow, when's the last time the Bengals' had that kind of speed on their roster?

Patrick Body. I think he ran like a 4.27 but that's all he could do...

Actually, Leon Hall had a fast 40, so did Jonathan Joseph...

I do like Alford's speed. Could help if he can get on the field in the offense.

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If you were asked who had the most receiving TD's, best receiving AVG, and the longest TD reception at West Virginia in 2014, most would say Kevin White.

Most would be wrong. It was this guy, Mario freakin' Alford. White had 502 more yards on the season, but Alford caught for 945 of his own.

With his return skills, how can anyone dislike this pick ?? Even a little.

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No issues with this one. I hope he holds-up in the NFL, not as quick as Hawk was/is, but definitely more of a home run threat and good KR exp/abilities, which they desperately need. Could have a big impact potentially. 4.32 forty is just, wow, when's the last time the Bengals' had that kind of speed on their roster?

Patrick Body. I think he ran like a 4.27 but that's all he could do...

Actually, Leon Hall had a fast 40, so did Jonathan Joseph...

I do like Alford's speed. Could help if he can get on the field in the offense.

Yeah JJ could fly (same 40 time) but I guess I should've mentioned on offense vs defense, or as a KR. Hall was closer to 4.4 but yeah those two and maybe a young CJ or Henry are the only burner track star types this team has had for a long time it seems.

I don't think any of them other than JJ ran a 4.32 (JJ ran a 4.31).

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If you were asked who had the most receiving TD's, best receiving AVG, and the longest TD reception at West Virginia in 2014, most would say Kevin White.

Most would be wrong. It was this guy, Mario freakin' Alford. White had 502 more yards on the season, but Alford caught for 945 of his own.

With his return skills, how can anyone dislike this pick ?? Even a little.

I'd like to repeat what I said above.

Is this thing on ?? Anyone listening ??

Great 7th round pick.

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I don't think Alford is much of a threat to any of the top 4 (Green, MJ, Sanu, or Wright).

I do however think he's a threat to everyone else playing the position.

His return skills (Two kick returns for TD's last season) and that 4.2 speed have to put him at, or near, the top of what's left.

The talk is having him return punts since we have Pac Man on kickoffs.

I'm good with that thought for a big reason. Lets name that reason, "Brandon".

Buh Bye.

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It will come down to whether Alford can show enough as a receiver to not only make the final 53 but get activated on game day. I don't think they are going to want to use an active gameday roster spot on a pure return guy.

It sounds like he can, but we'll have to see.

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If you were asked who had the most receiving TD's, best receiving AVG, and the longest TD reception at West Virginia in 2014, most would say Kevin White.

Most would be wrong. It was this guy, Mario freakin' Alford. White had 502 more yards on the season, but Alford caught for 945 of his own.

With his return skills, how can anyone dislike this pick ?? Even a little.

well, to be fair, he was probably getting single coverage by the oppositions 2nd or 3rd corner due to the extra attention on the other side

I like the pick too

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It sounds like he can for sure, but lets take a look when considering they "usually" keep 6 with #6 being inactive.

AJ, MJ, Sanu, and Wright look to be locks from my viewpoint.

Denarius Moore and Cobi Hamilton look to be the next two up for consideration.

Hamilton has been in and out, never realizing his potential and never plays teams.

Moore has some return experience, but hasn't produced while averaging less than 6 yards per return.

When looking at Alford's receiving production along with being an All-American returner, I think he's right there for the #5 spot.

I could see Moore being the inactive and Hamilton being an afterthought.

I could be wrong, but I really like this pick and think the kid will challenge for sure.

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If you were asked who had the most receiving TD's, best receiving AVG, and the longest TD reception at West Virginia in 2014, most would say Kevin White.

Most would be wrong. It was this guy, Mario freakin' Alford. White had 502 more yards on the season, but Alford caught for 945 of his own.

With his return skills, how can anyone dislike this pick ?? Even a little.

well, to be fair, he was probably getting single coverage by the oppositions 2nd or 3rd corner due to the extra attention on the other side

I like the pick too

He would be getting the same single coverage with AJ on the outside as well, unless they wanted to leave AJ in a one on one.

Either way, that sounds like a winning situation for us and with the comments from Hue about wanting to add speed, well, they did just that.

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