[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Strengths: Possesses great speed for size, shows good body control and flashes the ability to make the big play downfield. Has good athletic ability, flashes the ability to run crisp short-to-intermediate routes and catches the ball fairly well. Shows adequate recognition skills and generally settles into a soft spot working against zone coverage. Uses wide frame to shield defenders from the ball, he flashes the ability to make the tough catch in traffic and has the potential to develop into a productive red zone target. Gets downfield fairly quickly and has the potential to develop into a quality special teams' player. Has experience lining up at tight end, is capable of limning up at H-Back and can obviously line up at receiver so has good versatility.

Weaknesses: Does not play as fast as 40-time indicates and his speed is too straight-line. Lacks ideal burst for a receiver and will have some problems creating separation working against man coverage at the next level. Doesn't use hands well, doesn't play with a mean streak and needs to improve ability to get a clean release working against press coverage. Lacks ideal size for an in-line blocker and doesn't sustain blocks well. Has to keep weight down to stay at receiver and conditioning will always be critical to success. Work ethic has been questioned at times and character may be somewhat of a concern. Broke left wrist in 2001 and missed two games with a sprained ankle in 2003 so durability is somewhat of a concern.

Overall: Mix played in all 13 games of his true freshman season in 2002 and he lined up at tight end at that time. He moved from tight end to receiver midway through the 2003 season and he started 11 games that year. Mix started four of the 13 games he played in during the 2004 season catching 19 passes for a total of 294 yards and three touchdowns. As a senior in 2005, Mix finished with 288 yards and two touchdowns on 23 receptions. Mix is a classic 'tweener. He isn't quite big or strong enough to develop into a traditional tight end in the NFL and he lacks the initial quickness, suddenness and fluidity of a fulltime wide receiver. In our opinion, Mix's best chance to contributge in the NFL is at the H-Back position for a team that likes to get their tight ends extra involved in the passing game (see: Chiefs and Redskins). Mix's speed will cause matchup problems for linebackers and his size will cause matchup problems for defensive backs, so he is capable of becoming a quality situational receiver at the next level. Because of that upside, we think he is worth selecting late in the 2006 draft.

This is what I've been saying for a while now.

No guarantees on Mix, but if we get Hackett we don't need any WRs in the draft. Let's give this guy a shot and if he develops and can be productive in the Red Zone great, if not look to the draft next year for WRs.

If we don't get Hackett then we probably target a big, physical WR in the 2nd or 3rd round.