04-12-2017, 10:45 AM
(04-12-2017, 10:26 AM)ochocincos Wrote: That isn't really fair to say. A great example of why that isn't fair to say is Khalil Mack coming out of Buffalo.
Buffalo plays in the same conference as Western Michigan, so he's going up against the same level of OL as Davis is against DBs.
Mack ended up going 5th overall to OAK and has been a monster ever since.
You might say that Davis never played against anyone good whereas Mack showed his ability against "Power 6" schools. And yes, Mack did put good stats against "Power 6" conferences when playing against them (5.5 sacks and 12 TFL in eight games). But Davis has been no slouch either.
Some notable games for Davis against Power 5 schools:
2013 - 96 yds, 1 TD vs Michigan St; 112 yds, 1 TD vs 17th ranked Northwestern
2015 - 154 yds, 1 TD vs 5th ranked Michigan St
2016 - 70 yds vs Northwestern; 97 yds vs Illinois
Sure, there were a few games against Big 10 teams that were not good too (2013 Iowa, 2014 Purdue, 2015 Ohio St), but that can't be blamed fully on the WR as it's up to the QB to throw him the ball. He might have not gotten much separation in these games, or it could be that Western Michigan tried to get others the ball and/or got behind enough that they took Davis out and let backups play.
It should be noted too that if people are going to criticize Davis for not playing much against top competition or not producing well (enough) against Power 5 teams, Mike Williams did terrible against top draft DB prospects too (at least in 2016 that I have a link to).
https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-prospect-matchups-how-clemson-wr-mike-williams-fared-against-top-db-prospects/
Khalil Mack vs OSU was all the tape you needed to see of Mack to know he'd be a star. He beat down Mewhort who was a 2nd rounder that year. Mack was dominant against guys who played in the NFL, obviously some were early in their college career but he was a disruptive force. I am not saying small school guys can't succeed I am saying he hasn't played anyone, and often times is lined up in the slot.
As for you "Williams was terrible against those being drafted", disagree completely. First off that is agaisnt guys projected to go in the 1st, not draftable guys as a whole. Second, Against Alabama he had Humphries beat for what should have been a 25 yard TD but Watson air mailed it over his head he was wide open. Also they assigned his TD to a different CB in the championship game, but there should have been a switch on the play because of the stack but they didn't switch and it was wide open, that should have been on Humphries.
I think people confuse my reservations about Davis as "hate". Davis may end up being a good WR, but you seriously have to question the way he got his production. Guys playing 7 yards cushion on him all game, being lined up in the slot against low level schools, things that should make anyone who actually looks at tape pause for a second. I'd take him in the 2nd in a heartbeat, I simply don't think he is the level of WR you tie your top pick to.
