Figurs

[ascxiii]

According to Byrne, Figurs was a rarity on Baltimore's draft board. There was a red star next to Figurs' name, which symbolized how highly the Ravens thought of the return specialist and wide receiver.

In order to receive a red star, all nine Baltimore scouts must be in agreement that a prospect possesses "Raven" qualities, such as toughness, character, durability, nastiness and especially ability. After all nine scouts agree, the rest of the people in the room must also agree, and the red star is awarded.

Figurs was one of only 14 players on Baltimore's 150-player board had a red star, Byrne said.

from jmart's latest
http://www.kansas.com/254/story/59325.html

[Poopley]

they liked the way he threw up the mob signal everytime he tackled a punt returner. 

[Pike]

they liked the way he threw up the mob signal everytime he tackled a punt returner. 

figurs takled punt returners?

[WildCatzPhreak]

they liked the way he threw up the mob signal everytime he tackled a punt returner. 

figurs takled punt returners?

I don't remember if it was punts or kickoffs or both, but Figurs and Watts were always the first two to the ball carrier when kicking it to the other team.  Figurs played both sides of special teams, and he was damn good at it too.

[Poopley]

Figurs = awesome gunner, and yes he tackled punt returners.

[KSUIntegrity22]

Figurs = not nearly tough enough to be a gunner in the NFL.

But he was more than adequate last year.

[Poopley]

true, Mel Kiper Junior called him the best gunner in the draft, and he's wrong more than half the time.

[doom]

Figurs = not nearly tough enough to be a gunner in the NFL.

But he was more than adequate last year.

They said the same about Vince Papale in Philly.

[KSUBrad]

Figurs = not nearly tough enough to be a gunner in the NFL.

But he was more than adequate last year.

They said the same about Vince Papale in Philly.

Agreed.  Bad movie, but agreed.

[KSUIntegrity22]

Figurs = not nearly tough enough to be a gunner in the NFL.

But he was more than adequate last year.

They said the same about Vince Papale in Philly.

When did he play again? Back when the lineman were 260?

He'd take Figurs too. Most of the time he was going against 1 guy, trying to get down the field. That one guy was usually a guy close to his size too. Now he goes against two, more often than not. And these guys are quite a bit bigger than him.

I just don't see him being that good of a special teamer other than returning kicks. Maybe kickoff coverage...

[JTKSU]

Figurs = not nearly tough enough to be a gunner in the NFL.

But he was more than adequate last year.

They said the same about Vince Papale in Philly.

When did he play again? Back when the lineman were 260?

He'd take Figurs too. Most of the time he was going against 1 guy, trying to get down the field. That one guy was usually a guy close to his size too. Now he goes against two, more often than not. And these guys are quite a bit bigger than him.

I just don't see him being that good of a special teamer other than returning kicks. Maybe kickoff coverage...

The Ravens organization and Mel Kiper both hyped up Figur's gunner abilities.  If I had to choose between believing an extremely well run professional organization and THE authority on the NFL draft or you, I'll go with the  guys that get paid to make these decisions.

Figurs won't be a top-flight receiver, but he'll put pressure on the defense. He's an accomplished punt and kick returner, and Figurs was a fantastic gunner as well at K-State.

"Certain guys are fast, and certain guys play fast," said Eric DeCosta, Baltimore's director of college scouting. "When you watch him on tape, you see an unbelievable speed and acceleration. It's not usual that you get a guy that the special teams coach loves, the coaches love, and the scouts love."

[FBWillie]

Being a gunner is more about speed, is it not?  I've never seen a gunner pancake a blocker, and you almost always have two guys in on the tackle of the return man.  Not only that, but how big is your average return man?  If figurs isn't big enough to take down guys that are returning punts, than he shouldn't be in the league.  Even if he can't take them out by himself, he can atleast slow them down enough to get some help. 

I think he'd be fine if they decided to use him there.

[doom]

He's the kind of player who will find a way to be successful.

[rlatta]

Figurs = not nearly tough enough to be a gunner in the NFL.

But he was more than adequate last year.

They said the same about Vince Papale in Philly.

When did he play again? Back when the lineman were 260?

He'd take Figurs too. Most of the time he was going against 1 guy, trying to get down the field. That one guy was usually a guy close to his size too. Now he goes against two, more often than not. And these guys are quite a bit bigger than him.

I just don't see him being that good of a special teamer other than returning kicks. Maybe kickoff coverage...

Since when do linemen have anything to do with being a gunner?  He has speed and he can make open field tackles.  Figurs will be a great NFL gunner.

[Legore]

Figurs = not nearly tough enough to be a gunner in the NFL.

But he was more than adequate last year.

They said the same about Vince Papale in Philly.

When did he play again? Back when the lineman were 260?

He'd take Figurs too. Most of the time he was going against 1 guy, trying to get down the field. That one guy was usually a guy close to his size too. Now he goes against two, more often than not. And these guys are quite a bit bigger than him.

I just don't see him being that good of a special teamer other than returning kicks. Maybe kickoff coverage...

Last time I checked they play with 11 men on the punt return unit in the NFL just like they do in college.  If they do end up double teaming him then he's already done an effective job by taking a man out of the punt return scheme.  He was actually double teamed pretty regularly this year and still got down and made plays.  The double teams also opened up some fake oppurtunities for us see the Nebraska game for an example of this.  When you have to put a double vice on a gunner it makes it much less likely that you'll be able to block a punt and makes you more succeptable to fakes.  The Ravens will be happy if Yamon gets doubled and doesn't make a ton of tackles because chances are someone else will in that situation.  There is no guarentee that Yamon or anyone will do well in the NFL but he was called the best gunner in the draft by every analyst I heard talk about it so I don't know how you can question his ability to peform that role in the NFL. 

[KSUIntegrity22]

No way he's physical enough.

Guarantee it.

The VP comparisson is completely invalid, I mean he was 6'2 190 atleast if you ever saw the real guy. And he was playing at a time that everyone was smaller, and everyone was slower. He ran a 4.5 40 and was considered above average at that time.

Sure he was double teamed in college... But the NFL is a completely different deal. It's hard to measure who's going to be a good gunner, or special teams performer, but I don't think he's physical enough.

[Legore]

No way he's physical enough.

Guarantee it.

The VP comparisson is completely invalid, I mean he was 6'2 190 atleast if you ever saw the real guy. And he was playing at a time that everyone was smaller, and everyone was slower. He ran a 4.5 40 and was considered above average at that time.

Sure he was double teamed in college... But the NFL is a completely different deal. It's hard to measure who's going to be a good gunner, or special teams performer, but I don't think he's physical enough.

Yes the NFL is different but the people that make a living by analyzing how players skills will transfer from college to the NFL all agree that he'll make a fine gunner in the NFL.  I'm not going to argue with those guys it's not often special teams guys get drafted in the third round so clearly they feel pretty strongly about Yamon's ability to peform the tasks.  There are no sure things in life and certainly none in the NFL draft but Yamon being able to peform the gunner role in the NFL is about a sure as thing as you'll find in the draft.  That skill is actually much more transferable to the league then most anything else you do on a college football field.  Obvioulsy the competition is better but the schemes, techniques etc are pretty much the same which isn't the case for most other positions. 

I watched Yamon as a gunner for the last 2 years and I never saw him get blocked one one one and often he wasn't blocked even by double teams.  Obviously he wasn't playing NFL caliber players week in and week out but playing in the big 12 there is no question some of the guys he was up against were future NFL players and he still excelled against them.   

[KSUIntegrity22]

We'll see.

I hope he does well.

[coitus]

and the ravens don't exactly suck at player evaluation.