'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[Emcee77]

I don't see it that way. Sounds like he was nervous and didn't articulate the point well. I assume he was trying to say something along the lines of, "The fact that Kelly was so upset that I was leaving made me feel like I had made the right decision, and that I will be successful in the NFL. He must think that I'm valuable if he got that upset about me leaving."

This is how I took it too. These kids are not that articulate, they often don't say quite what they mean or mean quite what they say, and I try to give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Old Man Mike]

That scouting report didn't surprise me. It distinguished between eye-test body-build and in-the-meathouse body-build on the one hand and pass-blocking vs in-line blocking for another.

Its message was: here is a guy with a bodybuilder's physique but when it comes to brute-work in the line he does not have ideal strength [yet]. Here read: upper body OK; lower body can use work; translation of total strength between upper and lower needs work because waist bends too much. When in space is more naturally athletic and bends knees.

The over-all tenor of this thing was: hey fellas, this guy isn't a finished product, but where we REALLY care [pass-receiving threat] WOW --- jump on him. The strength and technique stuff will all "fix", if he "wants it."

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Kind of, yeah. It's an ego thing. "Heh, coach was pissed. Sucks to be him without big Troy Niklas around next year." Otherwise he would have said something like "It means a lot to me that Coach Kelly wanted me to stick around but I think this was the best decision for my future."

Disclaimer: If there's video of this, I haven't seen it so all I'm basing my opinion on is the text.

And I guess what I'm saying is that I think that's what he meant to say. He's 21 and doing interviews before the combine. I just assume he is a little nervous and his thoughts are going a lot faster than his mouth is. I guess I just don't see the need to decide he is an asshat based on that comment. He has seemed like a good dude previously so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[SaltyND24]

I don't see that at all. Obviously Kelly is going to be upset loosing a major asset to his team. Kelly wouldn't have been too upset if Niklas wasn't very good.

See this guy^^

 

[Sherm Sticky]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Heard Ebron and Troy Niklas were two of the bigger winners from the weigh-ins this morning. Niklas checked in at 270 and carried it well.</p>— Kevin Weidl (@KevinW_ESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinW_ESPN/statuses/436525195247890433">February 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Crazy Balki]

Dude sounds like a major asshat.

I don't think so, he probably said it jokingly, and wasn't to be taken seriously. I'm sure Kelly was probably trying to get him to stay, but he appreciated that he meant that much to the team.

 

[dshans]

... I just assume he is a little nervous and his thoughts are going a lot faster than his mouth is.

I think that the opposite might be true. Very common.





Hell, all too often my fingers outpace my thoughts on the keyboard. Oral blurting before thinking thoroughly is part of my stock-in-trade.

 

[Fbolt]

Jumping to conclusions. Someone has a future in news reporting.

 

[Praytorian]

Maybe its me, but I'm thinking that if we do go to the up tempo, spread out offense this year, Koyak will be the man. I think its better suited for a guy who can run and catch a little better. Not to mention he actually looked as if his blocking was getting better towards the end of the year.
Thanks Troy you did great for our team and I wish you the best in your future (except when you play the Ravens). Grab that 1st TE selected .

 

[Irishnuke]

NFL Evolving TEs make for harder scouting - ESPN

As much as I would have loved for Troy to come back, I can't really fault him for making the jump.

 

[anarin]

NFL Evolving TEs make for harder scouting - ESPN

As much as I would have loved for Troy to come back, I can't really fault him for making the jump.

The next Gronk? Or the next Richard Quinn?

 

[TheChosen1]

The latest one.

Tight End U Shirt

 

[GBdomer]

Terrible just like all the ones before them were

 

[anarin]

based on recent draft history

 

[NDinL.A.]

based on recent draft history

Thanks for the link!

4th TE taken? Wow, I thought he'd be 2nd, MAYBE 3rd after the UW tight end. If he had stayed, I'm sure he'd be the first or 2nd one next year guaranteed. But then again, with his concussion history, if he's a 2nd rounder this year, I can't blame him at all.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Thanks for the link!



4th TE taken? Wow, I thought he'd be 2nd, MAYBE 3rd after the UW tight end. If he had stayed, I'm sure he'd be the first or 2nd one next year guaranteed. But then again, with his concussion history, if he's a 2nd rounder this year, I can't blame him at all.

Ebron, Amaro, Jenkins, Niklas in that order.

 

[Ironman8]

Ebron, Amaro, Jenkins, Niklas in that order.

I'd take Niklas over Amaro and Jenkins.

 

[arrowryan]

I'd take Niklas over Amaro and Jenkins.

Agreed. A team will basically be getting the 2015 Draft's best tight end a year early

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'd take Niklas over Amaro and Jenkins.

Honestly, I'd put Niklas at #4. Amaro reminds me of Dallas Clark.

 

[johnnycando]

Ebron, Amaro, Jenkins, Niklas in that order.

Agreed. Maybe Niklas 3rd.

Amaro #1 for me.

 

[Nothingman]

Hercules to the desert.

 

[aubeirish]

Good for Troy. He's got a lot of potential.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Haha remember when everyone earlier was saying he would be a late round pick or not go in the first 2 rounds?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Haha remember when everyone earlier was saying he would be a late round pick or not go in the first 2 rounds?

No

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

No

.

This is stupid. You would think at least his parents would have talked him out of it.

F California recruits.

This moron just lost millions. And I'm not talking simply about his lack of a degree (which I think he doesn't have, correct?)

Horrible decision. Has the potential to have a breakout year with Golson under center. Instead of being a 1st-2nd rounder he'll go in the 4th-6th rounds.

Either way, as everyone else has stated, this is about as dumb a decision as someone can make. Option 1: Work your way into a higher round, while completing your degree to set yourself up for more success in EVERY WAY. Option 2: Leave early, most likely getting drafted in the fourth round at best, without your degree. Which seems like the good choice? Hmm...

So assuming no unknown small school TEs blow up the combine, which usually happens, he is look at the #4 TE spot at absolute best and probably the #7-8 at worst. Based on last years draft, that means he is probably going in the 4th round, with a chance at the 3rd.

Someone, please tell me he wouldn't blow that projection out of the water with even a decent year next year?

 

[Domina Nostra]

Troy is too much of a meat head not to get paid for football, congrats!!!!

 

[Irishman77]

Floyd Fitz and Niklas...

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Speaking of meathead, his mom was just on ESPN and said her husband told her on their second date, "you look like good football breeding stock." Hahahaha

 

[irishog77]

I was kind of disappointed when Jake was drafted on Thursday that NFLN showed the Matthews family football tree and no mention of Troy. Was watching last night at a bar and didn't have audio or get to watch too close, did they mention his family or make anything of it when Arizona picked him?

Is his family history getting much pub?

 

[Nothingman]

I was kind of disappointed when Jake was drafted on Thursday that NFLN showed the Matthews family football tree and no mention of Troy. Was watching last night at a bar and didn't have audio or get to watch too close, did they mention his family or make anything of it when Arizona picked him?

Is his family history getting much pub?

I think there was a brief mention of the bloodlines and his Uncle Bruce. I did not see it live. I watched the clip secondhand when it was posted to the Cardinal's website.

I don't think it will get a ton of publicity because they are related through marriage. Troy's mother and Bruce's wife are sisters, so Troy doesn't actually have any of the legendary "Matthews" blood in him.