FanPost

Tamorrion Terry draft scouting report

Tomorrowland

Florida State WR, Tamorrion Terry, is a boom or bust draft prospect. His physical tools are so good, he has the potential to be a very dangerous big play WR at the NFL level. Risk factors, including his raw technique and medical questions with his knees, make it possible that he'll never even become a number 3 type WR as a pro. In recent years, we've seen WRs like this get drafted as high as the early 2nd round (Dorial Green Beckham in 2015) or not get drafted at all (Keyarris Garrett from Tulsa, 2016). Garrett is currently with Toronto in the CFL. DGB is out of pro football.

My comp for Terry is Martavis Bryant from Clemson. Bryant is also with Toronto in the CFL, just like Garrett. If they were in the same draft, I'd pick Terry over Bryant. Multiple suspensions for substance abuse derailed Bryant's once promising NFL career. In his 2nd season, Bryant only played in 11 games, due to suspension and injury, but still had 50 catches for 765 yards and 6 TDs.

In Bryant's first 2015 game, the Steelers were clinging to an 18-15 lead against Arizona with just over 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter, backed up on their 12 yard line. Bryant runs a slant route against Honey Badger and catches a pass from Landry Jones. In the middle of the field, he pushes Mathieu down, then reverses field and heads in the opposite direction. At least 6 defenders give chase. He heads down the sideline, then cuts back towards the middle, then does a front flip into the end zone for the victory sealing TD as the hometown Steelers fan go crazy. If you took out that one play, the Steelers would have had 86 passing yards in that game.

Bob McGinn quoted an NFL scout prior to the draft, who said Clemson claimed that Bryant was the fastest WR on the team. The scout was incredulous, refusing to believe that Bryant was faster than Sammy Watkins. The Clemson source was insistent, saying that if Al Davis were still alive, he'd love Bryant. The 2014 draft was stacked with very talented WRs. In McGinn's position rankings, he had Bryant ranked ahead of Paul Richardson, who was a 2nd round pick.

In the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2015, the Broncos edged out the Steelers 23-16. Antonio Brown didn't play in that game due to a concussion. Bryant had 9 catches for 154 yards. He had more yards than the next 2 WRs from either squad combined. After that season, Steelers fans were doing stat comparisons between Bryant and Randy Moss, because they thought he was on the verge of becoming a star.

When Tamorrion Terry was a high school athlete in Georgia, he also was drawing Randy Moss comparisons. He was a local celebrity, a force of nature on the football field. Can he succeed where Bryant fell short? Where should an NFL team draft a prospect like this, when it seems equally likely in 5 years that he could be a Pro Bowl player or playing for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL?

Background

6 foot 2.75 inches tall, 207 pounds, 33 3/8'' arms, 78 1/8'' wingspan, 9.5'' hands (Pro Day)

Bryant: 6'3.75'' tall, 211 pounds, 32 5/8'' arms, 79'' wingspan, 9.5'' hands

Terry: 4.44 and 4.45 sec (40 time), 32.5'' vert, 10'6'' broad, 15 bench reps, 4.53 sec (shuttle), 7.00 sec (3 cone)

Bryant: 4.42 sec (40 time), 39'' vert, 10'3'' broad, 16 bench reps, 4.15 sec (shuttle), 7.18 sec (3 cone)

Many of the size and testing measurements are similar for Terry and Bryant. The vertical jump and the shuttle time for Bryant are substantially better compared to Terry. Other than that, they are about the same overall.

Redshirt Junior. 23 years old. Name pronounced "Tuh-MAR-ee-on"

From a small town in rural Georgia. 3 star recruit. There were doubts whether he would qualify academically, which initially scared off some schools in recruiting. He got his test scores and grades up and qualified.

Supposedly ran 4.39 sec in 40 in HS. Was WR and OLB, played basketball, did high jump, long jump, 200 meters and relay teams in track in HS. Listed as 6'4'' tall and 205 pounds in HS.

Fan of Florida Gators (how do you end up at FSU as a Gators fan?) and Steelers.

Meniscus surgery on right knee in August of 2019. Said his left knee was bothering him since before 2020 season began. He had swelling in his knee, tried to play though it, but had surgery in October of 2020. I noticed him wearing a compression sleeve on his left leg that he wasn't wearing in an earlier game in 2020. An article said he wore a knee brace in HS, but I couldn't find any information about whether this was as a precaution or if he had an injury or knee condition in HS. Took a big hit to his midsection in one game in 2020, briefly came out of game, but returned later.

Ron Dugans, a former FSU star and NFL WR was his position coach in college. Terry was part of a small group of players who caused a kerfuffle by openly criticizing FSU staff over handling of covid testing and protocols.

2018 (12 games): 35-744-8. Also played special teams as gunner.

2019 (13 games): 60-1,188-9.

2020 (5 games): 23-289-1.

Has long TD plays that went more than 70 yards.

Very polite in interviews, humble, team oriented. With other FSU players, did volunteer landscaping work at a local elementary school.

ESPN 121st overall, 20th WR (4th round)

CBSSports 125th (4th round)

PFF 186th, 27th WR (late 5th to 6th round)

PFN (Tony Pauline) 179th, 28th WR (late 5th to 6th round)

Sports Illustrated 12th outside WR (5th round)

Not ranked by The Draft Network or Drafttek.

Lance Zierlein 6.15 draft grade. Compared to Marquez Valdez Santling of USF (5th round 2018, Packers). Scantling ran 4.37 sec in the 40. He had 33 catches for 690 yards and 6 TDs, career highs last year with ARod and GB.

LZ calls Terry big and explosive. Doesn't like that he ran a limited route tree and had focus drops.

WRs who had comparable grades in 2020 range from 2nd rounders to UDFA, including Van Jefferson 6.27 (late 2nd), Gabriel Davis 6.20 (4th round), Antonio Gibson 6.16 (3rd round), Antonio Gandy Golden 6.13 (late 4th round), Isaiah Hodgins 6.14 (late 6th round) and Trishton Jackson 6.00 (UDFA).

Strengths

Height, weight, speed beast. FSU wanted to get the ball in his hands any way they could, using him on some direct snaps, jet sweeps and bubble screens.

Extra gear in open field. Can fly. Pulls away from defenders chasing him. On about 90 yard TD, slant and go, he destroys the pursuit angles by the DBs and instead of them closing him down, he's increasing the gap as he goes into the end zone.

Explosive. Caught short pass on trick play, saw open late, burst through opening with speed and gained 55 yards.

Eats up ground with long, gliding strides.

Good lateral agility for big WR. Can juke to the side and dodge tackles.

Flashes potential as route runner. Good job using rub from slot WR on slant route. Nice swim move past CB to get open in end zone. Some plays shows ability to sink hips and make turns better than average for a WR his size. Nod outside, slant, then flattens it to dig before reversing direction on whip route back to outside. That's not an easy route for a big WR to run.

Aggressive and physical on some blocks. Not shy from contact.

Adjusts well, tracking the ball in the air, can adjust his body to get to the catch point.

Simply too big with long arms, too much for smaller CBs to handle. Difficult for them to challenge upstairs. Even if they are right next to him, if the QB elevates the ball or gets the ball into his body, he has a chance to come up with the catch even with the CB draped all over him.

Oddly, his "bad route running" can help set up double moves, opening him up for big deep passes. If he runs a sloppy slant, hitch or dig that doesn't fit the coverage, this tells a believable story, because it is consistent with what he normally does. One play, he fakes a slant that makes no sense based on the route by the slot WR inside of him, because the timing would be all messed up and give the slot CB a chance to jump in front of it for an INT. The outside CB still bites hard and is left in the dust as WR goes over the top.

In both good and bad ways, Terry as a prospect can be summed up very well by the final 2 minutes of the 2019 game against Virginia. FSU is down by 7 points and has the ball late in the 4th quarter. On the 2nd play of the drive, Terry turns his head too early on a stick route and the CB drives on it. If the pass isn't deflected at the LOS, CB at least has a PBU, maybe even a game sealing INT. With just over a minute left, the ball is on the 50 yard line. WR smokes the CB with a nod and go double move and it should be an easy TD, but the QB makes a bad pass. With 30 seconds left, CB tries to jam the WR at the LOS. WR jab steps inside, sells an outside release, then cuts hard to the inside, crossing the face of the CB, who grabs him for a penalty as the WR goes down the seam. With 25 seconds left, CB jams the WR off the line. There is a single high safety and the rest of that side of the field is vacant, open for the WR to operate. When the WR's inside fake doesn't work, he just gives up on the route when he gets jammed, not even trying to get open, even though the QB is still standing in the pocket, looking for a target. With 19 seconds left, the ball is on the 20 yard line. CB uses 2 handed jam at the line to WR's chest, WR tries to go down sideline into the end zone, but there isn't much space for the pass towards the corner and it is incomplete. On the very last snap, Cam Akers tries to run outside towards the WR, desperately trying to score a TD. Terry doesn't make the block and allows his CB to help make the final tackle.

For better or worse, that's Terry in a nutshell. Very exciting highs and game changing big plays, but also very frustrating and inconsistent lows. A Space Mountain roller coaster ride.

Like Randy Moss, Terry can be contained for most of the game, then suddenly, bang, bang, he catches 2 long passes and suddenly he has about 150 receiving yards. Feast or famine type WR, but there is always that element of combustible danger to the defense.

Weaknesses

Struggles to create separation. Lacks technique in route running and doesn't play with strength matching his size. Doesn't give the QB enough space to make throws.

A WR is supposed to read the triangle of defenders near him, their positioning and techniques, and have a plan for how to run his route. It might seem easy to run a 3 step slant, but especially at the NFL level, you can't just run it the same way every time, no matter what the defense is doing. The way Terry runs some of his routes don't fit how the defenders are aligned and how they are playing him.

He turns his head too early on a slant, giving the CB the opportunity to drive on the route and contest the catch or try for an INT. On a 3 step slant, the S bails to center field and the CB is playing outside leverage. WR needs to run this route this route at a more deliberate pace, then explode to the catch point and attack the ball, but he runs it too quickly, which shrinks the passing window for the QB. CB playing outside technique, he widens the CB with a fake release, breaks inside, then breaks back out, and instead of creating separation he just goes right back into the CB he just left. Drifts into zone defender, probably thinking it is man coverage, instead of settling into opening in the zone. Attacks wrong leverage of CB, failing to effectively widen the defender.

The slot WR inside of him goes in motion. When the DB doesn't follow the motion and by looking at the stance of the LB, those are keys to what coverage the defense is calling. WR's release doesn't fit the call and he just runs himself into tight coverage, unable to stress or threaten the safety.

CB playing off, reading QB in zone coverage. WR runs 5 yard stick route, simply runs straight, then turns around. The CB drives on it and nearly gets an INT. WR doesn't protect the QB, not using his body to box out the CB. He runs a 5 yard stick against a CB playing inside leverage. WR drifts wide as he turns around, putting CB in ideal position to bait the QB into the throw and jump the route. The QB senses that it doesn't feel right and tries to extend the play and a LB attacks him outside the pocket. WR doesn't try to work back to the QB, drifitng away from the QB, which nearly causes an INT when the QB tries to throw the ball to him.

Sloppy execution in his technique. Hips pivot inside on 2nd step of slant, prior to break on 3rd step, tipping off the CB on the route. CB playing inside technique on a slant, WR drifts into the break at too shallow of an angle, helping the CB contest the catch. Doesn't sell release prior to backing up for WR screen, fake not convincing on a WR reverse. Should settle in zone and stay parallel to the LOS, but instead drifts upfield, helping zone defender contest the catch, opening door for them to cut underneath him. Doesn't fight back at proper angle to the QB from break point, allowing CB to cut under him and look for the INT. Head turns a yard prior to start of break on stick route, then 3 steps to plant and stop. Running 6 yard stick route, his head turns nearly 3 yards prior to his break point, leading to a contested catch situation. Ran a 9 yard curl route on 3rd & 11.

Struggles to get in and out of breaks. Can't stop and make sharp turns. Short stick route and requires 4 steps to turn instead of 2, driving an extra yard up the field. Out route from bunch set, he rounds the break, not able to make the turn at a sharper angle. 3&5, trying to run out route for first down. Hips not fluid after fake inside, as he tries to turn to look back over his outside shoulder. From when he begins to turn on intermediate out route, it takes him 5 steps and 3 yards to complete the turn, helping the CB to drive on the route. Not always smooth in transition on double moves, taking an extra hitch to gain his balance.

Running go route, he can't get good release or carve out space down the sideline, QB doesn't have space to fit the ball in. Long 3rd down, zero separation. Bail technique by CB, WR runs straight at CB, then deep post, drifting into the break. The CB caps the route and nearly gets an INT. This is a perfect example of why a WR can't get open deep simply by running fast. If you let the CB run the route for you, he's going to beat you to the ball. Terry doesn't have a strong feel for how to set up the CB so that he can gain good leverage and stack the CB so that he can attack the pass in the air. Go route, with the defense showing one coverage presnap and rotating into a different coverage after the snap, WR tries to press inside late when it would make more sense for him to fade to the outside. Beats press jam at LOS, but he doesn't use his body to stack the CB, allowing the CB to close the space and contest the deep pass.

Ball in red zone. He's trying to run a slant for a TD. Middle field open, no safety, CB playing inside technique. WR's angle is too shallow and he runs into the CB, making it a contested catch situation. 4th down pass, man coverage, allows himself to get pressed up tightly against the sideline and the CB jumps all over his backshoulder at the first down marker, anticipating a backshoulder throw. The pass goes inside of the CB and Terry is able to extricate his arms and trap the ball against his body to make the catch. I can't tell if this was really tricky by the QB or simply a terrible throw that led to a lucky result.

His hands are not so good. Double Doink hands on some plays as the ball bounces off one hand first, then the second, instead of simultaneously grabbing it with both hands. Body catches balls. Dropped some easy catches. Had potential TD in end zone, but ball goes through his arms like a wet bar of soap. Had potential long TD catch, but drops the ball. Articles say he had a 14% drop rate in 2018 and 9% in 2019.

Prone to fumbling the ball. Carries the ball away from his body, not high and tight, with the point of the ball pointed forward, exposing it to getting punched or ripped out. Has 3 fumbles on his stats on 124 career touches.

Not decisive as a runner. Hesitates, probes and tries to reverse field instead of attacking more directly and cutting it up inside or heading straight for the edge. This works in HS and sometimes in college, but the speed on defense is better in the NFL.

Sloppy and undisciplined as blocker. Gets hands outside of the shoulder of the CB and grabs jersey, then doesn't let go when defender tries to pull away, risking penalties. 3rd&5, the QB tries to run for the first down on an option play, the WR doesn't turn around to block his CB, allowing the CB to help tackle the QB. CB beats his block and blows up a WR screen.

Played in gimmicky scheme with limited route tree, spread system. Faces learning curve to adapt to more complicated NFL playbook.

When he faced Bryce Hall one on one, I thought Hall got the better of the matchup. Hall was a 5th round pick last year.

Knee surgeries on both knees the last 2 years. Potential long term durability question mark.

Pro Comparison and Grade

Martavis Bryant (4th round 2014 Steelers, Clemson.) 4th round grade.

I didn't like Martavis Bryant as a draft prospect. According to a study by Greg Peshek, Bryant had a drop rate of 12.5% in 2013, which was the worst percentage for any of the major WR prospects in the 2014 draft class. Scouting reports said Bryant wasn't intelligent and would struggle learning an NFL playbook. There were character flags about his maturity. Despite these doubts, if it weren't for his off the field issues, Bryant likely would have become a 1,000 yard level NFL WR. When we look at the career of Sammy Watkins, the 4th overall pick that year, it is reasonable to think that if Bryant had remained in the league, we'd view him as being the better player compared to Watkins.

I'm concerned about Terry's inability to create separation and his lack of precision running routes. The Steelers had Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, so some of the other WRs didn't need to be well rounded. When Bryant was a rookie, Bell had 854 receiving yards. That's more than the combined 2020 totals for Higbee, Akers and Hendo. AB was a deep threat himself. In Bryant's good 2015 season, AB had 1,834 receiving yards. Markus Wheaton has about the same yardage as Bryant that season and Wheaton never became a star. It is hard to tell if Bryant was really on a track to become an elite WR or if he was more the beneficiary of the circumstances around him with the Steelers team during that period.

Terry is an intriguing prospect, but I wouldn't draft him early. It is difficult to predict whether a player like this will become the next Brandon Marshall (who was a late 4th round pick in 2006) or the next Nick Toon (6'2'' tall, 215 pounds, 4.49 sec (40 time, 4.43 sec at Pro Day), 37.5'' vert (39'' at Pro Day), 10'10'' broad, 4th round pick 2012. Toon was on the Rams PS in 2015.)