University of Oregon's Jeff Maehl is an NFL Draft Super Bargain!
79I was reading an article written by Tom Kinslow entitled, “Jeff Maehl: What Are His Pro Prospects After Last Night's Performance?” Mr. Kinslow wrote; “Jeff Maehl is a guy who wouldn't crack the starting lineup for most programs, let alone be the featured receiver” He also stated in the comments section, Maehl "came out of nowhere" and that he is "a product of Chip Kelly's scheme." His article was brief, 3 paragraphs in length, but it brought on a firestorm of . . . well . . . unfriendly comments.
Well, Here's my humble opinion of why Mr. Kinslow's assesment of Maehl is wrong and Maehl should be on every team's list of 2011 NFL Draft Super Bargains!
I've been watching Jeff Maehl since he led my alma matter (Paradise High School) to the 2006 NSCIF Division I Football Championship. That year Paradise High was ranked #4 in California and #41 in the Nation by MaxPreps.com. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure those are both the highest rankings respectively that Paradise High has ever achieved in the sport of football, It's certainly higher than anything we achieved when I attended Paradise High back in the dark ages.
As a senior at Paradise High, Maehl led his NSCIF Championship team in receiving with 40 receptions for 576 yards and 11 TD's. Paradise's QB, Jon Hays, only threw for 998 yards and 14 TD's that season. Maehl accounted for more than HALF of Hays' passing yards and 79% (11 out of 14) of Hays' passing touchdowns while leading his team in per game scoring with 8.7 points per game.
Maehl was recruited by Oregon to play safety, but soon began to see time at receiver catching 9 passes for 188 yards and a TD as a true freshman. As a sophomore he built on what he had done his freshman year, catching 39 passes for 421 yards and 5 TD's. As a Junior Maehl snagged 53 passes for 696 yards and 6 TD's.
This year as a senior for the #2 ranked Oregon Ducks, Jeff Maehl quietly set several benchmarks for University of Oregon receivers. He became the University of Oregon's all time single season receiving touchdown leader with 12 touchdowns. He was #1 in the Pac-10 and #2 in the nation for receiving touchdowns in conference play with 10. He set the record for the most consecutive games with a receiving touchdown by a University of Oregon player, catching a TD pass in nine straight games. His 5.7 receptions per game ranked second in the Pac-10. He ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in receiving yards per game with 78.6. Over his college career he has at least one reception in 33 consecutive games, is ranked fourth all time for University of Oregon in career receptions with 169 and eighth all time at University of Oregon for career receiving yards with 2,178.
None of these stats would be nearly as impressive if Maehl played for a team with a prolific passing offense. But the Oregon Ducks prefer land travel. During their 2010-11 championship bid, the Ducks completed a total of 247 passes. Their Heisman candidate running back, LaMichael James, ALONE ran the ball 294 times. The Ducks as a whole ran the ball SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN times! Maehl's stats are all the more impressive when you take into account the fact that Oregon Coach Chip Kelly's offense is a RUNNING offense.
Let's compare Maehl's numbers to Greg Salas of Hawaii (a passing offense). Salas led the nation in receiving yards in 2010. He had 119 receptions for 1889 yards. Hawaii attempted 616 passes compared to Oregon's 394! Hawaii completed 394 passes (63.9%) to compared Oregon's 247 (62.6%). Salas caught 19.3% of the passes thrown by Hawaii QB's. Maehl Caught 19.5% of the passes thrown by Oregon QB's. If you compare Maehl's numbers to any of the top receivers entering the 2011 you'll find similar statistics.
So Why Is Maehl Being Projected as a 7th Round Pick at Best?
The biggest criticisms of Maehl are that he's “too small” and “too slow.” In response, I call your attention to Ryan Broyles WR/PR, Oklahoma. Height: 5-11 (2-3 inches shorter than Maehl depending on where your getting your info.), Weight: 175-184 depending on where you get your info (exactly the same as Maehl), Projected 40 Time: 4.41 (0.15 sec. faster that Maehl, but anyone who's played the game knows there is a big difference between game speed and 40 time).
Oklahoma threw the ball 633 times compared to Oregon's 394. Broyles caught 20.6% of the passes thrown by Oklahoma's QB's, a mere 1% more than Maehl. Broyles longest reception of the season, guess how long? 81 yards, exactly the same as Maehl's longest reception of the season. The difference, Maehl's was in the BCS Championship game against the #1 team in the nation and Maehl's reception now stands as the longest reception in BCS history!
Here's what really fires me up though, Broyles with 131 catches, only got into the endzone 14 times (thats one touchdown every 9.35 catches). That's only 2 total TD's more than Maehl but Maehl did it in 77 catches and one less game (one touchdown every 6.4 catches)!
So, Maehl's taller, weighs just as much, catches just as many ball per pass attempt, has a higher yards per catch average and scores more often than Broyles, but Broyles is 0.15 seconds faster in the 40, yet Broyles was being projected to go in the 2nd round before he announced that he was returning to Oklahoma for his senior year. Is 0.15 seconds in the 40 really that big of a detriment that Maehl falls at least 5 rounds below Broyles in the draft? Because as far as I can see Maehl, at the very least, measures up to Broyles in every other statistical category.
Funny thing, the NFL Draft. How many 1st round picks turn out to be a bust? In contrast how many lower round picks turn out to be Tom Brady, or Wes Welker, or Matt Birk? Will Jeff Maehl be the next NFL star to add his name to the list?
- Air Maehl
Originally published 11/20/2010 Updated 12/5/2010 In 2006, my son, who was 8 at the time, began taking an interest in football. He began asking me to take him to see a game at my alma mater, Paradise High...
He'll prove he should have been drafted higher when he gets on a team. He was my favorite player in college football this year and even I'll admit he doesn't have 1st round measurables or speed. Even so he just knows how to play football. A couple years ago the Raiders drafted a reciever (im not gonna say his name but u know who I'm talking about) that every scout said had below average hands. Just because of his speed the Raiders drafted him over Michael Crabtree who caught any and everything thrown to him in college. It's quite easy to tell who is having the better career right now. Sometimes scouts overlook simple things like consistency and production because others are blessed to be so called "Specimens". I'd definitely pick Maehl up in the late 2nd early third range if i was a GM. But it really doesn't matter when he gets drafted. He'll be another draft steal like Austin Collie or Julian Edleman.
Lesa,
Thanks for the comment. No doubt Maehl has the tools to be a productive NFL player. I've just been so impressed with this young man that I want to see him get the respect he deserves.
@ Violent J:
Thanks for the comment. I agree with you, he doesn't have 1st round size or speed, but from the looks of the draft projections so far, only two or three do this year. But I'd take him in the 2nd or 3rd and consider it a bargain if I was a GM who needed a WR.
The thing that impresses me the most about him is his ability to hang onto the ball when he's hit during the catch.
He's not a slow as his 40 time makes him look either. I've seen him outrun so many DB's with faster 40 times that I wonder what his 40 time would be if his coach had some DB's chase him down the track!
He'll never be a superstar in the NFL but he reminds me of Brandon Stokely. He'd fit in perfectly with a team like the Colts, Packers or Patriots. If he finds a fit with a team that utilizes him as a slot receiver he could have a long productive career just like Stokely, who has been around for 12 years.
Aaron Rodgers recently said he told the Packers scouts to take a look at Maehl since he's followed the guy since high school. As a fellow North Stater, I grew up in Corning, and saw both Rodgers and Maehl play ball I think it would be an amazing thing to see those two guys connecting for touchdowns.
Dan,
Thanks for the comment. I grew up in Paradise and played ball at Butte College, Albeit a long long time before either of those two young men. And I too saw both of them play in high school. As I share the same high school with Maehl and the same Jr. College with Rodgers, I've followed them both closely in their careers.
I hadn't heard that Rodgers had asked the Packer scouts to take a look at Maehl, where did you hear that? I agree with you that it would be an amazing thing to see those two guys connecting for TD's.
It would also be interesting for an unusual sorta thing, in that Maehl has worn green and yellow since the first time he set foot on the football field to play organized football.
Paradise Jr. Football wears the same colors as the High School (Green and "Gold" translated Yellow), University of Oregon, although they had more uniform options this year than Imelda Marcos had shoes, the school colors are Green & Yellow, should he be picked up by the Packers he'll have worn the same colors his entire playing career and at every level of football. I wonder if there's another player in the NFL who could claim the same?
very good article. I think he is going to make some team very happy where ever they get him.
Lesa Jerkins 16 months ago
I, too, believe he should be a #1 round draft pick. I have no doubt that this young man has GOD given talent, skills, abilities, and determination to make it with any team anywhere at anytime. Sincerely, Lesa Marie