I am not that familiar with the kid but from what I can gather from highlights, college production and scouting reports, I am not too impressed.

He looks awkward and has weird hips....runs like he is struggling. Seems to catch the ball pretty well. Seems lumbering and slow.

What do you guys think?

TE1 Keller (far and away the number 1)
TE2 Clay (can he get better in 2nd year of WCO?)

It seems to me Egnew, Sims and Kyle Miller will be competing with a street FA to be the #3 TE.

I think 2 TE spots are up for grabs.

Did we really just draft two players named Dion?

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

I heard that he lost weight (20lbs or so) from college and Ireland was impressed with how he looked at a lighter weight and the discipline it showed to lose the weight..

Ultimately, we didn't have a TE on the roster that could block worth a sh*t. That was a problem, we needed somebody that could help block if one of our tackles is getting crushed and in the running game. On paper SIms seems to be that guy...

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All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.
Nietzsche

My take from what I've gathered is:

He's a legit freak athlete -- must faster than appears -- excellent soft hands -- huge range -- impossible match-up -- with some injury history and minor character concerns -- but many considered him a top level talent and a possible NFL star.

Yeah, I liked what I saw. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. His run-after-catch didn't seem that great to me, but I don't think he ever claimed to be a seam threat.

He was split-out a lot in college and he handled that like a champ.

I think he could be the steal in our draft -- and he's definitely a proven bad ass as opposed to Egghead (R3 last year).

The kid plays with injury and isn't afraid of knocking shit around. He showed excellent discipline taking the weight off for the combine and like I said -- his measurables are rather freakish.

Ireland obviously focused on ATHLETES throughout the draft with an accent on explosion (i.e., play making potential) and obvious speed. Even tho this dude looks huge in most of his college videos -- he can still run -- and will certainly run better at a lower weight.

But ... like most of the other premium picks -- Ireland ignored the injury flags and went after the best athlete. If (???) we get lucky and the injuries prove non-consequential we're golden. If the injuries prove problematic then... well, we'll see.

Word is Ireland wanted the kid from Miami...Jordan Reed and then fell back on the Josh Boyce until NE took him and then settled for Sims.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

BigNastyFish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> He was split-out a lot in college and he handled
> that like a champ.
>
> I think he could be the steal in our draft -- and
> he's definitely a proven bad ass as opposed to
> Egghead (R3 last year).
>
> The kid plays with injury and isn't afraid of
> knocking shit around. He showed excellent
> discipline taking the weight off for the combine
> and like I said -- his measurables are rather
> freakish.
>
> Ireland obviously focused on ATHLETES throughout
> the draft with an accent on explosion (i.e., play
> making potential) and obvious speed. Even tho this
> dude looks huge in most of his college videos --
> he can still run -- and will certainly run better
> at a lower weight.
>
> But ... like most of the other premium picks --
> Ireland ignored the injury flags and went after
> the best athlete. If (???) we get lucky and the
> injuries prove non-consequential we're golden. If
> the injuries prove problematic then... well, we'll
> see.

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He played basketball in high school.

Some of the negatives, per Pro Football Weekly, are what has been said on this board: "thick, tight hips; average hip roll and blocking power."

Some here have mentioned his big body helping out in the blocking: "needs to improve blocking technique; potential to improve as an in-line blocker."

As far as catching the ball: "concentration drops."

eesti Wrote:
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> Word is Ireland wanted the kid from Miami...Jordan
> Reed and then fell back on the Josh Boyce until NE
> took him and then settled for Sims.


Who was the kid from Miami? Do you mean Jordan Reed, he isn't from the U, he is another gator...

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All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.
Nietzsche

It does make me feel better that some of the reason he looked liked such an awkward tub in college was the fact that he was a tub. He was over 17% body fat (at 280 lbs) his senior year because the coaches told him to gain weight but basically just said....eat.

He is down to 264 and is now under the direction of a professional trainer so he should build some functional strength as well as better technique....

Doesn't say much for the staff at Michigan State.

Former Michigan St TE's....

Kellen Davis
Chris Baker

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

eesti Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It does make me feel better that some of the
> reason he looked liked such an awkward tub in
> college was the fact that he was a tub. He was
> over 17% body fat (at 280 lbs) his senior year
> because the coaches told him to gain weight but
> basically just said....eat.
>
> He is down to 264 and is now under the direction
> of a professional trainer so he should build some
> functional strength as well as better
> technique....
>
> Doesn't say much for the staff at Michigan State.
>
> Former Michigan St TE's....
>
> Kellen Davis
> Chris Baker


I remember reading something where he said he played at that weight because they required him to Run Block something like 80% of the time and he/they felt he needed it to hold up.

Even so, like his skill set. If he's in shape he has a good chance to be a very nice TE for us.

Sims could be a big surprise

jlyell13 Wrote:
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> Sims could be a big surprise


No doubt. He's a very Big Physical kid with tons of upside.

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

coopdogg3 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah, I liked what I saw. Beauty is in the eye of
> the beholder I guess. His run-after-catch didn't
> seem that great to me, but I don't think he ever
> claimed to be a seam threat.

He seems more like the kind of guy that would carry 2 defenders for 10 yards rather than outrun them.

I think Sims will be our #2 TE at least when the season starts. Kid is an athlete. He was Mr Basketball coming out of high school I believe for MI and that's not a small tihing.He definately is not a receiver first TE like Eifert. But if you check out the numbers Eifert average 13.7 yards a catch Sims avg 13.2. Eifert's longest catch last year went for 38 Sims, 44. He reminded me a bit of Bubba Franks last year but with the weight lost I think we will see a more athletic TE. I like the kid. The character issue came mostly from him following along his dad in a scam. He addressed it adequately imo and has move on.