2011 NFL Draft: Armon Binns

Today is the official start of the NFL Draft, the first pick will be made in something like 4 hours from the time I am writing this. While today is the culmination of the process, overweight grown men looking at incredibly fit young men in naught but spandex has dominated the news cycle in the sports world for the last two months. Basically for 2 months out of 12 a year America becomes Ancient Greece. It's like fucking clock work. Anyway, today is the big day, though not for UC prospects. The best two of which are Armon Binns and Jason Kelce in this class. Neither has any shot what so ever to be drafted before the last day. I am going to give both of these guys a breakdown in anticipation of their big day on Saturday, (hopefully).

Measurables

In the context of his fellow receivers there really isn't anything physically that makes Armon stand out from the crowed. His vertical leaping ability is good but not great, same for his broad jump. In terms of his running it's more of the same, good but not great. Truth be told the best thing that Binns has going for him in terms of the meassureables is his size. At 6'3" and 209 his is going to be cast as a physical possession receiver.

Production

Armon did not come into the program and set the world alight, very few your players got the opportunity to do that at UC, particularly with the way that Mark Dantonio and Brian Kelly liked to run the program with an emphasis on down the line development rather than instant impact guys. He wasn't red shirted in 2007 and he played in 7 games as a true freshman. His sophomore year was more of the same, but things changed in 2009. Here is the season by season breakdown of Armon Binns production.

The biggest difference between 2008 and 2009? This guy was no longer with the program. By the end of his Sophomore season Binns was the primary backup to Dominick Goodman as the outside receiver in Brian Kelly's scheme. But being Goodies backup is a position that didn't bring a ton of playing time with it. Goodman played in 48 straight games to close out his career and he started 39 of them. In terms of talent among the 2008 receivers Binns would probably rank third behind the aforementioned Goodman, Mardy Gilyard and the ever enigmatic Marcus Barnett, but he never received much in the way of opportunity.

He got his chance in 2009 and he seized it with gusto. Armon started the last 25 games of his Bearcat career and he caught a ball in each and every one of them. His combination of outright size, leaping ability and deceptive speed made him a perfect fit for Brian Kelly's all verticals all the time offense.

Scouting Report

The verdict from most sources about Binns is that he is something of a one dimensional player. Most of the scouting reports read something like this "Armon Binns was created with the singular purpose of running down field and catching lobs over smaller defensive backs. Not possessed of great outright speed or off the charts quickness he will be relegated to a life of NFL poverty as a 6th receiver and special teamer." I think that sells him short to some extent. I think Binns is a better athlete than he gets credit for. He isn't a freak, but he can be productive because he minds the details and is as sure handed a receiver as you can find. Binns isn't the type of receiver who can be plugged into any system and expected to produce, but there is a place in the NFL for a guy with his skill set.

Projections

I have yet to see anything that has Binns being anything more than a late round pick. His best outcome would probably be a selection in the 6th round. There remains a very real possibility that he could go undrafted altogether. That would be quite a fall from being a sure fire draftee going into last season.

Highlights

Quite a few on offer, but lets keep it to two.