Jaguars promote former Wolverine Brandon Watson to active roster
"He is one of just four players in school history with two pick-sixes, and ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at Michigan’s Pro Day."
That is faster than I thought
November 1st, 2019 at 1:15 PM ^
+1 for the informative title and not just calling it "Brandon Watson"
Congrats to Brandon - that's awesome news.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:16 PM ^
Unheralded 3 star no one had heard of, stayed all 5 years and rose up to get a lot of playing time at the end of his career. Tied for the Michigan career and single season records for pick sixes.
He’s always a Wolverine.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:20 PM ^
That 4.52 gets four FAKES out of five. Dude got burnt crispy every time his stellar LOS jamming skills failed him.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:21 PM ^
The straight line speed was never his issue, it was the change of direction and acceleration that got him toasted.
November 1st, 2019 at 3:05 PM ^
No, no, no. This is not Morgan Trent we're talking about. One does not play elite press man with bad hips and change of direction.
Trent = Pro-level speed with old man hips
Watson = D1 hips with old man speed
November 1st, 2019 at 1:22 PM ^
Key phrase is “pro day” 40 time. Those are always a good tenth faster than combine numbers.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:35 PM ^
Had the same thought. That would have been a 4.65 at the combine.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:39 PM ^
Seems like a good guy and great teammate. Always want the best for former Wolverines. I'm sad to say my lasting memory of him in Maize and Blue is being repeatedly exposed by OSU last November. The speed he evidently has did not translate.
November 1st, 2019 at 2:46 PM ^
He was more than a great teammate. He was a very good player who had one bad game. Possibly because he was asked to do something he couldn't quite do.
While your last memory of him might be that one game, there was a lot more to his career than that. Sorry, but I find it annoying when fans can't seem to acknowledge that.
November 1st, 2019 at 2:56 PM ^
Unfortunately that’s sports. You are remembered for your highest highs and lowest low (especially if the low is traumatic as in Watson’s case).
Ask Bill Buckner.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:44 PM ^
I thought he was pretty solid for a couple years minus that osu game. Seems like everyone got toasted a bit in that game. Good for Brandon getting activated and getting some fat game checks.
November 2nd, 2019 at 8:36 AM ^
Agreed. Watson has continually gotten way too much blame for OSU. Find one guy on our defense that didnt get torched. I clearly remember Devin Bush getting smoked trying to stay with McCall on a wheel. Safeties blew coverages wide open. I love Don Brown, but Ryan Day had his way with us last year any way he wanted. It was a debacle all around and it grinds me any time some dipshit acts like Watson was our downfall.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^
He was trying to keep up with 4.3 guys, lined up a foot behind to dissuade fades and/or getting picked. He didn't have the speed or athleticism to win that situation, but few do. In the right scheme he could be a perfectly adequate.
November 1st, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
Yeah because Darius Slay ran a 4.3 and never gets burned. OK dude. Speed helps but doesn't make a good or bad corner. Richard Sherman ran a 4.5 at the combine. Just wish the guy luck, and stop taking shots from your keyboard.
November 1st, 2019 at 3:27 PM ^
Well said.
You don't make it to the league being slow. Being put in bad situations, doesn't mean you're slow. Always hated he got beat up so badly for having a bad game against OSU. So did the rest of the team. Gary sure didn't look like a top 15 pick, and generated so push against OSU. Winovich was nowhere to be seen in that game, and all are playing in the NFL.
November 2nd, 2019 at 9:23 AM ^
*sigh* this is why 40 yard dash times need to get taken with a grain of salt.
Being fast when you get shot out of a gun and run in a straight line doesn’t translate to football speed. Watson, based on his position, has his back to the direction he will be running. He’s also in a position where fluid hips and change of direction are important. He’s going to be engaged with defenders, not running full speeds.
straight line speed is only in effect when you’re running away from defenders, or you’re chasing down an offensive player. It gauges “speed,” but not how fast you are on a football field.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:20 PM ^
This is great to see. While he was picked on in The Game, I don’t think many individuals could have been successful in that situation.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
This is true. They did one of those film breakdowns on Fox and it basically showed the formations and picks used by Ohio State left whoever was on the crosser no chance. Brandon Watson was our slowest corner, so that obviously didn't help. But, the truth is Don Brown got beat that day soundly and that's why we have so much zone coverage in the playbook this year.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:26 PM ^
It is Swatson.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
One of my favorite nicknames in recent memory. Go get it, Swatson!
November 1st, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^
Surprised that Channing Stribling can’t catch a break, better DB in my opinion. But good for Brandon maybe he can carve a niche out on special teams, he was a serviceable player who may have had some athletic limitations but always good to see.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
Congrats to him; awesome he's getting a shot.
November 1st, 2019 at 1:59 PM ^
Will be making his NFL debut in London too!
Just out of curiosity, does Vegas have an over/under prop bet on the number of crossing routes the Texans will run on Sunday?
November 1st, 2019 at 2:36 PM ^
OK, does this move the Zordich vector up/down?
Kidding ... partly.
November 1st, 2019 at 3:15 PM ^
Congratulations to a guy who busted his ass at Michigan. Happy for you Brandon!
November 1st, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
Congratulations and good luck BWat!
November 1st, 2019 at 8:53 PM ^
Good to hear for him. But I’ll never forget him getting smoked all game last year against osu.
November 1st, 2019 at 9:30 PM ^
Good for him.
November 1st, 2019 at 9:33 PM ^
So he makes an NFL roster. So what, anyone can do that.
November 2nd, 2019 at 4:07 AM ^
Judging from your handle, you must be nearly as old as I am.