WR Skyler Green Profile
Anyone who has listened to Bill Parcells throughout his career knows the Dallas coach puts a premium on special teams. That explains the Cowboys’ selection of LSU wide receiver Skyler Green (5-foot-9, 192, 4.5).
Green is a decent receiver prospect, but during his time in Baton Rouge, he established himself as a prolific special teams performer.
Green is a short, compact return specialist who established an LSU record with four returns for touchdowns. While not a sprinter in the purest sense, he has extraordinary acceleration, hitting his top speed in just a few steps, allowing him to get separation from would-be tacklers. He also is very elusive, a shifty runner who changes direction very quickly.
Green will be thrown into the mix returning punts and probably kickoffs, and has the speed and strength to contribute on other special teams, as well. He is something of a pinball, bouncing off opponents while maintaining his balance, and he’s able to fight through more tackles than many players his size do. His elusiveness stems in part from his great vision and shiftiness, and in part from his solid physique, making him tough to tackle.
The 2005 Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, Green averaged 13.3 yards on 27 returns in 2005, one of which he returned for a touchdown, a year after leading the nation with an 18.5-yard average as a sophomore.
On offense, Green is best suited as a slot receiver. He doesn’t have the size to play outside, but his vision and route-running make him a capable asset inside. He runs good routes and has good hands, but he’s far better running after the catch than he is as a pure pass catcher. Once his receiving technique is refined, he has the potential to develop into a more dangerous receiver.
Initially, however, Green’s biggest contribution. Expect him to get a chance on both return teams, and on punt coverage teams. He doesn’t have quite as much pure speed as kickoff return specialist Tyson Thompson, but he is shiftier and cuts back better.
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