New Orleans Saints Forums - blackandgold.com

I've watched a lot of Norwood. Its strange, he's basically invisible until Bama needed a crucial conversion.

Thats when Norwood shined. When Bama had to have a clutch catch to survive, it was always Kevin Norwood making that catch.

BTW: Rob Rang nails it. This analysis of Norwood is almost a perfect write-up.

Quote:

Strengths Weaknesses
STRENGTHS: Possesses a well-built frame with good overall musculature and good height for the position. Good initial quickness and shows some savvy as a route-runner, alternating his gait and gaining a clean release against press coverage.

May not possess elite top-end speed but accelerates smoothly, has some lateral agility to elude and fights for extra yardage, running through arm tackles and attempting to leap over efforts to grab him by the legs.

Good body control. Tracks the ball well and shows the ability to adjust to poorly thrown passes. Can extend and pluck the ball from outside of his frame and shows no fear when crossing the middle.

WEAKNESSES: Surrounded by an awful lot of talent at Alabama and never had to be "the man." Does the little things well, but may not possess the top-end speed to wow scouts and doesn't show an explosive burst to separate.

COMPARES TO: Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears - Given that he's two inches taller, comparing Norwood to Bennett may not be giving him enough credit. Like Bennett, however, Norwood leaves the SEC as a productive, polished player who for whatever reason hasn't generated the buzz of some of his peers.

Player Overview
Considering he starred for one of the most high-profile programs in the country, Norwood ranks among the more underrated receivers in the 2014 draft.

Possessing an impressive blend of size, overall athleticism and polish, Norwood quietly emerged as quarterback AJ McCarron's favorite target in 2013, picking up the slack while sophomore Amari Cooper struggled with injury and inconsistency.

Norwood was cast as a complement to Cooper in 2012, finishing with 29 catches for 461 yards and four touchdowns in his first season as a starter. Alabama's focus on the running game didn't allow for gaudy statistics for Norwood (38 catches for 568 yards) but his seven touchdowns were nearly double that of Cooper, who only caught four.

Norwood further impressed scouts with a solid performance at the Senior Bowl, where he showcased the reliable route-running and soft hands to rank as one of the better receivers in the prestigious all-star game. Given his size and experience in the slot, don't be surprised when Norwood catches on in the NFL and contributes relatively early in his pro career.

--Rob Rang (2/5/14)

For some reason I thought he'd run in the 4.6 to 4.7 range. Running a 4.48 at 6-2 198 definitely improves his NFL stock.