Mario Manningham, NFL Draft Prospect
By Daryl Breault
 | Wide Receiver 6' 0" 188 lbs. Michigan Junior Speed: 4.45 (est) Pro Comparison: Marvin Harrison Strengths: Instincts, Intelligence Weaknesses: Durability, Strength |
Manningham is not as fast and explosive as DeSean Jackson. He’s not as big and strong as Limas Sweed. He can’t leap tall buildings like Early Doucet. But he comes close too all of them in every category.
Manningham is the most complete receiver eligible for the 2008 draft. He doesn’t jump out in any one area, but he has very few weaknesses. This is his second year of starting full time in only his junior year. He runs a 4.4 40, is quick in and out of breaks, runs sharp routes, creates after the catch and is a dangerous deep threat. He has developed a great rapport with Chad Henne and consistently fights his way back to the ball when plays break down and gives great effort as a blocker. He knows how to find the seams against zone coverage’s and can break his man down in man to man. He shows little of the prima donna attitude of many receivers and rarely demands the ball. He was as on the verge of being the most dominant receiver in college football last year before he was hurt. He was the Wolverines best player against Ohio State and USC. He exploded for 137 yards and 3 TD in a 2006 win over Notre Dame and averaged 114 yards over a tough 4 game stretch beginning with ND and followed by Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan State. Manningham probably would have broken 1000-yards if not for a broken leg that caused him to miss the next 4 games. He returned strong with 86 yards in the loss to Ohio State and 79 yards in the Rose Bowl loss to USC.
This season, (2007) he is projected to finish with more than 50 catches and 800 yards. If he reaches those numbers he will have improved both totals in each of his 3 seasons. Manningham has not been dominating this year (1 TD, 14.7 avg which is a career low), but neither has the rest of the team. He does not have the same rapport with freshman QB Ryan Mallet as he does with Henne and has gained only 96 yards in 2 games with Mallet, compared to 117 yards in the loss to Oregon alone with Henne under center. His 16.4 career average and 16 TDs attest to his big-play capabilities.
Manningham is about 185-lbs wet, wearing boots and has a tough time against physical press corners and struggles to get off the line against the jam. He will have a tougher time in the pros but has the determination to overcome it. The physicality of corners is usually a rookie receivers biggest obstacle. While he gives good effort as a blocker, his size and strength limitations hold him back in this area. Most of his limitations can be overcome with good coaching and time in the weight room. Once he learns to use his hands better and gets a little stronger there’s no reason to think he won’t become a #1 receiver in the pros. He loses concentration sometimes when getting pushed around and is a little hesitant to go over the middle, at this stage he may purely be a sideline/deep threat. He has absolutely no return experience and has missed significant time with injuries.
Update: As of this writing (3 Jan.08) Manningham has yet to declare for the 2008 NFL Draft, but I predict within the next few days he will. Manningham had an excellent junior year (2007). He has emerged into an elite receiver and I am currently giving him a first round grade for the 2008 NFL Draft. I like how Manningham played down the stretch. In five out of his last six regular season games he had over 100 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. In the 2008 Capitol 1 Bowl game victory over Florida he had 5 catches for 78 yards and a TD. For the season he accumulated 72 receptions with 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns. Manningham is a real playmaker that wants the ball.