Player Information:
- Tyrone Walker, WR Illinois State
- 5’10”/191 lbs
- Hometown – Indianapolis, Indiana
Pro Day:
- 40 yard: 4.59
- 20 yard: 2.64
- 10 yard: 1.60
- Bench: 11
- Vertical: 39
- Broad: 129”
- Shuttle: 4.41
- 3-cone: 6.99
Introduction:
Walker is the latest player to come out of the Packers farm team, also known as Illinois State but whose road was harder than even his teammates. He saw defensive end Nate Palmer selected in the 6th round by the Packers and then heard that his quarterback, Matt Brown signed as a priority rookie free agent (i.e. a player that signs immediately after the draft finishes). Walker however, was only asked to come in as one of 27 try out players looking to snag on of the last spots on the 90-man roster. Walker apparently showed enough during the tryouts and was signed to a contract and perhaps even more surprising was he recently caught the attention of one of the guys throwing the football.
Outside Analysis:
Draft Insider: Dependable small-school receiver with poor size/speed numbers. Comes back to the ball out of breaks, easily adjusts to errant throws, and makes the reception in stride. Fights with his hands to separate from defenders, displays outstanding hand/eye coordination, and competes to make receptions. Stays in bounds running after the catch and gives effort trying to pick up positive yardage.
Aaron Rodgers: Tyrone reminds me of Antonio Chatman, who not many people know I actually played with. But Deuce had very similar size and agility but he was a good route runner, very good in and out of his breaks. And I see that with Walker. I think he has very good hands, he’s a good route runner and I think he has a chance to be a good player in this league.
Video:
Analysis:
- Keep in mind this video only shows catches, not drops.
- Also keep in mind this is from 2011, but Walker increased his production in 2012.
- Not a burner by any means but definitely quick enough
- Good awareness, knows what’s going on in coverage and down and distance
- Often motioned to the slot, probably will make his career at slot initially, runs good intermediate routes and can find the soft spots in coverage.
- Seems to be a pretty natural hands catcher, again I’m not sure if bobbled catches were included in the video so this could be biased
- Looks to be the “to go” guy; often times the quarterback just locks on to Walker and waits for him to get open/come out of his breaks.
- Lots of experience with slants, wide receiver bubble screens and the “Jordy Nelson” route, which is basically where a wide receiver playing a off man cornerback catches the ball without moving and either stiff arms or jukes the cornerback for yardage.
Packers rationale: Walker fits the prototypical mold of a Packers wide receiver; he isn’t the biggest, fastest or strongest guy out there, but he has good hands and can run crisp routes. He is also versatile and can play on the perimeter on in the slot. You could sort of compare him to a poor man’s Greg Jennings, who himself wasn’t the biggest or fastest but was a smooth route runner who used technique instead of physicality to gain yards. The Packers wide receiver corps is ripe for change with Greg Jennings and Donald Driver no longer with the team and James Jones and Jordy Nelson’s contracts coming up in the next couple of years. The Packers did draft two wide receivers in the 7th round but both missed most of camp with injuries and probably aren’t guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster. Even if Walker fails to make the squad this year, he’s a great candidate to make the practice squad, where the Packers typically keep at least two receivers.
——————Thomas Hobbes is a staff writer for Jersey Al’s AllGreenBayPackers.com.
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