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Larry Fitzgerald 2004 Scouting Report
Photo - Larry Fitzgerald - Cardinals
The Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald set a new NFL playoff record this postseason with 30 receptions for 546 yards and 7 TDs including 2 scores in their Super bowl loss. Despite the Steelers' last minute heroics, Fitzgerald set a new NFL postseason for the record books with an incredible overall performance breaking Jerry Rice's twenty year record. Fitzgerald's performance in the Super bowl totaled 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 TDs including what appeared to be a late 4th quarter game winning score on a 64 yard TD reception.
Draft Insiders called him the best of a generation in the class of Jerry Rice and Randy Moss among modern day receivers. He has developed exceptionally quick as a pro and certainly ranks with the two NFL greats despite just completing his 5th NFL season.
Larry Fitzgerald College Scouting Report from Draft Insiders '04 Yearbook
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1. * Larry Fitzgerald #1 - 6'3" 225 lbs. - Pittsburgh - Sp. 4.45 Rating 95
Gifted third year sophomore finished an excellent career in the Big East, setting a number of NCAA, school and conference receiving records in the process. Larry is a special athlete who was a dominant performer in the Big East over his two seasons as a collegian. He combines great size, quickness, speed and playmaking ability that should allow him to be the next impact receiver to enter the NFL. He won the Biletnikoff Award as college football's top receiver this past season, as well as first team Big East honors. He is a well-built athlete with fine speed and outstanding leaping skills that have allowed him to dominate any cornerback he has faced in college. He combines excellent hands and rare body control with outstanding separation speed and the fine running skills to break any completion. He makes the acrobatic catch look routine and several of his catches in the end zone were as good as any in recent memory. He displays a rare combination of speed, quickness, leaping skills and hands. He has the frame to out muscle any corner and the combination of his initial quickness and good functional strength should allow him to beat the jam consistently. He was not challenged often at the line of scrimmage with the bump-and-run and will have to prove he can escape at the line, but he has the talent to accomplish that. He understands the use of body positioning to shield off defenders when going up for the ball and his ability to hang in the air is “Jordanesque". He will make the tough catch in a crowd and hold on to the ball despite the big hit. He has outstanding leaping ability and is capable of out jumping any defender. He has top speed with the extra gear to get deep and make the big play without world-class speed numbers. He runs a great slip screen, fade pattern and skinny post that is virtually impossible to defend, sometimes even with double coverage. He ranks with Randy Moss and Jerry Rice as the premier receivers of the past few decades. They combine all the talents to be special as an NFL receiver. He is very similar to Moss in many ways, though he lacks the special speed of the Viking Pro Bowl receiver. He also has elusiveness after the catch with the power and cutting skills to change directions quickly fast and maintain top speed. His big play ability and overall maturity may allow him to provide as much impact as any receiver over the past decade as Moss.
The Numbers: Major impact receiver completed a great short two-year career. During the ‘03 season, he caught 92 passes for 1672 yards with 22 TDs and a fine 18.2-yard average. He set a new NCAA record with a TD reception in 18 straight games, while making at least one TD catch in all 12 regular-season games which ended in his career finale in the Continental Tire Bowl loss to Virginia. As a freshman, he caught 69 passes for 1005 yards and 12 TDs with an average per catch of 14.6 yards. He scored a TD in his final six games that season and 8 of his last 9 contests.
The Skinny: Premier blue chip prospect with the talent to be a major impact performer early in his career. He may be the rookie with the ability to make the fastest contribution next season. His well-developed tremendous receiving skills, including excellent body control, leaping ability and terrific hands will merit him an early NFL starting job. At the combine, he did not workout. His outstanding talent will fit into any type of offense, especially the vertical game where his ability to separate deep and outmuscle defenders give him a chance to become a top-flight performer almost immediately. He wants the ball in big situations and defies double coverage to consistently deliver in those situations. He will not get out of the top two to four picks regardless of any trades. Special talent with the rare level of development to be an early Pro-Bowler performer despite only two seasons at Pittsburgh. He should be among the NFL's premier receivers within a short period. Best overall talent in this class with Raiders or Cards likely clubs.
Draft Projection: 1st Round -Top Two Pick
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