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Matt Maiocco is down in Phoenix for the annual league meetings, and he has been able to get a whole host of quotations from 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. One of the more interesting tidbits from MM was about the 49ers wide receivers, and one in particular:
"I'm really looking forward to Ricardo Lockette's progress," Harbaugh said Wednesday morning at the NFL owners meetings. "I can't wait to see what he does. I real inflection point for him is coming."
Jim Harbaugh can be very effusive with praise of players, as we have seen with a whole host of current and now former 49ers. That being said, he generally seems to praise people that actually deserve some of that praise. For those wondering if this was meant to push A.J. Jenkins, it could be. However, he did also say on NFL Network the team is real excited about Jenkins.
That's not to say you should all boost Ricardo Lockette up your fantasy football draft boards, but this is interesting to at least consider as we head into OTAs, minicamps and training camp.
Lockette was a 2011 NFL Draft pick, and you can check out his Combine results over at NFL Draft Scout. They have him down with a filthy 4.34 40. Combine that with his 6'2, 211 pound frame and it's reasonable to get a little excited about his athleticism.
Our Giants blog, Big Blue View, had a scouting report on him back in March 2011. He seems to be a guy who can make catches, but also struggles at times with consistency in that area. He comes across a bit like a track guy on a football field, which would have been right in Al Davis' wheelhouse.
Lockette spent last season as a practice squad guy, and will be back on a reserve/future contract this season. It gives him a shot at a roster spot, but it's a lot like a non-roster invitee to spring training. Odds are long.
Here is what Scouts Inc has to say about him:
Lockette is a big receiver with rare straight-line speed. He is a very raw route runner who struggles to drop his hips to get in and out of his breaks with foot quickness and a burst to separate. He has a rare combination of size and leaping ability, which gives him a good chance to high point the ball in traffic. He needs seasoning at reading coverages and becoming a precise route runner.