The Most Important WR Attribute No One Talks About: Catch In Traffic

[wickedsolo]

Right. There's good reason as to why it isn't talked about.

Evaluating college receivers is all about evaluating their ability to separate, catching consistency, and the speed to catch a slant then turn up field for a 40 yard touchdown, etc. Guys have to be athletically elusive.

The top two guys in this coming draft are Jeudy and Lamb. Have fun trying to find a bunch of contested receptions they made in college because most of their stuff has a stupid amount of separation then they get a bunch of YAC out of it. That's what you want.

I mean, Breshad Perriman got a lot of separation in college.

So did Chris Moore.

So did Phillip Dorsett.

[Culex]

I mean, Breshad Perriman got a lot of separation in college.

So did Chris Moore.

So did Phillip Dorsett.

Breshad Perriman was just tearing it up. I also mentioned though, catching consistency.

[wickedsolo]

Breshad Perriman was just tearing it up. I also mentioned though, catching consistency.

Perriman looks to have rebounded a bit, but let’s be real...he didn’t see the field at all until Mike Evans and Godwin got hurt. And his hands aren’t good.

Consistent hands is absolutely something to look for.

My point is, I think a WR’s ability to consistently haul in passes in tight coverage is a plus characteristic that not many people talk about.

If a guy can’t catch passes in traffic, he’s going to have a tough time in the NFL because it is rare that a guy is wide open or beats his man every snap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NC Raven]

As always, the more boxes a guy checks, the better.

It's up to every talent evaluator to decide how much weight to assign to each trait. Speed, height, leaping, elusiveness, fearlessness, agility, concentration, hands, etc etc etc. Everybody's gonna weight those a little differently, favoring certain traits more than others will.

WR's historically have long been at or near the bottom of the list in terms of positions where a first round pick guarantees a successful career. On almost any scale, WR and DL are at or near the bottom of the list of career value from a first round pick. All this tells us is they're harder to project. Or maybe they're more scheme, coaching and QB dependent than other positions.

[wickedsolo]

I want a wide receiver that is a dynamic athlete.


I'm leery of dynamic athletes that play wide receiver.




There is a difference...

[HbgPARavenfan]

I want a wide receiver that is a dynamic athlete.


I'm leery of dynamic athletes that play wide receiver.




There is a difference...

Exactly

[Ravenswintitle]

Breshad Perriman was just tearing it up. I also mentioned though, catching consistency.

he finally has a stud QB

[PTORaven]

in another year i'd totally agree, but right now we've got the best set of TEs in team history and a below-average WR corps (even by Ravens standards, which is unfortunately not very good). with this rushing attack, i want speed on the outside to keep them from loading the box. we got the TEs to catch in traffic, let's get the WRs to cut down on that traffic

[PTORaven]

he finally has a stud QB

don't do it

[Culex]

he finally has a stud QB

Well I don't know about "stud" but compared to who the other guy was I suppose he could be.

[tnsmith90]

in another year i'd totally agree, but right now we've got the best set of TEs in team history and a below-average WR corps (even by Ravens standards, which is unfortunately not very good). with this rushing attack, i want speed on the outside to keep them from loading the box. we got the TEs to catch in traffic, let's get the WRs to cut down on that traffic

I agree, and I think the Ravens FO does too based on the Hollywood/Boykin picks. Everyone keeps saying the "type" of receivers Harbaugh has referenced wanting are tough, big body guys, but I don't see it. Seems more like they want electric playmakers that can stretch the defense, and score from anywhere on the field.

[mmi16]

Judging college receiver is a Catch 22 situation.

Those that have demonstrated they can make contested catches have demonstrated that they don't have the speed or the moves to create separation.

Those that have the speed and/or the moves to create separation in college haven't demonstrated that they can make the contested catch.