04-13-2021, 11:35 AM
(04-13-2021, 11:21 AM)PDub80 Wrote: This would be evened out with zone defenses where guys are wide open sitting in space as well as screens. All much more common than deep passes and bock shoulder stuff.
If WR SEP didn't matter it wouldn't be tracked statistically or discussed. I don't understand the idea you have that all WRs are the same in terms of creating or generating space for themselves. They time things like short space cone & shuttle drills for a reason.
In the game of inches, .1 yards of separation matters.
Is WR separation discussed outside the internet and the media? I find it hard to believe that coaches gameplan around a stat that ranks Cole Beasley as the fifth best receiver in the NFL. If you go by average separation Tee Higgins is as good as Amari Cooper. Danny Amendola has higher average separation than DeAndre Hopkins, Stefan Diggs, and Davante Adams. Tyler Boyd gets more separation than DK Metcalf.
The best receivers are middle of the pack in separation because they don't need 3 yards of separation to be open. You don't throw to Alex Erickson when you need to complete a jump ball on the sideline to move the chains. You throw to Tee Higgins. Erickson doesn't catch the ball unless he's wide open with 3+ yards of separation.
