Don't cheat: Which Bengal had the highest catch% (receptions/targets)

[*SHRacerX*]

(06-03-2021, 11:24 AM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Here's some interesting stats from Drew Sample, which you can check here in the "Advanced Receiving and Rushing":

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SampDr00.htm

Yards Per Reception - 8.7
Yards Per Target - 6.0
Yards Before Catch - 3.8
Yards After Catch - 5.0
Total Yards Before Catch - 151
Total Yards After Catch - 198

Drew Sample average catch upon completion was under 4 yards.  Really try to wrap your head around that number.  3.8 yards.  That's insanely low.

He actually got more yards after the catch than he did in his route.  Does he strike you as the type of guy to elude tacklers?  The reason this number is what it is is because they would just dump it off to him, usually when he was completely uncovered.  Then he'd lumber forward until a defender would finally pick him up.

It should be no surprise he lead the team in catch percentage.  When the ball travels and average of 3.8 yards and you're usually completely uncovered it's only logical that you're going to have a higher catch percentage than those who actually running legitimate routes in legitmate coverages.

I know a couple of those were my personal favorite:  The TE screen.  Sample is underrated here as both a blocker and as a receiver.  Probably the fact that he was "overdrafted" in the minds of many in Rd 2.  

People would also probably be surprised to know that he has 19 more receptions than Uzomah did at this point in his career.  Both of their rookie seasons were pretty much a loss, but Sample's 40 receptions in his sophomore season was only surpassed by Uzomah ONCE in his career.  It was Uzo's fourth season where he had 43 receptions.

I hope both of them can get about 60 receptions in 2021, with Uzo getting more downfield shots and Sample moving the chains.