04-03-2017, 06:54 PM
I think stats like yards per target with AJ or without AJ can be over analyzed.
There are actually numerous Factors that go into a player's production and many of those Factors can change over time.
Competition level, offensive line play, learning curves, health to name a few.
For example, we had a New Offensive Coordinator and Lafell was on a new team last year. Andy Dalton had zero game experience working with Lafell and the schedule was Brutal at the start of last season. As the season progressed Dalton & Lafell likely felt more comfortable with certain routes he ran as a #2. Then AJ goes down and Lafell gets #1 attention garnishing different coverage from the defense and likely running some differing routes as the #1. He and Dalton had to work together in a different new way as the #1. Relearn each other in a different role.
Roll forward to this season and Lafell will get to go back to his #2 role with he and Dalton being more on the same page with certain routes Lafell will run as the #2. The Offensive Coordinator will also have a better feel for how to use Lafell. Light bulbs could go off in Lafell's and Dalton's heads as they become more Comfortable with what each other will be doing on specific plays. They are Evolving at working together so to speak.
With all that said, Lafell is a very safe 800 to 950 yard receiver in a #2 role and has shown that he could be an emergency #1 that could possibly barely crack the 1,000 yard mark maybe if a full time #1. Barely & maybe.
He has been a very good replacement for Sanu & Marvin Jones and can hold down the #2 job this season if they need him to. Especially with he and Dalton Gaining more and more Familiarity with each other.
There are actually numerous Factors that go into a player's production and many of those Factors can change over time.
Competition level, offensive line play, learning curves, health to name a few.
For example, we had a New Offensive Coordinator and Lafell was on a new team last year. Andy Dalton had zero game experience working with Lafell and the schedule was Brutal at the start of last season. As the season progressed Dalton & Lafell likely felt more comfortable with certain routes he ran as a #2. Then AJ goes down and Lafell gets #1 attention garnishing different coverage from the defense and likely running some differing routes as the #1. He and Dalton had to work together in a different new way as the #1. Relearn each other in a different role.
Roll forward to this season and Lafell will get to go back to his #2 role with he and Dalton being more on the same page with certain routes Lafell will run as the #2. The Offensive Coordinator will also have a better feel for how to use Lafell. Light bulbs could go off in Lafell's and Dalton's heads as they become more Comfortable with what each other will be doing on specific plays. They are Evolving at working together so to speak.
With all that said, Lafell is a very safe 800 to 950 yard receiver in a #2 role and has shown that he could be an emergency #1 that could possibly barely crack the 1,000 yard mark maybe if a full time #1. Barely & maybe.
He has been a very good replacement for Sanu & Marvin Jones and can hold down the #2 job this season if they need him to. Especially with he and Dalton Gaining more and more Familiarity with each other.
