(08-05-2020, 06:31 PM)Murdock2420 Wrote: Part of that growth is just not being injured. The 0 years is from a season he played 3 games, and only had 2 targets before he was out hurt.

There is improved production but the most important ability is availability and when you are dropping easy catches still in your 3rd year (2nd if you wash out year one due to injury) and now have to complete with Higgins, Boyd, Green and Tate for WR targets, I think he will be written off quickly if Burrow can't count on him to catch it or try to break up a pick. 

I want him to succeed, he wears a Bengal jersey, so as long as he is on this team I will want him to break out and be a success, I just think he's going to go the way of Ced, and Billy Price as first round what were they thinking picks.

(08-05-2020, 07:39 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Here are Alex Erickson's YPR ranks over the last 4 years.  (These numbers use a qualifyer of a minimum of 20 returns)

2019 - 12th out of 15th
2018 - 9th out 19
2017 - 20th out of 25
2016 - 18th of 21

-He ranks in bottom 25% in 3 of his 4 years.

-His best year was the definition of "average".

-He's had ZERO TD's in 103 attempts, which ranks near the top of league in returns over that span.

-He's had 14 fumbles on punt returns in 4 years (3.5 per season).

Conclusion - He's not that good.

(08-05-2020, 07:29 PM)Whatever Wrote: Last year, Boyd ranked 7th in the league in Targets.  Tate was tied for 66th and Erickson tied for 68th.  Ross was 107th.  Boyd was 25th in receiving yards.  Tate was 72nd.  Erickson was 79th.  Ross was 84th.  

Could Ross have been more productive if he eliminated the drops and gaffes?  Likely.  However, he was more productive with his targets than any other WR on the team.  He was literally the only WR we had who's yardage ranking was higher than his target volume.  There wasn't a WR on this team last year that was really that great.  I don't really get continuing to pick at the guy who was most productive with his targets while giving a pass to guys with greater, but less obvious, failures.

At the end of the day, all these guys should have to prove themselves and earn their spots in TC, no exceptions.  We  need a lot more out of that position group than we got last year.  There's a lot of guys in that group that need to play better and prove they can stay healthy.

(08-05-2020, 07:39 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Here are Alex Erickson's YPR ranks over the last 4 years.  (These numbers use a qualifyer of a minimum of 20 returns)

2019 - 12th out of 15
2018 - 9th out 19
2017 - 20th out of 25
2016 - 18th out of 21

-He ranks in bottom 25% in 3 of his 4 years.

-His best year was the definition of "average".

-He's had ZERO TD's in 103 attempts, which ranks near the top of league in returns over that span.

-He's had 14 fumbles on punt returns in 4 years (3.5 per season).

Conclusion - He's not that good.

(08-05-2020, 07:46 PM)impactplaya Wrote: Erickson gets praised for being average around these parts. He's a decent player. But if your expecting big plays 
From him forget it. He's never going to outrun coverage. 

(08-05-2020, 12:56 PM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: Except the 5’11” guy has bigger legs and bigger arms. What were you looking at that you think is huge?

(08-05-2020, 08:22 PM)Murdock2420 Wrote: He is also an UDFA not the #9 over all pick. 

Being average and in the league and contributing at all as an UDFA is actually pretty impressive.

(08-05-2020, 09:01 PM)impactplaya Wrote: I think fans in general tend to look at where players are drafted and we use that in our arguments 


But to quote Marvin Lewis " it doesn't matter how you got here, it's what you do when you get here" 
I think coaches and GMs at times forget where a player was drafted or if he was a, UDFA. 
All they want to do is find the best 53 and roll with it. 
I realize yeah some 1st RD picks get more room or margin to develop cause of the financial investment 

I've seen 1st RD picks get benched and eventually cut in favor of lower RD picks who simply outplayed them.

The truth is as much as Ross as underachived  he's still 5x the WR Erickson is. 
Erickson has had 2 years to develop into a threat.

Offenses need TDS in order to give your team a chance to win. 
Ross scores TDS  Erickson doesn't 

(08-05-2020, 08:22 PM)Murdock2420 Wrote: He is also an UDFA not the #9 over all pick. 

Being average and in the league and contributing at all as an UDFA is actually pretty impressive.

(08-05-2020, 09:35 AM)impactplaya Wrote: Tee Higgins will raise the level of competition in the WR room. Ross isnt just going to concede that 3rd WR spot
Funny how,the same used narrative on Ross that he's mentally weak wasnt brought up after week 2,of the NFL season
When he led the league in yardage and YPC.
With AJ back Tee and Ross should feast on mismatches downfield

(08-05-2020, 10:21 PM)BengalChris Wrote: I'm afraid one stellar game doesn't make up for the remaining 47 duds he's put up.

Higgins will own the job by season's end, if not by week 4.

 

(08-05-2020, 10:25 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I know you’re exaggerating, but he’s only played in 24 games. Which is pretty crazy. You can talk about the mental side of the game, giving up on routes, drops, etc but the main thing that has held Ross back at the NFL level is inability to stay healthy.

(08-05-2020, 08:20 PM)Murdock2420 Wrote: Boyd -  2nd round pick

Tate - 7th round pick

Erickson - Undrafted

Ross - 1st round 

So he out performed a 7th rounder and an UDFA?? I would not say Ross outperformed Boyd in any world. 

The issue is, he is a 1st round pick, not a 7th or UDFA. If he had the same numbers as a 4th or 5th round pick, no complaints but you can not perform this poorly as the number 9 pick (right before Patrick Mahomes) and not catch a ton of heat.

A first round pick is expected to contribute and in a big way. It's why everyone gave Ced so much flack, and Billy Price. 

(08-05-2020, 11:41 PM)impactplaya Wrote: I can't fault Ross for his chest injury last year. AD threw a ball that exposed Ross's chest and Haden popped him good 
It can happen to any WR especially when Dalton is throwing  to you. Ross knows this is a huge year for him.
He's not dumb. But people act like he hasn't made progress as a WR . The truth is he has. 

(08-05-2020, 09:23 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: I would never argue that what he's accomplished, given he's an UDFA, isn't impressive. I commend guys like him he battle tooth and nail to make a roster and contribute.

But I wasn't having a discussion about whether or not he's outplayed his draft position. I'm simply talking about whether or not he's worthy of a spot on this roster.

(08-04-2020, 11:01 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Also, what the hell is up with John Ross’ leg?