06-17-2018, 08:28 PM
NFL's top five receiving corps; Lamar Jackson's Baltimore buzz
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000937520/article/nfls-top-five-receiving-corps-lamar-jacksons-baltimore-buzz
Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. The topics of this edition include:
» Could Lamar Jackson make a major impact in Year 1?
» The signing that sets up the Cowboys for prime contention in the coming years.
» Exploring Christian Hackenberg's fall from football grace.
But first, a look at the best pass-catching posses in the NFL today ...
* * * * *
Yup, we've reached that point in the offseason. With positive vibes flowing from offseason workouts, this is the time when players and coaches make bold predictions about the coming campaign. But sometimes you have to hold people accountable for the words they spew during this period.
That's why I had to take a closer look at the pass catchers around the league, given Josh Gordon's comments on the Cleveland Browns' WR group.
"I think we're the best receiving corps in the league, in my opinion, already," he said to assembled reporters on Tuesday. "Just based off of talent alone. So you put in the playbook and some guys that are hungry enough to go do it and hopefully you can go out there and show and prove that."
Whoa! The best receiving corps in the NFL??
Normally, I'd chalk up those comments to a former All-Pro receiver tooting his own horn and move on. But then Gordon's new teammate, Jarvis Landry, co-signed on the proclamation.
"He ain't lyin'," Landry said, via The Athletic. "I think the capability of what we all can do is endless."
Hm. This deserves deeper thought ...
certainly believe Gordon and Landry have the talent to back up their own lofty claims, but elite receiving corps are like basketball teams, with high-end playmakers occupying different roles.
Most top groups have an established No. 1 receiver with a polished game that allows him to anchor the aerial attack. Despite facing double-teams and bracket coverage designed to slow him down, he continues to impact the game as a productive playmaker on the perimeter. Although most WR1s check in on the bigger side (6-foot-2 or taller), the evolution of the NFL into a passing league has allowed smaller craftsmen (skilled route runners) to hold down the top spot on a number of teams.
Elite receiving corps also features a big-play specialist with a skill set that consistently produces explosive plays (receptions of 20-plus yards). Whether it's exceptional speed and quickness as a vertical threat or dynamic running skills as a catch-and-run playmaker, the guys in this role can flip the field at the drop of a hat, while also creating space for the No. 1 receiver as the speedster routinely assigned to take the top off the coverage on clear-out routes.
"Chain movers," or third-down specialists, have become key members of elite receiving corps, too. They don't rack up 100-yard games or post gaudy yards-per-catch figures, but they are the quarterback's top target in critical situations, particularly on third-and-short (2 yards or fewer) or third-and-medium (6 yards or fewer). Considering how much of their work takes place between the numbers, these guys are typically slot receivers with exceptional stop-start quickness and crafty route-running skills, or big-bodied tight ends with basketball-like post-up skills. They have an unbelievable knack for getting open against tight coverage and they exhibit outstanding courage venturing over the middle, with linebackers and safeties lurking between the hashes. These guys rarely receive proper recognition for their work.
The final component of an elite receiving corps is the presence of a designated red-zone weapon. This player might be the team's No. 1 receiver or it could be a big-bodied pass catcher capable of winning one-on-one matchups when the field shrinks inside the 10-yard line. Regardless, the "DRZW" has a feel for creating separation in a tight area through quickness or physicality, and those skills are essential to scoring points in a league where you have to throw to win.
In essence, the top receiving corps in the league are built like the Golden State Warriors -- an all-star collection of diverse skill sets that nicely complement each other. So, heading toward the 2018 campaign, which teams boast the top receiving corps in the NFL? Here are my top five:
1) Minnesota Vikings: It's no coincidence Kirk Cousins picked the Twin Cities as his new home. Like the rest of us, he saw the Vikings' WR corps torch defenses in 2017 with a journeyman QB2 at the helm. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are spectacular route runners with outstanding stop-start quickness, wiggle and playmaking ability. Each guy is capable of taking over a game as a lead receiver, but it is their collective ability to create headaches for opposing coaches that make them the top pass-catching tandem in football. With Kyle Rudolph also chipping in as a designated red-zone weapon (12 red-zone touchdowns over the past two seasons), the Vikings' explosive WR corps could help Cousins play at an MVP level this year.
2) Atlanta Falcons: It's easy to view the Falcons' passing game as a one-man show, based on Julio Jones' remarkable play as the team's No. 1 receiver (four straight seasons with 1,400-plus receiving yards), but that would ignore Mohamed Sanu's work as a rock-solid WR2 on the other side. The veteran is a dependable chain mover with the size and strength to overwhelm defenders in the red zone. First-round pick Calvin Ridley was added to the lineup to give the offense another playmaker with explosive potential on the outside. Given the impact Austin Hopper and Justin Hardy can make as fourth and fifth options in the passing game, the Dirty Birds' WR corps will be quite imposing this fall.
3) Pittsburgh Steelers: You would be hard-pressed to find a team that can rival the Steelers' success drafting and developing marquee receivers. Antonio Brown is arguably the best receiver in football, despite having entered the league as an unheralded sixth-round pick. Brown not only has six 1,000-yard seasons in his eight-year career, but he has 59 career touchdown catches, with 52 coming in just the past five seasons. Despite facing double-teams or bracket coverage at most times, Brown is nearly impossible to slow down or contain on the outside. With JuJu Smith-Schuster flashing all-star potential as a young starter, the Steelers boast one of the league's best 1-2 punches. If second-round James Washington lives up to his big-play reputation as a rookie, it is possible the Steelers might be underrated on this VIP list of pass-catching units.
4) Kansas City Chiefs: Before you @ me about the Chiefs' spot on this list, you should check out the ridiculous big-play production their "Big Three" has amassed over the past two years: Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins have combined for 69 receptions of 20-plus yards and 35 touchdown catches. While those numbers are somewhat stymied by Watkins' scattershot output over the past two seasons (13 20-plus yards catches and 10 touchdowns in 23 games), it is important to note that he tallied 32 receptions of 20-plus yards and 15 touchdowns during his first two NFL campaigns. Thus, it is quite possible that he re-emerges as a big-play threat in an Andy Reid system that showcases explosive receivers, particularly those playmakers with speed and RAC (run after catch) ability. With three potent playmakers on the field at all times, the Chiefs' receiving corps could become the next unit to boast a trio of 1,000-yard pass catchers in a single season.
5) Cleveland Browns: No, Gordon and Landry's comments aren't completely crazy. This is indeed a top-tier group. Gordon gives the team a big-bodied WR1 with all-star skills as a dynamic playmaker on the outside. He is one of the few pass catchers in the NFL capable of racking up a 100-yard game straight of the streets, which speaks volumes about his talent and his tools. Landry is a blue-collar worker adept at working over the middle, where toughness is valued at a premium. The three-time Pro Bowl selectee is as rugged as they come, but he's also crafty technician with excellent stop-start quickness and wiggle. Landry has leaned on those skills to become the fastest receiver in NFL history to notch 400 receptions, despite playing extensively as a slot receiver where brackets and double coverage can minimize a playmaker's production. If Corey Coleman (deep-ball specialist) and David Njoku (chain mover) fulfill their respective roles as complementary weapons, the Browns' WR corps could make a leap up this list in the fall.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000937520/article/nfls-top-five-receiving-corps-lamar-jacksons-baltimore-buzz
Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. The topics of this edition include:
» Could Lamar Jackson make a major impact in Year 1?
» The signing that sets up the Cowboys for prime contention in the coming years.
» Exploring Christian Hackenberg's fall from football grace.
But first, a look at the best pass-catching posses in the NFL today ...
* * * * *
Yup, we've reached that point in the offseason. With positive vibes flowing from offseason workouts, this is the time when players and coaches make bold predictions about the coming campaign. But sometimes you have to hold people accountable for the words they spew during this period.
That's why I had to take a closer look at the pass catchers around the league, given Josh Gordon's comments on the Cleveland Browns' WR group.
"I think we're the best receiving corps in the league, in my opinion, already," he said to assembled reporters on Tuesday. "Just based off of talent alone. So you put in the playbook and some guys that are hungry enough to go do it and hopefully you can go out there and show and prove that."
Whoa! The best receiving corps in the NFL??
Normally, I'd chalk up those comments to a former All-Pro receiver tooting his own horn and move on. But then Gordon's new teammate, Jarvis Landry, co-signed on the proclamation.
"He ain't lyin'," Landry said, via The Athletic. "I think the capability of what we all can do is endless."
Hm. This deserves deeper thought ...
certainly believe Gordon and Landry have the talent to back up their own lofty claims, but elite receiving corps are like basketball teams, with high-end playmakers occupying different roles.
Most top groups have an established No. 1 receiver with a polished game that allows him to anchor the aerial attack. Despite facing double-teams and bracket coverage designed to slow him down, he continues to impact the game as a productive playmaker on the perimeter. Although most WR1s check in on the bigger side (6-foot-2 or taller), the evolution of the NFL into a passing league has allowed smaller craftsmen (skilled route runners) to hold down the top spot on a number of teams.
Elite receiving corps also features a big-play specialist with a skill set that consistently produces explosive plays (receptions of 20-plus yards). Whether it's exceptional speed and quickness as a vertical threat or dynamic running skills as a catch-and-run playmaker, the guys in this role can flip the field at the drop of a hat, while also creating space for the No. 1 receiver as the speedster routinely assigned to take the top off the coverage on clear-out routes.
"Chain movers," or third-down specialists, have become key members of elite receiving corps, too. They don't rack up 100-yard games or post gaudy yards-per-catch figures, but they are the quarterback's top target in critical situations, particularly on third-and-short (2 yards or fewer) or third-and-medium (6 yards or fewer). Considering how much of their work takes place between the numbers, these guys are typically slot receivers with exceptional stop-start quickness and crafty route-running skills, or big-bodied tight ends with basketball-like post-up skills. They have an unbelievable knack for getting open against tight coverage and they exhibit outstanding courage venturing over the middle, with linebackers and safeties lurking between the hashes. These guys rarely receive proper recognition for their work.
The final component of an elite receiving corps is the presence of a designated red-zone weapon. This player might be the team's No. 1 receiver or it could be a big-bodied pass catcher capable of winning one-on-one matchups when the field shrinks inside the 10-yard line. Regardless, the "DRZW" has a feel for creating separation in a tight area through quickness or physicality, and those skills are essential to scoring points in a league where you have to throw to win.
In essence, the top receiving corps in the league are built like the Golden State Warriors -- an all-star collection of diverse skill sets that nicely complement each other. So, heading toward the 2018 campaign, which teams boast the top receiving corps in the NFL? Here are my top five:
1) Minnesota Vikings: It's no coincidence Kirk Cousins picked the Twin Cities as his new home. Like the rest of us, he saw the Vikings' WR corps torch defenses in 2017 with a journeyman QB2 at the helm. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs are spectacular route runners with outstanding stop-start quickness, wiggle and playmaking ability. Each guy is capable of taking over a game as a lead receiver, but it is their collective ability to create headaches for opposing coaches that make them the top pass-catching tandem in football. With Kyle Rudolph also chipping in as a designated red-zone weapon (12 red-zone touchdowns over the past two seasons), the Vikings' explosive WR corps could help Cousins play at an MVP level this year.
2) Atlanta Falcons: It's easy to view the Falcons' passing game as a one-man show, based on Julio Jones' remarkable play as the team's No. 1 receiver (four straight seasons with 1,400-plus receiving yards), but that would ignore Mohamed Sanu's work as a rock-solid WR2 on the other side. The veteran is a dependable chain mover with the size and strength to overwhelm defenders in the red zone. First-round pick Calvin Ridley was added to the lineup to give the offense another playmaker with explosive potential on the outside. Given the impact Austin Hopper and Justin Hardy can make as fourth and fifth options in the passing game, the Dirty Birds' WR corps will be quite imposing this fall.
3) Pittsburgh Steelers: You would be hard-pressed to find a team that can rival the Steelers' success drafting and developing marquee receivers. Antonio Brown is arguably the best receiver in football, despite having entered the league as an unheralded sixth-round pick. Brown not only has six 1,000-yard seasons in his eight-year career, but he has 59 career touchdown catches, with 52 coming in just the past five seasons. Despite facing double-teams or bracket coverage at most times, Brown is nearly impossible to slow down or contain on the outside. With JuJu Smith-Schuster flashing all-star potential as a young starter, the Steelers boast one of the league's best 1-2 punches. If second-round James Washington lives up to his big-play reputation as a rookie, it is possible the Steelers might be underrated on this VIP list of pass-catching units.
4) Kansas City Chiefs: Before you @ me about the Chiefs' spot on this list, you should check out the ridiculous big-play production their "Big Three" has amassed over the past two years: Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins have combined for 69 receptions of 20-plus yards and 35 touchdown catches. While those numbers are somewhat stymied by Watkins' scattershot output over the past two seasons (13 20-plus yards catches and 10 touchdowns in 23 games), it is important to note that he tallied 32 receptions of 20-plus yards and 15 touchdowns during his first two NFL campaigns. Thus, it is quite possible that he re-emerges as a big-play threat in an Andy Reid system that showcases explosive receivers, particularly those playmakers with speed and RAC (run after catch) ability. With three potent playmakers on the field at all times, the Chiefs' receiving corps could become the next unit to boast a trio of 1,000-yard pass catchers in a single season.
5) Cleveland Browns: No, Gordon and Landry's comments aren't completely crazy. This is indeed a top-tier group. Gordon gives the team a big-bodied WR1 with all-star skills as a dynamic playmaker on the outside. He is one of the few pass catchers in the NFL capable of racking up a 100-yard game straight of the streets, which speaks volumes about his talent and his tools. Landry is a blue-collar worker adept at working over the middle, where toughness is valued at a premium. The three-time Pro Bowl selectee is as rugged as they come, but he's also crafty technician with excellent stop-start quickness and wiggle. Landry has leaned on those skills to become the fastest receiver in NFL history to notch 400 receptions, despite playing extensively as a slot receiver where brackets and double coverage can minimize a playmaker's production. If Corey Coleman (deep-ball specialist) and David Njoku (chain mover) fulfill their respective roles as complementary weapons, the Browns' WR corps could make a leap up this list in the fall.
