Something I just realized about our Wide Recieved Philosophy

by homestar2281 on Apr 8, 2009 10:01 PM EDT

While watching/reading a live draft chat on draftcountdown there was a person who asked why the Raiders would be willing to draft Jeremy Macklin over Michael Crabtree. Scott Wright's responce was simple "Because Al Davis LOVES speed. Macklin is fast, Crabtree isn't." Al Davis is long been critisized for draftting players way earlier than they should be based on there 40 times, however this got me thinking what our beloved Philadelphia Eagles strategy is when choosing what wide recievers we want running routes for us. Then I realized that WE LOVE SPEED TOO. Just look at our wide reviever corps DeSean Jackson(small fast reciever), Kevin Curtis(small fast reciever), Jason Avant(Little Bigger pretty fast reciever), Reggie Brown(Little bigger Fast reciever), Hank Basket(Big fast reciever). One ca even look at some of our past recievers such as Greg Lewis(medium sized fast reciever), Freddie Mittchel(Medium sized was saposed to be fast (he ran a 4.4 at the combine)), Todd Pinkston(Tall fast reciever), the list goes on, but it is clear that we value speed at the reciever position over any other natural physical attribute.

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Philadelphia fast versus NFL fast

Everyone in the NFL loves speed. Why would you want a slow team? I don’t see our particular cast of WR’s here in Philadelphia as being considered burners at the position on an NFL scale. DJax might be an exception and Curtis certainly has his moments.

To consider guys like McMullen, Baskett, Brown, Avant or Mitchell as FAST WRs would be a bit erroneous when you’re talking about the entire NFL. Pinkston and Lewis sometimes seemed like FAST WRs because they ran straight line routes down the field.

Speed is one of the most important skills needed at the WR position. What would be nice to see developed at some point is a strong, physical guy that can shake off coverage and find separation when our other guys are getting jammed at the line. We haven’t really had that since Owens, but Avant looks promising thus far.

by andyreidswaistline on Apr 8, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Avant isn't fast

And brown isn’t considered a burner either. So I think your assessment is slightly off. We like players who can do something with the ball in their hands, that’s the whole point of the WCO.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Apr 8, 2009 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

to say al davis goes just for speed is erroneous too. al davis is known as a HWS guy or height weight speed, someone who feels that those are the only things you can not teach so you draft for them and worry about if they can play football later. Al values big as much as he values fast he wants the culmination of all 3 stats

by 0sirys on Apr 9, 2009 7:22 AM EDT reply actions

Heyward-bey

but didn’t they say that they would go after Heyward-Bey because he ran the fastest 40

by sports00fan00 on Apr 9, 2009 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

DHB is also 6’2" 205 lbs

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Apr 9, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed with joe d. curtis and desean are elite fast. but avant brown and basket are not at all what you would call wide receiver or nfl fast.

by bigd81 on Apr 9, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions

Brown, Avant and Baskett are pretty much similar in their builds and speed. All are at least 6’, at and or over 200lbs and ran 40’s in the 4.5 range. I think WR is one of the hardest positions to predict in terms of on field performance from college to the pros because most WR’s haven’t faced elite level DB’s. As far as Maclin and Crabtree go, I’d rather have Maclin. He’s only an inch smaller and 15lbs lighter than Crabtree but he can fly and is very elusive. I like the fact that he returned kicks and punts, it shows his versatility. I think he’d be hard to jam off the line and would give a lot of DB’s fits in the NFL.

by ralphd58 on Apr 21, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

"because most WR’s haven’t faced elite level DBs"

Or constant press coverage.

Those might be one and the same, considering if a DB can jam a receiver at the LOS, and still run and cover, he has a huge advantage (and often affords himself time for help when this is done in zones)

Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome

by D3Keith on Apr 21, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions